The faint shadows of seafaring birds darted across the now scalding ground as Ken and the others teetered hastily back towards the welcoming shade of the parasols. After dipping their feet into the cool shallows, the sand that had guided them down the beach was now causing them to hop from leg to leg in order to avoid being burned. To make matters worse, it had become apparent that the sun would have other plans for them if they neglected to prepare. Taking a momentary break, the students took refuge and prepared their means of sun protection.
With an unceremonious slam, Sonya plopped onto a towel near Ken and reached for a nearby bottle of sunscreen. Her hand nearly brushed against his as she plucked it from his grasp and started to delicately apply it to her legs. Ken made no attempt to hide his frustration as he shot a flat stare at Sonya. Yet, as he squinted without his glasses to bring her into focus, he was naturally drawn to her elongated fingers as she gingerly guided the tips across her porcelain shins.
"You're such a creepy weasel today."
The stern voice snapped him out of his oblivious gazing and he was quickly met with a glare as Sonya tossed the sunscreen bottle in his direction. The bottle fell with a dull sound atop Ken's towel while Sonya moved her hands to shield her legs from his view. Realizing his folly, Ken's cheeks turned a soft pink as he tried to explain himself.
"I'm just waiting to use the sunscreen! I wasn't looking at you like that..."
"L-like what?"
Just as his voice trailed off, Sonya was quick to nervously inquire. A few seconds passed as the two locked eyes.
"Are you guys done yet!? I wanna swim!"
Providing a much appreciated segue, Lyra's voice interjected as she approached while waving her arm wildly in the air. Soon after, Stella joined her side with a small container in her hand.
"Lyra, aren't you going to put on sunscreen?"
"That stuff? No way! Ken always burns, but I am going to get an awesome tan this year!
Not noticing the awkward atmosphere that they had encroached on, the girls went back and forth as Lyra vehemently rejected Stella's attempts to apply the protectant. Quickly applying his own, Ken was about to intercede when Lucas called out from the shoreline.
"Hey, the water is great! Someone should help Mary, though. I think Maddy is going to drown her!"
The group turned their heads to confirm Lucas' appraisal. A few feet in the water, Maddy could be seen straddling Mary's back while gripping her hair. To the untrained eye, it might seem that Mary was offering the small girl a ride. However, the gasps and yells echoing across the beach painted a much clearer picture. Stifling their smiles, the group raced down the beach and Lyra wasted no time in jumping into the water and swimming out to assist her upperclassmen.
With the situation resolved, Ken, Stella, and Sonya stood in the tide and basked in the pleasant wind that was rolling in from the ocean. Ready to join his friends, Ken took a step forward when a thought crossed his mind and made him hesitate. Turning to Stella and Sonya, he spoke with a serious expression.
"You can swim, right? I know Lyra and the others can, but I wanted to check."
Sonya's eyes widened momentarily as his consideration, but hastily narrowed as she questioned his intentions.
"Are you serious right now? Did you really think that cliché would work? 'Aw, shucks! I can't swim, can you teach me?' You are the worst scum!"
Sonya's voice raised in pitch as she quoted what she envisioned as a damsel in distress. Resuming her normal prickly tone, her mouth contorted into a grimace and tried to pierce Ken with her glare and awaited his response. It was then that she noticed that Ken's attention was not focused on her, but on the girl standing behind her instead. Pivoting on her heel, Sonya saw that Stella was shuffling uncomfortably in place.
"Eh... he...he... I was embarrassed to say... but there weren't many opportunities to learn back home. Lyra was so excited and I didn't want to ruin the fun..."
Twiddling her thumbs, Stella glanced down innocently as she explained. Hearing her out, Sonya bristled as she reprimanded her friend.
"So you were just going to drown! That's too nice!"
"Umm... Well, my brother was supposed to join us and teach me, but he decided to join a training camp for fencing this summer. So..."
Abruptly bowing her head, Stella's voice became louder as she poured her emotions into her words.
"Would you please teach me, Ken! If it's not too much trouble!"
Stella's flaxen locks fell over as she maintained her bow while clasping her hands in anticipation of an answer. The sight was almost too adorable and Ken quickly put his hands up defensively as he stammered out a response.
"I-I don't mind! That's why I asked... You don't have to be so serious about it!"
In puppy like fashion, Stella raised her head and met him with shimmering blue eyes nestled above a brilliant smile. Giddily hopping in place, she instinctively reached out towards Ken's hand. However, before she could connect, a small hand grasped her arm firmly.
