Riptide.
Hold tight, it's gonna get hard to breathe
“What the hell is that!?” Colbie exclaims as we walk up to Bristol’s house. “Please don’t tell me that’s what we're driving in. How will this be comfortable?”
“Instead of spending an obscene amount of money on a rental car, my parents thought it would be cool for us to use my brother’s van while he’s away at Oxford.” Bristol explains as she pops her head out from the back.
“Your brother drives a hippie van?” Meadow chuckles a bit, “I knew there was a reason I loved that boy.”
“He converted the back into one big bed with a mini fridge inside. It’ll be perfect. We won’t have to spend tons of money on hotel rooms either. We can just camp out on the beach or something.”
“I didn’t sign up for this. “Colbie states, uncomfortably moving the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “I signed up for fun in the sun, not a road trip in a hippie van.”
“Where’s your adventurous side?” I question, laughing as I hand Bristol my bags. “All of us agreed on one last adventure. So why don’t we make the best of it?”
“Besides Colbie, aren’t you the one that wants to backpack through Europe?” Meadow hands her stuff to Bristol before turning back to our friend, “you’ll be camping out a lot. And maybe even cuddled up with some hotties in hostels. Take this experience as a way to get used to your new lifestyle.” Colbie just rolls her eyes before handing over to her stuff.
I throw my arm around her shoulders and lean my head against hers, “it’ll be fun. We, as a group, can always turn a less than fun situation into a party. Remember that.”
“I suppose you’re right, Ali.” She laughs. “I can we can turn this rolling acid trip into a party.” Both of us laugh as I get into the brightly colored VW van. It’s time to get this rolling acid trip on the road. I can already taste the salty California air…
**
“Wake up bitches!” Bristol yells causing me to lazily lift my head. When I briefly see the Welcome to California sign, I immediately put my head back down, burying it into my down feather pillow. Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl plays softly in the background is enough to put a smile on my face. For one month this is all I have to deal with; music, the beach, and three of my best friends. If I die this summer, I wouldn’t even be sad. This is all I need in my life.
After settling down and getting changed into bathing suits, we head straight to the beach. Spreading out a huge king sized sheet onto the sand, we get ready for a hardcore session of sun bathing. Our pale New Yorker skin could use some color. We came prepared with suntanning lotion with built in bronzer; we won’t stop til we get a nice caramel color on our skin.
While the girls are working on their tans, I get a little restless. I excuse myself from the group and start walking the beach. I watch the older couples cuddle under an umbrella while the younger couples goof on in the ocean. Kids are running around without a care in the world while their parents worry about their safety. Island in the Sun by Weezer is playing in the distance and everyone is having fun. This is paradise to the busy New Yorker.
I must have not been watching where I was going because I ran right into someone; which knocks me onto the sand. Looking up, I see nothing but muscle, messy long blonde hair and kind blue eyes. He just smiles as he offers me a hand. I let out an embarrassed chuckle as I take his hand and he lifts up onto my feet.
“I’m so sorry.” I tell him as I dust the sand off of me. “I should be more careful where I’m going. I’m not usually this absentminded.”
“I’m fine.” He says in a deep voice. “I wasn’t watching where I was going anyway. I was distracted.”
“I’m Ali, by the way.” I say introducing myself.
“I’m Brody,” he smiles. “You’re not from around here are you?”
“What gave that away?” I ask, “it was the running into you wasn’t it?” A chuckle escapes his lips as he shakes his head, hair falling into his eyes.
“Actually it was the accent,” he replies running his fingers through his hair, removing it from his eyes. “You’re from New York.”
“Manhattan to be exact.” I reply. “Born and raised in New York and pretty proud of it.”
“How about I buy you a smoothie and you can explain to me why you decided to come to Santa Cruz instead of going to the Hamptons?” He suggests causing me to giggle.
“Sounds like a plan…” I smile as he guides me through the crowd and over to a cute little shack that sells smoothies among other things beach goers need.
