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The morning sun gently filtered through the curtains of Kiara's living room, casting a warm glow over the sleeping forms of Lacy and Kie. Lacy stirred first, blinking her eyes open as she stretched her limbs and let out a contented sigh. She glanced over at Kie, who was still sound asleep, her long curly locks splayed out across the pillow.
With a smile, Lacy quietly slipped out of her blanket, careful not to wake her friend. She tiptoed across the room, selecting a one piece blue and white bathing suit she had stashed in her bag, before heading to the bathroom to change.
There was something about the ocean that always brought her peace, and she was looking forward to spending the regaining her sense of power.
Once she was dressed, Lacy head downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Kiara's mom brewing a pot of coffee. The aroma filled the air, and Lacy took a deep breath, feeling instantly more awake.
"Good morning, Mrs. C," she said with a smile as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Good morning, Lacy," Mrs. Carrera replied with a warm smile. "Sleep well?"
Lacy nodded, taking a small sip of her coffee. "Like a baby. Thank you for letting me stay over."
"It's no trouble at all, dear," Mrs. Carrera said kindly. "You're always welcome here."
With a grateful smile, Lacy took her coffee and headed out to the back porch, where she settled into a chair and watched the sun rise over the ocean. It was a peaceful moment, and Lacy felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She was lucky to have friends like Kiara and her family, who always made her feel welcome and loved.
She sat there, savoring the quiet moment. Lacy couldn't help but miss the mornings of Jj's rambling. She would give up every peaceful morning for that again.
After finishing her coffee, Lacy snuck back inside to wake up Kiara. She gently shook her friend's shoulder, whispering her name until Kie groggily opened her eyes.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Lacy said with a grin. "Time to rise and shine."
Kie groaned, rolling over and burying her face in the pillow. "Five more minutes," she mumbled.
Lacy laughed, pulling back the covers and giving Kie a playful shove. "Come on, lazy. We've got places to go, people to see."
"Kie! Hurry up before I start singing!"
With a dramatic groan, Kie finally sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning widely. "Fine, fine. I'm up," she said, swinging her legs over the edge of the couch. "Please don't sing, my morning ears can't handle the pain."
Together, the two girls got dressed and packed up their beach bags, making sure to grab their surfboards before heading out the door. The salty breeze greeted them as they stepped outside, and Lacy felt a surge of excitement as they made their way towards the beach.
