O.S.
Blazing sand dug into their feet; the thwack of a volleyball echoed from their fists. The score is tied 9-9, neither one wanting to lose. "Eat sand, dweeb! One of us is getting dunked in the waves, and it ain't gonna be me." A purple and black two piece dawned the smirking girl's curves. Green and white swim trunks and matching swim shirt covered the now-teenager's physique. "Likewise." Was his reply serving, sending the ball back and forth for several minutes. His palms were sweaty, feet immune to the heat of the sand, diving for another successful hit. Quickly recovering, he leaps high smacking the volleyball once more. Said palm strikes it firmly, the sun hitting his back as his eyes widen.
The volleyball hits the net.
"That's ten, dweeb! I win! Ohhhhhh yeah baby!" Gwen laughed scooping him up, rushing towards the tide. "Hey! Rematch! Rematch! Rematch!" Ben protested. "Sorry Ben, you knew the rules. I'm losing my grip, you're too heavy! I gotta toss ya!" Gwen teased, now leg-deep in the ocean, sending Ben skyward. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" The redhead relished her victory, seeing Ben emerge from the waves. An unamused expression plastered his face before his infectious laughter began, spreading to her. "Ya know, that was pretty damn fun. We should do this more often." Gwen looked onward as another medium sized wave was about to hit his back, smirking. "Incoming." The wave sent chills up his back, despite the warm temperature. "Get ready for the next part." Ben smirked
"Which part?" She asked
"The part where I'm gonna dunk you. Which is right now." Ben hoisted her bridal style, taking her to now waist-deep water.
"Ben! Ben, Ben, Ben! Benjamin, don't you dare!" She protested
"Oh, what's that? I can't hear you over your nagging!" He said tossing her in, chuckling. Her limbs flailed as the waves took her under. For a moment, she didn't emerge which worried him slightly. His short-lived revenge ended as he was pulled under by his legs the moment another wave hit him, sending the salty concoction up his nose, coughing, and gagging as he arose.
"Revenge, dummy." Gwen cheered
A splash war broke out as they chased each other.
"No fair, you got salt water in my mouth!"
"Well maybe next time you shouldn't dunk me, sore loser."
"You call me a sore loser; I call it good old-fashioned Ben-tuition."
Another wave drenched them both as Ben dove under, hiding from his enemy. His hair flipped as he emerged from the ocean as the salt water kissed her lips.
"Blech. Okay 'Little Merman,' that was devious." She said spitting the salt water
"Now you know how I feel." The impulsive boy retorted. "What else is on the agenda?"
"Rematch?" Gwen smirked
And rematch they did, with Ben emerging victorious.
"You know what happens next."
They stared at each other for a moment.
"Time for more sunscreen, duh." Ben smirked grabbing the bottle
"Oh, well same goes for you bucko." Gwen said
She took the bottle, applying the sunscreen to his arms.
"Damn, bulking up I see. Merman indeed."
"If you say so." He replied unconvinced
She squeezed his muscles as her hands glided further up his arms. "Now this dweeb-asaurus face needs some protection." A thick layer is swiftly applied, slapping his cheeks. "There, now your turn." She laid on her matching towel, thankful that it's shaded from the sun. "Make sure you get my entire back." Gwen said untying her top
"Well, are you gonna gawk or apply it?" She said with a smirk
Kneeling, he squeezed what seemed to be a good amount; spreading it as he tentatively rubbed her back. With slight heat rising beneath sunscreen-covered cheeks, he followed her request to cover every inch he could. "Don't start getting handsy, mister. I'll cover what you miss." Gwen said keeping her signature smirk. A firm nod was his only reply, reaching her shoulder blades. Giving her back a final once over, he tied her straps together.
"Thanks Ben, seems like you got everything. Almost." She smiled staying still. He took that as his que to give her some privacy, holding a towel behind him as he took in the sights of seagulls running back and forth from the waves. "Quite a good job you did, Ben. Felt like a massage. Wow you really got this tight, thanks." She said standing up, adjusting her suit slightly. "Wouldn't want a wardrobe malfunction." He said.
