Tiko noticed Mike looking a little worried. Mike was the guy that had showed Tiko to the manager's office. The two of them had become pretty good friends.
Tiko walked over to Mike.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Tiko..." Mike sighed. "I have to leave in ten minutes, there's this party I promised Sandy I'd take her to. Steve said he'd cover for me, but he just called now. He can't make it." he said. Mike looked at Tiko.
"Hey, you wouldn't mind...?"
"Sure." Tiko smiled. "How long?"
"We're not staying long. An hour and a half. Two at most." Mike told him.
"Yeah, okay." Tiko agreed.
"You sure? Don't you have plans?" Mike asked.
"Well, I was gonna practice my surfing, but I can do that tonight. And there's always tomorrow. I've got the whole day." Tiko shrugged.
"Thanks, man." Mike smiled. "I really appreciate it - hey, I owe you one." with that, he rushed off.
"Have a nice time!" Tiko waved.
"I will!" Mike waved back as he ran out of the shop.

Tiko went back to the isle he'd been filling. He stood on a stool to reach the top shelf. It was kinda stupid putting a shelf that high up. All the staff had to stand on something, and all the customers had to ask the staff to get it down. Still, he couldn't complain. Mindi had given him this job out of trust. He's been working here for a week now, and was on full wages. He paid Bra 10% of one week's wages every Monday. He'd offered to pay more, but she wouldn't take it.

"There you are." a familiar voice came from behind him. Tiko turned round. He looked at her.
"Bra? What're you doing here?" he asked.
"I wanted to see if you were still on for today. Coming to the beach?" Bra replied.
"No, sorry. I can't. Tonight, maybe." Tiko told her.
"Tonight? Why can't you get off sooner?" Bra whined.
"I'm covering for someone."
"Couldn't he find anyone else?" Bra asked.
"He did. But his cover couldn't make it." Tiko explained.
"Okay then..." Bra surrendered. "But you'll come tomorrow, right?"
"Sure. I'm off all day." Tiko said.
"Good." Bra smiled. "But, what time are you home?"
"Half three. Four, maybe. I don't know." Tiko said.
"So you came come later?"
"Yeah, probably."
"Okay. See ya later." Bra waved.
"See ya."

*the next day*

"Woooo!!" Tiko picked up speed as he rode on the waves. He felt himself being swept along by them. Tiko went faster. The wave he was on was shrinking, he was getting closer to the shore. No way! We're not going back yet. He jumped, and rode down the wave. There were some more coming towards him. He smiled. He loved this part. Tiko braced himself, and rode up it. A bit of the wave went over his head as he tried to get over the top of it.
"Yeah!!" his shouted as he rode down it, his body wet from the wave. He did it again and again, challenging every wave he saw. He managed to get over two without getting too wet. The number of surfers decreased as he went further out to sea. Heh. Chickens! Tiko saw a big wave heading towards him. Wow. That that huge! Could he do it? Well, he could try.
Tiko leaned forward, making himself faster. Here it comes. He rode up it, but it was too tall. Part of the wave pushed him backwards.
"Whoa!" he cried out and he felt himself falling backwards. He flipped himself around so he landed on the surface of the water. The wave advanced on him. Tiko held his breath, and went through it. The water engulfed him. He felt trapped for a while, then it passed. He'd ended up treading water and holding onto his surfboard, but man that had been fun!

Tiko gasped for breath, and started to swim as fast as he could towards the wave. He put his board in front of him, and began to swim up the wave. He climbed onto his board, lying on his stomach. The wave carried him, and pushed him forward. He got onto his feet, and rode on the wave.
"Woooo hoo!!" he smiled. Tiko jumped off it, and landed hard on the water below, with a big splash. He skimmed across the surface, overtaking the other surfers. Some of them started to race with him. Ha! But they weren't quick enough!
Hey... Tiko looked at one of the surfers trying to overtake him.
"Catch me if you can, Bra!" he laughed.
"I'll get you!" Bra shouted back. Tiko laughed, and picked up speed. Bra did, too.
Tiko could see the shore up ahead. He rode on waves and surfed as fats as he could. Bra was close by, but behind him. Come on... the beach was so close. Just a little further.
"I win!" he exclaimed as he skidded onto the sand.
"Damn..." Bra mumbled, coming up a little later.

Tiko moved further up the beach, onto dry sand.
"Man, that was fun!" he said, lying down.
"You said it." Bra agreed, sitting down on her towel next to him. She looked at Tiko.
"Hey, where did you go?"
"Far out." Tiko told her. "There was this massive wave. I tried to go over the top but it pushed me over. So, I managed to land perfectly on the surface, and went straight through it. I ended up off my board, so I got back on the wave and rode it until I could get enough speed to go on my own. Then I jumped off."
"Wow! If it pushed you over, it must've been pretty big. It could've been dangerous going through it." Bra lectured.
"Yeah, maybe." Tiko said. "But I'm fine, right?" he got up, and picked up his board. "I'm going back out there. You coming?"
"Nah, I'll stay here and sunbathe for a while." Bra replied.
"Okay. See ya." Tiko ran off. Bra smiled, and lay down.

