The Beach

“I’m just saying that you all can just stay here. I won’t be upset if you decide that you like my beach house more than your home.” Sawyer said to the two girls lying next to here, both chuckling at Sawyer’s words.

“Trust me, we definitely like your beach house far more than home. It’s on the beach for crying out loud.” Jayce stated like it was more than obvious.

“But we have jobs, unlike these boys who just get by, by playing instruments.” Austin continued, rolling her eyes. “But hey, now we’re not leaving until tomorrow, so you get us for another day.”

It was true, Sawyer had spent the rest of their morning convincing everyone to stay until tomorrow so that they could spend one more day on the beach and enjoy a bonfire, which they hadn’t had the chance to do. Since they had one more day before the girls had to be at their jobs, they reluctantly agreed to stay for one more day and leave after breakfast the next day. Needless to say, Sawyer was proud of herself for getting them to stay for a day longer.

From where Sawyer was laying, she didn’t think either girl was too upset about spending another day on the beach. They looked pretty happy bathing in the sun while the boys played what looked like a horrible game of football. Sawyer was pretty sure they were just waiting for an invitation to stay later, as an excuse to avoid going home, but whatever, she didn’t care. She wanted them there.

It had been a long time since she had met people she felt at ease with. Aside from her best friend, she didn’t really talk to anyone much in California. Ever since she started dating Jake, the only person who really stuck by her side was her best friend, while everyone else slowly dwindled away. Macy was the only person who really saw her on a regular basis. Mostly, she hung out with Jake and his circle of friends since hers no longer really came around. Being around Alex and his friends, it felt normal. She felt like she knew them all as long as she had known Alex. It was amazing to her that she had managed to feel so at ease with them.

She really didn’t want them to leave Like, at all.

She wanted nothing more than to move to Baltimore just so that she could spend her days with Austin and Jayce, but she knew that she couldn’t, because really, she knew that she wouldn’t actually be able to. It wasn’t even her job she was worried about, and being near Alex was all too appealing. It was really that she knew that she couldn’t stand to be that far away from her best friend. 3000 miles was far too far away. Macy was her other half, and as much as she felt so at home with Alex’s friends, and as much as she desperately wanted to be closer to Alex, she couldn’t abandon her best friend.

“Its true. I did manage to convince you that another day was worth it. Plus, we know I’m going to have to come visit the two of you constantly. There’s no way that I could stand to be away from you for too long.” Sawyer tried her best to reassure the girls.

“Now if only you could just move to Baltimore, that would be perfect. I’m actually kinda pissed that Alex hid you from us for so long. I mean, honestly. What a selfish bastard.” Jayce said with a huff, causing the two girls next to her to giggle.

“I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better, I’ve hid Alex from everyone else as well. I think it’s kinda just how we operate.” Sawyer said with a small smile.

“It only helps because I like you more than I like Alex. But that’s it.” Austin stated, and Sawyer let out a small chuckle.

“Who do you like Sawyer better than?” Alex asked as him and the other three boys approached the girls. Austin gave him a sweet smile before shrugging, closing her eyes as she settled back into the sand, the smirk on her face telling everyone that she was definitely hiding something.

“We’re just talking about how I’ve replaced you as everyone’s favorite person. Austin and Jayce are trying to convince me that Maryland is a much better place to live than California. It’s not panning out so well for their argument though.” Sawyer said with a laugh as she sat herself up on her elbows.

“I have to say that as nice as California is, and as great of a vacation spot it is, it’s no Maryland.” Alex agreed, sitting on the edge of Sawyer’s beach towel, the other guys following suit and sitting down with the girls.

“Exactly. It’s no Maryland. It’s better. California has sun, it has snow, it has desert, it has forest, it has beach and mountains. Literally, we have everything. It’s amazing there. Why do you think I live there?” Sawyer said with a scoff. How in the world Alex could believe that Maryland would be better than California. “Plus, who is dying to move to Maryland? No one. Everyone is dying to move to California.” Sawyer finished. Alex rolled his eyes.

“I say we just kidnap Sawyer and take her home with us.” Jack said with a large smile spread across his face as Sawyer turned to glare at him for the suggestion.

“I have to go home eventually. Remember, I have a job? The only way that I’m able to even come to Virginia for such a long vacation is that the company I work for agrees to let me work from home and only come in for meetings and such. But I still have to go into work.” Sawyer said with a roll of her eyes.

“ Whatever.” Jayce said, rolling her eyes. “Who needs a job?”

“I do, but right now, I need food. I’m gonna go grab lunch. Anyone else want anything?” Sawyer said, standing up and stretching as she did.

In the end, Alex ended up going with Sawyer, walking off to go fetch Pizza for everyone to bring back to the beach.

“I’m glad that everyone decided to stay for another day.” Sawyer said as they sat outside the pizza parlor, waiting for the pizza’s they had ordered to be ready. They were sitting on the ground, leaning against the building, Sawyer curled up into Alex’s side.

“I don’t think Jack was joking about kidnapping you.” Alex said with a smile on his face, pulling Sawyer closer to him with the arm he had wrapped around her.

“I’m kinda thinking he wasn’t. So when they go home tomorrow, please make sure that Jack doesn’t throw me into the trunk, tied up, with all of the luggage.” Sawyer said, earning a laugh from Alex.

“I’m just picturing you all tied up now.” Alex whispered into her ear, causing a blush to form on Sawyer’s pale cheeks.

“Well, your friends do leave tomorrow,” She said, flickering her eyes up to meet his gaze. “And we will have the beach house all to ourselves again.”

“Why did you invite them to stay for another day?” Alex groaned, and Sawyer giggled, turning just enough to be able to lean up and kiss the brunette man.

“I hate to break it to you, but I really do love your friends. I might actually take them and make them my friends. I hope that you can manage knowing that I’m planning on stealing your friends from you.”

“I have faith that they won’t all leave me” Alex said, which only caused both Alex and Sawyer to burst up laughing.

“I really did miss this. I’m glad that, even with all the drama, that this is how this summer went.” Alex said, and Sawyer looked at him with her eyebrows raised, because honestly, Alex must be delusional.

“You got to meet my friends, we got to act like we’re in high school and sneak around. And I still got to spend my summer with you.” Alex said. He looked at her, desperately trying to find a way to say what he wanted to say to Sawyer.

“Pizza’s ready.” The couple looked up from their spot to see one of the pizza workers standing at the door, looking at them with a bored expression on his face.

“Awesome. Thanks.” Sawyer said with a smile, before getting up and turning to Alex. He gave her a small smile, standing up before following her back into the Pizza shop to retrieve their pizzas.

Alex sighed as they walked back to the beach with 4 pizzas. He almost had his chance.