North

Part One - Chapter 1 - June

"Ready? Last one to the beach is a worm-infested potato!"

I looked to my right to make sure that Tyler's chest was fully on the ground, arms jutted out at his sides, hands splayed out on the concrete in front of my front door. His hair swished and caught the light of the summer sun as he turned his head to me, flashing that thousand dollar smile of his.

Just as he was about to say something, I shouted "Go!"

I launched myself off the ground and began my sprint to the beach.

"Hey, wait, that wasn't fair!" I heard him yell behind me.

The cool breeze lifted my bangs from my face, my little legs moving as fast as they could take me. I risk a glance behind me, to see Tyler on my heels, frowning yet somehow smiling all at once. I giggled and picked up the pace, arms pumping by my side, almost tripping in my tiny pink sandals. In the distance, I could make out the stone steps that led down to the sand of Westbrook Shores' beach.

"Almost!"

"I got it!"

I don't think when I get to the top of the stairs, and my feet lift off as soon as my toes feel the edge. Tyler leaps over the flight of stairs with me, and adrenaline fills our miniature bodies as we become weightless birds in midair.

Tyler's feet sink first into the sand. His breath returns, his chest working to bring oxygen back to his system. My lungs spring up with air, as I stand upright from my crouching position and fold my arms as he waves at me.

"See, June? Even if you cheat, I still win."

"Bleh!"

I make a face at him and he laughs sweetly. At the time, I would've done anything in the world to hear him laugh like that. As he fixed his hair, I noticed something along the side of his face... bruises. Black and blue, as if someone had wanted to hurt him. Badly. Of course, asa dumb 8 year old, I barely took caution of my words.

"Where did you get those bruises, Tyler?! They make you look like a superhero!" I giggled.He seemed taken aback at first, and then he stared at me quizzically, curly black hair falling to one side.

"A superhero...?"

"Yeah!" I said, looking up at him and placing my hands on my hips. "It makes you look like you just saved the world! Would you save me if I was ever in trouble, Tyler?"

He stopped for a moment, and his little eyebrows furrowed, his lips forming neither a smile or a frown.

"I don't know if I'd be able to." he said, not looking at me. "Depends what from."

I was about to retaliate, when my sister's voice floated over to us. She stood at the top of the staircase, hands on her knees, attempting to catch her breath. Unlike us in our swimsuits, she was clad in a t-shirt and leggings. She never shared me and Tyler's passion for the beach.

"Guys! Come on, my mom said no jumping off the staircase! And June, she said not to go running off today. You know why."

I bite my lip. I do know why. I don't want to go.

"Do we really gotta?"

May sighs. "Mom says so. I don't make the rules."

She shrugs. A frown etches onto my face as Tyler turns to me.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

I smile and shake my head. "Nah, it's nothin'!"

I punch his shoulder.