Kismet's Game

Chapter 2

Olivia's POV

We are greeted by the breathtaking view of the beach. Sunlight dances on the waves, and I can hear the distant laughter of my friends already planning activities for our stay. To my surprise, all the bags, including mine, have been carried inside the house.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and stretching languidly.

"El said to just let you sleep while we carry the bags inside since you didn't get much sleep last night," Ally replies with a shrug.

"Oh, okay." I look around for El and Chase. "Where's El?"

"She went to the nearby store to grab some things for tonight," Ally says, busying herself with organizing groceries on the kitchen counter.

"Tonight?" I raise an eyebrow.

"We're having a bonfire, dummy. We can't come here, stay inside the house, and watch Netflix shows or some shit. We came here to have fun," Ally retorts, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, okay. Wait, did she go with Chase?"

"She did, yeah. She wanted me to tag along, but Chase offered, so they went together." Ally winks conspiratorially.

"Wow, okay. You know, I think they secretly have a thing for each other. They just can't admit it."

"Hm, I don't think Chase is capable of being in a relationship. He's always with random girls and is only interested in hookups so...." Ally trails off, her skepticism evident.

I nod thoughtfully. "But I've seen the way he acts when he's around El, and it's different when he's with other girls. Sure, they fight about stupid shit, but it's cute." We continue chatting about Chase and El as we carry the bags of food into the kitchen.

"Maybe you're right," Ally concedes. "I've noticed those little glances too, like they're in some rom-com and we're the oblivious extras."

"Exactly!" I laugh. "It's like we're living in a cheesy teen movie."

"Well, let's hope it doesn't end with a dramatic breakup scene," Ally quips, handing me a bag of marshmallows.

"Or worse, a montage of sad, rainy days," I add, mimicking a slow-motion cry.

We both burst into laughter, the sound mingling with the ocean breeze. With the food safely stashed away, we step outside to join the others.

We make our way outside, where the sun casts a golden glow over everything. The salty air is refreshing, and I can't help but feel a surge of excitement. The beach is calling, and the day is young. This is our last summer before college and I don't know when we will be able to come back here this free. Free of responsibilities and the pressures of adult life.

"Look who finally decided to join us!" Tom shouts, grinning from ear to ear as he tosses a Frisbee to Max. Tom and Max are twins. We met them during our first trip to our beach house when we were ten. All of us have been best friends since.

"Hey, I was supervising from the comfort of my nap," I retort, squinting against the bright sun.

"Sure, sure," Tom laughs, catching the Frisbee with an impressive one-handed grab. "You missed El and Chase's grand departure. It was like watching a sitcom couple denying their obvious chemistry."

"That's the general consensus," Ally chimes in, nudging me with her elbow. "Everyone's rooting for them, except maybe Elena herself".

As we spread out towels and set up beach chairs, I notice the way the group naturally falls into an easy rhythm. There's something comforting about being with friends who know each other so well. It's as if the beach itself recognizes us and plays along, providing the perfect backdrop.

"Alright, who's up for a swim?" Max asks, already halfway to the water.

"You don't even have to ask me twice!" I shout, racing after him. The water is refreshing, and we dive in, splashing and laughing, temporarily forgetting everything else.

After what feels like hours but is probably just a half-hour, we return to our towels, wet and exhausted. I need to re-apply my sunscreen. Ally hands me a soda, and I take a sip, feeling the coolness spread through me.

"Hey, do you think they'll bring back something good from the store?" Max asks, flopping down beside me.

"Knowing El, she'll probably bring back half the store," I say. "And Chase will carry it all without complaint because, well, he's Chase."

"And because he's secretly head over heels," Ally adds, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Secretly? At this point, it's about as secret as a fireworks display," I laugh.

We settle into a comfortable silence, soaking up the sun and the sound of the waves. The day stretches ahead of us, filled with the promise of fun and mischief. The bonfire tonight will be the perfect way to cap it off, and maybe, just maybe, we'll witness the next episode of the El and Chase saga.

"Hey, who's in charge of the s'mores tonight?" Tom asks, breaking the silence.

"El, of course," Ally answers. "She's the only one who can get the marshmallow-to-chocolate ratio just right."

"Naturally," I say, smiling. "Because if there's one thing El and Chase can agree on, it's the perfect s'more."

"We have our best friend over for the summer. He goes to a college in New York too, might be good to have someone from there to show you guys around. We'll try to bring him over later for the bonfire", Max says.

"Sounds good to me. Is he cute? Single? BDE?" Ally asks. She's so unserious, it's one of her endearing qualities. 

"Guess you'll find out later", Tom adds with a wink to Ally.

"I guess we will" I reply. There's another oblivious pair we'll have to watch out for.

As the afternoon sun begins to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, I can't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. Surrounded by friends, with a night of laughter and stories ahead, I know this is a moment I'll cherish. And who knows? Maybe tonight will bring some unexpected surprises.

"To making this our best summer ever," I say, raising my soda in a toast.

"To making this our best summer ever," they echo, clinking their cans against mine.

With the promise of a perfect night under the stars, we bask in the glow of friendship, the waves providing the soundtrack to our little slice of paradise.