Another jagged splinter of lightening struck out at sea a few kilometres away. It separated the sky from the water, lining the horizon with its brilliant flash of blue. Each time it struck, the underside of the jetty where we had found refuge lit up as bright as day, illuminating our faces and triggering awe-struck comments from the crowd.
On either side of us, rain periodically bucketed down, running along the sand in miniature torrential rivers. It dripped from the cracks in the wood above us and made a constant drumming sound against the jetty, almost like a soothing song from the sky. Unlike Maisie, who was clutching Daniel's hand for support each time a particular loud thud of thunder occurred, I was enjoying it. Something about these electrifying light shows made me content.
We'd lasted another hour or so uncovered, sharing light banter and listening to music from a small speaker set. Eventually, the rain grew heavy enough to force us under the jetty. We were huddled close to where it started, so that the platform was not far from our heads. We'd managed to drag the deck chairs and esky under with us before they became saturated, so we were able to contiue our social event despite the storm's tormenting us.
"So wait, your family owns hotels?" Zoe asked Alastair, twisting her thin black hair between her fingers.
"Yeah," Alastair replied to her casually. "Our grandfather started the business, our first hotel was a little bed and breakfast in the country side. Our most recent addition is a forty-five storey sky scraper in Tokyo."
We'd drifted into a routine of asking the twins questions, which they were almost too keen to answer. I guess having someone new with us provided exciting entertainment for a group of small town teenagers like us. Zoe was being ever so welcoming with her not-so subtle way of flirting, batting her thick lashes and exposing her soft skin where possible. It was amusing though, and I gulped back some more cider and continued to watch.
"Do you have a hotel nearby?" She asked him, with a girlish chuckle.
"Nah, we're staying at a holiday house further up the beach."
Alastair had sat beside me again once we'd settled down on the dryer sand. I think he possibly did it to prove he was interested, or simply because everyone else could be making him uncomfortable. Everyone here was a little quirky, much quirkier than I imagined his sophisticated English friends would be. Zoe sat on the other side of him, quick to strike conversation where possible.
Beside us, Lottie sat with Maisie and Daniel, which irked me only a little. Maisie was my best friend and it sometimes bothered me when she got close with other people. It was mostly because, unlike her, I had little to nobody else to confide in, and I found it difficult to trust someone to begin with.
"With your parents?" Zoe continued the conversation, leaning a little closer and tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Alastair told her with a handsome smile. It wasn't difficult to see why she was flirting with him. Really, he would be an excellent catch for any girl around here. He was clearly rich from the way he boasted, he was very handsome and easy to get along with, which I was learning quickly by the way everyone seemed to adore him and his sister. You'd think being from an almost different world would make for some awkwardness. But, they fitted in pretty seamlessly.
"Which is why we wanted to hang out with you guys," Lottie said, sipping her beer gingerly. "Parents aren't that cool to spend three months with."
Quite a lot of alcohol had been consumed, by me included. Even though the humidity kept the temperature high, the breeze was starting to become cooler as the night progressed. The alcohol kept us warm and chatty.
"We should play a game," Logan suggested. He flung an arm around Lottie's delicate shoulders, making her flinch slightly.
"What are you suggesting?" Maisie asked as lightening flashed behind her. Her hair was now gathered in the hood of Dan's jumper, which he'd gallantly surrendered when the humidity became too much for her golden locks.
"King's cup?" He asked, seeking approval. King's cup was a card game that we played when we wanted to get really drunk, really fast.
"It's too dark for us to see anything," Daniel said regretfully.
"How about a game we play back at home?" Lottie suddenly suggested. This piqued everyone's interest.
"Most Likely?" Alastair asked her.
She nodded in response to him. "It would be a great way to get to know everyone better."
"How does it go?" Zoe questioned.
"Well, you say a statement beginning with 'who's most likely to...', and then everyone points at who you believe fits the statement," Alastair explained. "Then, say if three people are pointing at you, you drink three times."
It sounded like a fun game, that would likely liven everyone's spirits with some fast paced drinking. I was even starting to not mind Lottie, who seemed a contrast to the rude, unimpressed looking girl I'd met yesterday afternoon. Alastair, however, I was still struggling to find likable, despite his adoration by everyone else. He was always hovering a little too close and acting a little too friendly. It didn't help that he clearly knew how attractive he was, playing on it with Zoe and the other girls.
"Oh, can I go first?" Mallory, one of the younger girls with tight brown curls turned her attention to our growing circle. The idea of a new drinking game was enough to capture the full attention of everyone.
"Sure," Alastair said. "Sorry, what was your name again? I don't think we've been introduced."
"Mallory," she said giddily. At least he was making an effort to get to know everyone, I guess. Even if he did come across as a little sleazy in the process.
"Okay, I'll remember that. Go for it, Mallory." Alastair leant back a little, looking observant. "Lottie and I will just make educated guesses seeing as we don't know you all that well."
"Okay. So, who's most likely to... dive off of the jetty naked."
Sure, her statement was a little immature but I found myself laughing as I pointed to Noah. It was a toss up between him and Logan, and I just preferred to give Logan as little attention as possible. Both him, Logan and Pete had to swig their bottles numerous times.
We decided that the person who'd received the most points would chose the question next. As both Noah and Logan received the same, they played rock paper scissors to decide who would ask, Noah winning. I was slightly happy with this, meaning Logan had less power to taunt me further.
"Who's most likely to... have a one night stand?"
This time, all hands were to Logan, mine included. Annoyingly, his hand pointed across the circle and at me. He knew I was probably the last person inclined to have a one night stand, but apparently it was an opportunity to annoy me that he couldn't pass up.
