The Beginning Of The End | Cosmic Love Series

twelve - go find your reason

When it comes to the seasons of the year, I'm not too picky. I like all four of them equally and all four of them are special for a reason. But if I had to choose, summer would be my favorite. Living in California, summer was when I could enjoy the blessing that it is having bright sun all year long without a care in the world.

And I loved a good day out on the beach, under the burning sun and swimming into the ocean whenever I pleased.

Today, though, it was time to say goodbye. Fall season had started a couple of weeks ago but it was only these past few days that the weather was fully changing and the long summer days were long gone.

"I can't believe you don't know how to surf." Noah commented while he removed his surfboard from the back of his jeep, and I grabbed my backpack, tossing it over my shoulder.

"I just don't." I shrugged. "But I kinda wanted to, though."

It was Sunday morning, the waves were fantastic and the sun wasn't too hot. It was the perfect day and the perfect way to say goodbye to summer. Which, in a nutshell, served as an excuse for us all to get together. Which has become somewhat regular these days.

During one of our many hangout sessions after class the other day, Kyle discovered Carter loved to surf as much as he did. Then, Ben and Noah joined in on the topic, saying they surf as well and, before we knew it, it was a plan.

The beach we were at today wasn't anything like the secluded beach where we had our bonfire party a few weeks ago. That was an almost private beach, hidden by the surrounding rocks that had been sculpted by the ocean throughout the time, while this one was a wider beach. Big sand area, a lot of entrances and exits. The kind of beach your parents take you to.

We were all spending the day at the beach today, as a form of waving the summer goodbye. The boys were surfing while me and the girls were just sunbathing.

"I don't know how you deliberately want to move to the East Coast and say goodbye to this weather." I questioned my cousin before throwing my head back, enjoying the sun warming my face.

"You're moving away?" Chloé, laying on her towel that was stretched between mine and Harper's, asked, turning her head to my cousin's direction.

"Yeah. I'm hoping to go to college in New York next fall."

"Oh, really?" Harper nodded in agreement before Chloé added. "My brother goes to college there. He's majoring in Human Rights at Columbia University."

"No way!" At the sound of the college name, Harper grew a dreamy expression on her face that slowly vanished. Knowing Harper like the back of my hand, I could see her brain being filled with self doubt and lack of confidence in herself. "I really wanted to get into Columbia, but I don't know if I will..."

The bond between me, Chloé and Harper - altogether as a trio -, has grown so much stronger. Chloé was so used to hanging out with the guys all the time that me and Harper tagging along was a real perk for her. On the other hand, Harper and I appreciated the new female friendship, as opposed to being just the two of us all the time.

"My brother got in with a scholarship." Choé explained. "He's a real nerd."

"What about you?" Harper asked, sitting up straighter. Her strawberry colored hair glistened underneath the sun.

"Oh, the cold weather isn't for me. I've got other plans."

"Do you already know what you want to major in?" I asked.

"I don't even know if I want to do college..." She took a pause, and Harper and I looked at her, waiting for her to add something else to her statement. "It just feels like it's a decision that's being made for me, you know?"