The next morning I came out of the washroom, wiping my hair. Kristine stood there, hair dryer in her hand, looking confused.

"What's wrong?" I inquired.

"Where do I insert the plug?"

"What?"

"Plug. It needs a socket. It helps in the passage of electricity. It dries my hair."

"I know that, Kris. What I meant was, this is a tent."

"Yeah."

"You won't find any plug -point here!"

"Oh, oh God.." She bit her lip. I shook my head in disbelief. "Seriously."

"You ready, girls??" Eros peeped into the tent.

"Yeah, coming," said I.

Blake was standing outside, waiting.

"Hey," I smiled.

"Hey," he replied, ever so beautifully.

"Let's go now, children. Form a queue," Mrs. Rowley informed.

"YAY! BEACH!,"Kristine screamed, excited.

___*___

We stood on the beach, in a line, listening to Mrs.Rowley as she gave us some instructions.
''Don't go into the waves. Stay near the other classmates. Certain shops are open for you, so you could shop. And, we've arranged horse-riding for you. If you want to ride, just let me know," she said.

We all ran in different directions but not too far away from each other. Kristine signed.

"So.. what do we do first?," she asked.

"Wait. Horse- riding on a beach?," Blake interrupted, confused.

"Yeah, it happens here. Wanna try?," Kristine suggested.

His eyes light up. "Sure".

"We better go fast, or we'll have to wait a lot!,"she said.

Kristine talked to Mrs.Rowley for a while, and then came to us. "Two people on one horse,"

"I'm in," Eros said.

"Me too," Blake replied enthusiastically.

"I'm not," I said.

I had bad experiences when it came to horse -riding.

"Oh come on!," Kristine said, rolling her eyes.

"NO ways," I firmly replied, my words sounding crisp and clear.

"I'm gonna go with Eros and you with Blake,"she said, totally ignoring my words as if she had never heard them and pointing at Blake.

He was staring at the horses as if they were some angelic creatures. The look on his handsome face made me drool.

On hearing his name, he turned and smiled. "Yeah"

"I can't go...NO I WON'T," I said, trying to not stare at Blake and backing away.
Blake held my hand. "You're Sitting with me"

"No I'm not"

"Yes you are"

The horses arrived. Oh God. No No NO.

"Be careful okay?," Mrs.Rowley told us, and turned to the man who was going to handle the horse.

"You go first," Kristine said, smirking.

"I WON'T," I nearly screamed.

"Stop screaming!," Kristine shouted, holding her ears.

I hid behind Eros. "Help me", I said to him. He laughed. Blake slowly walked towards me.

I was backing away, when Blake and Eros picked me up and placed me on the horse. I was so shocked, that I didn't even move.

"What in the world did you both just ---," I began.

Blake climbed in front of me.

"Let's go, please," he told the man. The horse started moving.

"NO,no no no," I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.

I held onto Blake tightly.

"I'll fall..I'm telling you..I'll fall," I mumbled, still holding onto Blake.

He laughed. "No you won't, relax"

The horse moved on the sand, moving side to side as if he owned the place. It moved majestically, it's shoes knocking against the faint yellow sands, occasionally making them a victim of the wind. I would have noticed a lot more beautiful things around me, only if I wasn't so frightened.
Kristine's so dead.

____*____

When the horse finally stopped, I realized how tightly I'd held on to Blake. I released my hands, embarrassed, and got down.

"What a relief"

Blake laughed at my words, looking at me gently, his musical enchanting laugh filling my ears like the chords of a piano.

"So how was it?," Kristine inquired, coming towards me with Eros tagging along. He looked at me and smiled. A smile of encouragement .

"You don't speak!,"I shot at her, annoyed.

__*__

We sat down on the faint yellow and damp sand , at five in the evening, looking at the sky with it's beautiful blend of orange and blue colour and the big ball of fire setting behind the sea.

Blake was sitting close to me.

"It's so beautiful," I whispered.

He looked at me, his blue eyes boring into my brown ones, smiling. "Yeah"
For once I thought he was talking about me, but I pushed that thought away. Obviously not.

"Time to go, children," Mrs Rowley informed.

Why do teachers have to spoil it ?
____*_____

That night we had a bonfire. We sat in front of the fire, singing.

Blake and me sat on one log, and Kristine and Eros on the other across us.

"Hey, does anyone know how to play the guitar," Mark, my classmate inquired, holding a guitar.

Blake took the guitar and started playing. I looked at him, surprised, impressed by all his qualities. He grinned.

His music was mellifluous, like water when it ripples down the rocks, like the sweet chirping of birds, like heaven.

"Cool!," Eros said, coming towards us, Krisitine following him, swaying.

" I didn't know you could play the guitar," Kristine said to him.

He smiled.

The four of us sat there, on one log, the beautiful starry sky above us, the moon shining brightly. The others danced and sang, enjoying to the fullest.

Our eyes beamed in content. Kristine gave me a slight push, and I landed a bit closer to him. Our eyes locked. He smiled at me, releaving his dimples and a perfect set of teeth. I smiled back.

That night,l was very special. It was special because, I'd got my best friends for life. I'd got three very precious gems in my treasure, each one special in its own way, and to be treasured for life. I'd got one of the most important people of my life, that day,who supported me through thick and thin . Blake, being the the most precious of them all. I was blessed to have them.

We grew up together. Going out together. Having parties, giving examinations, preparing for them, , laughing, sharing the funniest jokes, enjoying the most memorable moments, together.

We were together, always.

____*____