Ocean Sour: Lemon Love (ON HOLD DUE TO OTHER BOOK IDEAS & WRITERS BLOCK)

1. Eliza

"Eliza! Let's go! We're going to be late!" my mom called. I looked around my room to see if I missed anything while packing. I saw my bracelet next to my bed and picked it up. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get up so early but that plan failed my my mom woke me up at 1:04 this morning. As quickly as I could, I ran downstairs. My only hope was to not have anything weird happen like a few years ago at Michigan. I shuddered at the memory.

I forgot to eat breakfast this morning so during the ride down I BEGGED for food. We passed 50 million IHOPs and she didn't even care. I was so mad I could just... just.. punch her! Anyways... after about 3 days we arrived in California. (YES 3. SHE LIVES IN FREAKING NEW YORK!) My first thoughts were to get checked in to the hotel and unpack. Then go to the beach to make some friends. After all, I was staying for a month.

We finally got the room keys and I ran to the suite we were staying in. I gasped when I saw the room. Lucky us... we got a disney room... You would think I'd be excited but some boy ruined my childhood with all the jokes in the movie. (Olivia I know you're laughing right now)

"Why don't you go make some friends?" Mom asked. I scratched my shoulder trying to find an excuse. "I uh... Have to pack! Yea! So..." I said "Nonsense!" She threw her hands up. "I'll pack for you! " she continued. I sighed and left the room in search of friends at the beach.

---

I just stood there with my toes in the water, shifting my weight every once in a while. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped. "Ohmygosh! I'm so sorry!" A girl said. "Hi!" The girl waved. "I'm Tiffany but I go by T or Tiff or anything along those lines. And you are?" Se continued. For a minute I was silent, shocked by how quickly I met somebody. "Um... Hey. I'm Eliza. I'm visiting from New York for a month." I said looking at my toes. She laughed. I couldn't help but notice how pretty her laugh was. I know it's a nod thing but it's something only someone without would notice anyways.

"Lemme show you around! I can introduce you to everybody!" Tiffany singsonged. I giggled at her silliness and followed. She introduced me to some of her friends she was hanging with before she came up to me. "I'll be back in an hour gals!" She said. The group laughed and I heard them murmuring a girl's name. I shrugged it off and continued to follow. She stops in her tracks. I, did not see her and tripped over her. "Hey!" I shouted. She held her finger up to her lips. "Shush lady! You don't want to make a bad impression on Dylan." Tiffany whispered. "Okay..." I said. I walked up to Dylan. Tiffany tried to pull me back but she couldn't hold on. "Amauture." I said under my breath.

"Hi!" I said. He didn't say anything so he either didn't hear me or was ignoring me. I tapped his shoulder. "Um hello?" I said. He turns around and stares at me from top to bottom. He stops near my chest and I roll my eyes. Of course, the cute ones always have to be jerks. "Ahem! Eyes up." I said. "Oh. Um... Sor- flabadoodle." He said. I raise my eyebrows and he apologizes again. I hold out my hand. "Eliza." I said. He nods. "Dyl-" he starts. "Dylan. I know."  I cut him off. He looks at me with wide eyes like I'm a stalker. I point to Tiffany and he chuckles to himself. I see Tiffany behind me cross her arms. Ex?

I turn away and start to walk. "Meet me at the beach Thursday at 3:30." Dylan said. I start to turn back around but he's already running towards the water to continue surfing. Did he just ask me out? I didn't give him my number in case he needed to cancel. I did a mental face palm and jogged up to Tiffany. "What?" She asked looking at the ground. I cross my arms and look at her like I mean business. "Okay fine. He's just a friend. Or... He was a friend. He started surfing and I started shopping. It just ended our friendship. He was my first best friend. My second best friend was kidnapped and never seen again. My third best friend moved away. My fourth best friend started hanging out with other girls all the time. My fifth best friend decided to suicide. My last best friend was brutally murdered by a man named Fred Johnson. And you will be my new bet friend." She breathes. I was speechless. I didn't mind being get new BFF but all of her old best friends left in some sort of way. "Follow me." She says. I didn't have anything better to do so I followed. Again.

---

"I'll have the Pusheen  ice pop and she'll have the same." Tiffany ordered. I playfully slapped her arm. "Why'd you order for me???" I asked. She hold up a finger while she tries to find the right words to say. " Because... You haven't lived the pusheen dream yet!" She said. Ok. She convinced me. I know it's sorta a bad thing to just trust random people but it's a habit! Can you blame me? A boy walks by us and I look at Tiffany. "Why didn't you introduce me to him?" I ask. She looks at me like I'm stupid. "That's Max. Jess says she's dating him but he's single really. So-" Tiffany turned to me. Or where I was.Because I was already running away.

"Eliza!" Tiffany yelled. I panted quietly in a ballet hoping she wouldn't see me. I looked up to see Tiffany pointing at me. She sent me a questioning look and I sighed. "Max is my...urm. Ex... I just didn't see his face." I said. Tiffany gasped. "I'm so sorry E! I can call you E right?" She apologized. I shrugged it off. "C'mon. Let's go meet some more people." I said. She nodded. "Hey E?" She asked. "Yeah?" I answered. "Never mind." She says. I look at her but she turns away.

---

After several hours we agreed to go to my house to hang out and get to know each other better. My mom was really proud of me for making so many friends today so she made me her famous Mimi's Batch cookies. I hugged her and poured some milk for Tiffany and I. "Thanks Mrs. Hofman!" Tiffany chimed. Mom waved her off and said, "Its no problem. And please, call me Karen!" Tiffany nodded and sealed her cookies. After my mom left the room Tiffany asked me a question. "Do you like Dylan or Max or Xavier or Kevin or Adam or John or Logan or Jack or Nicholas or Nick or-" she asked pausing to take a breath. But before she could say anymore, I said. "I don't like anyone. I mean, sure those are the cutest ones I met but I need to know them better to have a relationship. And knowing you you'd tell them. I don't mind that but what if I stop liking them. Then why do I do?" I said. Tiffany was speechless. Good. "Okay. But I have one final question." She says. I nod. "Would you be mad if I-" she started. The doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" I shout. Tiffany cringed but I shrugged it off. I opened the door and my mouth fell open. What were they doing here?