alcohol-free

in the summertime

New Years was never a good day at the beach - not for sober, working lifeguards.

Scattered around were those who'd passed out or fallen asleep on the sand, and party-goers stumbled onto the beach at all hours. The drunk and wasted shenanigans were funny in any other situation, but around the water, they became dangers to themselves and to others, and when it meant that the attention of the lifeguards was taken from saving lives to dealing with the most frustrating people on the planet, well. Was it any wonder lifeguards hated the new year?

For the last five years, Jungkook had worked on New Years Day. It was, technically, a twelve-hour shift that required all his focus and energy (often, he worked overtime.) So he couldn't go out to celebrate, but he preferred it that way. Summer was a hectic season, and as one of the senior lifeguards, his experience was essential for the days when things inevitably went nuts.

He was used to early mornings, when the beach was quiet and the surf was up, so waking up before the sun wasn't a problem. Usually, there was a grace period before people started to arrive and he could wake up more thoroughly. But on New Years Day, things were full-on from the second he arrived at the beach, checking that the people he passed were still alive, and started setting up the flags.

A group of about ten people in their mid-20s stumbled down along the shore, making a beeline for him as he dug a hole in the sand for the flag. He indulged them for a little bit, answering their loud and slurred questions and mildly amused by their antics. He made sure to continuously warn them not to go near the water, and to go home and sober u before coming back later on. They laughed and said they would, but intoxicated people were unpredictable at the best of times.

Jungkook struggled to get back his shovel from a guy who thought it was hilarious to dig a bunch of other holes which he'd have to fill in, and he tried to keep his temper in check. But the moment the shovel was back in his hands, the sound of the buggy engine startled him. He cursed, threw the shovel at the sand, and sprinted after it as it raced down the shoreline. The scream of laughter that peeled out of the two thieves made Jungkook's anger rise.

He caught up when they slowed, and grabbed the frame.

"Hey! Hey, stop! Stop!" He shouted at them.

They were grinning and laughing, clearly wasted, but thankfully, they stopped.

"This isn't on, yeah? Get out of the buggy," Jungkook snapped.

"No fun!" The smaller one with pink hair, glitter over his cheeks, and pouty lips whined at Jungkook. "Let's go for a ride!"

"Get. Out," Jungkook repeated impatiently, glaring. He glanced at the other guy, who was staring at him. "Now," he growled when they didn't move.

He could smell the alcohol on them and it made his stomach churn.

"Come on, ChimChim, Out, out, out!" The driver chanted, pushing his friend's shoulder.

He exhaled in relief when they clambered out onto the sand. ChimChim toppled over onto his back on the sand and laughed brightly. Jungkook rolled his eyes skyward. He would have been amused any other time, but they'd just done one of the worst things they could do to a lifeguard on duty.

"Just... Wow...You're handsome."

Jungkook raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the driver, who had a hand on his bicep and was leaning too close with his disgusting, alcohol and food breath. He removed the hand and took a deep breath.

"And you're wasted," he said. He folded his arms over his chest and tongued his cheek. "Listen. Don't pull that shit again, yeah? You taking that buggy could have cost someone their life, you realise that? You're not the only drunk idiots on the beach right now, and one of them could have gone into the water and drowned while I was chasing you."