Golden Secrets of Summer ✰ Rafe Cameron,

Partners in Adventure

I went downstairs to find no one. No one in the kitchen, no one in the living room, no one in the garage. The house was silent. I had been in the Outer Banks for close to a week, and it was finally starting to make sense to me that when Grandma and Grandpa returned to work, this is how it would be.

I figured the rest of today would be best-spent on the shore. It was mostly sunny (other than a few clouds), there was a slight breeze, and it was warm. I went upstairs to my closet to find my blue beach-bag. I put in two towels (because you never know), my camera, my book, sunscreen, the house keys, and a few dollars.

I walked out to the beach in the blistering Outer Banks heat. I had really underestimated how warm it could get during noon. As I trekked along the burning sand, I found a tall palm tree that was kind enough to provide some shade. I put my stuff down and rested my head and back on the base of the palm tree. I put on some sunscreen, and read the directions on the back.

Wait 45 minutes after application to go in water.

So I had to burn for another three-quarters-hour? What was the worst that could happen if I just dove in? Skin cancer? I decided not to take the chance after that. I began reading my book, hoping that it would make the forty-five minutes go by faster, even though I had no way of tracking time. I guess I would just follow the sun or something.

After reading three chapters, I felt as if forty-five minutes had passed by. I looked up at the sun, and it was basically still in the same spot. I sighed as I picked up my book again. Other than the fact I was turning into a human popsicle, everything was alright. The sun was out, there was a warm breeze every once in a while, and the sound of the waves was beautiful. Suddenly, I felt a ball hit my leg. I put my book down and picked up the football that had hit me. I looked around for the culprit. Finding nothing but an empty scene, I went back to reading.

"Sorry." a kind-of high pitched voice said. "I didn't mean to hit you."

I looked up to see a boy with sandy-blonde hair, tan skin, and blue eyes. The same boy I had seen a few days ago.

"It's okay." I smiled, lifting up the football that had attacked me.

"Jenna, right?" he asked.

I nodded. "Rafe?"

He nodded.

"I-I like that book too." he said, almost hesitatingly.

"I love it. It's really good so far." I agreed.

"Who's your favorite character?" he inquired.

"Percy, definitely." I answered. "Luke's a close second. You?"

"Luke," he responded. "He's the coolest."

"You wanna sit?" I asked, moving over.

"Sure."

He sat down next to me, and we got to talking about the book. It was nice to talk to someone my age. I loved my grandparents, but they weren't exactly twelve-years old.

"Are you reading this one?" I asked.

"Not anymore, I finished it. I'm on the third one now."

"No spoilers." I said, putting my book down.

"Percy dies," he said.

"No he doesn't."

"Yeah, he doesn't." he laughed.

"I met your dad yesterday." I informed.

"How?" he asked.

"I met him at the farmer's market. Him and my grandpa started talking, and he told me he's got a son my age." I explained. "His last name's Cameron too."