"Lana, hurry up and get ready or the guys will leave without us." My friend, Tonnie calls through the bathroom door. I can see her twirling her pink hair and ruffling her black dress in my mind.

"Tonn, chill. They won't leave. Nico knows that I would beat the crap out of him if they did." I say as I grab a beach towel from under the sink.

I look in the mirror one last time. My blue eye is covered with a yellow contact so that it matches my green eye which has a clear contact on it. No one outside of my family and close friends know about the different colors of my eyes. Same as no one knows that I have a white streak in my hair at the front on both sides of my part. I keep it dyed.

It's not that I'm ashamed or embarrassed, it's more that I just like to be normal. My red hair is tied up in a messy bun so that it's out of my face. My black sundress makes my pale skin look like it is almost glowing. I rip it off and go with the teal one instead. It matches my yellow and green swimsuit better anyway. I pull the door open and see my friend picking at her nails while leaning against the wall.

"Ready? Gosh, I've been waiting for like forever." I flip my wrist for good measure so she'll know that I'm kidding.

"Oh, you've been waiting?" She laughs and pushes off the wall. I hear a car horn honk.

"I guess they're sick of waiting," I say as we walk down the hall to the door. My parents, younger sister and the twins are sitting at the table eating lunch.

"Bye Mom, Dad, Cindra, Celeste, and Ceedan." I wave at them.

"Bye, sweetie. Be safe and text us." My mom says.

"Be back by midnight." My dad adds.

"Bring us back shells!" The twins call as one. They are barely four years old.

"Take them with you," Cindra says in her usual annoyed thirteen-year-old voice.

"Yes!" The twins cheer and jump out of their seats.

"Sorry, I can't today. How about next time? I have to go now, though." I hug them both and kiss them on the tops of their heads.

"Pwomise?" Ceedan asks for them both.

"Promise." I ruffle his hair and walk to the door.

"Calana, don't forget your sunscreen." My mom says as my dad chucks it from the kitchen to me. I catch it easily.

"Thanks."

I slip on my brown sandals and follow Tonnie out the door. The boys are sitting in Nico's jeep. It's his pride and joy. It's a bright, yellow beast of a jeep. Travis is sitting in the passenger seat and messing with the stereo. Figures he would be. He's always finding new music. He plans to be a DJ when he graduates. With his luck, he's already on his way. When he tells people about a song it becomes popular right after.

"Finally, you come outside. I thought we were just going to have to go without you." Nico says as I lean down to give him a peck on the lips. We've been dating since freshman year which makes three years next month.

"You can kiss at the beach. Let's go!" Travis has his finger hovering over the play button. His dark skin is blemish-free and so smooth we tease him constantly about all of the baby oil and lotion he must use. He rolls his eyes at Nico. Nico smiles, his blue eyes shining in the sun before putting on a pair of sunglasses. His sun-lightened hair is wavy and getting longer than he normally lets it. I run my fingers through it before getting in behind him.

"Chill, Trav. You'll still have plenty of time to flirt and get shot down by girls who are way out of your league." Tonnie says as she climbs in behind him.

"And you'll have plenty of time to skank it up with the meatheads," Travis says back as he shoves his seat as far back as it will go.

Tonnie shoves her knee into his seat. They used to date, but both of them are too intense which means they break up at least once a month. But, it's actually been three months since the last break up so they have made it their life's mission to ruin the other's life.

"Knock it off or I'm leaving both of you," Nico says and gives them each a warning look.

"Fine." They say in unison and fold their arms.

I lean forward so I can run my fingers through Nico's hair as he drives. "So, I was thinking that maybe we could have a bonfire tonight. That way we can have some alone time without these two. What do you think?"

"I think there's a reason that I love you." He grabs my hand with his right one and kisses it on the palm. "Until tonight."

"Sorry to interrupt your oh-so-precious moment but I do have a song for you guys to hear," Travis says.

"Of course you do. It's not like you actually have a life. All you have is music." Tonnie says sarcastically.

"Shut up and listen." Travis lets his finger slam the play button in.

Soon there is a screaming voice blasting through the speakers. I cover my ears and squeal as it feels like my eardrums have burst. Just as fast as it started it stops.

"Sorry." Travis gives us a sheepish grin. "I forgot to turn down the volume."

He messes with a couple of dials before pressing play again. This time the screaming is at a reasonable level. Nico pulls onto the freeway towards the beach. We live just an hour away from Pismo beach and a little farther from Morro Bay. By the time I can smell the salty breeze we are onto the new mellow music that Travis has found. He always puts them in order of most intense to softest.

"We need our beach song, now!" Tonnie grabs Travis' shoulder and yells into his ear.

He nods his head and starts rifling through his cd case. He is one of the few people I know that still only uses CDs. "Got it!" He calls.

A happy, upbeat song comes on and we all start to sing along. I smile as I watch all of the families and friends making their way to the beach. Nico parks by the entrance to the shops. No cars can go farther. They're just walking streets for here on in.

A/N Hey everyone! I'd love to know what you think. I just started this and I think it could be a really fun book to write. Let me know if you want more. Either way, I'll be posting every Saturday for now and maybe more once I get more written. Thank you for giving it a chance!