for the better. | grayson dolan ✔

thirty

::
30

"hurry and put your stuff in your rooms, we'll meet out here and everyone should have their beach bags" my mom instructed as we all entered a hotel room

i walked around the area, it was connected with a few different rooms and had a large 'common room' type of area in the middle. it seemed just like an apartment rather than one room

i walked over to the last one down the hall and placed my stuff on the bed. the door opened and closed from behind me. i turned to see ethan enter the room.

"hey ash" he greeted, plopping onto the bed.

ethan and i haven't talked in a while, the realization dawning upon me that grayson or i hadn't told anyone what had happened that night.

"hey eth" i replied cheerfully, stuffing a bottle of sunscreen into my beach bag.

i wasn't going to bring a bathing suit since i wasn't going to go swimming.

i have a huge fear of water.

it's always the unknown that scares me away. the fear that something could be lurking beneath the blue of the water.

"hows life been? i feel like we haven't talked in forever" ethan said, looking around the room.

"thats because we haven't" i replied, laughing.

i realized that this will be my only chance to talk to him in private.

"can i tell you something?" i asked slowly

he tilted his head, nodding "yeah go for it"

"last night, someon-" i began but was cut off by someone at the door

"hurry up, we're leaving!" annie yelled, marching back down the hall.

"tell me later" ethan suggested, leaving the room.

i finished stuffing my beach bag with essentials before following him out to the main area where everyone stood

"everyone here?" my mom asked, doing a head count

abby sat at the side, helping alex with his beach bag. annie stood by my dad, helping set up the GPS. grayson and ethan both sat on the sofa, scrolling through their phones.

"lets go!" came my dad's yell, ushering everyone out of the room and into the car.

i groaned as i climbed in beside annie and abby, stuck at the side of the car again. to avoid their constant bickering, i put on my headphones and listened to bts' new song best of me, really got me into my feels.

the car ride passed surprisingly silently and before we knew it, we pulled up to a beach that wasn't too crowded but not entirely empty either.

we all exited the car and discussed a meeting spot in case we get lost. my mom, dad, alex, annie and abby headed over to a nice and sunny spot to lay out the blankets.

i decided to go all the way to the farthest end and put my stuff down. wanting a little alone time.

i sat there for a while and took in the view. people were playing with beach balls here and there

i remembered coming to this beach once. it was a blurry and fuzzy memory in my head but the scenery was vivid

"hey" came a female voice

i frowned, looking up to see 4 girls standing in front of me. i had never seen them before. the one near the front had blonde hair, the 3 other were all brunettes