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"SHELLSIDE LAGOON SURF SHACK, ISLA HERE. HOW CAN I HELP YA?"

"Seven, tomorrow? Yes, that'll be great."

"Thank you for calling! Have a good one."

I hung up the phone, moving to the already overflowing bookings directory. Grabbing my pen, I quickly scribbled 'Janet, 4' under the 7AM slot.

It was summer in Shellside Bay, and that meant tourist season. Not only had I been receiving calls all morning to make bookings for the week, but it also meant my breaks ran short and my shifts ran long. At least the extra pay made up for it.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair and glancing at the clock – nearly six. I'd be off in fifteen minutes.

The Shellside Lagoon Surf Shack was not a big rental shop – hence the term shack – but it was sheltered, and a dusty fan wheezed in the corner – a small grace in the middle of Australia's hottest summer in decades.

I thought of Sky, my best friend. 

This was our first summer apart in years. She was off, volunteering somewhere in rural Cambodia, while I was stuck here, working from six in the morning every day and being yelled at by middle-aged European ladies.

I was jealous.

I shut the bookings directory with a heavy thud and leaned over the counter, watching the waves roll out across the coast. Children squealed from afar, babies cried, and old men in Speedos traipsed across the sand – far from the usual, idyllic atmosphere that usually reigned in Shellside Bay.

"Isla!"

I blinked, snapping out of my daze to see a shaggy blond-haired boy waving a hand in front of me – Connor Thompson.

He smiled, his tanned face freckled and blue eyes glittering in the sunlight. His surf suit was pulled low around his hips to expose his bare chest, glistening with drops of water.

"Thompson," I exclaimed, a wide smile stretching across my lips. He grinned in response, shoving a hand through his hair and pushing the damp locks back. "What's up?"

"When do you get off work?" He asked, nodding to his left. "River and Austin are getting the Nauti Buoy ready. You coming?"

Rolling my eyes, I turned to follow his gaze. Nauti Buoy was the idiotic name the local surfer boys had come up with for the Bennett's boat – or more accurately, Bennett's father's boat.

And just as he said, across the beach by the pier, River Bennet and Austin Wright were standing by the tinnie. River was busy untying the boat while Austin smiled wide at me, waving eagerly.

I warmed, turning away.

Working on a beach, I was used to seeing a lot of things.

I was used to cute shirtless boys. I was used to foreign surfers and men in budgie smugglers. I was used to old ladies letting their saggy tits free and wearing the skimpiest of bikinis.

But I would never get used to Austin Wright.

Especially a shirtless Austin Wright.

Instead, I glanced at the clock before turning back to Connor.

"Ten more minutes."

"Actually," a voice came. I turned, the back door opening to reveal Tom Buckner, my boss. Tom Buckner was a greying middle-aged man with a soft spot for the beach. He'd been running the Shack for decades now. Some would call him a true-blue bogan. "You can leave now. I'm closing the Shack up early."

"Really?" I said, raising my brows. "I don't mind –"

"Yeah, nah," he waved a hand with a smile. "Go have fun, Isla. Be a teenager. You work too much."

"Tom," I said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You're the best."

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes, shaking me off. "Now go!"

I grinned, turning to grab my duffel bag and swiftly sliding over the counter. My shoes hit the sand with a thud as I landed beside Connor.

"You're the best, Mr. Buckner!" Connor hollered as I began jogging towards the pier.

"Take care of her, Thompson," he shouted back.

I rolled my eyes, spinning on the sand and raising my hands to my mouth. "We're not dating, Tom!"

"Whatever," he yelled, waving a hand. I laughed.

The Shack was at the edge of the beach, so I was at the pier in seconds. My sneakers filled with sand and my dark hair whipped my face in the wind. I trampled over the pier, bee lining for the boat.

"Hey Monroe," Austin greeted, sending me a lopsided grin.

"Hey," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

He offered me a hand, and I took it, blushing and stepping onto the tinnie. He didn't release it, only intertwining our fingers together and giving my hand a squeeze. 

