Chapter 3 Chapter 3

**** Aurelia ****

I grabbed a small travelling bag and threw a towel into it, a hoodie, jeans, sneakers, and swimwear. I doubt I would swim. I decided to call Mom. She answered on the third ring.

“Hey, sweetie, I'm about to head into a meeting. We’ll need to cancel movie night," she said. 

"That's okay. Umm, I'm actually heading to the beach with my friends; also a bonfire tonight. “I said 

“Really, finally. You’re living like a normal high school kid. Take three hundred dollars from the box in the closet," she said hurriedly.

“Mom, I have money," I groaned.

“No, that's your money. I’ll know if you use your own money. 12 the latest. If you're moving, let me know the locations, she said.

“Yes, Mom. Love you.” 

“Love you too, sweetie." 

After the call ended, I headed out. I grabbed my license, my ID, and two hundred from my own money. I took the money because Mom would check. Sofia and the others were just sitting around.

“I’m done.” 

"Let's go. We need to buy Ice. Shit, Sof, I forgot the icebox." Theo said, scratching his head.

“I’ve got one."

“See a life saver," Lila said, hitting him on the arm.

I got the icebox out, and we left. Sofia was blasting music, and Thoe was singing. We stopped at the gas station for ice, drinks, and snacks and got back onto the road.

When we got to the beach, it was almost lunchtime; the beach was almost three hours away to the outskirts of SilverRidge city. The beach was way more packed than I thought it’d be. Music was blasting from some speakers down the sand, and a group of college kids was already going crazy playing volleyball, literally screaming like complete psychos every time someone spiked the ball.

There were a couple of trucks parked by the boardwalk selling burgers and tacos, and the smell of grilled meat was drifting up across the sand. People were just scattered everywhere, some tanning, some in the water, and others just chilling by their coolers, laughing like they didn't have a single care in the world. 

I just stood there for a second soaking it all in, because honestly, this was the most normal teen thing I’ve done since I moved to this place.

"Let's go," Lila said, grabbing my hand. 

“It’s okay. "I'm not rich; I'm like you. Sofia is the best; if she’s friends with you, then it's genuine," she said with a smile, and I couldn't help but smile too.

Sofia caught up to us; Theo and Ethan were bringing the icebox and the beach bag. We got down to the sand and were about to set up when I saw Talon and his crew walking towards us.

“Since we’re all here, why not have one big group?" Sienna said, and the others agreed.

We set up blankets, coolers, and umbrellas, and some of the guys began setting the stones up for the bonfire. Everyone was off doing something; I noticed the shadow before I even looked up. Someone dropped down onto the blanket close enough that our shoulders almost brushed. 

When I turned my head, Talon was already there, leaning back on his hands like he had been sitting there the whole time. His sunglasses were pushed up into his hair, and he was watching the volleyball game like he wasn't worried about sitting next to me. I swear this guy had a talent for just appearing out of nowhere.

"Don't tell me you're going to read at the beach?” He asked, and I paused because that was exactly what I was about to do. He began laughing; he handed me a beer, but I just shook my head.

“I don't drink." 

"Fine, more for me," he said, popping it. 

“So Brainiac, tell me about yourself. I've been trying to be friends with you, and you just brush me off," he said, and he sounded disappointed.

“Why?”

“You’re different," he said. He handed me a cola, and I took it. "There are a lot of rumors about me, but I'm not that type of person," he said. I didn't answer because that's what people thought about me too. 

“So what do you say? Can we be friends, maybe more over time?" he asked. 

I blinked, because that came out of nowhere. This guy barely knew me, and he was already talking about being friends like we had been hanging out for years. 

Part of me kept waiting for someone to jump out and yell "Gotcha," because rich popular guys didn’t just walk up and decide they wanted to be friends with the random scholarship girl. I studied his face for a second, trying to see if he was joking, but he was just sitting there watching me like he was actually serious.

"Well, friends first," he said, looking at me hopefully.

“Is this all so I can help you with your schoolwork?" I asked, and he started laughing, and I ended up staring at him; he looked good when he smiled.

“No, I'm good with my schoolwork; I'm doing it because I want to." He was still smiling.

“I’ll think about it." 

"Sure," he said.

Sophia and Theo came over and sat down. “So what's the plan?” Sophia asked him.

“I’m hungry; there's nothing good here." Mason said, plopping down and spilling sand onto the blanket. Suddenly a shadow was over me; I looked up, and Nico was standing there, and I groaned inwardly. Why was he here?. 

“I’m going to get food." I stood up and wore my slippers and walked down the beach to the burger joint.

"Hey, wait up." Lila yelled after me and hooked her arm through mine. All through lunch Talon kept looking at me and smiling, and Niko just glared at me. What the hell was his problem?

After lunch we headed back to the beach; half of them went to play volleyball, some went swimming, and the rest of us were just relaxing. We talked, and I got to know some more of my classmates. 

I sent Mom a text to let her know I was fine, and she replied. After the sunset, we lit up the bonfire and sat around it. I had changed into my hoodie and jeans. One minute Sofia was next to me, and the next, Talon was there.

“Care for a beer now?” he asked.

"No, Talon, I don't drink." I pushed it away. 

We sat there talking for hours until they started getting rowdy. Talon grabbed my hand and led me away, and we walked along the beach. 

“So who’s in your family?” he asked.

“Just me and my mom.”

“What does your mom do?” he asked. 

“Hospital Admin.”

“I see, are you always like this?. Cold to people. "You don't smile and you're not friendly," he said. 

“I just moved here, Talon; I don't know anyone."

"Yeah, well, that will change if you smile a bit more," he said, bumping my shoulder with his. We walked along the beach, and he asked me about everything and anything.