It’s always been marinas and shipyards—now it’s endless sand.
The beach seems to go on forever in both directions. Palm trees dot the area, and in the distance there are patches of green and brown. Once on land, the sand is too hot to stand on and she runs through it until she reaches a shady spot. The sand there is cool and squishes between her toes. Thirst momentarily forgotten, she can’t help but be fascinated with this as she wiggles her toes over and over, finally digging her feet deeply into the sand. She wishes she could share this moment with Landon.
The sound of the water crashing against the shore is so relaxing that Summer begins to think of sleep. She finds the perfect spot between two palm trees and curls up on the sand, her head in a patch of grass that smells so wonderful she puts her nose in it. Exhaustion eats at her, and soon her eyes droop until they close in sleep. She doesn’t care that her resting place is on a deserted beach. She’s too tired to.
“ Summer?” Someone shakes her. “Summer? Wake up!” The voice is relieved.
She pops open one of her sapphire blue eyes and meets Jaden’s smiling face. Her other eye pops open too as she takes in her features. Jaden’s skin is burned, but not as badly as her own, and Jaden’s hair’s in a wild fit of tangles around her face. Just like Summer did in her room, she latches onto Jaden and hugs her so closely she’s sure it’s cutting off Jaden’s air supply. Jaden returns the hug for a moment before they both pull away. Summer immediately begins scanning the area for Landon.
“ I haven’t seen him,” she admits, frowning now.
Summer’s eyes snap back to hers with raised eyebrows.
“ I’m sorry. We were separated, and I never found him.” She plops down next to her. “I’ve been searching the beach all morning and nothing.”
Summer’s shoulders slump in disappointment.
“ Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine.” It sounds more like she’s trying to convince herself than anything. “Anyway, the sun’s about to set. I think we should go find some wood and start a big fire. If he’s still out to sea he’ll be able to find us.”
Summer nods enthusiastically. Why didn’t I think of that?
First, they find water inland, much to Summer’s approval. Everything on land fascinates her. She can’t help but touch every plant she comes across and smell the wild flowers growing everywhere. Though it’s uncomfortable to walk without shoes when she’s not on the sand, she can’t help but find even the ground enthralling. Jaden laughs at her several times and even has to remind her to pick up dry wood to burn. She’s not sure how they will start this fire, but Jaden probably knows. Right?
Along with plant life, there are also several bugs she’s never seen before that she can’t help but stare at.
“ Don’t touch that!” Jaden warns suddenly when she reaches for a viney plant. “It’s poison oak. It’ll make you itch and cause a rash. Trust me—stay far, far away from that!”
Summer stares at her in horror and yanks her hand back.
They finally collect a substantial about of wood to burn right as the sun begins to disappear over the horizon. There’s barely enough light left for Jaden to start the fire. How she does it shocks Summer, though. Jaden uses a stone, a stick, and some dried up leaves. When smoke wafts into the air, she blows gently on it, and the leaves begin to glow before they catch fire. It spreads rapidly and soon they have a full-blown fire going. The flames lick wildly at the oxygen infested air with ravenous fingers. It’s highly impressive.
“ So, why don’t you speak?” Jaden asks as they warm themselves next to the fire.
Summer smiles and just shrugs. What can she say? Oh wait, she can’t. Not even when she’s alone. Pathetic .
“ That was a stupid question,” Jaden admits with a slight frown.
There’s an awkward silence between the two. She’s not use to people not knowing
The beach seems to go on forever in both directions. Palm trees dot the area, and in the distance there are patches of green and brown. Once on land, the sand is too hot to stand on and she runs through it until she reaches a shady spot. The sand there is cool and squishes between her toes. Thirst momentarily forgotten, she can’t help but be fascinated with this as she wiggles her toes over and over, finally digging her feet deeply into the sand. She wishes she could share this moment with Landon.
The sound of the water crashing against the shore is so relaxing that Summer begins to think of sleep. She finds the perfect spot between two palm trees and curls up on the sand, her head in a patch of grass that smells so wonderful she puts her nose in it. Exhaustion eats at her, and soon her eyes droop until they close in sleep. She doesn’t care that her resting place is on a deserted beach. She’s too tired to.
“ Summer?” Someone shakes her. “Summer? Wake up!” The voice is relieved.
She pops open one of her sapphire blue eyes and meets Jaden’s smiling face. Her other eye pops open too as she takes in her features. Jaden’s skin is burned, but not as badly as her own, and Jaden’s hair’s in a wild fit of tangles around her face. Just like Summer did in her room, she latches onto Jaden and hugs her so closely she’s sure it’s cutting off Jaden’s air supply. Jaden returns the hug for a moment before they both pull away. Summer immediately begins scanning the area for Landon.
“ I haven’t seen him,” she admits, frowning now.
Summer’s eyes snap back to hers with raised eyebrows.
“ I’m sorry. We were separated, and I never found him.” She plops down next to her. “I’ve been searching the beach all morning and nothing.”
Summer’s shoulders slump in disappointment.
“ Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine.” It sounds more like she’s trying to convince herself than anything. “Anyway, the sun’s about to set. I think we should go find some wood and start a big fire. If he’s still out to sea he’ll be able to find us.”
Summer nods enthusiastically. Why didn’t I think of that?
First, they find water inland, much to Summer’s approval. Everything on land fascinates her. She can’t help but touch every plant she comes across and smell the wild flowers growing everywhere. Though it’s uncomfortable to walk without shoes when she’s not on the sand, she can’t help but find even the ground enthralling. Jaden laughs at her several times and even has to remind her to pick up dry wood to burn. She’s not sure how they will start this fire, but Jaden probably knows. Right?
Along with plant life, there are also several bugs she’s never seen before that she can’t help but stare at.
“ Don’t touch that!” Jaden warns suddenly when she reaches for a viney plant. “It’s poison oak. It’ll make you itch and cause a rash. Trust me—stay far, far away from that!”
Summer stares at her in horror and yanks her hand back.
They finally collect a substantial about of wood to burn right as the sun begins to disappear over the horizon. There’s barely enough light left for Jaden to start the fire. How she does it shocks Summer, though. Jaden uses a stone, a stick, and some dried up leaves. When smoke wafts into the air, she blows gently on it, and the leaves begin to glow before they catch fire. It spreads rapidly and soon they have a full-blown fire going. The flames lick wildly at the oxygen infested air with ravenous fingers. It’s highly impressive.
“ So, why don’t you speak?” Jaden asks as they warm themselves next to the fire.
Summer smiles and just shrugs. What can she say? Oh wait, she can’t. Not even when she’s alone. Pathetic .
“ That was a stupid question,” Jaden admits with a slight frown.
There’s an awkward silence between the two. She’s not use to people not knowing
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