Summer Shorts - Anthology

Tan Lines by literatureinfinity

Tan Lines by literatureinfinity

As the music blared on in the background, I felt someone pull me by my hand.

"Jess! Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to keep up with her as my best friend, Jessica dragged me.

My two other friends, Amy and Rachel were there too. I looked at Rachel for an answer. She just shrugged. Amy looked just as confused.

When we finally stopped, I realized we were standing in a very long line. There were four long rows of people standing in line for something.

"What are we here for?" I questioned Jess.

"Mila! Do you ever have patience for anything?!" Jessica scoffed.

"Hey! I'm standing in a long line for something. I kind of think I need to know." I said, folding my arms in front of my chest.

"Okay. Listen. For the first time, they have organized this event at the Sun Tan Festival where they will give you a tan sticker. You apply it to your body where it's easily visible. In the evening, you take them off. They will obviously leave a mark. Now, there are pairs of every sticker. Which means, only one other will be there with someone here, in this huge crowd! And that other one could be anyone! You have to find that matching sticker. When you do, the top 10 pairs get to compete for a grand prize! Isn't this great!!!???" Jess jumped up and down excitedly.

"Wow! It sure is! We can meet so many new people! Everyone will be talking about their tan tattoo!" Amy said.

"That is their goal. Look, that banner says COME! SOCIALIZE! Pretty straight forward." Rachel laughed. I looked up at the banner. It sure did say those exact words.

After waiting in line for an hour, we finally got our stickers. Mine was a pair of love birds. Jessica got one with a guitar. Amy had one of a coffee mug while Rachel got one of a dragon.

"These sure are pretty interesting" I said.

"Aren't they? See people are already trying to search for their tattoo twin!" Jess said as we looked around. Everyone was laughing, talking and taking selfies. We spent the rest of the day getting tanned under the Sun.

In the evening, I sat at the beach bar, wearing an off shoulder dress so that my tan tattoo showed clearly on my collar bone. Rachel came up to me soon after.

"Any luck?" She asked.

"Nope."

"Are you even trying? Get yourself out there! Don't you want to win? Do you expect your match to come up to you?" She laughed as she patted my arm and walked away.

After I finished my drink, I got up to leave. Just as I turned, I bumped into someone and both of us fell down.

"Oh I'm so sorry! I was busy looking in my phone." The guy who had tripped me over said. He got up and lend me a hand. I took his hand and stood up. I brushed the sand off my dress.

"It's okay. People are drunk. It happens." I laughed, as I tried balancing myself. Maybe I had a little too much to drink.

"Wow! I never thought I'd find you so easily when you were all I was looking for. Damn I'm lucky!" The guy smirked.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry but that is the most terrible pick up line I've ever heard!" I laughed.

"Pick up line? No! I'm talking about your tan tattoo! Look!" He motioned for me to look at his bicep. Yup. There it was. The pair of love birds. Exactly like the one I had. I had found my one in a million pair. What were the chances?"

I'm Brian." He held out his hand.

"Mila. Nice to meet you." I smiled and took his hand.

We walked up to the entry desk to put our names in for the competition. When the top 10 pairs were selected, the competition began.

It included all sorts of activities from playing twister to finding clues to answering general knowledge quizzes. It was great. 

We were doing great.During these games, I realized how much we both had in common. I was starting to like Brian.

After all the eliminations, it came down to the last two pairs.

The final challenge? The best slow dance.

My friends stood close to the stage and cheered as the rest of the crowd collected near the stage to see the last 'stand off'.

They played All Of Me by John Legend. My favorite song.

"This is my favorite song." Brian whispered into my ear.

"Mine too." I smiled as I lay my head on his shoulder.

When the dances were done. We eagerly waited for the organizers to announce the prize.

The couple we competed with actually turned out to be two people who were seeing each other since they got here, in Miami. Love sparks during the holidays. Therefore, when they kissed at the end of the dance, it sealed the deal for them as the crowd roared with a cheers and claps.

Needless to say, they won. Lucky to have gotten similar stickers, I'd say. But we didn't go away empty handed.

As a consolation prize, we were awarded trophies and a plane ticket each, for a round trip to Paris, the world's most romantic place. We also got coupons for free drinks while here at the Sun Tan Festival. I'd say this was victory enough.

The winners got trophies too and their stay at the most expensive hotel in Miami would be paid for them for an entire week! Plus, they got round trip tickets to Italy.

"Winning wouldn't have been so bad, huh?" Brian said as we sat at the same bar where we had met earlier."

I guess not. But this isn't bad either." I waved the ticket and trophy in his face.

His friends and mine had decided to have a small party at the bar for being runner ups in a competition where even the chances of finding someone with a similar tattoo were bleak.

"So, when do you plan on using your prize?" Brian asked as he sipped away at his drink.

"Not sure yet. Maybe someday. Right now, all I want is to live in the moment." I smiled.

He stared at me for an entire minute before he spoke.

"You know what? And this is NOT the alcohol talking. But you are very beautiful. And very smart. You were very great in that quiz!"

I could feel myself blush. Brian slipped his fingers through mine, interlocking them. After that night, we all started hanging out together as a big group, his friends and mine. It was one of my best vacations.

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"Travel safe! And take lots of pictures!" Jess screamed.

"I will!" I said as I waved goodbye.

"We will miss you, Mila. Take care. And don't forget to have fun!" Amy and Rachel hugged me goodbye.

I watched them drive away. Then, I turned and started to walk towards the airport security check.

"Ready to have the best time of your life babe?" He asked, entwining his fingers into mine.

"As ready as I'll ever be, husband." I said as I kissed Brian on the lips.

I'd never thought that one summer on a beach would be all it would take to meet the love of my life.

I'd never thought that those perfect love bird tan stickers were actually Cupid's sign.

I'd never thought that we'd use those round trip tickets to Paris for our honeymoon.

But I guess, we don't really plan anything. Do we? That summer truly changed my life...

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