Warmth crept up my neck at the gesture and I wondered if he knew what he was doing to me.

He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of dripping boardshorts. His dark brown hair fell over his eyes, and he pushed it back with a heart-leaping smile.

"Still no word from Sky?" he asked.

I shrugged, shaking my head. "No connection in rural Cambodia. Still waiting for a postcard though."

"That sucks for her," Austin offered. I nodded solemnly, even though I was secretly jealous.

I'd never left this tiny town before. She was lucky – she got to see the world. Even if it meant she'd left us behind during our final summer together.

The boat rocked and I spun to find Connor stepping onto it.

"Let's go!" he hollered, waving his arms and rocking the boat even more.

"Shove it, Thompson," River yelled from the front seat. He moved swiftly, starting the engine and tossing the rope aside. It roared to life and River immediately accelerated forward, sending me lurching back.

Austin tugged my hand, pulling me down to sit beside him.

"Careful," he yelled over the engine.

I blinked, my cheeks burning at the knot our fingers made together. We'd held hands since we were children, and it only made my heart race more and more as the years passed by.

"Thanks."

The boat was a standard runabout owned by River's father. It was nothing special, according to River, but we all knew it cost his father tens of thousands of dollars. It was nothing like the tiny fishing boats most of the other surfer boys owned.

The Nauti Buoy was a medium sized boat that could fit a maximum of six people. We were all awful drivers, but River had a boat license, and so he was the one sitting at the steering wheel, guiding us over bumpy waves.

"Where we goin'?" I shouted over the rumble of the engine.

"Isla," Connor shouted back. He sat in the front, beside Austin, his chair spun around to face us.

"Isla?" I echoed, furrowing my brow. The sun would be setting in a few hours, and my whole body ached from a twelve hour shift. "Now?"

"Come on, Monroe," Austin shoved me a little with his shoulder. "Don't be a buzzkill."

My cheeks heated and I pursed my lips. "Fine."

Isla was a tiny island a few minutes from Shellside Bay. None of us were completely sure on its real name, but the boys had begun calling it 'Isla' after me when we were in primary school, and it sort of just stuck.

"What better name could there be?" Austin had argued. We'd just hit year four and the boys were still beginning to get over cooties – despite us having been friends for years longer. River and Sky hadn't even joined our little group yet. "It sounds like island, doesn't it?"

Back then, my dad would sail us out – but now he was gone and we were old enough to take River's boat and go ourselves.

And so, it became habit to take the boat out most days during the summer – right as I got off work or went on my break. It sure beat the swarm of tourists back on the shore.

The engine sputtered and the boat began to slow. Connor hollered, pumping a fist in the air and jumping out of the Nauti Buoy. River joined him, splashing into the water, and tugged the boat onto the sand.

"Shall we?" Austin winked, offering his hand.

I wavered, my hand hovering over his palm. The sun was beginning to glow orange, making Austin's skin shine and turning his eyes into a light, honey brown. His skin glistened as the ocean water sprayed over him.

"Hurry up, Monroe!" Connor's voice came from the sand.

My cheeks turned pink and I gripped Austin's hand, hopping out of the boat. I'd pulled my sneakers off during the ride, so my feet sunk into the sand, warming me immediately. I grinned, burying my toes deeper.

The boys had already run ahead, racing across the sand towards the lagoon.

"Wait up!" I shouted, speeding after them.

We ran across the sand and through the small patch of grass and trees before the lagoon came into view. The lagoon was small and the water sparked a deep sapphire blue. It was surrounded by short, rocky cliffs and plenty of trees and bushes – a perfect hide out.

It was easy to climb down the rocks and into the water, but the boys preferred a different approach.

With a shout and a splash, Austin, Connor and River leapt off the cliff and directly into the water.

I raised a brow, slowing at the edge of the rocks to see their heads pop out of the blue.

