Surfers Paradise

Chapter 24: ANS Is Waiting

I woke up bright and early, ready to go. I would've woken up in the middle of the night but Ryan persuaded me not to do that. So I listened and opted for waking up at 5:50 a.m. I was jittery all night and had probably gotten zero sleep anyway.

I woke up at 5:40 a.m. and watched my alarm clock anxiously for 10 minutes. It was starting to get lighter outside, which made me even more excited. Not everyone had been as keen as me to meet at six in the morning, especially Johnny who put up a big fight, but they still obliged. They were all just as excited even if their early morning faces didn't show it. I was so ready to get back to "normal" or some variation of it.

My alarm clock beeped and I jumped out of bed. I searched through the mounds of clothes on my floor and found my favorite blue bikini. I slipped it on then coated myself with a layer of SPF 30. I liked being tan but my parents also gave me a slideshow of what a surfer's face looked like without proper sun protection.

I walked out of my room feeling great until my foot landed on something that felt indescribably gross and sticky. I made a disgusted face as I hopped to the bathroom on one foot and stepped into the tub. I turned on the water and a spider came out of the drain. I shrieked and hopped out so quickly I almost flopped right onto the hard marble floor. I swore I had touched the bug so I grabbed the soap dispenser and put a bunch on my hands. When I rubbed them together, the liquid felt nothing like soap.

It was my favorite jam, and toast had officially been ruined for me. Once that hit in, I frantically turned on the sink, which sprayed me right in the face due to the tape placed conveniently on the faucet. I was now soaking wet and sticky.

"Ugh!" I yelled and heard the familiar annoying laugh of achievement come from my brothers outside of the door. I wasn't pissed, more like amused. I honestly couldn't have been happier because if normal meant my brothers pranking me, I'd take it.

Ryan was at the curb with his car bright and early at 5:55 a.m. but the pranks had slowed me down and it took me a minute to get outside. I put my board on the top of the car and yanked the passenger door open.

I leaned over and kissed him because I guessed that was what you did when you were dating. We had admitted our feelings for each other but he had officially asked me out the previous night and I was beyond ecstatic.

On our short drive to ANS, I couldn't help but bounce up and down in my seat. I was like a kid on Christmas and Ryan chuckled at me yet didn't speed up when I told him to floor it. I knew that was a long shot but I could still try. I loved that I could just be myself around him. Things were really nice, well more like amazing.

We pulled up at last and I began opening the door before Ryan had fully stopped the car, much to his annoyance. I got out and stood there with a slight breeze blowing through my hair and could smell my coconut shampoo.

I only saw Brody's car. So typical of Johnny but I didn't expect him to be early. As I thought of that, I saw Bethany's car pull up with a dead-looking Johnny wearing a hoodie.

I smiled and closed my eyes. I could smell the water and the sand and I could hear the birds chirping happily above, and the sun was starting to shine for another perfect day. The skies were blue and I couldn't wait to see what the waves looked like. It was good to finally be back.

I could've stood there all day soaking it all in until Ryan's voice interrupted my thoughts by asking, "Hannah, are you going?"

That was the whole reason I was there, to do what I loved: surf.

"Hell yeah," I replied while grabbing my board to join a smiling Ryan, a happy Bethany, and a tired Johnny. I looked up at him and he still gave me a slight grin.

I had been waiting for this moment all summer. All of my hard work had paid off and I was ready to enjoy the benefits at my favorite place on Earth with the friends I had chosen over everyone else.

~

The end is not yet. There's still an epilogue. Sorry these are so short but I don't want to drag out this story any longer. Hope you liked this chapter and have a nice day!