"A good masseur, and a gentleman. What more could a girl want?" He laid the towel with hers as they began a walk on the now-cooler sand as the waves and seagulls echoed through their ears. "Someone who doesn't go hero-ing all the time for one. That would put a strain on things. A good listener, compassionate, maybe not much of a jokester?" The sounds of the sea remained a part of their conversation as Gwen clasped his hand with hers. "Who's saying you're not any of those things? There's no changing the jokester in you though, I'm afraid that ship has sailed." Their banter remained, giving them some sense of normalcy despite their "taboo" relationship; if it ever came to light that is. "Wow, holding hands now? Such degeneracy." Ben joked. "I know, we're insane." Was her retort, laughing. Not letting go of his hand, they continued their stroll with the waves kissing their feet. Gwen began humming an all-too familiar tune about the heroic exploits of her counterpart, as they smiled once more. Off in the distance, sunset was approaching the horizon. "This is fantastic when we have relaxing days like this. Just you and me." Gwen said, "And how often do we go to the beach? Few and far between, no question about that."
A friendly chase ensued followed by more ocean-themed antics, skimboarding being one of them. While the board has seen better days, it's still in one piece. Gwen hasn't lost her touch, timing it perfectly sliding along the shore. The two were equally matched in terms of this activity, cheering, and laughing with every successful glide along the waves. Gwen decided to show off, adding a 180 spin and another with splashing him as she sped by sticking her tongue out. "Beat this, doofus! Woohoooooo!" And oblige her he did, splashing her with a 360 spin while covering way more distance from the waves. Gwen gave one final attempt to beat his record, receiving the shock of a lifetime when he jumped on. "Two heads are better than one!" He smirked. "But not four limbs!" She said somehow keeping her balance for a moment before they got a mouthful of sand and salt water. Their giggles filled the air once more, taking in the view of the evening light.
"I meant it, my answer to your self-doubt. You are a good listener, and compassionate. When you want to be, of course. When the moment arises, you're many more things too. Besides, it's not fun being lovey-dovey all the time. I swear, our fights are in our blood; Count Dorkula." "Same for you, Your Royal Brattiness." Their exchange of schoolyard insults droned on, until Gwen drew a sand heart on his right cheek. Ben quickly did the same, sharing a moment as their soaked hair intertwined. Searching for shells was their next activity, with Ben's pockets filled nearly to the brim with said artifacts.
As the air dropped in temperature, adding a slight chill to their tropical paradise, a rare phenomenon began to occur known as Noctiluca scintillans, or Sea Sparkle. The waves were coated in a breath-taking shade of blue, bringing a smile to their faces. He was thankful for his saltwater-proof phone bag, becoming an impromptu shutterbug. A dozen selfies from smiling to silly were snapped of the two, relishing this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. The glowing waves kept crashing against a plateau, Gwen taking his hand once more, holding him near. "Our future, it's unknown. But one thing is certain, you are no doubt in it. Your arms, they hold me. Your laugh, makes me cringe. That smile, that damn smile has me grin like a fool." She said nearing the formation obstructing the path of the breath-taking blue waves. Sand hearts still visible on their cheeks, she conjured up a spell; smiling with the result being locked away for the moment. Her lungs deeply inhaled the salty air they've become accustomed to, pressing their foreheads together as they stood on said formation surrounded by the dissolving waves. Smiling once more she cupped his cheek, backing away. Her singing voice came on display, dipping herself into the waves; the glowing still visible. "I don't know when, I don't know how. But I know something's starting right now," she sang, bringing a smile to Ben's face, "Watch and you'll see. Someday, I'll be. Part Of Your World." Gwen professed in song, holding the final note with the glowing algae-ridden waves crashing again; holding herself in place as their sand hearts now glowed just like the waves. Ben kneeled, helping her up with tears building up slightly. "Who says you're not already part of my world, Ariel Tennyson?" He asked evidently with affection. Her Merman and his Mermaid kissed as the wind flew passed their drenched hair, the girl chuckling as they separated. "One for the ages, huh Ben?" She asked. "Of course. Who know you could hold a tune?" He said retrieving his phone for one final selfie, capturing both the waves and hearts that still glowed. She kissed his cheek as the final selfie was taken. "I'm framing that one, I love you Ben." She said showing her white teeth. "Likewise, Gwen." He replied, kissing her with another dousing of the waves. Their drenched suits clung to their bodies as they shivered slightly against the kiss, smiling once more as they parted. They looked out at the star-filled horizon, full moon in view, awestruck at the sight. Concluding their perfect Beach Day.
A/N: Hope you're enjoying this! Leave your thoughts below! Thanks to csgt for the banter advice!