"What do you mean you want to go to the beach? I'm swarmed with work right now."
"Do you work at the beach!" I whine. "I need someone to drive, and you're the most convenient choice right now!"
"What do I get by going to the beach?"
"Vitamin D, a nice tan..." I pause. "The sand in your feet as the wind rustles your hair. You like the feeling of the warm sun as it peppers your faces with light—"
"I need to put a muzzle on you." Mint grumbles. "Sold. Wanna invite other people?"
"Chris hates going out, my roommate isn't home right now... maybe Cy?" I pause. "I don't have Cy's number. You call him."
"Is Serena home?"
Serena. My housemate. She's taller than me with curly brown hair and pretty brown skin.
"No. I think Jessie is out too."
Jessie. Serena's roommate. She's shorter with long brown hair and pretty tan skin.
"It can be a mini reunion of some sort." I snort. "Just the three of us."
"Call someone else."
"Estelle's all the way two hours away." I groan.
"Then someone else."
I grumble, searching through my contacts. I'm not close enough to any of my new friends to call them out last minute like I can with Mint. Ugh... why does he hate me... WHY DOES THE UNIVERSE HATE ME—
"...How about Amelia?"
Mint's voice goes quiet on the line, and I gasp. "OUGH!! I forgot about her! I'll call her right now. hit on her all you want, by the way. I think she li—"
"YOU'RE SO EMBARRASSING!" Mint yells, hanging up on me.
He was definitely blushing from that.
I click through my phone to call Amelia, and I grin when she picks up.
"Heyyyyy." I giggle. "You free today?"
"I was planning on doing some homework, but it doesn't seem like I'll get any done. You?"
"About to ruin your plans." I grin. "How does the beach sound? It's starting to get colder, so this is your last chance."
Amelia mumbles on the line.
"Who's going?"
"A guy you don't know and Mint."
Amelia inhales, wondering if she should go.
She should— obviously. She has a crush on Mint too. It's actually the most amusing thing ever— watching the two of them pine after each other. I get such a kick whenever they're together. They're like.. the whole inspiration for everything I write!! Ahh!! I'm so excited to see the two of them hang out!!
"Sure. Will you come pick me up?"
"Mint will." I pause. "He'd never let you move your pretty legs with him around. You know? Oh, just think about him shirtless in the sun! He has such a nice tan! With his dark hair? Oh my go—"
"CRESSIE!" Amelia yells. I'm like 99% sure she's red beyond saving right now. "...What time?"
"Like... around noon? I suppose we'd hang out at the beach and then grab an afternoon snack." I pause. "We'll see. Mint will call you when he goes to pick you up. He lives closest to you anyway."
"...who's the other guy?"
"Mint and I met him in middle school."
Amelia pauses, the puzzles clicking. "THE NERD YOU USED TO HAVE A CRUSH ON?!"
I sputter. "Y-yes?"
"OH MY GOD..." Amelia mumbles. "I'll have Mint ditch you. I will leave the two of you stranded. I will do what I can to help you too."
I laugh, lips pulled into a grin. "Noooo. It's fine. We'll break into it naturally."
Amelia gasps. "No way... you're too good..." She pauses. "Mint's calling. Get changed. We'll be there in fifteen. Oh, if you want to match, I'm wearing the strawberry swim dress."
"Got it!" I chirp back, hanging up as I look for clothes. Technically, I could go in the swim dress alone, but I would hate myself, so I pack a robe to go along with it, changing into it. Besides, isn't it hotter when you pull your shirt over your head at the beach? It's the perfect chance for me to use my feminine charm and charm Cy!
.
BLEGGGGGGGGH I'm not that desperate. Ew.
I take a jacket with me as I lock the house door behind me.
Amelia waves from the car. "Hop in!"
"Are we picking up Cy last?" I slip in, zipping up my jacket.
"He headed out on his bike thirty minutes ago." Mint hums. "You know how he is."
"I'm never going to think of him as sane after he biked to the mountains in August." I grimace.
"Did you redye your hair?" Amelia grins. "I love the blue."
"Ah? No. I just put hair dye in my shampoo. You know?" I hum. "I didn't know it was a trick."
"Oh!" Amelia frowns. "I could have sword I taught you last time..."
"Maybe I forgot." I stick my tongue out. "How are you?"
"I'm good." Amelia mumbles. "You?"
"In one piece." I grin. "Mint?"
"Annoyed."
"Come on. You know you're excited."
"Oh, am I?" Mint raises a brow, pretending to think. "I don't think so."
I raise a brow at him. He's totally trying to act cool with Amelia in the car right now. Oh my god. What if the two of them start going out tomorrow? Oh. Oh... omg I don't think I'm ready for my besties to start dating... would that make me the third wheel or their whiny four year old daughter? I...
"Snap out of it, Cressie. We're here. Whatever you were just thinking about..."
"Is totally going to happen!" I gleam." Oh... young love."
"You're older than the two of us by like. two months max."
"Okay, and? I was here a whole two months before you guys." I pause. "Okay, that's cringe. I need to tone down the animation before I burn myself out before the end of the day again."
"You probably already burned half of it off." Amelia hands me a bag. "Well, at least your charger is here."
"What." I blink. "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?!"
"You know what that means." Mint sighs, taking the bag from me. "Come on. He's here already. He got a nice spot."
"Amelia, do you want me—" I pause.
"Mint is NOT touching me."
"Got it." I give her a thumbs up.
Well. At least it's not the end of the world.