"Hey," Maisie spoke in my defense. "Just because she won't have one with you."
I took my single sip, smirking at Maisie in an effort not to meet Logan's eyes to see his look of satisfaction. Unfortunately, this also meant he got to make the next statement.
"Who'd be most likely to survive in a Hunger Games?"
His question was reasonably safe. I pointed towards Dan. He could be ruthless when needed and was always prepared. Surprisingly, quite a lot of hands pointed to me. I took five gulps of my drink. And then it was my turn.
"Who's most likely to..." I tried to think of some amusing statement that would spice the game up a little. Instead I came up with something cheesy, with Maisie's stupid words still fresh in my mind. "Have a summer romance?"
A few mischievous sounds crossed around as people slowly started to raise their hands. I looked around me, trying to pinpoint who would be best. Of course, Maisie was my answer. I scanned around to see the results. Most hands pointed to Zoe, but I didn't miss Alastair, Logan, Maisie and Daniel's hands pointed obnoxiously to me.
The last question made me finish my drink and I got up, swaying slightly, to fetch a new one. The esky was a little further down from the jetty, and was beginning to get wet with the wind blowing the rain onto it. Another crackle of thunder gave me goosebumps as I walked over to it, my feet sinking in the dampened sand. I leaned over and grabbed the esky, attempting to drag it closer to us.
"Need a hand?"
I hadn't noticed that Alastair had followed me, but I was slightly relieved when he took the other end of the esky so I didn't have to drag it. Distantly, in my hazy mind, I wondered if he could see down my top. Stupidly, I dropped the esky suddenly in fear of him seeing my boobs.
"Woah," he said as the esky half plunged to the ground, spilling out freezing ice water onto my clothes and tipping out a few beer bottles. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I shivered, crouching down to pick up the bottles and place them back in the box. "Sorry."
"Its okay. Jeez, you must be bloody freezing!" He reached out to touch my arm and I instinctively jumped back. He gave me a concerned look, his annoyingly handsome features contorted in thought.
"I'll be fine."
"Here." He reached into the esky and pulled out another apple cider. "I'll bring this up, go get out of the rain."
I was about to protest when my stomach turned violently. I frowned, I always kept down my alcohol well, especially when we were on the beach considering the dangers present. But it happened again, an uncomfortable rolling sensation. Instead of telling him that his chivalry was hardly going to win him any points, I turned away and made my way back to the group, clutching my stomach slightly for relief.
Somehow circumstances had lead to it being Lottie's turn, and she was clearly trying to think of a question as everyone's eyes were fixed on her. There was a mischievous twinkle in her jade eyes, only barely visible in the moonlight.
"... most likely to hook up with my brother this summer?"
She laughed lightly as everyone looked at each other to decide their selection. A few hands jokingly darted to Logan, and a few of the girls pointed to Zoe. But I didn't miss Maisie and Daniel's hands raising to me, very subtly. This didn't bother me too much, they'd made it clear earlier that they thought it would be a good idea for me to pursue him, but I secretly hoped nobody else had noticed to save me some embarrassment.
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alastair establishing the esky's new position beside us. And I didn't miss the unmistakable pointing of his hand towards me.
"Not a chance," I told him as I resumed my place at the circle.
"We'll see," he murmured back as he sat down beside me.
When the rain had ceased and the beach was damp with moisture, still cloaking us in thick warm air, we ventured out from under the jetty. Some of the guys, including the gorillas, tried to unsuccessfully start the fire again. My stomach still turned uneasily and I was hesitant to move too fast as Maisie and I travelled to the shoreline, dipping our feet in the cool water.
"He clearly likes you," Maisie commented as she splashed foam between her toes. The light from the moon bounced merrily on the wavy surface, making us look almost ghost like.
"I don't really care," I told her honestly. I really didn't. I mean, I guess it was nice to have some attention from an attractive boy, but that didn't mean my views on dating changed.
"But why not? What have you got to lose, Val?"
I snorted, unsure of why she wanted to hear my ranting for the hundredth time. "Well, aside from my dignity, having feelings for someone results in losing them at some point. I simply don't want to subject myself to that pain. I can't see how it would be worth it."
"Well, who says you have to have feelings for him? Or date?" She said timidly, making me suspicious.
"What are you saying?"
"You're eighteen, Val," She reminded me. "You might want to, you know, experience these things."
"What? sleeping with people?" My stomach turned again and I grimaced. Both from the discomfort and Maisie's crude suggestion.
"Well you're planning on doing it sometime, right?"
"Maisie," I whined. Despite having none, I'd like to think I was very secretive with my love life. Well, I would be if I had anything to be secretive about.
"Okay, sorry, but this could be your chance. Hot guy, potential for a casual fling..."
"No."
"But think about it, it could be another summer love story, you get to know each other, spend a few nights together, long walks on the beach and baking in the hot summer sun-"
"No!"
"-And then when you are sick of the commitment it's time for him to hop back on his plane back home. All done. Nothing but nice memories left."
"Maisie, this is not another summer love story. This is my life."
"I know, just a suggestion." She raised her hands in innocence.
"Not a very good one," I pointed out.
"Well, maybe not, but still."
I couldn't help but smile at her and her fairytale mind creating all these mystical scenarios. She never saw the dark side to things, living in a world literally filled with flowers and butterflies. A sheltered world.
"Not everyone's a prince, Maiz," I reminded her.
"Of course not, but that doesn't mean everyone's a villain either."