Kristy
Running on the beach was such a release. In Chicago I often ran along Lake Michigan, but there was just something different about the feel of sand hitting the backs of my calves, the mist of salt water on my face with every light breeze. Running in the sand proved to be more of a workout than I'd expected, and by the time I'd finished my six miles my calves were burning. Still, I felt alive. I resolved to face the summer and whatever it brought with a positive attitude.
When I got back to the house, Mary Anne and Dawn were sitting at the breakfast table drinking tea. We decided to spend the day on the beach, so I went upstairs to shower and get ready. When I came downstairs Mary Anne and Dawn were also dressed for the beach and ready to go. Mary Anne wore a tankini with a matching sarong, a Red Sox cap, and sunglasses. She carried a huge canvas bag stuffed with SPF 50, her towel and her book. Dawn was wearing a two-piece with big, Hawaiian flowers splashed across it. I myself had thrown an old SHS T-shirt over my standard navy blue Speedo, which I wore for doing laps. "Do you have a volleyball or a Frisbee or something?" I asked Dawn.
"I have one outside the front door. Good idea. We can set up near one of the nets. Although I don't suppose you'll want to play, Mary Anne."
"Nope. I'll just sit and watch, maybe document everything with a few pictures."
"Aw, you're no fun," I said. "Come on, Dawn, I'll race you to the beach." I took off at a sprint, but slowed when I realized I was the only one running.
After setting up our stuff, Dawn and I claimed a volleyball net and began passing it back and forth. Mary Anne sat on her towel reading her book and occasionally glancing up at us.
"You girls want some competition?" Two guys, probably not more than eighteen, approached us.
Dawn caught the ball and held it. "I'm up for a game. You game, Kristy?"
"You know I am. Prepare to get your butts kicked by a couple of girls," I told the taller of the two.
"Ooh, I'm scared," he said, but he laughed. "I'm Tom. This is Kyle." Tom was easily six-three, with surfer-God blond hair and the body of a soccer player. Kyle was a few inches shorter and darker—he looked like he might be half-Asian—with a body just as spectacular as his friend's.
Dawn joined me on my side of the net, and soon we were involved in a heated match with our new friends. We found out that Tom and Kyle were, in fact, nineteen and students at UC Davis. They were staying at Tom's parents' place a few houses down from ours. We played two games, with Dawn and me taking one and the guys taking the other. Then we changed up the teams, and Tom and I narrowly beat Dawn and Kyle. By this time it was noon and we were all starving.
"You're pretty good for a girl," Tom said admiringly "Especially a short girl."
"I have four brothers," I said. "I've learned to hold my own." I had to crane my neck to look Tom in the eye. It was almost comical. If he'd wanted to, he could have thrown me over his shoulder pirate-style.
"You guys have plans for tonight?" Kyle asked. "We were thinking of going to the Boardwalk."
"Do you have a friend for our friend?" I asked. I nodded in Mary Anne's direction.
"Aidan will probably be up for it. She's cute, looks like his type."
"Anything that breathes is Aidan's type," Kyle observed.
"Aidan is out surfing right now," Tom said. "He lives with us, too, though."
"Well," I said brightly, "Mary Anne said she wanted to meet a surfer. It sounds like a good time. You want to meet us about five at our place? We're the house right over there."
"Sounds good. We'll see you tonight." Tom winked at me. Dawn and I said goodbye and jogged back to Mary Anne.
"Mary Anne! We have dates tonight." I plopped down next to Mary Anne on her towel.
Mary Anne blanched. "Dates?"
"Kind of," Dawn amended. "They're, like, nineteen. But they're fun to hang out with, and they invited us to go to the Boardwalk with them."
"Oh," Mary Anne said. "Well, I guess it could be fun."
"For someone who was just yesterday talking about meeting surfers, you don't sound very enthusiastic," I said. "He is a surfer, by the way. Don't know what he looks like, but if he looks anything like his friends that's a good thing."
Mary Anne smiled—I could tell it was forced. "Sounds good."
What was up with Mary Anne? She was still a little timid around new people, but it had been a long time since she'd been this weird about meeting a new guy. Oh, well. It had been a long time since I'd been this excited about meeting a new guy. I knew Tom was only nineteen, but he was nice and fun. I doubted anything would come of it, but I decided it could be fun to have a summer fling.