☆☆ Dedication to @broodiana for her lovely banner! I have paired it with a beautiful picture of Chase at the beach... I wonder if you'll stare more than Erika??☆☆

S i x t e e n : Beach, Please

"I hate it!" Miko snaps, frantically attempting to brush the sand from her towel with oily hands. She lifts her palms, now encrusted with a thin layer of grit, and hisses in irritation. "I hate putting on sunblock on a beach- it all just sticks and it's impossible to get rid of it unless you go in the sea...and then you need to reapply again!"

"Just ignore it," Violet suggests from behind us. She's stretched out on a stripy beach towel, looking infuriatingly classy in some aviators and a red bathing suit. Around her, the rest of us have attached our towels like a giant patch-work picnic blanket, decorated with lounging bodies, sunblock bottles and Riley's ginormous yellow beach-bag. She, Alec and Joe have all left already to swim before we start surfing.

"But I feel like one of those little sand crabs," Miko whines. Another flurry of sand flicks up into the air as she shakes her towel. It clings desperately onto the breeze for a few suspenseful seconds before dancing down to land on my shins.

"You're definitely not a sand crab, Aragog," Chase's voice sounds smoothly from the towel behind me. After the incident this morning with Miko's unshaven legs, he's taken to nicknaming her Aragog- after the large, hairy tarantula in the second Harry Potter movie. As expected, Miko has not taken kindly to this comparison.

She scowls and throws her water bottle at him.

"Ouch," Chase complains, as it smacks violently into his elbow. He peels his tanned arm away from his face and squints in the bright light for a few seconds, before his eyes adjust and find me, ogling him. Then, that stupidly attractive smile. Somehow, it's even more potent when he's lying shirtless in the sun.

"Careful, gorgeous," He murmurs through his smirk. "Keep staring like that and I might think I have your heart."

"The only thing you have is an ego the size of Jupiter," I mumble, turning my chin away in an attempt at carelessness. I gaze down the pale sand towards the wink of orange light reflecting from the waves. My fingers claw into the towel I'm sitting on. He's right of course, I need to stop staring. I don't want to, but I need to. It's awkward to be caught out.

"Are you guys ready to surf now?" Dylan asks, rolling lazily onto his side.

The urge to level the playing field suddenly sparks victoriously in my chest, eliminating any damp embarrassment.

"Sure." I turn back to Chase with the semblance of a smile.

I can make him stare, too.

In one smooth motion, I tuck my thumbs under the hemline of my t-shirt dress and lift it up and over my head, exposing the black bikini I'm wearing beneath. As my textured hair falls messily around my shoulders, I have the satisfaction of watching that smug smile fall from Chase's features as his attention diverts to my freshly exposed skin.

"Careful, Squidge," I say nonchalantly, reaching backwards for a bottle of sun block. "You should probably stop staring or I might think I have your heart."

One corner of Chase's mouth tugs into a half smile and his teeth slide out to catch it and hold it there. Although speechless from my teasing, his eyes are lazy and undeterred as he gazes at my face. They're the colour of warm chocolate, and my stomach lurches.

No. I have the power here.

I lift up the bottle of sunblock, my gaze locked steadily with the dark-haired deviant lounging smugly on his towel. It's time for more ammunition; it's time for a wild card.

"Dylan, would you mind coming to do my back for me?"

I watch the second that my words hit their target, because Chase's eyes darken indisputably, and his smile disappears. A tantalising thrill shoots up my spine and my limbs begin to tingle. He's jealous. He's absolutely jealous. Dylan is wordlessly climbing over Riley's things to approach me, but Chase's eyes don't move from mine until the blond boy is sitting on my towel behind me, the sunblock in his hands.

Dylan has helped me to do my back lots of times before- it means absolutely nothing to either him or me. But it definitely means something to Chase. I have to restrain a shiver of anticipation as Chase clears his throat. His eyes are glued to Dylan's hands.

"Lift your hair up," Dylan directs, completely oblivious to the warning glare in Chase's features. I bunch my hair at the base of my neck, and with both hands, scoop and smooth it upwards into a makeshift ponytail at the top of my head. Chase's eyes have darkened to the colour of cinders now, his lips parted and slightly damp.

Dylan begins to rub the sun cream over my lower back, his hands quick and purposeful. I scarcely notice the sensation at all, because my attention is tethered to the boy opposite.

