𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫? - 𝐓𝐌𝐑 𝐀𝐔, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨

010 - beach day! ...night*

The sun begins to fall low on the horizon. It's one of those perfect evenings where the island breeze cools the warmth still lingering from the day. I walk with Sonya on my right and Harriet on my left, while Teresa strides a few steps ahead, her hair flowing in the wind. Astrid's here too, up front, laughing with some of the other girls with us, her blonde hair in a ponytail. I've seen her around the island, hanging out with some of our friends, but tonight's the first time we've actually spoken.

Sonya nudges me softly, her shoulder light against mine. "You've been quiet, Whit. Are you okay?"

I smile, shaking off my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Good," she says, giving me a smile, which I try my best to return. "Because it's been forever since we've had a proper girls' night."

"Finally, no boys," Harriet adds with a dramatic sigh. "I swear, Alby never stops talking about how he's older so therefore he's better?"

"That doesn't even make sense," I say.

"Exactly!"

We all laugh, and it feels good. I hadn't realised how much I needed this—a night without competition, without basketball, without any boys showing off. Just us girls, the beach. And ice–cream, of course.

Astrid glances back at me, flashing a smile. I've noticed her a few times before, but I'd never gotten the chance to speak to her.

As we take off our sandals and walk across the soft sand, Teresa points to a small ice cream stand near the sea. "Ice cream first, beach second?"

"Obviously," Sonya says, leading the way. "I'm not sitting on the sand until I've got something to eat; I'm hungry."

We all form a line for the stand. The smell of waffle cones and chocolate fills the air, and it instantly puts me in a better mood. I watch Astrid as she orders, noticing how confident she is with the server. She's definitely not shy, despite keeping her distance before tonight.

I step up next, asking for a classic scoop of mint chocolate chip—my favourite—and we all gather by a row of low rocks, ice creams in hand. Astrid flops down beside me, giving me a friendly smile. "You must be Whitley, right?"

I nod, surprised she knows my name. "Yeah, and you're Astrid?"

"Nope, I'm Sonya," she says, chuckling to herself with a grin. She nods towards my ice–cream cone. "I love mint chocolate chip ice–cream."

I nod in agreement. "It's the best by far."

She chuckles. "I've seen you at some of the games. You're pretty good," she compliments, changing the subject smoothly.

"Thanks. I've seen you around too. You hang with our other friends, like Frypan and Newt, correct?"

She nods. "Yeah, but I'm glad to finally be here tonight. The others can be... exhausting."

Sonya snorts. "Try living with them. I practically have to listen to Newt's music every day."

We all laugh, the conversation flowing easily as we swap stories about each other, the guys, and the list of their endless flaws. I find myself relaxing, enjoying the way the girls connect over inside jokes and shared memories.

As the night deepens, we move closer to the water. Our laughter and voices mix with the sound of the waves, painting a picture of the perfect night with just audio. I grab my phone, aiming to take a few photos of the sunset. I hold it up to capture the perfect shot.

Out of nowhere, someone jumps up behind me, shouting, "Boo!" at the top of their lungs. The possibility it's Tyler, my heart jumps as I jerk forward. My fingers lose their grip on my phone, and I watch in horror as it flies out of my hand, tumbling toward the ocean. As it does, it feels as though time slows.

"No!" I shout, leaping forward, but it's too late. My phone hits the waves with a soft splash, disappearing beneath the surface.

For a second, I'm frozen, staring in disbelief. Then I whirl around, eyes wide. Astrid's face is pale, her hands covering her mouth.

"Oh my God, Whitley, I didn't mean to! I was just joking!" She says, her voice full of panic.

Sonya and Teresa are already at my side, looking between me and the spot where my phone just disappeared. "That... that sucks," Teresa says quietly, eyes wide.

I groan, pressing my palms to my forehead. "Yeah, no shit, my phone's gone."

"I'm so sorry!" Astrid rushes forward, her voice stained with guilt. "I'll get you a new one, I promise. I didn't think—"

"It's okay," I say, taking a deep breath and shaking my head. "It's just a phone. I mean, it's not like my entire life was on it or anything."

Sonya bites her lip to restrain her laughter. "You've gotta admit, though, that was kind of hilarious. The way it just—" she mimics the phone flying out of my hands—"gone!"

I let out a forced laugh, rubbing my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm glad you find my misery so entertaining."

Astrid still stares at me, horrified, her hands clenched at her sides. "Seriously, Whitley, I'll give you a new one," she insists.

"It's fine," I tell her, waving it off. "I was due for an upgrade anyway."

"Next time," Harriet says, looking at Astrid, "maybe scare someone away from the water?"

Astrid gives a weak laugh, still looking guilty. "Lesson learned."

As we make our way back to the beach, the mood lightens again. I feel the tension slowly dissolve, the warmth of the girls' laughter pulling me back into the moment. Though, I don't laugh like before, and I'm rather silent. My phone's gone, how do you expect me to react? Thanking Astrid?

As we walk, Astrid slides in next to me, her smile sheepish. "I still feel bad."

I bump her shoulder lightly. "Just don't jump-scare me near water or anything next time, okay? Or maybe just don't scare me at all."

She laughs, a relieved sound that blends into the night. "Deal."