Never Stop Dreaming

Chapter One

Chapter One: The Beach

The waves washed against the shore, as a cool breeze swept by. The warm sand stuck to my feet and my only hope of shade was the torn umbrella Dad had set up, a few feet away. I watched a boat pass by and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face. I opened a beach chair, and found a water bottle inside the cooler. My brother threw some sand on my leg and I frowned.

"Stop! Just build your sand castles." I said, irritated.

I went back to tanning, but not for long. Mom suggested we go into the water, to cool off. Hesitating, I got up, and started to walk towards the endless ocean with my mom and Aiden. It was early August and I got butterflies whenever I thought of school. It would be September soon, and I would no longer be able to stay at sunny hotels, beaches, and well. . .paradise.

But, that wasn't on my mind right now. I longed to go to the lengthy wooden boardwalk that stretched along the beach. Mom had promised earlier that we would go there at night. But, I couldn't wait. I squinted as the sun shined brightly like a campfire in the woods. Even brighter. The water touched my feet and I tingled inside.

Aiden jumped up and down, like any 5 year old boy would in the sight of a enormous tub of water. He laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh with him. He was my only sibling, therefore my favorite. He was always so special to me. I glanced up at my mom. The beach was her favorite place to be. She laughed with us as a big wave came and left again. After a while we walked back to our umbrella and beach towels. 

"When can we leave and go to the boardwalk?" I turned to my mom.

"In an hour. Enjoy it while your still here. Build some sand castles with Aiden." Mom replied, still laying on her towel, tanning in the heat.

Sighing, I knew there was no changing her mind. I would have to stay here another hour. I was nothing but bored, at this point. I knelt down next to my brother.

"Aiden, what do you want to make?" I tied my hair up in a bun while speaking.

"Ari! I want to make a cake." He said, a smile wide across his face.

My mom has a thing for names that start with the letter "A".

My name was Ariana. My brothers name was Aiden. Mom's name was Alice. Even our last name began with an A. . .Accoury. Except dad. Dad's name was Michael. But mom fell in love with him anyway. 

"Okay, I'll make a cake. But first we need some water!" I said smiling.

"Daddy, can you watch Aiden for one minute?" I asked.

Opening his eyes my dad nodded, "No problem."

I grabbed two buckets and ran passed a couple kissing. Awkward, I thought to myself. I reached the water and filled the buckets to the top. I watched a seagul fly by and ran back. 

"Here we go!" I said excitiedly. I grabbed a beach toy and filled it up with sand. I patted the top, then tipped it over. The cake turned out lop sided. 

"That's not a cake. That's garbage!" Aiden called out. I sticked my tongue out. Then, I patted the messy cake once more and drizzled some water over it. It looked better. I grabbed the other bucket and another thousand grains of sand spilled it out. I got a shovel and voila! I had a cake. 

"Woooo!" Aiden screamed.

"Shh!" I whispered.

Aiden found a shell and put it on top of the sandy cake. I looked at mom, then dad and both of their eyes were closed. That changed in a matter of seconds.

"MOMMY, DADDY! DO YOU WANT SOME CAKE?" Aiden yelled.

I flinched. They quickly opened their eyes and Aiden ran toward them, shoving the "cake" he had "wrapped" in a bucket for them. They took a shovel an began to bring it closer to their mouth. Suddenly, they dropped the shovel and said "Yummy!"

"Ari, it's your turn!" Aiden said running to me. I smiled an did the same thing my parents had done. He ran back to his pile of sand and started making french fries. I sat down next to him then checked my phone. Thirty more minutes, and we'd be in the hotel, getting ready for the boardwalk.