Violet, her aviators on her head and a smile wide on her face, leans across her towel to poke Chase in the cheek. "I think you have a little drool there, buddy."

Chase fixes her with a dark glare. "Shut up."

Violet's laughter bubbles out like champagne as she rolls backwards onto her towel again, melodic and unstoppable. "You've met your match with this one, Thatcher."

"You're damn right he has," Miko teases.

I try to bite back the smile on my face as Dylan's hands remove themselves from my skin and my hair falls once more around my sticky shoulders. I can't bring myself to look at Chase- I can't. I can't risk undermining my previous bold actions with the blush that's threatening to burst pigment across my complexion.

Oh my god, did I actually just do that?

Instinctively, my hands reach to cover the eczema patches in the corner of my arms, as if by doing that, I can cover my own gaudy bravado. Why did I even want to illicit that kind of reaction from him? I should know by now that he is out of bounds.

"All done," Dylan says cheerily, clicking the cap of the sunblock closed and tossing the bottle to the side. "Everybody ready for surfing now?"

Nodding numbly, I follow the others and stumble up to my feet. Miko and Violet are chatting animatedly about anime shows as they lift their smaller surfboards from the heated sand and begin to stroll down the beach. Dylan follows, flicking up dust with his heels as he jogs to catch up, a strong arm looped around his surfboard. I suppose I wouldn't want to be left with Chase and I alone either, after that little performance of mine.

I reach where my surfboard is wedged upright into the sand and take a deep breath. My smaller, rounded white board is positioned directly beside a sharper red model.

Before I can even consider turning to face the music, I feel the warmth of his torso as he steps closer to my back. His skin is mere inches from mine, so close that I can feel every vibration in the air between us. My breath becomes shallow with nervous anticipation, but he is silent as he traces a singular finger over the bridge of my shoulders. Scooping up a lock of hair and shifting it behind my neck, he finally speaks in a low, rough murmur.

"He missed a bit."

Then, that one singular finger is rubbing gently at a smear of sunblock at the side of my neck. I exhale forcefully. I think if I didn't, I would forget to breathe.

"You're just unstoppable, aren't you?" I mutter. "A flirtatious force of nature."

His finger slips over my shoulder, finds a grip and uses it to twist me around. Chase's eyes, still dark, are matched with his equally serious expression. "Oh, I'm the flirty one?"

"Well you started it."

"You ended it."

I roll my eyes but my smile bites through any attempt at nonchalance. "Hardly. You're just attracted to anything with a pulse, Squidge."

Chase's hand on my shoulder loosens until it slips free completely. A curl of hair falls in front of one of his eyes, an interruption to his intense stare. "Is that your theory?"

"You date a lot of pretty girls for one date only," I say cautiously, shuffling my bare feet in the sand. "So, I assume that means you're easily attracted to people, but not for long."

"Good logic. But it's not correct."

Just as I'm about to question Chase, I become aware of shuffling sand and voices to our left. Riley, Joe and Alec are traipsing up the beach towards us, each of them soaking wet and shivering in the stinging cool breeze. Riley smiles apologetically at us, her arms clasped tightly around her chest to seal in warmth. Her auburn hair is unusually dark when wet, hanging in two long braids either side of her head.

"Sorry guys. Came to get our surfboards."

"Hope we weren't interrupting anything," Alec says slowly, his eyes flitting between Chase and I. Impulsively, I take a step back so that our proximity isn't so apparent. My arms fold over my chest, covering what little of my skin that I can.

"Oh, we definitely interrupted," Joe says cheerily, reaching for a blue surfboard jutting out of the sand. "But they can postpone their moment until after surfing, right guys?"

"Right," Chase drawls, running a hand through his hair.

"Now, now, Chase," Joe says, swinging the surfboard under his arm and fixing his best friend with a semi-serious expression. "Lose the attitude. Nobody likes a shady beach."

Riley rolls her eyes at Joe before turning back to me with a sweetly hopeful expression. "So, you two are coming now, right?"

I glance at Chase, with curiosity gnawing at me behind my strained smile.

"Sure."

*~*~*

"You need to look at the angle of the wave more. See that it's angled towards the left? If you lean towards the left, you'll be able to ride it for longer."

Chase shakes his head, flicking droplets like staccato bullets across the water surface, and laughs. "You know," he says, rubbing water free from his nose and gripping to his surfboard with the other hand. "I didn't anticipate you giving me surfing advice."

