Forever Misunderstood [Hailee Steinfeld]

XV

The soothing sounds of the wave crashing onto the rocks and the briny smell of the seawater overwhelmed my senses as I stepped onto the beach. Liv ran ahead, setting her beach towel in the shade of the overgrown trees. "Hailee, get here. This is prime real estate right here." She excitedly pointed to the sand surrounding her.

I settled right next to her, laying my towel in the same shade, afraid of getting any more sunburnt after spending yesterday at the pool. "Liv, do you need any sunscreen?" I lay on my mat, applying sunscreen on all my exposed skin. "Sure." I tossed her the sunscreen as I settled into my towel, reaching for my unfinished book. That's when Liv lunged and snatched the book out of my hand.

"Why'd you do that?" I looked at her dumbfounded. She pointed over my shoulder to Percy and Y/N, walking to the beach with four surfboards. "What the—" "Exactly, get suited up." Liv ran to Percy and helped him carry the surfboards. 

"Hailee and Liv, let's get you a wetsuit." Percy pointed to the store near the parking lot. "Do I have to surf?" I turned to Y/N and asked. "Yes." He snapped back before laying out the surfboards in front of me. I was apprehensive about surfing for two reasons: first, I had no surfing experience. Second, I didn't want to embarrass myself before new friends.

Okay, that's a lie. I didn't want Y/N to see me all clumsy and off-balance as I struggled to catch a wave.

I shook my head desperately, but Y/N wouldn't take no for an answer. "Come on, Haiz. Don't be a spoilsport." He flashed a warm and convincing smile, which made me slowly get to my feet while cursing myself internally for folding so quickly. "Lovely," Liv commented as she followed Percy to the rental store.

"Scared?" Y/N asked me as he slowed down enough for me to catch up with him. "Slightly." I looked over at the waves loudly crashing into the rocks. The sight was enough to induce a wave of fear in my body. "I am, too; it's my first time." His comforting hand settled on my lower back, applying gentle pressure, urging me to try surfing with him. The skin-to-skin contact sent an electric feeling up my spine, giving me enough courage to give this a shot.

"So, Percy is the only one with any surfing experience?" I asked, looking at everyone with a questioning look. "Not any experience. He is a certified instructor." Liv answered as she slid into her wetsuit. "My zip." She pointed to her back when Percy walked behind her, helping her zip up her suit. 

I started to squeeze into my wetsuit, pulling it up to my waist before I manoeuvred my hands into it. "I got your zip." Y/N offered as he stepped behind me and helped me suit up. "Thank you." He nodded before putting on his.

"You guys will use the soft boards because it's easier to balance and hurts less if it hits you." He pointed to the surfboards with foam padding while he laid out his surfboard in front of him. "We won't go too deep, maybe; just use the smaller waves crashing down there." He looked in the direction of the waves at the opening of the bay. 

Before we got into the water, he instructed us. Showing us the basics and giving tips on how to stand, keep balance and paddle through the wave. After we got comfortable standing on the surfboard, we started swimming to the waves.

 We spent the next couple of hours surfing, which was extremely exciting and entertaining. Liv was a funny mess, struggling to paddle and stand on the board, but she had the time of her life. Y/N and I spent the two hours competing, trying to outdo each other. 

Y/N and I paddled back to shore first; while I waited for Liv and Percy to exit the waters, Y/N took our boards to return them. Percy dragged Liv's board to the shore while she swam behind him. He left the water and pulled her board to dry sand.