In with the Tide

Anna’s POV~ I sat on a towel on the beach with my legs crossed. My large t shirt covered me well enough that I wasn’t too concerned. For now, that is. I squinted as I looked around, searching for someone in particular. The beach was decently populated for noon on a Friday in early June. Tonight though there will be so many people I wont be able to simply look for Ian. My eyes finally landed on a familiar figure coming up through the masses and I smiled jumping up. Ian is my best friend. We grew up next door to one another, we were best friends from the start. You would think we were two halves of one person the way we are. My best friend is tall, a generous 6’4”, and was rock solid from years of football and wrestling. He was way more outgoing than me, though, and dragged me along with him. Sandy ash brown hair that was shaggy and just past his ears, hazel eyes, and a playful smile completed his look. He jogged over to me. “Are you really swimming in the kitten shirt?”, he said hugging me. He wasn’t too much taller than me, me who was a cool 6’ of course. I rolled my eyes at him in response. “No hello, no sorry I’ve bailed on you at least 5 times in the last week alone?”, I said as I pulled back. Hands on hips I gave him a look, one he is all too familiar with. He ran his hands through his hair and then hooked his thumbs in the back of shirt and swiftly yanked it over his head. He was so graceful and precise sometimes I wondered if he practiced. “God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bail on you A. Just that end of the year got in the way, and then Jayden’s family went on a quick vacay and I was invited. I’m real, real sorry and I’ll make it up to you, promise”, he said sticking a pinky out. I eyed it and considered it. I mean, if our roles were reversed I too would choose a tropical getaway with my love and her family. If only Jayden wasn’t ickkkkk. I sighed and accepted his pinky. “Fine, of course I forgive you. It’s just lonely out here without you. And fighting off seagulls is no easy feat, mind you”, I said playfully admonishing him. He smiled knowing he had successfully gotten back into my good graces. Not like he had left them truly though, and he knew that. I could never be mad at him. “Now look. I really don’t understand what’s with you and a t shirt right now, you cannot get in the ocean with that thing on. You’re literally perfect”, he said gesturing to my body. I frowned slightly, pulling on the edges of my oversized t shirt. I looked out around us at all of the people. It felt like everyone was watching even though I knew they weren’t. I looked down at myself and thought for a moment. I was a sturdy girl. I was an athlete and my body was still a little, pudgy we’ll say. I was muscular and fast but I was not little and I was self conscious at best. Outside of a basketball court, that is. Or a volleyball court. Or any sport, really. I had done them all. However volleyball was definitely my favorite. Senior year was coming up and I was ready for my final school season and then special teams season. I smiled to myself and thought, what’s the worst, people stare? And I shed my t shirt to reveal my most favorite swimsuit, a tie dye bikini. Ian erupted into applause for me and danced around me in a circle, pretending to bow down to me. I c****d an eyebrow at him and grabbed my paddle board and began marching down towards the shore. He shuffled behind me quickly with his own in tow. “I mean really girl you can’t expect me to believe that all the boys don’t absolutely fawn all over you?”, he said pushing me playfully. “They still see me as a girl or nothing at all, I’m good at being invisible, thank you”, I dropped my board down and faced him. “You wouldn’t get it. Now are we gonna board are what?” He shrugged and dropped his board and we walked out through the water until we found a good waist-deep spot. I found my way up to sitting on the board. I knew I had to be careful and at least a bit ladylike because in this suit, I could easily flash someone. I shuddered at the thought of showing the array of folks on the beach my goodies. I stood up and began paddling myself in circles to find my balance and my flow. I turned to watch Ian for a moment. He had begun doing handstands on his board, at least trying to. I laughed a full belly laugh when he lost his balance and went tumbling into the water, only to burst the surface moments later. She shook the water from his face and hair, smiling. “To the cove?”, he asked, straddling his board. “To the cove”, I said. . . . I watched the sun burn brighter and brighter as it slipped down in the sky. It must have been 3 pm by the time we slowed down took a break. We had landed in an area that tourists didn’t go, a place we called The Cove, a beautiful slice of peace and paradise. I’m sure other people went here but we never ran into anyone and we never told anyone where this place was. Except our parents- they knew where we were. I sat down and breathed it all in. The salty ocean smell, the fresh air, the peace. I felt so at ease, at home when I was on the beach. I sat cross-legged and felt Ian plop down beside me. “Holy sh*t, what a workout, huh? That was incredible”, he leaned back on his elbows, taking huge breaths. I had a hard time believing this was hard on him because he worked out literally every day- he was built, lean, and a literal machine if I had to wager. “What do you think, have we gone like 6 miles or more already?” “My watch says we have gone about 4 miles. It does feel like a bit more, though”, I said shrugging my shoulders, his face shifting into an incredulous look. “For f*ck sakes. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a beach bonfire tonight, would you? It’s a start of summer party, it’d be fun”, he smiled while nudging me. I d**g my toe through the sand, considering it. I didn’t usually go to parties. I didn’t like making a fool of myself and didn’t care for the crowds. But I was trying to be a more outgoing various of me and experience things. I could handle a simple bonfire party, right? “Sure, that could be fun”, I said nodding. Ian smiled in relief. I didn’t know what was so relieving- I mean it wasn’t like all his friends, fans, and groupies wouldn’t be there to spend time with him.