"Come on, Isla!" Connor shouted, his voice echoing through the empty lagoon.

I rolled my eyes, watching as River hollered and splashed water into Connor's open mouth, causing him to splutter and quickly retaliate.

With a laugh at the boys' idiocy, I peeled my t-shirt over my head and pushed my shorts down, revealing a blue SurfStitch bikini, light against my dark bronze skin.

"Watch out!" I screamed, taking a step back before leaping off the short rock platform. I sucked in a breath, tucking my knees to my chest before my body hit the water.

I went in with a deafening splash, the water quickly flooding my ears and muffling the laughing and shouting of the boys on the surface.

The cold hit me first – an icy shock against the humid heat of summer. The waves hit me next – a rippling caress that seemed to soothe my body to a lull. Instantly, everything went dull and all I could hear and think, and feel was the lagoon.

I blinked my eyes open, allowing myself to stay submerged for a moment.

The lagoon was impossibly blue – untouched and unsoiled by the tourist season of Shellside Bay. It was our own private haven here.

Bubbles rippled around me with movement and I smiled, feeling how my hair loosened in the water, how my body was seemingly weightless here – this was where I felt at home.

The water gushed as Austin's face slowly came into view. He was grinning, bubbles gurgling out of his nose as he floated for a moment in front of me.

Then, his hands darted out, grabbing my waist and slowly flipping me over, the water dragging me down.

I laughed in an eruption of bubbles, wriggling from his grip and grabbing onto his leg, tugging him down after me.

He shouted – a sound muffled by the water – kicking his leg loose and darting for the surface. I smirked, following him and breaking the surface with a gasp for air. He panted for a moment, sending me a mischievous smile.

"You're vicious," Austin said eventually, still sucking in quick gasps of air.

I moved my hand, splashing him gently with a small wave of water. "You started it."

"Well, I expected to win."

"Well, you set yourself up for disappointment," I teased, quirking a brow.

His lips broke into his iconic heart melting grin and he waved a hand, splashing me and leaving me with a mouthful of water. I sputtered a laugh, coughing the water out and sent him a sharp glare.

"Oh, it's on," I said, reaching into the water and shoving a wave towards him.

He reacted by splashing me in sync, causing us both to end up sputtering out water. Around us, the sun was glowing orange, illuminating us in warm sunlight – a late sunset. I was bathed in warmth and cold simultaneously. Before I could fully appreciate the moment, another splash of water drenched my entire head.

My eyes widened at the sound of Austin's giggling and I threw both hands into the lagoon, sending a huge splash over Austin's already dripping head.

Connor and River had noticed the fight and quickly joined, Connor swimming to my defence only to get a mouthful of water thanks to River.

"Fall back!" Connor shouted, attempting to swim backwards while splashing River and Austin. I laughed, rolling my eyes but following his orders, nonetheless.

Austin and River advanced, waves splashing towards us until River had managed to leap onto Connor, tugging him beneath the water surface as he pretended to drown.

I barely caught a glance of Connor's head falling beneath the water again before strong arms wrapped around my waist. I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting to be tossed into the water when suddenly I was pulled into the air.

My eyes sprung open to see Austin's laughing face as he held me high in the air. I blinked, my hands moving to grip his arms, trying to fight the blush creeping up my neck as I stared down at him.

We paused, the sounds of Connor and River fighting drowned out by my heart thudding in my ears. The sun had begun to fall lower, the sky turning a purplish blue in its wake.

Austin's grip tightened on my waist, his fingers digging into my skin.

My cheeks warmed and his face broke out into a devilish grin.

It took me a moment to understand. Barely enough time to utter the words, "Don't you dare –"

But it was too late.

He'd tossed me forward and I landed back-first in the water. I sucked in a short breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I fell deep into the lagoon.

I wasn't in there for long before my wrists were seized and I was hauled to the surface, spluttering.

"You're evil!" I shouted, swatting at the nearest bare chest, my eyes still shut.