"Grr... Like hell that's going to happen! I'm a strong swimmer, so I'll teach you, Stella! You don't want his gross hands on you anyway!"
With a grumpy sneer, Sonya pulled Stella away as she spat excuses and shot glares in Ken's direction. Without warning, she began to march towards the water with Stella in tow, leaving Ken alone to voice his thoughts.
"This isn't going to end well, is it?"
Just as the water reached his waist, Ken plunged his body forward and submerged himself. Raising one arm after the other and kicking his feet in sync, he propelled himself further away from the shore. It didn't take him long to reach the thrashing girls as he overhead their impromptu lesson.
"I'm not sure, Sonya!"
"Put your head under the water!"
Floating in the water next to Stella, Sonya placed her palm on the girl's head and forced her beneath the surface. Restraining a concerned look, Ken called out timidly.
"Do you need hel-"
"Stay over there, idiot!"
With a commanding scream, Sonya locked Ken in place as she took Stella's hands and began to lead her.
"Kick your feet!"
Suppressing a whimper at Sonya's forceful teaching style, Stella obliged and began to kick her feet furiously. After a few laps, her legs began to slow down as she began to find a natural rhythm to her motion. As Ken watched, he noticed that it almost seemed to be too quiet. A quick glance showed that Lyra was swimming with Maddie near the shore, but his other friends were nowhere to be found. A small amount of panic filled his chest as he waved to Sonya and voiced his concern.
"Where are Mary and Lucas?"
Crinkling her nose, Sonya noticed his worriment and shook her head dismissively as she answered.
"Lucas wanted to see how far he could swim, and she swam off after him to try and stop him."
His fears dissipated as a flat expression crossed his face.
"That sounds like them..."
"Huh!? I'm doing it!"
Interrupting him, Stella called out happily. While they were talking, she had broken away from Sonya and was using her arms to swim forward with uneasy movements.
"See, I told you. It's not hard when you have a great teacher."
Placing her hands to her sides, Sonya smiled smugly as she watched Stella's form from afar. She couldn't help but feel pride at having been able to help a friend. Yet, deep down, she felt a sense of relief at having been able to repay some of the kindness that Stella had shown her.
"I guess you should have tried out for the swimming club..."
Ken's words brought her back to reality and she felt warmth move through her face as Lyra swam towards them with Maddie as a passenger atop her back.
"Hey! Are you guys done flirting!? More importantly, can you stay afloat now, Stella?"
Offering a wink to Sonya, Lyra turned towards Stella and watched her come to a halt. Slowly floating over to the group, Stella began to gush in a honeyed voice.
"I think so. Sonya is a really good teacher!"
Her honesty made Sonya sink lower in the water as a contagious smile spread. After a few seconds, Lyra's smile curled mischievously as she called out to her rider.
"That's great! Looks like it's a go, Maddie!"
The rest of the group shared a curious look as they nervously watched Lyra in response.
"Roger! Target locked! Prepare for ramming speed!"
The tiny voice came from Maddie as she sat taller on Lyra's back and revealed her intentions.
"Aye, aye!"
With confirmation from Lyra, the tag team began to swim forward at a fast pace. Stella began to flail her arms in response as she tried to desperately put distance between them.
"W-wait! Lyra... Ahhh!"
Her appeal was ineffective as Lyra swiftly followed alongside her before placing a hand on her shoulder. Stella met her eyes with a terrified expression, but it was too late. With a toothy grin, Lyra dunked her beneath the water as Maddie's cackle filled the air.
"Lunch time!"
Delilah's motherly voice felt as if it could reach the furthest corners of the beach as it caught the attention of the group. Ken shook his head at the situation when something caught the corner of his eye. Blasting past them at a high rate of speed was none other than Lucas. With a cheerful smile, he swam almost effortlessly towards the shore. This in itself wasn't particularly noteworthy. However, Mary was latched onto his shoulder and clenching for dear life. The red-haired girl had a look of pure exhaustion mixed with fear as Lucas launched them through the water. With rumbling stomachs and no lack of questions, the rest of the group exchanged nods before following suit.
After drying and reconvening back at their site, the students were surprised to find Delilah with a large picnic basket. With a smile, she proceeded to hand out small parcels wrapped in plastic to everyone. Inside the wrapping were a variety of ornate finger sandwiches that were quickly welcomed by the hungry teenagers. Mary was especially interested, as she had no recollection of the lunch being prepared. Nonetheless, she ate while cautiously eyeing Delilah and making a promise to achieve her level of cooking prowess. The food didn't last long and after a round of ice cold sodas, conversation quickly followed.