**
“So why not the Hamptons?” He asks as we sit in the shade. “Don’t they have good beaches up there?”
“My friends and I have been vacationing there all of our lives,” I start, taking a quick break to sip my tropical smoothie, “and we wanted to do something different before college starts.”
“Before you guys start to drift apart?”
“They swear up and down we won’t be those people that drift apart,” I tell him. “But it happens. I’m sure you aren’t friends with half the people you called your “best friends”, are you?”
“Honestly, I haven’t spoken to any of them since our graduation.” He replies. “While I decided that surfing was my passion, the rest retired their boards and got jobs as lawyers, CEOs and record producers. They thought I should have grown up with them.”
“So you’re a surfer, huh?” I ask, changing the subject slightly. “Ever give lessons?”
“Why you’re looking to learn?” He asks, a smirk appearing on his lips.
“Actually, my friend Bristol and I know how to surf.” I reply. “But it’s been forever since we’ve been surfing with our families. But our friends Meadow and Colbie are newbies and could use lessons. We’ll pay you whatever you want.”
“How long are you guys here for?” He asks. “Because I’ve got a competition this week and won’t be able to do it.”
“We’re here for the rest of June and well into July.” I reply. “So whenever you have free time.”
He bites his lower lip in thought before pulling out his cell phone from his camouflage swim trunks. “Put your phone number in and I’ll text you when I figure out my schedule.”
“Thank you so much,” I smile as I type in my number and my name. “Call or text me whenever.” I say as I hand him back his phone. “I should be going back to my friends.”
“See you around, Ali.” He smiles as I wave goodbye and walk back to my friends with my smoothie and a smile on my face.
“Where were you?” Bristol asks as I get back to the group.
“I was just walking around,” I reply. “I ran into a guy and we started talking. He’s willing to give us surf lessons. He’s going to text me when he finds out what his schedule is going to be.”
“Sweet.” Meadow simply states before all of them go back to relaxing under the sun. I can’t help but to think about Brody for some reason. He’s going to be a big part of our summer, I can see it now…
“Instead of spending an obscene amount of money on a rental car, my parents thought it would be cool for us to use my brother’s van while he’s away at Oxford.” Bristol explains as she pops her head out from the back.
“Your brother drives a hippie van?” Meadow chuckles a bit, “I knew there was a reason I loved that boy.”
“He converted the back into one big bed with a mini fridge inside. It’ll be perfect. We won’t have to spend tons of money on hotel rooms either. We can just camp out on the beach or something.”
“I didn’t sign up for this. “Colbie states, uncomfortably moving the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “I signed up for fun in the sun, not a road trip in a hippie van.”
“Where’s your adventurous side?” I question, laughing as I hand Bristol my bags. “All of us agreed on one last adventure. So why don’t we make the best of it?”
“Besides Colbie, aren’t you the one that wants to backpack through Europe?” Meadow hands her stuff to Bristol before turning back to our friend, “you’ll be camping out a lot. And maybe even cuddled up with some hotties in hostels. Take this experience as a way to get used to your new lifestyle.” Colbie just rolls her eyes before handing over to her stuff.
I throw my arm around her shoulders and lean my head against hers, “it’ll be fun. We, as a group, can always turn a less than fun situation into a party. Remember that.”
“I suppose you’re right, Ali.” She laughs. “I can we can turn this rolling acid trip into a party.” Both of us laugh as I get into the brightly colored VW van. It’s time to get this rolling acid trip on the road. I can already taste the salty California air…
**
“Wake up bitches!” Bristol yells causing me to lazily lift my head. When I briefly see the Welcome to California sign, I immediately put my head back down, burying it into my down feather pillow. Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl plays softly in the background is enough to put a smile on my face. For one month this is all I have to deal with; music, the beach, and three of my best friends. If I die this summer, I wouldn’t even be sad. This is all I need in my life.
After settling down and getting changed into bathing suits, we head straight to the beach. Spreading out a huge king sized sheet onto the sand, we get ready for a hardcore session of sun bathing. Our pale New Yorker skin could use some color. We came prepared with suntanning lotion with built in bronzer; we won’t stop til we get a nice caramel color on our skin.
