"Flight 31B to Playa Linda, California is now boarding." The loudspeakers boomed. Crystal A. Turner slung her partially ripped, rustic carry-on bag over her shoulder and followed her best friend, Carly, to board the plane. Ever since the catastrophic flood occurred in her hometown in Kansas, her overprotective parents felt very apprehensive about going out of town again, especially about her going alone.

"This will be the best vacation we've ever taken!" Crystal's friend, Carly said giddily as they looked for their seats. They spotted their second class seats, three rows from the safety exits, and just near the airplane wing, to be exact. Ever since her friend brought up her bold idea of visiting California for summer vacation, Crystal's been more timid about it. Basically, Carly's the outgoing, outdoorsy, fun, aggressive, wild, boy-loving, popular type of gal, while Crystal on the other hand is the shy, at-home, cozy, smart, but sporty type.

In addition to all that, Crystal had some pretty severe parents, and they've gotten all the more strict after the flood incident. Even though Carly and Crystal have been best friends since they were in diapers, Crystal's parents always had some second thoughts about Carly. After much anticipation from begging, convincing, and even a little bit of lying with the help of Carly, Crystal finally received her parent's approval. They said that they were staying at Carly's aunt and uncles' house; that part was true. What her parents didn't know was that Carly's aunt and uncle were pretty much like Carly; fun, outgoing, wild, young-minded type people.

As Crystal was getting situated in her seat for disembarkation, she was still in disbelief about going to California. It was one of the many places she's always wanted to visit, and never got the chance to because of her overprotective parents. As the plane lifted off and ascended higher and higher into the air, Crystal thought she'd try getting her mind off the fact that they were thousands of feet in the air.Carly didn't seem to mind. She looked like she was in a groovin' mood with her ears all plugged up with blaring music coming from her ipod.

Crystal decided to reminiscence. This was probably the first vacation she's taken after the flood. Before the incident, she remembered, her parents used to be a lot of casual about things, everyday was a sunny day in Kansas, the weather was perfect, and not a raindrop in sight. Crystal leaned her chair and started closing her eyes. It all happened when she was in middle school, 7th grade to be exact; it was the best year of her life.

It was the year she got her very first kiss. Crystal's mouth slowly turned unto a grin at the thought of it. It was with her best friend, Bradin. Bradin Westerly. They were the best of friends. It was hard to believe, but she was closer to him that she was with Carly at the time. She told him everything she knew. They spent their summers swimming, bike riding, talking on the phone, going to the movies; she lost count of the number of things they did.

They were at the lake near their house. It was a dark starry night, the moon lit up the twinkling water; everything was perfect. As they stood there, looking out into the water, side by side. Without warning, his hand brushed against hers, and her immediate reply was slowly cupping hers with his. With that instant, they awkwardly looked at each other, and giggled nervously. But for some strange reason, their hands just stayed cupped, as if they never wanted to let go. After that things got even better. Crystal looked deep into his sea blue-green eyes, and he stared back at her gray, hazel-y ones. Their faces slowly moved closer and closer to one another, until they were merely inches away. Soon enough, his lips brushed against hers, and they leaned into a light kiss. Everything around them was a blur, it was so perfect; until the next day. The day that changed her life forever.

"Peanuts?"

Startled, Crystal opened her eyes abruptly finding a flight attendant over her, nearly shoving a peanut bag into her face.

"Um, yeah, thank you." She replied, with a hint of annoyance in her voice, and took the bag.

"Finally you're up!" Her friend Carly unplugged her headphones and looked at her. She poured her very own peanuts into the palm of her hands and shoved them into her mouth. "You've been dozing off for the last couple of hours!"

"Wow, that long?" Crystal looked at her friend in disbelief. All that reminiscing probably made her doze off into a deep sleep.

"Yeah!" her friend replied, shoving another palm full of peanuts into her mouth. "So I've been planning out our whole trip while you were sleeping."

"Really? I wanna hear it." Crystal lied, all she really wanted to do was go back to her peaceful slumber.

Her friend perked up. "Okay SO. The first thing we're going to do when we land is go to the airport bathroom and change into our swimsuits. We'll put camis and a skirt over it, well at least until we hit the beach." Her friend giggled. "You did bring that bikini I bought for you, didn't you?"

"Oh no! I completely forgot!" Crystal lied again. She just thought the idea of exposing her bare skin to the open public was unnecessary. Unfortunately, her friend thought the exact opposite. "I did bring my tankini though."

"Crys, Crys, Crys…" Carly shook her head and laughed. "Believe me, you aren't going to get any guys wearing that thing. It's a good thing I packed two extra bikinis, I knew you'd 'forget' them"

"Greeeatt." Crystal said with sarcasm. Her friend laughed in response.

It didn't really matter to her what crazy things her friend was going to make her do. She came to California to have the best time of her life. She was over Bradin now, she hasn't seen him since the flood. They haven't really kept in contact. She thought she'd start off all fresh again and forget her past, and her grueling parents. She thought she was going to have the best time of her life. Again.