The Beach

01

Ethan Marlow

"Hey, loser."I hear my sister's voice above me, causing me to look up at her window. She's poking her head out, looking down at me with an annoyed look before she pulls out some keys "You forgot your keys."

She drops them down and I catch them, shaking my head. When I look back up, she's already closed the window.

She's in a good mood today.

I swing them around my finger playfully before I put them in my pocket and start walking down the street. There are a lot of people here tonight, I think there was some drive-in cinema tonight so that must be why.

I'm not really interested in going. They do it every year around the end of the summer here so I'm kinda used to it. I only go there if there's nothing else to do.

Today I'm going to the beach. I don't go there often so I thought it would be fun. My friend- Len- invited me around an hour ago so he will either be pissed by now or smoking weed by now.

I pull out my pack of cigarettes, seeing there are only three left with two joints next to them, which I don't even know how they got there. I pull out a cigarette, sticking it between my teeth as I dive my hand back into my pocket for the lighter.

When I pull it out of my pocket, I'm met with a clipper and a unicorn drawing on it. I chuckle to myself, knowing my sister Tonya probably put it in there, because she knows I never have lighters.

I light my cigarette, cupping the flame with my hand. It's a little chilly because of the late summer so the flame is kinda warming up my fingers.

That happens when I still go out with a short sleeve flannel and jeans.

When I put my lighter and pack back in my pockets, suddenly my phone rings. I pull it out, taking a drag of my cigarette.

"Ethan, where the fuck are you? It's been one fucking hour and I gave you my last weed."Len's voice bursts through the line, making me hold the phone away from my ear. An old lady that probably heard him gives me a wide-eyed look and I just smile awkwardly.

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down, man. I'm coming."I bring it back to my ear and try to hold back my immature ass for a second, but then I give up and add "That's what she sa-"

"I hate you."he cuts me off before he hangs up, making me chuckle.

He loves me.

I shake my head with a grin creeping on my mouth as I put my phone back in my pocket. I start walking down the street, taking in all the details to kill time. The little stores beneath the big buildings light up the dark street, along with the lamps and the moonlight. Everybody is in a hurry, either in their cars or fast walking. The only ones who aren't in a hurry are in front of the buildings with folding chairs and small tables. There is music and chatter from the balconies, child laughter and probably a hundred pairs of heels hitting the ground. It's hard to walk through this street when It's like this all the time, but I'm trying.

After a few blocks and a couple of bumps into strangers I finally reach my old car. It's nothing fancy, It was my father's. It's the only good thing he could leave behind I guess. It's broken and I have to hit it really hard for it to start, but I almost have the money for a new one.

I get in and slam the door after me, pulling out my phone again. I have to use my fucking flashlight, because the lights here don't work, of course. When the small light flashes, I take the last drag of my cigarette before I toss it out the window. I put the key in, pushing hard when I roll it and when I don't hear anything, I do it again.

After a few tries It finally roars, giving me a sign the car started. I start driving down the street, not even thinking about fighting with the radio right now.