Summer’s First Kiss

Summer always flew by, and school always came too soon. But this summer wasn’t like the others. Summer was my life. It was the only time I really felt like I was living. Sun-kissed skin, the smell of salt water in my hair—that was my thing. It always had been. Every year, my brother and his friends would crash at our beach house, a tradition that started long before I could remember. They felt like family, like I had six older brothers for three months out of the year. It was chaotic and loud and weirdly comforting. It felt normal. Maggy—my best friend since diapers—came for a week at the start of summer and another week before it ended. The boys drooled over her every time. And honestly? I couldn’t blame them. She was tall (but not too tall), with clear glowing skin, naturally rosy cheeks, and long, pin-straight hair that somehow looked good even first thing in the morning. Meanwhile, I was… not that. I was short. My skin was splotchy with sunspots, my cheeks perpetually sunburned, and my dark brown hair had a mind of its own—wavy, frizzy, and always in my face. The only thing I truly liked about myself was my eyes. Deep ocean blue when it was cloudy, but when the sun hit them just right, they glowed green like ivy. Maggy’s eyes were a rich, velvety brown, like the Milky Way—warm, soft, and somehow always more impressive. She was good at that—beating me. At everything. Sports, boys, you name it. She didn’t even try. She just was. By the time I was packed and ready, my brother and his best friend Luke were already on their way. It was tradition—they'd drive the three hours to pick me up and bring me to the beach house. Luke had always been like another brother to me. He was flirty, sure, but he flirted with everyone. At least, that’s what I told myself. At exactly 12:26, I got the text: "Almost there." I sighed, flopping onto my bed. I still had a few things left to shove into my suitcase. Maggy sat at the edge of the bed, her voice impatient but playful. “Come on, Shelly. Just a few more things and you’re outta here.” I grinned, threw the last of my clothes in, and collapsed dramatically onto the floor. “Oh—and I bought you some new swimsuits!” Maggy said, holding up a bag like it was gold. “Really? You’re the best,” I said, hugging her tight. “I gotta run—Max is outside waiting for me. Can you help me with my bags?” “Of course.” She kissed my cheek and we walked out together. She loaded her bags in the backseat, then turned to me with a wave and one last hug. “Alright, see you in a week or two. Don’t forget about me, beach girl.” I smiled. “Never.” Just as she left, Luke leaned out the passenger window and called, “Whoa! What happened to shy little Shelly? Who is this hottie?” My brother smacked him on the back of the head and yanked him inside. I couldn’t help smiling. Not that I’d let him see it. I climbed into the car and opened my phone. “So,” Luke asked, grinning, “how’ve you been?” “Alright,” I mumbled, eyes still on my screen. In one quick move, he snatched my phone. “You got a boyfriend? Who you texting?” he teased. “Give it back! Why do you care?” I shouted, reaching across the seat. “Hey! Hey! Please don’t make me regret driving,” my brother snapped, hands tight on the wheel. “We’re barely 10 minutes in and I’ve got a headache already.” The rest of the ride was a mess of blasting music, off-key singing, and stupid jokes. We screamed the lyrics to Frank Ocean like our lives depended on it. It sounded like someone was being murdered in the back seat—but it felt good. Familiar. When we finally pulled into the driveway, all the guys were already outside, White Claws in hand, tan and smiling like they'd been here all summer. My brother and Luke jumped out to grab my stuff. I was just gathering my bag when the car door suddenly swung open—and before I could react, two of my brother’s friends yanked me out and spun me in the air. It was Ryan. Sweet, nerdy, too-strong-for-his-own-good Ryan. I’d had a crush on him once, back when I still wore braces and called myself “one of the guys.” He set me down gently, and one by one, the boys pulled me into a hug. But something felt… different. The way they looked at me—it wasn’t the same. It was how they looked at Maggy. And it was weird. “What the hell? Who is this and what did you do with Shelly Belly?” Charlie joked, squinting at me. “Max, bro—you picked up the wrong chick,” Chris laughed. I tried to keep a straight face, but my smile gave me away. Before they could say anything else, I grabbed my bags and bolted upstairs. My room. Just like I left it. Cozy, familiar, stuck in summer. The lamp on my nightstand was still on from the last time I stayed here. It smelled like salt and old sunscreen and waves crashing in the distance. I dropped my bags on the bed, stepped inside, and took a deep breath. And for the first time that summer, I felt like I was home. (Hii, it’s me! Sophia! As you can see I redid what I had in the last three chapters and put it all in one! As well as fixing up spelling errors that I had made when I was 14 🙏. Let me know how u like this new version! Love ya and thanks for reading!)