Chapter 1

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The sun was beating down relentlessly on my skin. Sighing, I reached into my bag so I could apply another layer of sunscreen. I did NOT want to spend any portion of my summer burnt, in pain, and looking red. This would be a good summer, that's what I kept telling myself. Last summer I said the same yet ended up spending the whole time in my room, online. This summer, I would work on getting back into shape and having fun, not worrying so much about my future, and staying in reality. I had a problem with getting obsessed with bands, books, and shows, and always thinking about them.

The sunscreen was a cool contrast to my warming, yet not tanning, of course, skin. The beach wasn't too bad today, which depends on your definition of crowded I suppose. It is LA after all, people are going to want to go to the beach. But, compared to other times, it wasn't body to body packed. There were a good number of people, but they were spread out fair enough. Glancing at the ocean one last time, I again decided not to go in. Two years ago, there were a bunch of ocean bugs that got everywhere. I would eventually go in, just not yet. Instead, I lied back on my towel and turned on the music on my phone.

Past the music blaring through my headphones, I faintly heard my name being called.

"Kara. Kara. Car with an uh. Kaaaaaaara. Earth to Kara." I then felt the earphones ripped out of my ears and heard a "Kara." Whispered in my left ear.

"Whaaaaaaaaaat." I whine, knowing it's just Jamie

"First of all, don't ignore me next time, I know you heard me. Second, you realize this is the beach and you have yet to touch the water. I left thinking you would get bored and decide to go in while I got the ice cream. Yet you sat here for an hour."

"Yep, and speaking of, what took a freaking hour to get ice cream?"

"The lines are incredibly long today, I guess a lot of the schools got out." She replies before plopping down next to me, handing me a cone of frozen delight.

"OM NOM NOM" I say before shoving it into my mouth.

"Ah yes, the epitome of grace." She replies before doing the same, meanwhile getting some on her nose.

"You got a little something." I say, touching my own nose and feeling ice cream there myself. We both attempt to lick our noses before giving up and wiping it off.

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"Let's go in the water Kara." Jamie says, "it's getting too hot on the sand."

"You're actually right for once." I say, getting up and walking towards the blue waves

"Yeah...wait WHAT?" She exclaims. I laugh and continue to walk straight into the water, it's a nice relief for my burning feet.

I sigh in relief, which is a brief sensation as I'm tackled into the salty water from behind. I come up gasping and with a shriek and splash Jamie, before jumping and dunking her under.

A couple hours later, I'm back in the sand, almost dry as the sun starts to set. Almost everyone, including Jamie is gone, and I move closer to the water.

There's a gentle breeze blowing and the sounds of the waves crashing is relaxing. I get lost in my thoughts and jump when someone sits down twenty feet or so away from me. I look over and stare. He looks so lost in thought. I realize that I'm being extremely rude and look away, back into my own thoughts.

My thoughts are interrupted some time later by a cough. Looking over at the source, the boy says sorry quietly. Chuckling, my response is brief, "You can't help a cough, Sherlock."

"I know, I am sorry for disturbing you that's all. Do you come here a lot at night?"

I don't answer for a while, I don't know if he took that for me ignoring him, but he turns away.

"Well I didn't always, but I've been coming a lot since last month, I ran when the stress of school got to me and ended up here. It's really peaceful."

He doesn't respond, he just looks at me for a moments before smiling.

"You're right moon girl, you're absolutely right."

"Moon girl?" I ask, confused at the nickname

"Well, I don't know your name, and I'll probably never see you again, so I don't want to ask, and you look really pretty the way the moonlight is shining down on you. Moon girl."

I shake my head at his explanation. "You're weird."

"Aren't we all?" He replies, looking back at the ocean.

I take that as my cue to stop talking and stand up, brushing the sand off my clothes. I look at him one last time, not being able to help the small smile that makes it way out, before walking to my jeep.

The ride back to the house is quiet and the breeze is cool. I can't help but appreciate the moon when I'm notice it.

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