Practice My Patience - PRETTYMUCH fanfic

Chapter 3: Chicken Fight

I love the beach. It's a really big reason that I moved across the country. Something about the California beaches just felt so right. It reminded me of Manhattan, always busy but you find peace in all the chaos. The beach was always our place with the boys. We would come, all put our phones down and just hang out. The group had blown up recently, and going out with them was getting harder to do. But being at the beach always felt safe.

I was wearing a red bikini, hoping that maybe it wouldn't absorb the California heat. Emily wore a cute rose gold one piece that had a small tie in the front on her chest, showing a little under boob.

I was laying on my towel, listening to the music playing out of our speaker when I felt a whoosh and opened my eyes to find a volleyball sitting half a foot next to my face. I turned onto my stomach, facing Nick, Zion, Edwin and Austin who were playing volleyball behind us, lowered my sunglasses and yelled, "Really???? I could have DIED."

Zion laughed, "Well since you didn't, can you toss the ball back?" I rolled by eyes, grabbing it and tossing it over.

"They're gonna be the death of me, literally," I say to Emily, and our friend Christina, who were sitting on either side of me. Brandon, who was sitting at the foot our towels chuckled from behind his phone.

Emily looks at him, pointedly, "I love that we're all enjoying the sun, and each other's company. Right Brandon?"

Brandon looked up, locking his phone and putting it down. "Sorry Em, Maggie is just asking for advice on some music." He looked at me and smiled softly. I sat quietly, thinking. Is it really so hard to just tell your girlfriend you're hanging out with your friends and that you'll help her later? Obviously I was biased, but still, even if I didn't like him so much, I'd still be annoyed.

"B! Christina! Come join the game!" Nick shouts.

"Why Christina? Huh? What if me or Emily wanted to play?" I question, turning and raising an eyebrow.

"Do you?" Nick countered. He knew I was uncoordinated and clumsy, and that playing volleyball with them was a lot of pressure because they like to win. He smirked at my lack of a response. "That's what I thought."

I looked at Emily who was silently laughing at me, before laying back down and closing my eyes.

I was enjoying the warmth from the sun when I felt a shadow cross over me and I opened my eyes to 2 unfamiliar boys standing where Brandon had just been sitting. One had blonde hair slicked to the side, and a dad bod. The other was a little taller, with brown hair and less defined arms, as if he went to the gym but didn't live there.

They looked at me and Emily before a sly smile appeared on the blonde's face. "What are you ladies up to?" he asked.

"Trying to enjoy the sun," Emily responded with an attitude, referring to the fact that they were now blocking it. I guess the brunette was cute but these kind of guys know they're cute and act like we owe them something because they've graced us with their presence.

"Where are you guys from?" asked the brunette.

"Nowhere important," Emily responded. They ignored her tone and the blonde moved, taking a seat uncomfortably close to Emily. "Um..." she said, clearly moving over. I sat up, on guard now.

I could feel my muscles tensing. How were we going to get out of this?

"You guys are cute," he said, leaning towards Emily.

"And clearly they aren't interested," a voice from behind us said. I turned to see Zion towering over all of us, clearly taller than both of them.

I looked over to the other boys, who had stopped playing and looked confused as to why Zion just walked off. "I suggest you get up," he continued. The blonde looked at him, "I didn't hear her say she wants me to leave." He motioned towards Emily.