Meanwhile, three people watched Tiko head for the sea.
"Hey, girls, he's going back out there." Peter said. Felicity looked at him.
"Did he really go through that big wave?" she asked.
"I told you! I saw it with my own eyes!" Peter protested. "Then he got back on and raced that girl to the shore. Of course, some other people tried to beat him, too."
"He must be a pretty good surfer." Felicity said. "Actually, I was watching him before. He did seem pretty good, Cassadi." she looked at her friend.
"Yeah, but when he started out he was kinda clumsy..." Cassadi mumbled.
"Yeah, but that was when he was a beginner. He's really good now. Don't you think so?" Felicity asked.
"Yeah... I've seen him. He is a good surfer..." Cassadi admitted.
"And he's kinda cute, too. I mean, I know he's not human, but he's got good looks and he's a good surfer." Felicity said.
"He's either with us or against us." Peter stated. "If he's going to be with us, we'll be a great team. If he's against us, us three need to practice our surfing."
"Come on, Cassadi. You said you were looking for a cute surfer, right?" Felicity urged.
"Okay. I'll go for it." Cassadi agreed.
"But what about that girl he hangs around with?" Peter asked.
"You're right. I guess you should check if they're a couple first." Felicity said.
"Like I didn't already think of that." Cassadi rolled her eyes. "You two stay here."
"Good luck, Cassadi." Felicity crossed her fingers at her friend.
"Thanks."

Bra frowned when a shadow cast over her. She looked up, and saw a girl wearing an orange bikini. She had long brown hair and a nice tan. Bra felt like she'd seen this girl before, but couldn't remember where.
"Hi." the girl smiled. "My name's Cassadi."
"Um, Bra." Bra introduced herself. "can I help you?"
"Yeah, just a little question." Cassadi began. "That guy who was with you. He's a great surfer, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess he's pretty good now." Bra agreed.
"What is he, your boyfriend?" Cassadi asked.
"My boyfriend...?" Bra said. Wow. Now there's a thought. "Um..." she began. "Yeah." Bra said. "He's my boyfriend."
"Okay. Well, see ya." Cassadi walked off.
"Weird..." Bra mumbled, watching her leave.

"Well?" Felicity asked.
"She's his girlfriend." Cassadi told her.
"Too bad." Peter said.
"I guess you'll have to find someone else." Felicity shrugged.
"Wrong." Cassadi replied.
"Huh?" Felicity looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"She didn't sound like they've been going out that long. I could break 'em up now. All I have to do is get to know that guy. And come on, how hard can it be? He seems so naive." Cassadi explained.
"Cassadi, are you sure you should do that?" Felicity asked.
"That is a little cruel, Cass." Peter admitted.
"Can't we just ask them if they wanna join us? We could use that guy in next week's surfing contest, right? And she seems pretty good, too." Felicity suggested.
"Yeah, they're both good surfers. I'd rather be with them than against them." Peter said.
"Five of us? We've only ever had four." Cassadi replied.
"Well maybe it's time for a change." Felicity shrugged.
"Hmm..." Cassadi thought. "Okay. But let's not ask them yet. I've only just spoken to her, it'll seem stupid. We'll ask them tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure."

Bra saw Tiko coming towards her. Boyfriend... would he feel okay with that? Well, he seemed like he wouldn't mind.
"Heya." she smiled when he reached her.
"Hi." Tiko sat down next to her. Water droplets slowly crept down his face and chest. He breathed a little heavily for a while, and quieted down to normal. Bra looked at him.
"Hey, Tiko...?" she began.
"Yeah?" Tiko asked, looking back at her.
"We've been friends for about a week now, right?"
"Yeah..." Tiko nodded. What was she getting at?
"Well... how about being my boyfriend?" Bra asked.
"Huh?!" Tiko stared at her. "You serious?"
"Why not?" Bra replied. "Is there something you don't like about me?"
"No, it's nothing like that. I'm just surprised, that's all." Tiko admitted. "Do I have to take you out and stuff?"
"Not really," Bra replied. "We'll be just like we are now - only I'll be your girlfriend."
"Umm.... well, okay then, I guess." Tiko shrugged. Bra smiled, and kissed him on the cheek. Tiko blushed a little.
"You have to meet my parents! They'll love you!" Bra said.
"Okay." Tiko agreed. "But... you dad's kinda overprotective, isn't he? Will he like me being your boyfriend?"
"He'll get used to it. Don't worry." Bra assured him.