Chapter One
It was early June, and the sun was fading across the horizon. The hot muggy air was still, and the smell of burning wood was starting to fill the air. A small family of three was sitting around a small fire on the beach roasting marshmallows, and the pier was crowded with young adults all trying to enjoy the first real day of summer after a long year of college.
Madelyn sauntered up the wooden steps in her deep red cocktail dress, her platform sandals clonking against the surface. She swept a hand through her chocolate brown hair and slowly scanned the crowd for her friends. The music was just beginning to pick up, and many people had started to dance, carefree and reckless like all young adults should be.
A young woman with strawberry blond locks bounced up to Madelyn and rested her chin on Madelyn's shoulder.
"Madelyn! You made it," She said startling Madelyn.
"Jesus Abigail, you always do this. Stop scaring me all the time. I'm gonna die before I'm 40 Abby."
"Maddie it's not my fault you're so easily scared. Now come on you look stunning, lets go dance," Abigail said dragging her friend off to the dance floor.
The two friends started to dance, and one song tuned into ten, and before Madelyn knew it, she was drunk off laughter. It was nice to let loose for a day after a long year at school. Eventually, Abigail went to say hi to other friends, and Madelyn sat down at the edge of the boardwalk overlooking the ocean and dark night sky.
Someone walked over to her and sat down a short distance away. He turned his attention over to her and smiled at her. Madelyn smiled back and introduced herself to the stranger with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
"I'm Madelyn, I've lived here my entire life, and I've never seen you before. Do you live around here?"
"Nah I live over in Michigan. A friend of mine who I roomed with at college lives here, and I'm staying with him for a little while. I'm Noah by the way."
"Who are you staying with?" Madelyn asked interested now.
"I'm staying with Dylan, you know him?"
Madelyn laughed, "When you grow up in a town where the entire population is at the beach every day, you know everyone."
"So that means if I want to see you again I'll find you at the beach?"
"Oh real smooth there Noah," Madelyn said nudging him with her shoulder, "if you can't find me at the beach you'll find me at the docks. I love going boating."
"I'll be sure to look for you sometime." He said standing up. He held out a hand to Madelyn, "Want to go for a walk down the beach, escape the crowd for a few minutes?"
Madelyn took his hand and stood up. "Meet me on the sand, I just have to tell my friend Abby where I'm gonna be. She worries too much; she's going to get gray hair already."
Madelyn walked over to where her best friend was standing talking with a few other people. "I'm going for a walk down the beach with a friend, I'll find you again in a little while, okay?"
Abigail winked at Madelyn, "Sure thing sugar, have fun."
"Abby," Madelyn said her friends name while laughing. "I have a boyfriend mind you."
"So? He's not here now is he? He's like three states away Maddie. Go enjoy yourself I was only joking."
"I'll catch you late Abby," Madelyn said walking off to find Noah again.
Madelyn found Noah waiting at the bottom of the old wooden steps that led down to the sand. She slipped off her shoes and began to walk toward him. They walked to the edge of the water in silence before turning left down the beach away from the noise.
Madelyn started talking first, "Before, when you said you were staying for a while, how long did you mean by that?"
"I'm welcome to stay the entire summer, but I don't know yet. Maybe you will help me decide," Noah said turning toward her and smiling with perfect white teeth.
Madelyn tucked a stray hair behind her ear as the night started to get windy and cool off much more than earlier. "Well I hope you stay all summer. We need new people here. Sure I love all my friends, but after a while you just need a change. As for me, I've never had change. It's always been that," she said pointing behind her.
"Yeah it's great and all," she continued, "And I really love these summer parties. But after a while you need change."
"I get what you're saying. That's why I'm here for the summer. I needed to get out of Michigan and do something new. Meet new people."
"So if you roomed with Dylan then you go to college in New York I'm guessing?"
"Yeah I do. It's really nice there, but I don't even really want to go back next year," Noah replied truthfully.
"So you're 18 or 19?"
"19. My birthday is in January," Noah replied.
"I'm also 19. My birthday was last week."
"Oh, happy belated birthday," Noah told her taking her hand and kissing it.
"Thank you Noah but, I," She sighed, "I have a boyfriend. Back at college." She pulled her hand away.
"Hey no harm no foul. I was just being friendly. I'm sorry If I came across differently," Noah said playing it off easily.
"Sorry I shouldn't have just—never mind," Madelyn said tripping over her words.
"Don't sweat it Madelyn," Noah said as they reached the stairs to the pier again.
Almost immediately Madelyn was bombarded by Abigail with a million questions that Madelyn promised to answer later. It was getting late now; it was just past midnight, so Madelyn and Abigail decided to dance for a little while before heading back home. Every so often Madelyn would glance over at Noah and once he smiled his dazzling smile at her.