"Why's that?" I ask with vicious innocence, treading water softly as a gentle wave lifts my feet from the sea floor. "You didn't...actually think you were good, did you?"

Chase's eyes narrow. "I like that you surprise me, but if you dare say something like that again..."

"You'll what?" The white surfboard under my right arm lifts me over another wave, completely undeterred. My smile, too, is unwavering as I wait for a response that doesn't come. "It's okay, Chase, it's not about the winning...What do they say to losers again? Oh, that's right- it's about the taking part."

"I hope that you can swim as quickly as your mouth runs."

With laughter bubbling from my chest, I twist towards the incoming wave and with both hands guiding the surfboard, nose-dive into the water. The wave swells and shoves around me with tangible momentum while I carve my route to the other side. Once I pop up through the surface again, I catch a glimpse of Dylan riding the next wave. His golden hair shines in the sun, strong arms outstretched, and a line of white foam follows the slicing motion of his surfboard through the water.

"He's the best," I call back to Chase. "Look how good he is."

Chase swims up beside me, scowling as he watches Dylan remain upright on the board. "Don't think I've forgotten that you just called me bad at it."

"You're good at it," I say, focusing on Alec and Riley as they paddle side by side. "In fact, you're all quite good at it. Do you come often?"

"The boys and I have done it since we were little. Riley and Violet are newer," Chase says with a loose shrug. Our legs collide under the water as we float. "What about you?"

I look to the side. "Chloe and I used to come on weekends. She's way better than me."

"You say that about everything."

"But," a voice gasps from our left. "I win at being the most useless."

I twist to see Miko floating up beside us on her yellow board. Her fringe is sticking flat to her forehead, her face is pale, and her hands are fisted tightly around the lip of the surfboard as if trying to punish it. She heaves another exaggerated breath.

"Why does every wave decide to drown me, Erika?"

"You're really not a beach person, are you?" I tease.

"I'm very much a land person. On a couch, preferably. With hot chocolate."

"Well that makes sense- tarantulas are land creatures," Chase inputs unhelpfully. Miko raises her chin just enough to send him a fierce glare, before quickly abandoning that plan to press her cheek against the board and close her eyes. Chase chuckles.

"Time to go back?" I suggest.

She nods horizontally.

"I'll take Miko back to her rightful habitat," I say to Chase, reaching out my free hand to playfully poke his arm. "Remember to lean to the left. I'll be watching."

Chase grins and, without warning, leans left until his slick, tanned arm is hooked over my surfboard and his mouth is by my ear. His breath grazes the wet skin there, unfurling a cold tingle down my neck.

"I'll get practicing."

Shaking my head and scowling at his final flirtatious move, I detangle my surfboard from his grip and twist to follow Miko, swimming inland. The tide is lowering as the afternoon sun beats down, and the distance of swimming has decreased significantly. As my feet comfortably hit the seabed again, and I can wade through the shallower waves with ease, Miko finally interrupts our silence.

"Do you think he'll listen to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This new plan of yours- to help Chase, to persuade Blythe that he's worth keeping in school..." Miko clarifies, staring forwards thoughtfully. "Do you think Chase will listen to you when you're telling him to start studying, stop acting out, whatever?"

I consider for only a second. "Chase doesn't listen to anyone. Let alone me."

Miko's knees break the surface of the water, swilling froth around her legs with each step. "Have you thought about how you're going to approach this so that he does?"

"No, I haven't," I say honestly, adjusting the surfboard in my grip. "But I need to be careful. If I push him too hard, tell him to change... I'll probably lose him just as quickly as I would if he found out that I was trying to frame him."

"What will you do if Blythe doesn't listen?"

"I don't know," I say, as my feet hit the warm sand. "I just have to try."

Silence lulls between us again as we climb up the sands towards our towel camp. As I'm propping my surfboard back up in its original position, I catch a glimpse of a dark-skinned girl in an orange dress, walking barefoot with a boy through the shallows of the water. Long braids hang down her back, and there's a devious smile on her face as she raises her hand to wave at me.

"It's Zola," I murmur to Miko, waving back. "The one I told you about."

Miko looks up from her surfboard. "She's gorgeous. Who's that with her?"

"I think it's that mechanic guy, Seth."

I watch curiously as Zola angles her body again, this time towards the sea. She hesitates for a moment, scanning. Then the same hand that waved to me rises again. Deeper in the water, Chase waves back in response.

"She knows Chase?" Miko questions.

