𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 • Miguel Cazarez Mora

III: BEACH

"You know I can't do sports, guys," Tatum whined. It was beach day, and Mason had suggested they played volleyball. Everyone agreed, except Tatum, who hadn't done a single PE lesson since elementary school.

"Shut up, Tatum," said Tristan playfully. She was on his team, along with Brady and Becca. The other team was of course Miguel, Maddy and Mason.

"Hey, that's unfair," Maddy said, pointing at the other team, "It's four versus three!"

"Tatum can barely play, so she doesn't count," Miguel said, earning a glare from Tatum as she threw the ball at his face. To her dismay, he caught it. She rolled her eyes at him and made her way to her side of the net.

They played for a good ten minutes, Tatum running away every time the ball came towards her. Eventually, Miguel served the ball and it went flying for Tatum. Before she could move out of the way, the ball hit her in the face and knocked her to the ground.

Her vision went blurry for a second, before she came to her senses and became aware of the throbbing pain in her nose. Everyone walked over to her, apart from Miguel. Instead, he ran, making it to Tatum even quicker than Tristan, Brady, and Becca, even though they were closer than him.

"Holy shit, Tatum. I'm so sorry. I promise you that wasn't on purpose, I meant to serve to Tristan. I'm sorry!" Miguel rambled, crouching down next to Tatum. Mason and Tristan looked to each other, smirking as if they could tell exactly what the other was thinking. Brady and the girls, although surprised at Miguel's sudden change in attitude, seemed clueless as to why the two boys looked so smug.

"Jesus, chill," Tatum said. She blinked a few times to regain her vision. When she looked up, she noticed just how close Miguel was. "I'm fine," she said. Miguel stood up, holding a hand out to help Tatum. She reluctantly took it, dropping it as soon as she stood up.

"I think that's enough volleyball," Brady said, "Call it a tie?"

"Don't be an idiot," Becca replied, "They totally kicked our ass." Everyone laughed, making themselves comfortable with towels on the sand.

The rest of the day flew by, they swam in the sea until the sun began to set, and they made their way back to their towels. "The sunset is so pretty," Tatum said, smiling up at the sky. Miguel stared at her, although she didn't notice. In fact, no one except Mason and Tristan did.

He noticed the way her hair looked after being in the sea. When it wasn't quite dry, but also not wet. It was wavy and fell onto her shoulders perfectly. He noticed the way she looked with no makeup on. Light freckles scattered across he face. You wouldn't notice them unless you were paying close attention. He definitely was.

"He's totally crushing," Tristan whispered to Mason.

"Obviously. Do you think she likes him back?" Mason asked.

"Honestly, I can't tell. If there's one thing I know about Tatum, it's that she knows how to hide how she feels. Even if she did, she wouldn't tell anyone. Not even me."

"Why is that?"

"Why is what?"

"Why does she hide the way she feels?"

"I don't know. Some people are just like that, I guess. Closed off."

Mason nodded, watching the two until Miguel finally looked away, looking up at the sunset. They all enjoyed moments like this. When everything was peaceful. They liked when their group was hectic, but they also liked how they could just relax with each other. Tatum leaned her head back, closing her eyes and taking in the beach air. Peace.

Back at home, Miguel lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling. His phone pinged, startling him out of his thoughts.

we know your secret

TRISTAN added MIGUEL
TRISTAN added MASON
TRISTAN added BRADY
TRISTAN added BECCA
TRISTAN added MADDY

TRISTAN
hello miguel...

MIGUEL
this is so ominous
what's happening

BRADY
hi guys
what is this
why is everyone except
tatum on here

MASON
because tatum can't be here

MADDY
that's a little harsh

BECCA
r we planning her a surprise
party?

BRADY
her birthday is forever away

MIGUEL
idek when her birthday is

BECCA
of course you don't

MASON
oh but i think you do

TRISTAN
LOL

MIGUEL
what is going on

BRADY
^^

MADDY
^^

BECCA
^^

TRISTAN
are you guys ready
for
the big reveal
the biggest reveal of your lives
the most shocking secret ever

MIGUEL
get to the point

MASON
miguel likes tatum

TRISTAN
i wanted to tell them

BRADY
no he doesn't idiots

BECCA
are you guys dumb

MADDY
he hates her

MIGUEL left

Miguel scoffed. They were being dumb. Of course he didn't like Tatum. It was known that they hated each other. He assumed their theory came from what happened at the beach, with the volleyball. He found it dumb that they took that and turned it into something else. He was just being nice. He hated Tatum, but he didn't wanna hurt her. That's why her reacted the way he did, no other reason.

Why would he like her?

private messages

TRISTAN
i'm not clueless
i can tell
the way you look at her
maybe you just haven't
noticed yet

MIGUEL
i look at her the way i look
at everyone else
leave it alone man
i don't like her
plus why would you even sugest
that?
don't you guys have a thing going
on?

TRISTAN
what makes you say that?

MIGUEL
the sleepover at mason's place
the other morning
when i came in to get my shoes

TRISTAN
omg no
we were having a tickle fight
you just walked in at a really
awkward moment

MIGUEL
sure i did

TRISTAN
i'm serious

MIGUEL
alr alr
but i still don't like her

TRISTAN
you acted rlly weird when
you thought you caught us
making out

MIGUEL
i was grossed out

TRISTAN
you wished it was you
seen 22:34

"No I don't," Miguel said aloud, putting his phone on his bedside table and rolling over to sleep. He wouldn't usually sleep now, 10pm was early for him, but he didn't want to be awake with his thoughts. Why not? He didn't know. What thoughts were there that he didn't wanna think about?