"I didn't know you could swim so well, Lucas!"
With starry eyes, Stella admired the earlier display of a skill she had only recently picked up. Meeting her with a grin, Lucas wiped his forehead with his arm as he replied.
"Yep, I love coming down to the beach and swimming!"
"That still doesn't excuse your recklessness!"
Mary adjusted her glasses as she interjected. Despite her sorry state in the water, the food had rejuvenated her and she was now staring daggers into Lucas. WIth a wave of his hand, the boy in question appeared to deflect all of her hostility while offering a heartfelt reply.
"Sorry, VP! I guess I just felt comfortable knowing that you had my back!"
"Erk... I'm not... Whatever... Just practice caution from now on. I might not always be there to get you out of trouble.
The tactic had worked and the group watched as in awe as Lucas had once again avoided trouble. Leaning over from her towel, Lyra whispered a little too loudly to Stella.
"Didn't he have to drag her back..."
Re-arming her glare from before, Mary now aimed the death stare at Lyra. Quickly returning to her normal sitting posture, Lyra tried to wave and smile like Lucas to no avail. Luckily for her, Lucas ignored her commentary and continued his back and forth with Mary.
"If you say so. Hey, we can't swim for a while after eating anyways, so how about some volleyball! You can be on my team!"
Tilting her head at his suggestion, Mary thought to herself. It wasn't a terrible idea and it also respected the rules about eating before swimming, she thought as she gave her answer along with her own reservations.
"Well, I don't know if it's fair to just decide teams..."
"Okay, I guess it'll be easier to see you in your swimsuit if you are on the other team..."
Abruptly standing in place, Mary attempted to hide the blush that was quickly filling her ears as she mustered an authoritative voice and addressed the rest of her friends.
"Alright! The boys are team captains, I am on Lucas' team! Ken, you pick..."
With that, a new plan had been decided and three pairs of eyes fell onto Ken. The quick change of pace made him straighten his back nervously and glance from Lyra to Stella and then back to Sonya. He wasn't sure why, but he felt like this was an important decision. He knew that he was on better terms with Lyra, but should he be so overt as to pick her, he wondered. The image of her pointing and laughing in his face filled his head and made him slightly annoyed. On the other hand, Sonya had been acting perturbed with him earlier and she might relish the chance to make fun of him, he surmised. As seconds passed, Ken shifted his weight uncomfortably and announced his decision in a quiet voice.
"S-Stella, I guess..."
Stella's eyes lit up at hearing her name and she responded with a placid smile while pressing her palms together. Lyra narrowed her eyes towards her friend but was cut off before she could speak up.
"Fine, then I'll take Lyra."
Lucas didn't hesitate and made his final choice while giving a smug look in Ken's direction.
"I'm the last pick, huh..."
Gripping the towel beneath her, Sonya's words slipped out quietly as she stifled her dissatisfaction. A subdued sinking feeling made her fidget. She had felt a strange feeling when Ken was staring at her earlier, but this felt even worse somehow. Despite her telling herself that it was inconsequential, she couldn't stop the questions from rising in her mind. Perhaps she had done something to make Ken mad, or maybe there was something that he preferred about Stella, she wondered. A pang of guilt jolted through her as she realized that she had assumed that she would be selected over Stella. As she forced the thoughts from her mind, a slightly angry voice came from Maddie.
"Hey! Apprentice! What about me!"
Stomping her foot impatiently, the girl watched Lyra with a scowl. Yet, Lyra dashed over and knelt down before answering in a subservient voice.
"You get the most important job! You get to control the scoreboard!"
"Hmm..."
Maddie took the spiral bound scoreboard and flipped a few of the cards. Her face showed her disappointment, but Lyra noticed immediately and recalibrated her words.
"It's a big job. We dance around like ants while you get to sit in a chair and judge us!"
With wide eyes, Maddie gripped the scoreboard with a newfound sense of duty. She flipped her hair back with one hand and spoke to the group in a haughty voice.
"Fufufu... what an unworthy performance. But, I will grant your request. Put on your little show!"
As Ken watched his sister deftly handle their cousin while keeping her happy, he couldn't help but feel respect. Looking over at Sonya, he tried to express as much through small talk.
"Lyra... she's too good at handling kids. Maybe it's because she acts like one herself..."
"Let's just play already."