While the girls are working on their tans, I get a little restless. I excuse myself from the group and start walking the beach. I watch the older couples cuddle under an umbrella while the younger couples goof on in the ocean. Kids are running around without a care in the world while their parents worry about their safety. Island in the Sun by Weezer is playing in the distance and everyone is having fun. This is paradise to the busy New Yorker.
I must have not been watching where I was going because I ran right into someone; which knocks me onto the sand. Looking up, I see nothing but muscle, messy long blonde hair and kind blue eyes. He just smiles as he offers me a hand. I let out an embarrassed chuckle as I take his hand and he lifts up onto my feet.
“I’m so sorry.” I tell him as I dust the sand off of me. “I should be more careful where I’m going. I’m not usually this absentminded.”
“I’m fine.” He says in a deep voice. “I wasn’t watching where I was going anyway. I was distracted.”
“I’m Ali, by the way.” I say introducing myself.
“I’m Brody,” he smiles. “You’re not from around here are you?”
“What gave that away?” I ask, “it was the running into you wasn’t it?” A chuckle escapes his lips as he shakes his head, hair falling into his eyes.
“Actually it was the accent,” he replies running his fingers through his hair, removing it from his eyes. “You’re from New York.”
“Manhattan to be exact.” I reply. “Born and raised in New York and pretty proud of it.”
“How about I buy you a smoothie and you can explain to me why you decided to come to Santa Cruz instead of going to the Hamptons?” He suggests causing me to giggle.
“Sounds like a plan…” I smile as he guides me through the crowd and over to a cute little shack that sells smoothies among other things beach goers need.
**
“So why not the Hamptons?” He asks as we sit in the shade. “Don’t they have good beaches up there?”
“My friends and I have been vacationing there all of our lives,” I start, taking a quick break to sip my tropical smoothie, “and we wanted to do something different before college starts.”
“Before you guys start to drift apart?”
“They swear up and down we won’t be those people that drift apart,” I tell him. “But it happens. I’m sure you aren’t friends with half the people you called your “best friends”, are you?”
“Honestly, I haven’t spoken to any of them since our graduation.” He replies. “While I decided that surfing was my passion, the rest retired their boards and got jobs as lawyers, CEOs and record producers. They thought I should have grown up with them.”
“So you’re a surfer, huh?” I ask, changing the subject slightly. “Ever give lessons?”
“Why you’re looking to learn?” He asks, a smirk appearing on his lips.
“Actually, my friend Bristol and I know how to surf.” I reply. “But it’s been forever since we’ve been surfing with our families. But our friends Meadow and Colbie are newbies and could use lessons. We’ll pay you whatever you want.”
“How long are you guys here for?” He asks. “Because I’ve got a competition this week and won’t be able to do it.”
“We’re here for the rest of June and well into July.” I reply. “So whenever you have free time.”
He bites his lower lip in thought before pulling out his cell phone from his camouflage swim trunks. “Put your phone number in and I’ll text you when I figure out my schedule.”
“Thank you so much,” I smile as I type in my number and my name. “Call or text me whenever.” I say as I hand him back his phone. “I should be going back to my friends.”
“See you around, Ali.” He smiles as I wave goodbye and walk back to my friends with my smoothie and a smile on my face.
“Where were you?” Bristol asks as I get back to the group.
“I was just walking around,” I reply. “I ran into a guy and we started talking. He’s willing to give us surf lessons. He’s going to text me when he finds out what his schedule is going to be.”
“Sweet.” Meadow simply states before all of them go back to relaxing under the sun. I can’t help but to think about Brody for some reason. He’s going to be a big part of our summer, I can see it now…
♠ ♠ ♠
The Girls; beach"Rolling Acid Trip"
chapter title credit: Rough Water by Travie McCoy ft Jason Mraz
comment&subscribe? There will be more flashbacks if you guys liked this one. =]