Castle

Ch. 01: The Skateboard Incident

The scent in the air was of different sunscreens and tanning oils. The sky of Sea Island, Georgia was filled with warm colors as the sun rode the horizon. Saltwater dripped from my dark brown hair onto my chest. I observed the drops as they trickled down my toned stomach, falling and soaking into the hot sand as I drew off. I looked up to see Ava wringing out her platinum-blonde colored hair, and pull it back into a loose ponytail.

Ava and I had been best friends since I arrived to Sea Island in second grade to our arriving second year in college, we are practically sisters. Her glowing personality fully matched her naturally gorgeous looks. Her freckles were constellations that spanned across her cheeks.

Ava threw a vibrant pink t-shirt over her black triangle top bikini as we trudged from the sand to the sidewalk, the summer sun was beating harshly on our tanned skin. The only sound to be heard was that of the waves crashing against the shore, recurrently being interrupted by seagulls cawing above.

The humidity in the air exhausted us after the few hours spent in the sea. The only thing my mind could focus on was returning to our dorm and jumping into a cold shower. Once the soft, white sand met the sidewalk, Ava and I had to slide on our sandals to keep us from scorching our feet on the concrete.

"I can't wait to eat something. I'm so hungry." Ava groaned staring at the ground.

"Me too." I responded, keeping my eyes on the grey sidewalk.

As we began to drag ourselves along the narrow sidewalk, I opened my mouth to make food suggestion to Ava. But I was interrupted by a painful slam against my body, toppling me to the ground. I overheard Ava gasping overhead, just as started as I was. I groaned at the pain and opened my eyes to see a golden-haired boy sprawled on top of me, his skateboard rolling away in the other direction.

"Aaron come on." I overheard another guy overhead say, extending an arm.

A wave of panic shot through my body when I recognized who exactly had run into me. He was in my graduating class at Coral Coast High School, a boy who many of the girl's flocked over. I never attended one cheerleading practice without overhearing gossip about the blonde haired beauty, Aaron Scott. He played in one of our town's local bands along with his brother Marshall, and because of that, every teenage girl living in Sea Island claimed to 'love' rock music.

I tried to stand to my feet, but Aaron's weight pressing on me made it nearly impossible. The embarrassment was so intense, I almost forgot how hot the concrete was. When he lifted himself up, my halter top began to shift in the same direction. I looked down to see my cleavage exposed; his cross necklace intertwined with my bikini. Both of our faces went red as he contemplated whether or not to put his hands near my breasts.

"Wait, I'm stuck." Aaron groaned frustrated.

"It's okay, I got it." I flustered and eventually set his necklace free from my top.

"I-I...I'm so sorry," Aaron stuttered, crawling off of me pushing back his golden locks. His hazel eyes looked right into me as he extended a hand to help me off the ground. The soft look in his eyes created a sense of calmness in me, replacing the deep embarrassment I had just felt.

"Are you okay?" Aaron's brother Marshall asked along with worried Ava.

"Yeah, I'm good." I respond, pushing my damp hair back.

"You could say I swept you right off of your feet," Aaron grinned, forming a dimple on the left side of his mouth.

His words lightened up the situation and I was grateful for that. "It was nice bumping into you," I replied, making another pun.

"Maybe we should do it again sometime," he smiled. "How about visiting the Sea Island Summer Festival on Saturday."

I almost forgot that the Festival was not even two days away, ending right before the college semester starts.

"Yeah our band is playing. You should totally come, Ava." Marshall cuts in, telling Ava.

"We haven't missed the summer festival since we've lived here, and we don't plan on breaking that streak now." Ava assures the boys.

Aaron nodded his head in approval of the answer. His smile widened, and I watched as he jumped back on his skateboard, speeding away down the beach along with Marshall.

Ava's bright green eyes lit up. "Woah, that did not just happened!" She bubbled, her hands motioning towards me and the direction they had took off in. "The two most popular boys from back in high school checked us out!" Ava added.

"There's the jeep." I pointed.

Ava stares in their direction sighing, "God, Marshall is still so incredibly hot."

"Ava!" I laugh. "Let's go!"

We quickly jumped in and Ava started up the jeep, pulling out of the small lot. I rolled down my window to feel the cooler air rather than the hot steam the blue Jeep contained, unplugging my charging phone, I saw a text from nearly half an hour ago.

James; Hey lil sis, don't forget to bring milk and some eggs for Audrey tomorrow.

I quickly responded and put down my cell.

"Don't forget to fill up the tank before Saturday, we still have to go to help Audrey tomorrow." I remind Ava, noticing the gas gauge.

"Don't worry, I'll fill it."