nothing is temporary

one | fresh start

I laid my luggage on top of the bed in my room for the summer. Florida was scorching hot for the end of May, the heat such a drastic contrast from Boston.

"You know, I could've had Jeff grab those for you babygirl." Aunt Trish said, crossing her arms over her full chest. Jeff was her boyfriend of the week. Call her the casanova of Carmel Shores, Florida. I don't know how she hadn't dated every man in this small beach town yet.

"I didn't want to bug him. He was already trimming your bushes. The ones outside." I giggled. She swats my arm and kisses my forehead as she brings me into a hug, telling me how much she's missed me without putting it into words.

"I think I'm gonna head down to the beach for a bit." I said, giving her a small smile. All I wanted was to relax under the sun with my copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets collection.

After I changed into my light blue bikini, I covered my bottom half with some jean shorts and walked the short distance of the makeshift-boardwalk to the beach and laid down my towel.

I rested my back against the sand after removing my shorts, sighing a breath of relief and relaxation. A feeling of pride swarmed over me as I realized all my hard work has finally paid off.

I only got half an hour into my book when sand flung over my thighs and I shot up.

"Shakespeare, huh? Beauty and brains."

I stared up at the brunette boy wearing his dashing smile. If I wasn't so pissed off, I'd be blushing.

"You could've got that shit in my eye, asshole." I glared.

"And that's why I kicked the sand towards your legs. It got your attention, didn't it?" He grinned cheekily at me.

I rolled my eyes. "I think 'hello' would've worked just fine."

My phone buzzes to a text from Aunt Trish, asking me if everything is going okay.

"So you seem new here. Carmel caught your attention planning your little vacation, did it?"

"I'm not a tourist. I'm living here for the summer." And hopefully longer.

He plopped down beside me in the sand and crossed his legs. "Well, my summer just got a lot more interesting. What's your name?" He flopped his hair across his forehead.

"It's... Uhm. It's Cass. Cassidy. Cassidy Monarch."

"Well, Cass-Cassidy-Cassidy Monarch, welcome to Carmel. Congrats, you just made your first friend."

I rolled my eyes, but playfully this time.

He threw his head back and groaned. "Did anyone ever tell you you're just a ray of damn sunshine? You sure do roll your eyes a lot." He said sarcastically.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh of course, all the time."

He chuckled to himself. "There's this bar my friends and I go to that doesn't card us, Fishheads. Do you wanna come with me tonight?"

I was thankful for my sunglasses I just put on hiding the way my eyes bugged out of my head at his abruptness. "Is this some attempt to drag me to an unknown location and murder me?"

He shook his head and laughed again. "No, but it is a chance to meet some people. See what Carmel is all about. I don't get off until-" He checks the apple watch on his wrist. "About two more hours. But I can pick you up."

"You're working right now?" I furrow my brows.

He gestures to the big white cross on his red swimshorts. I don't know how I didn't put two and two together sooner. "Saving the lives of pretty women such as yourself one day at a time." He gives me that same smile from before and I melt inside. The boy was smooth - and extremely cute.