Lifting herself from the ground, Sonya made no attempt to comment or even make eye contact with him. She walked past him and joined Lucas in setting up the volleyball net. Ken let his gaze linger on her for a few moments. He thought it was peculiar, but he opted to abandon the issue and join the game.
With the teams on each side of the net, they chose to have one person in front and two on the back line. A designated position on the backline would serve the ball and everyone would shift positions when earning a point off of the other team's serve. With everyone agreeing on the rules the game began with Lucas serving. As the ball traveled from one side of the net to the other, Lyra began to yell suggestions at Mary who was on the frontline.
"Quick, Mary! Use your feminine wiles to distract the other team!"
"What! I am not doing any such thing-"
Mary turned her head to dismiss the idea as she became flustered. Yet, as she did, the sound of the volleyball impacting the sand at her feet made her jump in fear.
"Point!"
Lucas confirmed the point as Maddie flipped the scoreboard to reflect and Lyra made a depressed look.
"Darn, Mary!"
"That was your fault! No more talking!"
Setting Lyra straight, Mary tightened the tie on her hair and strengthened her resolve. It was now Sonya's serve and as she lobbed the ball over the fence, Mary used her height advantage to spike the ball at an inconvenient angle at close proximity to the net.
"Stella, it's all you!"
Ken called out to Stella who was in the front row and the girl nervously put her hands together with her palms facing up. In her naivete, she had neglected to put her eyes on the ball. Had she done so, she would have seen that it was accelerating towards her face. Seeing the impending accident, Ken called out once again.
"That's no good, you need to ball your fists in front of you and back up!"
BONK!
His words came too late as the ball impacted her head and shot back up in the air as Stella swayed uneasily. Without hesitation, Ken ran forward as Stella stumbled backwards and started to fall to the ground. Slowing her collapse, Ken wrapped an arm around her midsection and used his own body to dampen her fall. The opposing team watched in concern while the volleyball landed in bounds near Mary before rolling underneath the net. Practically sitting on top of Ken, Stella's head bobbed as she regained her coherency.
"Oof! Sorry... Ken... Irk!"
Her face filled with heat as she felt something pressing up against the base of her bikini top. Moving her hand, she could feel Ken's arm pressing against her midsection and she exhaled in relief that her purity remained intact. However, warm air brushed against her ear as Ken's voice startled her.
"Are you okay?"
The words came naturally but as Ken became aware of the soft feeling against his arm his brain began to spiral. Soon he was matching Stella in red hue as he carefully loosened his arm from around her waist. As he did, Stella quickly rolled from his lap and they both shared a sigh while she offered a reply with a smile.
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you."
BONK!
Just as Ken was about to smile in return, the volleyball came slamming into the back of his head. His glasses fell into his lap as the ball flew out of bounds.
"What the heck!"
Covering the back of his head with his hand, Ken began to look around for the cause. With a bitter expression, Sony puffed her cheeks and kneaded the sand beneath her with her toes. Ken's expression turned to one of bewilderment as Sonya avoided his eyes and spat out her explanation.
"My hand slipped... Whoops..."
"Looks like Stella used her wiles to help out our team! Did you get that point, Maddie!"
Lyra enthusiastically broke the silence coming from her team as she gave a thumbs up to Maddie. Her cousin stood on her chair and teetered excitedly as she pantomimed Sonya and replied.
"Yeah! The yellow-haired girl is so cool! Ultimate firebomb attack! 'Whoops!'"
Spiking the scoreboard into the sand, Maddie crawled down and retrieved it before returning Lyra's thumbs up.
"Yep! That's Sonya!"
With the joyous approval of the two girls, Sonya clenched her teeth and stomped off to locate the volleyball. Mary and Lucas went to check on the injured and decided to call the match a draw while relenting that swimming would be a safer activity.
The rest of the afternoon went by as everyone got more than their fill of swimming. Sonya avoided Ken for the most part, but she had made a new fan of Maddie. The young girl was practically glued to her after watching her actions during the volleyball game. This only helped to exacerbate the swelling feelings with Sonya and as the sun moved lower in the sky, she found herself sitting on her towel waiting for Ken to return from the restroom. Stretching her legs, she heard a familiar voice gleefully call out to her.
"Sonya! Do you wanna build a dark fortress with us!?"
Maddie was dancing in place as she awaited an answer. Lyra had appeared alongside her carrying several buckets and small shovels. Sonya glanced at the girls in confusion as Lyra filled in the gaps.
"It's a sand castle. You want in?"
Understanding the situation, Sonya let a small smile slip as she gingerly answered as to spare Maddie's feelings.
