Tides of Tomorrow

CHAPTER THREE: Making Enemies

I run out the door and am on a mission. 

I have never seen a beach in person before.

I am practically sprinting there, ready to get some cool shots for my new college admissions portfolio. I have always been dead-set on going to school at NYU. They have the best arts program, I believe anywhere. If I want to get in, I need the best of the best.

I am starting today off with some practice shots of the beautiful ocean. I just cannot seem to get there quick enough.

While lost in my mindset, I bump into something, rather yet, someone, who is soaking wet and makes me crash to the ground. 

"HEY, watch it," I yell, annoyed that my camera is now all wet and could potentially be damaged.

"You want me to watch it? You ran right into me. I was standing still," the mysterious boy says.

I give him the nastiest look ever.

"Fine, I'm sorry. Here," he gives me his hand to help me up.

I ignore his kind gesture and get up by myself.

"I can get up by myself, thank you," I say back.

"Wow, okay," he says. Then with a grin he asks me, "You must be new around here, huh? I would never forget your face."

"Oh my god, you knock me over and you're flirting with me? You really think you're the shit don't you?" I say annoyed.

"I never said that. Although, you are beautiful when your face isn't on the ground," he laughs.

"God. I have to go now, so if you excuse me," I say, annoyed by his stupid smirk.

I am now awfully aware, however, of my appearance. What I am wearing, I would like to consider my 'travel' clothes. I am in a baggy pink t-shirt and gray sweatpants with my hair in a messy bun. 

Not saying he is cute, I'm saying I could have maybe looked more presentable for my first encounter with someone my age here.

As I am headed off, he grabs my arm in a way in which he pulls me back to face him.

"I did not catch your name," he says to me with a smile on his face, this time looking very interested.

"Why do you even care? We just met for like twenty seconds," I say back. He does not need to know my name.

"My name is Noah, thanks for asking. And you are...?" he keeps pushing.

"None of your business," I reply.

"Okay, Miss 'None of your business'. Have a nice day doing whatever you were rushing to do," he says disappointed, yet cocky at the same time. He releases my arm. God, I hate his guts.

"My name is Madison if you must know. My friends call me Madi, but we are not friends so don't call me that."

"Okay, Madi, I'll see you around," he smiles like an asshole.

"Don't call me that!" I storm off. 

First day here and I'm already making enemies. God damn it, Madi.

I run off to the beach like I wanted to, and I get in a few pictures. I hate the feeling of the sand between my toes and the way low tide smells. This trip is getting worse and worse.

The pictures turn out shitty, so I call it a day and head back to my grandma's condo. 

When I get back, my grandma is already in bed. All there is left to do is take a shower and call it a night. In bed, I scroll through photos on my phone and find one of me and Ryan on our three year anniversary date. I notice the necklace he gave me that day, I still have on. I unlatch the necklace from my neck and throw it across the room out of anger. 

I hate boys and my parents for ruining my life. South Carolina is as shitty as I imagined. I cry myself to bed that night, praying for school to start in September again so I can escape the hell that I am living in.