Don't Let Go

Heat

As the car temperature rose to 102 degrees, I moaned. Sweat was dripping down my neck and causing my shirt to stick to me. I fanned myself with my hand and attempted to wipe my moist forehead. "It's... so... hot," I said, reaching into the cup holder for my almost-empty water bottle.

"Yeah," the driver, my best friend Kendall, said irritably. Her dark hair was pulled back and frizzy from humidity. "I swear to God, Misty, this California visit was the worst decision we ever made." She reached for my water and I half-heartedly gave it to her.

"The drive sure is pretty, though," I said, glancing out the window at the San Diego beach speckled with palm trees and a picturesque sunset. For Kendall and I's eighteenth birthdays, our parents had decided to let us take a trip to any state we choose for the summer. Just the two of us in Kendall's Jeep, fending for ourselves.

After the break, we'd go back home to New York where I would head off to a local university and Kendall would move to Wisconsin for college. As our last summer together for awhile, it was important that we made every moment count. And what state was better to make memories in than California? It is called the 'Golden State' after all.

Kendall pulled over into a parking spot near the beach. "Wanna tan?" she said, laughing a little bit. I grinned. We both were familiar with the most common Californian misconception-- flawless tan skin and ripped surfer bodies.

"Let's go," I said, opening up my door and heading to the trunk where I'd thrown my beach bag. The sun was shining brightly and glittered across the water. I stifled a yawn. It had been a long drive and the days without sleep seemed to be finally catching up with me.

"So, I was thinking maybe we should go to a beach party?" Kendall said as we wandered down towards the water. She'd let her hair fall loosely into wild tangles that framed her lightly freckled face.

"Really?" I groaned. "Why? We're here to eat shaved ice and dance the hula, not jump over bonfires in the middle of the night." Parties had never appealed to me, unlike they did to Kendall.

"First of all, this is California not Hawaii, Misty. And a beach party would be kinda cool. Get us into the mood of the trip," my best friend argued. "Besides, all the cool California kids go to beach parties."

Though her point was valid, the idea was no more appealing. "I'd rather swim with sharks," I answered before bending over to run my hands through the sand. "Whoa, Kendall, it's so soft!" I knew she could tell I was trying to change the topic on her, but I just wasn't ready to stay out late drinking by the water. I needed rest badly.

"Misty," she sighed before hugging me around the back. "Please, please, please think about it. Just for a minute." She paused and leaned around me so she could talk into my ear. "Yeah?"

I rolled her off of me and playfully pushed her back. "Still not convinced." Then I raced down the beach, sand spraying behind me. I could hear her running behind me which only encouraged me to run faster into the surf. 

"I'm gonna get you, Misty!" Kendall yelled, her voice cracking with laughter.

"Sure you are, " I call back, turning around to splash her. In a fit of giggles, she fell on me and pushed us both into the water. Salt burned my eyes and I could feel the oxygen rushing from my lungs as more water leaked in. I pushed Kendall off of me so I could sit up. As I did, my head bumped something hard. "Ow," I winced and tried to twist around so I could see the girl on the paddle board behind me.

"Whoa! I'm so sorry. I didn't even see you there." Her voice is as flat as her abs, both of which told me she had to be a local. "I'm Kelsey, by the way." Her long, honey blonde hair was damp from the water and she was wearing sunglasses.

"Hey. I'm Misty, nice to meet you." I stood up and awkwardly shook her hand. She was smiling, flashing big, white teeth.  "I'm visiting from New York with my friend Kendall," I said, pulling Kendall over to meet Kelsey.

"No way," Kelsey laughed. "My ex-boyfriend's sister's best friend's cousin lives in the Big Apple." She pushed up her sunglasses revealing bright green eyes. I wondered if she knew that she was a stereotype.

Kendall pushed in next to me to get her share of the conversation. "So, you must have a lot of beach parties around here. Heard they're pretty fun." I rolled my eyes and Kendall nudged me.

"Oh, yes! We have parties almost every day. In fact there's one tonight right here. You girls should totally go. They're always, always the highlight of my summer. Dancing, laughing, singing, every imaginable fun way to spend a night with the coolest, hottest people," Kelsey said. Kendall gave me a 'see what I said' look which I ignored.

"Well, Kelsey, I hope to see you around," I said. She gave me and Kendall each a quick hug and got back onto her paddle board.

"Misty," Kendall started and I turned around to face her. 

"Is this about the beach party thing? Still?"

"Come on. We're going," she grabbed my hand and pulled me out farther into the water. Waves lapped up my thighs and spray misted my face. The sun was still throbbing down, I wondered if it ever set. "Maybe you'll have fun," she added, glancing back to grin a winning smile. 

"Fine." I reluctantly agreed. "But only to prove that I'm such a good friend." I laughed and she hugged me.

"You're the best friend ever. And you'll have fun. I know it." She dove out into the water and I ran out after her. A beach party couldn't be that awful, I lamented to myself, and you can sleep later. I glanced back up at the sky and felt for the first time since we'd come, a breeze. It had to be a miracle.