Chasing Stars

B e a c h

    It was approximately an hour drive to the Laguna Beach, one of the most well known beaches in LA.

    "Are we there yet?" Michelle asked, not for the first time that minute.

   "Almost"

     "I see it! I see the ocean! Do you see it Tess?" Michelle nudged me hard in the ribs.

    I winced. "Yeah I see it"

      I looked at Austin. His face was unnaturally pale, and he was absentmindedly toying with his sunglasses.

   "You okay?"

       He jolted out of his reverie and glanced up at me.

     "It feels strange"

   I was about to question him on his strange reply when Michelle squealed, bouncing up and down on her booster seat.

   She squeezed my arm. "I see the beach!"

    I looked at her, exasperated. "Michelle we have been to the beach so many times, and yet you still never get less excited"

    "But its the beach" she exclaimed, as if that explained everything.

    Her outburst brought out a smile even from Austin.

   "Okay everyone hush. Let's all be quiet as I try to find a parking spot." my mom said, speaking for the first time in the last thirty minutes.

    She veered the car into a empty slot near the back of the parking lot.

   "There" she said, satisfied.

       There was a chorus of clicking as everyone unbuckled the seat belts.

    I waited until my mother and Michelle were out of the car before speaking to Austin.

    "What did you mean when you said it felt strange?"

     He spoke softly.

         "This isn't the first time I have been to the beach you know. We have been to the beach so many times and it never felt like this. This time this isn't just fun. I have to think of her this time. My mom."

     "There's nothing to be that nervous about. Its just a swim in the ocean. There is nothing that can possibly go wrong." I reassured.

    A little colour came back to his face. "I know"

    There was short tap on the window as Michelle peered in. "Are you guys coming?"

    "Yeah" we said together, and then laughed.

    I clambered out of the car and stretched. My legs felt tight after sitting in the same position for so long.

       Together we climbed down a set of sandy stairs that led down to the beach.

    Golden stretches of soft sand stretched out as far as the eyes could see. Huge waves crashed down on the shoreline, as the sapphire blue glimmered under the afternoon sun. There was a large hub of noise that consisted of children's gleeful screams, talking and laughing. It was the perfect day for the beach.

   Michelle immediately threw off her flip flops and ran through the sand, a cloud forming in her wake. My mother called after her to come back and put on sunscreen.

   Soon she gave up as Michelle stubbornly refused to retreat from the waves.

   "That girl. Wait till she gets a nasty sunburn and comes crying" she muttered.