"No... I'm gonna take a break."
Maddie was visibly deflated, but Lyra sat down the supplies and scooped the girl up into a piggy back ride that seemingly coaxed her. With a knowing look, Lyra nodded at Sonya and spoke in a sing-songy voice.
"Sounds good! Tell Ken I said 'Hi'."
"That's not-"
Before she could protest, Lyra had already picked up her tools and started running down the beach. Sitting alone, Sonya looked up at the clear sky and felt a small amount of peace as Ken's voice reached her ears.
"Hey, what's up?"
Shaking her head to clear it, Sonya turned her body slightly to face Ken as he sat down and pulled a book from his bag. In a quiet tone, Sonya replied.
"Nothing, I'm just taking a break."
"Oh, okay. I was going to read for a little bit."
Ken glanced at her but was unable to get a read on the situation. He could tell that she wanted to say something, but he knew it would be better to let her say it at her own pace. Given her odd reactions all day, he really wanted to know what was on her mind. Yet, he opened his book and began to read as the subtle sounds of the ocean served as a backdrop. It was a few minutes before Sonya finally called out to him.
"Sorry that I... hit you with the ball."
Wrapping her arms around her legs, Sonya puffed her cheeks childishly and almost made Ken laugh. Sonya kept a pensive expression that made Ken speak up to assuage her guilt.
"With everything that was happening, I didn't really feel it. I was more surprised that it happened... You know, my head is pretty hard. I have a feeling that's what got you upset in the first place..."
"Well, you're not entirely wrong... but... I'm still sorry..."
Wiggling her legs uncomfortably, Sonya felt a small amount of ease at his words. The conversation went quiet for a few minutes after as the two watched the water recede and reappear as the ocean lapped away the passing time. Firmly placing his book down, Ken asked a question that he had been wondering about for some time.
"Hey, so... are you having a good time?"
Meeting his eyes, Sonya had a puzzled look.
"I am..."
She searched his face for his reasoning and eventually relaxed her shoulders. Turning back towards the ocean, she continued to answer.
"I wasn't sure if coming was a good idea... But, I am having a good time so far..."
Ken mirrored and smiled sincerely as he spoke in a relieved voice.
"Good, I was worried that I did something to make you mad. I wouldn't want to ruin the trip for you."
Exhaling through her nose, Sonya crossed her arms over her chest. Taking her time, she tried to express her thoughts in a way that both she and Ken could understand.
"You didn't... I just... nevermind... I'm not mad... There's just a lot of new experiences. I never thought that I'd be spending a summer like this. It's different being around everyone outside of school. The misunderstandings can be... annoying. But... even so, I'm really glad that I came. Thanks for inviting me."
Stealing a glance, Ken saw that Sonya was showing a calm smile and his chest filled with warmth. A breeze moved across them and caused Sonya to push her hair away from her face and she almost caught a glimpse of him watching her. Turning his face away just in time, Ken offered his reply.
"Don't mention it. It wouldn't have been the same without you. It's nice to be able to talk like this somewhere else besides the clubroom."
"You don't seem to mind the swimsuits either..."
Sonya went rigid as her thoughts emerged unfiltered. Shifting uncomfortably, Ken rubbed the back of his head and wondered if that was the source of her outburst earlier.
"Well... I can't say that I didn't notice. Sorry, if it made you uncomfortable."
"It's not like that..."
Tightening her grip on her upper arms Sonya denied Ken's assertion as she organized her own feelings. It wasn't that she liked being looked at, but it wasn't that she disliked it either. As uncertainty billowed in her head, she stammered out the one question that she absolutely had to have answered.
"Did... did you notice... me... too..."
Tilting his head, Ken was certain that he had misheard her. He turned towards her to ask her to repeat the question but instantly saw her burning red face as she closed her eyes.
"Erk! W-what are you saying?"
No response came from Sonya and Ken felt blood move to his ears. It was obvious what she had asked and it only made Ken fill with questions of his own. Did she want him to notice her, he wondered. His eyes darted over her and he noticed that the thin yellow fabric along her midsection was glistening in the sun from the leftover water droplets. Her skin, which was normally fair, was now slightly sunkissed despite applying sunscreen. Hunched over herself as she was, he thought that her frame seemed even more dainty and delicate. Despite her usual confidence, Sonya was a girl who was asking him in more or less words if he found her attractive. As his eyes followed her form he eventually centered on her face. With impeccable timing, Sonya opened her eyes and looked up at Ken. The deep emerald pools reflected the surrounding beach and threatened to pull him in and lock him away in the pleasant memory of a perfect summer day. As the surrounding sounds of the beach filled his ears, Ken exhaled softly while his perception of time returned and he knew his answer.