"Hey, don't kill your rescuer," River's voice came, lilted with amusement.

I dragged a palm across my eyes, clearing it of water, and blinked at River's smug expression. We stared at each other for a moment before I shoved a hand through the water, sending a rippling wave right at his face.

He blinked, his jaw slack with surprise. Then, he darted forward, grabbing my shoulder and dunking my head into the water. In the distance, Connor had thrown Austin in again, earning shouts and laughter in turn.

And we began again, forming teams and breaking alliances, tossing each other about and pretending to dramatically succumb to the still water of the lagoon.

The sun fell and we continued beneath the fading moonlight until we couldn't anymore.

And it was just as it should be.

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I wheeled my bike down the street, my arms and legs too sore to pedal it uphill.

It was a warm night and my bikini had dried surprisingly fast, though my top and shorts remained tucked away in my duffle bag.

Shellside Bay was a quiet town, a few hours north of Sydney. It was small enough that everyone knew each other, and close enough to the beach that a girl walking home in a damp bikini wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

All I wanted was to trek home, take a cold shower and flop into bed. But I had an errand to run.

As I reached the crest of the hill, a white European-style mansion came into view. It was a spacious building, taller than most other houses in Shellside Bay. Dated, but not to the point that it seemed run-down or ancient.

Twisting columns covered its exterior, the paint chipping and peeling, but impressive, nonetheless. Smoking chimneys lined the roof. The porch was wide and short timber steps led to the front door where a small tin sign hung – Clemente House.

Clemente House had been in Shellside Bay since my grandparents had been my age. It was a bed and breakfast – the most popular in town – run by the elderly, always sweet Mrs Clemente.

I left my bike beside the railing of the porch with a clang and marched towards the front door. By this time, Mrs Clemente was probably asleep or tending to her guests, but we had a routine every summer that I worked at the Shack.

Clemente House provided flyers that we'd hang at the Shack to promote the bed and breakfast to tourists, and we always ran out quickly during tourist season.

Mrs Clemente was expecting me to drop by and pick up a new stack to display tomorrow, and as usual, I was sure she'd left it on the counter for me to take.

I pushed through the front doors with a ding of the bell hanging from the frame. The breeze of the air condition hit me and instantly cooled my face. I released a sigh in relief. Summer nights in Australia were no joke.

Looking around, I noticed the lobby had been deserted, except for one person.

He sat in a chair near the counter, a hood tugged over his face as he scrolled through his phone.

I ignored him, stepping directly up to the counter and grabbing the stack of flyers.

I was half-way to the door before his voice stopped me.

"You're supposed to take one."

It took me a second to realise he was speaking to me – I was too caught up on his voice.

An American accent.

I turned back to him, taking in his hoodie and sweatpants. Of course, he was foreign – no Australian would dress like that in the middle of a forty-five-degree summer, at least not in Shellside Bay.

"Excuse me?" I managed, narrowing my eyes in confusion.

He rolled his eyes, moving to stand from the chair. His phone fell to his side and I got a good look at his face.

He was attractive – probably around my age, if not a few years older. His hair was dark, as were his eyes, but his jaw was chiselled, matching his cut cheekbones and straight nose. I hated that I found him cute. Sky would've been head over heels for him – if she wasn't somewhere in Cambodia right now.

A beat passed between us before I realised, we'd fallen silent.

And his eyes were decidedly not focused on my face.

"Hey," I snapped, waving the flyers in front of my chest. "Eyes up here, mate."

He dragged his gaze up to meet mine, his expression bored. His lips twitched, slowly, into a smug smirk. Then he spoke in a lazy drawl.

"You're the one who's showing it off, darl –"

He didn't finish his sentence before my fist collided with his cheek.

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A U T H O R ' S N O T E

Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed these first chapters of Isla! I've had this in my drafts since last December, so I'm really excited! Please let me know what you think of the story and all the characters so far! Who's your favourite? Who do you not like?

Thank you for reading!