"I didn't think they knew each other well," I say, a little curtly. My eyes are glued to the girl in the orange sundress; the one catching attention from all over the beach.

"They're probably just friends," Miko says.

I feel an unusual twist of sickness in my stomach as I think back to Chase's extensive dating record. She's tall, ebony skinned and devastatingly beautiful.

"Yeah," I murmur unconvincingly. "Probably."

*~*~*

"You're quieter than usual. It's odd."

My gaze doesn't move from the sea, my toes continuing to rake through the soft sand in swirling patterns. "Sometimes its nice just to think to myself. It's how I get expert advice."

Chase collapses down on the towel beside me, leaning back on his elbows. He's wearing a black t-shirt and shorts now, but his hair is still damp and salty. His eyes, in the tangerine sunset, are practically indulgent. "Penny for your thoughts, gorgeous?"

"Okay but I take cash up front." I glance to the side to assess his reaction, and I'm met with a flat, unimpressed expression. My smile grows a fraction. "I was just wondering what you were doing- that day you took me to the garage."

Instantly, Chase looks away. His ankles cross and he looks to where the horizon slices through a canvas of scenery. "Just helping Seth with something. Money problems."

"I saw him earlier you know," I edge. "He was walking down the beach with Zola."

"You know Zola?"

"Yeah, we met that day," I mumble, kicking the sand up half-heartedly until it showers down on my towel. "She saved me from being mugged. She also helped me to find you, so that I could embarrass you in front of those guys."

Chase makes a small disgruntled noise. "That makes sense."

"How did you meet them all?" I ask softly, lifting my arms up to wrap around my bare knees and glancing back at him with curiosity. "Get into all of the drag car stuff?"

If I wasn't watching closely, I wouldn't see the tendon wiggle in his cheek from his tensed jaw. His eyes are evasive. "It's kind of complicated. Not even really interesting."

Unwrapping one of my arms from my body, I raise a tentative finger and press it to his collarbone, where I know, under the black cotton, a crescent moon marks his skin.

"Something to do with that?"

His eyes flash almost painfully at the intrusion. "Erika, I don't want to talk about it."

"That's okay," I mumble, withdrawing to my previous position. "I just feel conscious sometimes that...you know a lot about me. Family, insecurities. I don't know anything about you; you shouted at me for just turning up at your front gate."

"I'm not ready to tell you anything yet," he says bluntly. Sitting up from the towel, he begins to brush his hands free of sand.

"I get that, I just thought-"

"Erika." His voice is low and irritated. "Just stop."

I blink. "Fine."

I watch in numbed silence as he pushes himself up to a standing position, and without looking back, begins to stalk away down the beach. I have no idea where he's heading. I'm not sure that even he knows that, but he knows what he wants to get away from.

"Everything okay?" A hand appears on my shoulder and a second later, Riley slides down onto the empty towel. As much as I hate to admit it, her presence doesn't quite fill the emptiness there.

"I'm getting whiplash," I mutter quietly, "He's mad at me again."

Riley follows my gaze. "I can see that. Do you know why?"

"I complained that he doesn't tell me anything about his life." I wince after the words exit my mouth- it sounds even more petty and unnecessary aloud.

Riley's hand moves to my fist and envelopes it with a soft squeeze. "Chase likes to keep everyone at arm's length. I've known him for months now and I'm not sure we've ever had a conversation beyond surface level teasing or small talk."

"Really?"

She nods firmly. "Everybody struggles, but he's one of those people in life that can cover it so easily with a laugh and a joke that you almost forget he has them."

"His safe territory," I agree with a sigh.

"People put up walls to protect themselves from getting hurt. It's a natural defence mechanism, and I know because I've done it myself," she confesses, smiling sadly. "Give him time, support him. When he realises that there's no threat, he'll make it all worth it the second that he gives something back."

With the warmth of the sun on my face, and a hand squeezing mine, I suddenly don't feel quite so helpless. I look sideways at Riley.

"You always know exactly the right thing to say, has anyone ever told you that?"

Her smile widens until the corners of her eyes crease. "Yeah, definitely one person."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Did anyone notice the TBBSMB references? ;D

I also would like to make it explicitly clear- although I will continue to make Harry Potter references in this book, I am absolutely horrified by the obsessive hatred of the author who wrote it. I hope that the magic of the HP world can still exist outside of her prejudices. Trans women are women, and we should be kind to all <3

lots of love always,

Cherry x