"Y-yes... I suppose I did... notice you..."
Thudding against his chest, his heart felt like it was dancing towards his throat and Ken broke eye contact. Yet, as he retreated, a radiant smile surfaced on Sonya's face and she made no attempts to restrain it. She was frozen in place while her heart beat rapidly against her folded arms. They both returned to observing the ocean, but neither one was paying attention. The minutes stretched as they communed in complete silence. Some time later, Sonya spoke up in a nonchalant voice.
"Your glasses..."
"Hmm?"
Glancing over, Ken saw that she seemed completely unfazed from the conversation before and he strove to match her energy as she continued.
"I think they look fine... but they are too big for your face. I know you don't like standing out... but... you'd look better with slimmer ones."
Hearing her relay her interest in his appearance made him happy and Ken wore it on his face.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."
He half expected Sonya to make fun of him, but she seemed to be in a much better mood. Amber hues began to fill the sky as Ken and Sonya made small talk amongst the bullying beachfront.
Sometime later, as the sun was descending behind the horizon and the last minutes of light were fast becoming a valuable commodity, The group of students were hiking their way back to the van after changing back into their clothes. Sonya was carrying Maddie on her back while Lyra was cautiously stepping and trying to keep her arms still. Seeing some familiar faces, Stella reached out and poked Lyra on the shoulder.
"Ahhhh! Don't touch me! It burns, it burns! Hey, wait! Are you getting drunk on the beach?!"
Despite her poor attempt to hide a sunburn, Lyra saw her parents sitting on chairs near the van as they enjoyed some drinks and watched the sunset. Delilah narrowed her eyes at her vibrant daughter as she replied.
"No, we are not. I'm having some green tea and he is having..."
"Ice cold milk!"
Oliver's booming voice proudly announced his drink of choice as the group made disgusted faces and Ken rubbed his face with his palm and defeatedly spoke.
"Dad still drinks that on hot days like this..."
"Don't look so sad! It's not that strange!"
Dropping to his knees, Oliver exaggeratedly slouched his body while vying for pity. Paying him no heed, Delilah spoke over him and addressed the group.
"Are you all heading back already? Your father loaded the van already, so we can drive you."
Showing visible exhaustion followed by relief, the students all smiled while Lucas expressed his gratitude.
"Thanks, Missus W!"
"Ahn... Manners!"
Mary quickly reprimanded him while fighting back a yawn. Everyone hastily loaded up into the van while Oliver called out to Sonya.
"I'll take Maddie from you."
"Y-yeah, sure..."
In truth, she had almost forgotten that the small girl was on her back. Jostling Maddie made her head tip to the side as a small bead of drool rolled from her mouth. Seeing his niece at the brink of sleep made Oliver smile as he lifted her effortlessly off of Sonya.
"Heave-ho! Wow, she must have had a good day. Good to see that she's taken a shine to you. I appreciate you looking out for her. I hope she didn't cause too much trouble."
Rubbing her shoulder, Sonya downplayed her role as she thought that Lyra would be more befitting of any praise for watching Maddie.
"She was pretty good all day... So it wasn't a big deal... She is actually pretty cute. It was fun playing with her."
Nodding in approval, Oliver patted the sleeping girl on her head while replying.
"I'll let my big bro know that she was well behaved! At least she got a nice workout on the beach today. We got word that a storm is coming through in a day or two. Not to rain on your parade or anything! Haha! You guys may have to find a way to have fun indoors if that happens."
Picking up the chairs from earlier, he nodded at Sonya and turned towards the van and disappeared behind it. Sonya stood still as the color washed from her face and Oliver's words replayed in her head. The sound of the van starting rang in her ears as a coldness entered her spine.
"Sonya, are you coming?"
Ken's voice cut through to her and made Sonya flex her back as she tried to calm herself. The turbid feelings of fear swirled within her and her fingers shook in response. Straining her voice, she was able to respond in a somewhat normal tone.
"Y-yeah... I'm on my way..."
Smiling at her, Ken boarded the van and Sonya soon joined him as if nothing had happened. It had been a great day and would most certainly be fondly remembered. Sonya didn't want to change that. Despite her own feelings, she promised herself that she wouldn't be a burden to her friends. However, unbeknownst to everyone, the impending storm would bring more than just bad weather. For Ken and Sonya, their summer was about to change.