I just know that when it reaches winter time in this story, it'll be next summer for me.

Play It Cress-cendo: Part Two

Unlike the parking lot, it was so much easier to find a spot on the beach. They snagged a spot in the middle of the ocean and the beachside shops. They kept their distance from other patrons and families. Cinder and Winter brought the big umbrellas and Kai and Wolf staked them in the ground as the others put down their towels and beach chairs.

Once their beach spot was set, most of the shawls, shirts, and tanks were ditched. Only Cress kept hers on as she and Thorne went to check the refreshments with Kai while Scarlet and Wolf went straight to the water. Cinder and Winter sat down on two of the chairs, lying and basking with their sunglasses.

"Remember the last time we were at the beach?" Winter asks softly, turning to face Cinder who's already looking at her.

"How could I forget?" Cinder responds.

Orion's Beach and the beach fire is forever burned in their minds. The crowded party, the drugs and alcohol. A hazy memory but a permanent one. The night was horrendous but the consequences made it traumatic. One of their classmates died, Winter got the scars underneath her right eye and fell deeper into her delusions that stemmed from her father's death. Cinder, Iko, Jacin, and Kinney healed in comparison but it hurt them to see Winter falling off the deep end.

Then the Blackburns moved across the world and the rest is history.

Cinder didn't think Winter would've ever wanted to go back on any beach, even one across the world.

"The blood visions aren't bad anymore," Winter says. She has been feeling better since the move to Commonwealth and seeing Dr. Darnel for sessions. A new start is what she needed. "I don't remember the last time I saw blood on the walls but sometimes I'll just pause and need a minute."

Cinder nods, holding Winter's arm. She was never good in these situations but she's learned that all people need is someone who will listen and support them.

"Sometimes my mind drifts to Orion's Beach," Cinder reassures. "Look, if it gets too intense or something here triggers you, tell me. Tell me and we'll be out of here before the next tide comes in."

Winter smiles a little. "I'll be fine. Thank you."

"You might be but I won't. Seriously, Winter, tell me."

"I will. I promise."

-o-

Throughout the beach, many children were building elaborate sandcastles. Tall towers, engraved tiles, deep moats and long bridges. Contrary to the sand architecture, Kai and Scarlet dug a hole. A deep one that went down about six-feet. Kai had to slip inside to continue digging deep and Scarlet pushes the excess sand to the side so it wouldn't fall back in the hole and hinder their progress. Once it was deep enough, Scarlet helped Kai out. Together, they cover the hole with a grid of long strands of beachside grass by the coast, layering it like a straw-picnic blanket. To camouflage it, they brush on a thin layer of sand to cover the green grass. They're cautious not to make the sand layer too heavy so the grass cover falls in.

"Now what?" Kai asks.

Scarlet looks around. "I don't see Thorne or Cinder nearby."

Their two targets for their trap.

"Cinder's by the cliffside taking picture with Winter and Thorne," Kai says, pointing them out. "Cress is back at our base reading a book … and Thorne is now taking selfies with Cinder and Winter."

"Nerd," Scarlet says with utmost love and a smirk.

"Wolf's over there."

A mischievous grin crawls on her lips as she wipes some sweat with the back of her wrist. "Even better." She raises her hand to wave and get his attention. "Babe! Come help us with something!" She quickly looks at Kai. "Record this."

As Kai takes out his phone, which isn't a strange sight, Scarlet stands up as Wolf walks over. She smiles at him, opening her arms for a hug which she knows he'll fall for … and literally fall into.

Wolf doesn't even open his arms before stumbling into their sand trap as if he fell through a cartoon trapdoor. Scarlet falls on her knees, clutching her sides that hurt from laughing so hard. Kai's brought to tears too, happy he captured the entire moment to keep forever. Wolf cusses loudly, using his extensive vocabulary of profanity in the family-friendly zone of the beach.

"Come here!" Wolf jumps and grabs Scarlet, nearly pulling her in with him. That's the moment Kai stopped the recording and fled.

Scarlet yelps, clawing onto the sand to keep herself on the surface. She holds on for dear life and is relieved when Wolf climbs out instead, lying on his stomach beside her. His arm stretches across her back, pinning her to the ground. Scarlet manages to roll on her side and she faces him just to catch a look at his sand-coated abs and tattoos. Even her small tomato vine tattoo wasn't immune to a sand scrub.

"It was meant for Thorne," Scarlet whispers to him.

"Was it now?" Wolf teases, raising a brow.

"Thorne first, Cinder second, you third by default."

Wolf leans in closer to her. "We can still get them. They'll be busy capturing the best natural lighting."

"Stars, I love you." Scarlet looks around for Kai. "Kai, get back here! We're doing it again!"

-o-

Out of all the guys, Thorne was the only one willing to take their photos. Not only did he want the photography credit and the chance to pose in his own, but he had some artful suggestions that annoyed Cinder but made Winter happy, which are some of his life goals.

"I'm going to get sand everywhere," Cinder grumbles as she lies directly on the sand beside Winter. Thorne stands between them, holding Winter's phone to capture the shot of them lying down so that it looks like they're in front of a sand wall.

"Worth it," Winter says as she smiles brightly through her sunglasses. "We can make sand angels!"

"Stars, no."

"Do it, Cinder, for the photo!"

Back home in Luna, since it doesn't snow there, snow angels were exchanged for sand angels. Much warmer than the snow but at least snow melted off their bodies sooner than later. Sand stuck forever.

Finally, Cinder joined Winter in moving her arms up and down in circular motion making sand angels. Thorne laughs as he continues to take pictures.

-o-

Cress felt so relaxed on the beach. She didn't think she would enjoy reading a book under a beach umbrella, lying on beach towels on the sand. Fresh air, light breeze, ocean waves in the background. She should do this more often, even if she just reads in her backyard or the park.

"Crescent Moon!"

Cress looks up from her book to see Thorne kneeling in the sand and holding his phone to take her photo. She smiles, hiding her face behind her book.

"Crescent Moon, come out in the sun!" He exclaims.

"Can't make me!" Cress yells back.

"Yes, I can!"

Thorne stands and walks over to her. Cress uses her sunglasses as a bookmark as she puts her book down, knowing that this situation won't end well unlike the book (but a girl can try). When Thorne approaches her, sun-kissed, Cress opens her arms and doesn't struggle when Thorne whisks her off the sand and she squeals as they spin and the sun hits them again.

"How about I throw you in the ocean?" Thorne asks, rocking Cress back and forth as he walks them closer.

"No!" Cress squirms into him, holding her arms around his neck tighter. "I'm still in my clothes!"

"Gotta change that," Thorne teases.

Cress's face burns and she blames the sun on her face. "I'm telling Wolf to chuck you into the ocean."

"Would you save me?"

"If the stars are in your favour." She pecks his cheek.

Thorne laughs a little. "Oh no, don't think you can kiss me to get out of this."

"What if I cling onto you for dear life?"

Thorne pauses. That does sound like a good option. "Okay, Crescent Moon, the stars are in your favour."

As for who fell in the trap, I left that decision up to my good ol' Random Name Generator.