It had been a blisteringly hot Summer thus far. The month of August had grown warmer as the days rolled on, but the balmy weather would soon come to an abrupt end, as it always did. So for Kelly and Morgan, two twenty-something best friends, that meant one thing; a beach trip.
Houses whipped past the windows in a blur as they drove, leaving town in their rearview. The paved freeway had become a winding county road as they neared their destination. There were several beaches nearby, one only a stone's throw from home. But its popularity meant large crowds of people this time of year, especially on a gorgeous day like this. From locals to tourists, there would be sun-drenched bodies from one end to the other.
A far better option was a private beach a little off the beaten path, a place where vivid blue water met rolling dunes. Though it certainly had a name, local residents simply referred to it as 'the beach'. Although it was technically private, it wasn't strictly enforced, and its exclusive status did keep out the majority of curious travellers. The area was sparsely populated with cottages, the inhabitants of which were wealthy retirees who didn't frequent the warm sands too often. You'd occasionally spot a local going for a stroll, typically early in the morning or late into the evening, as the sun dipped out of sight on the beach's west end. But for the most part, it remained peacefully still.
Today, however, it was going to have two visitors. The duo pulled onto the grassy shoulder of the gravel laneway, making sure to give plenty of room for other vehicles to slip by. Shifting to 'Park' and stepping out of their air-conditioned sedan into the muggy Summer air, they proceeded to gather the necessary items for the day.
"Can ya grab the towels from the backseat, please?" asked Kelly, as she opened the trunk to retrieve a small cooler.
"Yup, I gotta grab a few other things anyway," Morgan replied, while tucking her hair up under her wide-brimmed sun hat.
"Great, thanks. I have the bag with my tanning oil, hairbrush, and let's see... yeah, your sunblock is here, too."
"Awesome, lock the car and let's go!" said Morgan enthusiastically, as she ambled toward the ocean.
Kelly hadn't stepped foot on this particular beach before, but this wasn't Morgan's first visit to the area. Once a year she would visit for a long weekend with family and friends, for an event affectionately referred to as 'Beach Daze'. Last year she'd spent the majority of the time catching up with rarely seen relatives, eating delicious barbecue, and getting buzzed on coolers. But as much as Morgan enjoyed the annual event, she didn't care too much for a particular individual that always made his presence known; a boy by the name of Marcus.
Although he was neither a blood relative nor a friend, and lived a few hours away, the irritating boy made an appearance every single year. He was typically the last person she wanted to think about, especially on a day like this, but he popped into her head after seeing the white beach drawing ever closer as they strolled along.
A few years older than herself, he'd always appeared to have a fondness for her, affectionately calling her 'Red', an uninspired nickname that she despised. But that wasn't what bothered her most, rather it was a peculiar interest in making her laugh that was the cause of her disdain. Why he insisted upon bothering others was unknown, yet with each passing year he appeared to become more obsessed with one thing: tickling. She wasn't his only target though, as he'd routinely tickle any girl that was careless enough to let their guard down. Whether it was a gentle poke in the ribs, or a scribble of his fingers across an unprotected foot, he seemed to relish in the laughter all the same. But of all the girls he made squeal and jump, he seemed to have her in his sights most frequently, at least from her perspective.
Last year Marcus was noticeably absent, which didn't hurt Morgan's feelings. She didn't hate him per se, but not having to look over her shoulder constantly was a nice change of pace. Perhaps another year would pass by without having to deal with him, which was likely wishful thinking.
But they weren't here today for the beachside get-together, which was still roughly one week away. Rather, they were here to spend the long afternoon in the cerulean water, and on their backs basking in the heat. Today they could be alone, listening to the surf roll onto the beach while they absorbed some solar rays.
"Almost there! I can see the water, it looks so blue," said Kelly, squinting her eyes toward the horizon.
"Mhmm, yeah it looks fantastic! And I don't see any people either,"
They continued to walk, seagulls squawking overhead as the percussion of gentle rolling waves grew louder. Their flip flops slapped gently against their bare feet as the gravel path soon gave way to soft, warm sand. Stepping out onto the beach they took a moment to scout out a good spot. There was no shortage of real estate to choose from, so they walked a bit further, then began setting things up near a large piece of driftwood that had washed ashore.
It was still relatively quiet, apart from the ambient noise from the ocean. There was no one walking their dog, or paddle boarding today. In fact, the only people they could see were far off in the distance, having fun zipping around on jet skis.
"Oh, man. My arm was about to fall off from carrying that cooler," whined Kelly, spinning her arm through the air like a windmill.
"You're fine. Besides, we're here now so it's all good," replied Morgan, kicking off her pastel-pink flip flops.
Kelly followed suit, sending one black sandal soaring through the air. She burrowed her freshly-pedicured toes deep into the sand, and they disappeared as she soaked in its comforting warmth, while enjoying the briny aroma that only seawater can provide. The golden August sun beat down upon them, as tiny beads of sweat formed on their skin.
Morgan wore a rose-coloured, one-piece swimsuit. It had one shoulder strap, and a cutout on her right side, revealing a small section of her pale, freckled skin. She was a natural redhead, which meant the sun wasn't her friend. She'd chosen this particular bathing suit as it covered her curvy figure better than a bikini ever would. In an effort to avoid a nasty burn, she began coating herself with a thick layer of sunblock. She managed to cover most of her exposed body; legs, arms, her face and neck. But she required some help to get the top of her back.
"Hey, can you get me?" Morgan asked, holding out the bottle of SPF50 and giving it a little shake.
"Yup, one sec," came Kelly's reply, as she finished spreading out her large towel on the sand.
Kelly assisted her friend by slathering the lotion over any exposed areas that she'd been unable to reach by herself. Her own skin was a touch darker, and had a somewhat natural defence to UV rays, but Morgan would burn to a crisp without this stuff.
"There ya go, you're all set; totally protected," said Kelly, while reaching out and squeezing her friends side through the hole in her bathing suit.
"Yiieehee!" came a shrill shriek from Morgan. "Get outta here! But thanks for your help, I don't wanna fry out here today, gotta stay cool."
After returning the bottle, Kelly made her way over to the bag they'd brought, fished out her tanning oil, and began to spread it liberally over her bronzed body.
Kelly was a brunette, and stood several inches taller than Morgan. She'd been tanning all Summer long, and the difference in skin tone between the two friends was quite noticeable. The jet-black bikini she chose to wear today accentuated her toned tummy and long legs, and matched the polish on her toes perfectly, while the white cowrie shell anklet resting upon her left ankle added a touch of contrast to her outfit. The tanning oil glistened as she massaged it onto her sun-kissed skin with both hands while staring toward the horizon. The wind had picked up, and the warm, salty air brought along a sense of peacefulness and serenity. When she'd finished the bottle was tossed away, landing upright in the sand.
"I'm pumped we're here today, the temperature's perfect!" said Morgan, enthusiastically.
