The day had been everything Alina hoped for—and more. She was exhausted but in the best way possible, her body tired from all the running and laughing, her mind blissfully at ease. As the evening began to wind down, she found herself back on the beach. The soft sounds of the waves lapping against the shore were soothing, the sky turning that familiar golden-orange hue she had come to love. The beach was a peaceful escape, and she welcomed it.
She sighed contentedly, letting the last of the day's warmth sink into her skin as the sun began to sink lower. But just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, a voice broke through the quiet."Alina!" Jamie's voice called out, echoing across the sand.
Alina turned around to see him jogging toward her, a small smile on his face as he waved. "Hey," he greeted as he slowed down. "Mind if I join you?"
Alina smiled back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course, you can," she replied, gesturing for him to walk with her.
They fell into step together, their feet sinking into the cool sand as they strolled along the shoreline. The sun continued its descent, casting long shadows across the sand, and for a while, they simply walked in silence, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. It was a comfortable silence, and Alina found herself appreciating Jamie's calm presence.
After a few minutes, Jamie broke the silence. "I've noticed you really like the beach," he said softly, glancing at her.
Alina nodded, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Yeah, I do," she admitted. "There's something about it that just... calms me, you know? I feel like I can breathe a little easier here."
Jamie nodded in understanding. "I get that. It's peaceful. Kind of makes everything else feel small for a while."
Alina smiled at that, feeling a bit more at ease. "Exactly."
The conversation flowed more naturally after that. Jamie started asking her small, easy questions—things like her favorite color (blue, just like the ocean), her favorite food (strawberry ice cream), and her favorite TV show (which, after some consideration, she told him was *Friends*). She laughed when Jamie admitted that he had never seen an episode of *Friends*, and they spent the next few minutes debating whether or not it was worth watching.
In turn, Jamie told her that his favorite color was green because it reminded him of the mountains back home. His favorite food was pizza—specifically, the kind with lots of cheese and extra pepperoni. And when it came to TV shows, he admitted that he was a sucker for crime dramas, especially *True Detective*.
"I wouldn't have pegged you for a crime show guy," Alina teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow.
Jamie chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "What can I say? I like the mystery."
As they continued walking, they found themselves laughing more, trading stories from their lives that they had never shared before. Alina told Jamie about the time Holly had convinced her to sneak into the school gym after hours to practice dance routines, only for them to get caught by the janitor. Jamie shared stories about his camping trips with Daniel and how they'd often gotten lost in the woods but somehow always managed to find their way back—usually with some ridiculous adventure to tell afterward.
By the time they realized how far they'd walked, the sun had almost completely set, leaving the sky bathed in soft purples and pinks.
"We should probably head back," Jamie said, glancing back toward the summer house, which was now just a distant silhouette.
Alina nodded, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. "Yeah, you're right."
They turned and started walking back in the direction of the house, the sand cool beneath their feet now that the sun had dipped below the horizon. The lights from the house glowed warmly in the distance, guiding them home.
As they approached the house, they both fell quiet again, a comfortable silence settling between them. When they reached the porch, Jamie paused and turned to face her.
"Thanks for letting me join you tonight," he said with a small smile. "It was nice... talking."
Alina smiled back, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't expected. "Yeah, it was. Thanks for coming."
They stood there for a moment, the night air cool against their skin, and then Jamie gave her a small wave. "Goodnight, Alina."
"Goodnight, Jamie," she replied, watching as he turned and headed inside.
Alina followed shortly after, her heart still light from their conversation. She made her way upstairs, quietly slipping into her room, where Holly was already fast asleep in her bed. She grabbed her pajamas, changed quickly, and then slipped beneath the cool sheets of her own bed.
As she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, she thought about the day. From the loud, chaotic morning to the peaceful sunset walk with Jamie, it had been one of those rare days where everything just felt... right. It was as though the universe had aligned in her favor, if only for a moment, allowing her to live in the present without worrying about the future.
She smiled to herself, feeling a sense of excitement bubble up inside her. Tomorrow was a new day, filled with endless possibilities. And for the first time in a long while, she was looking forward to it.
With that thought, Alina closed her eyes, letting the sound of the distant waves lull her into a peaceful sleep.
Tomorrow would be another day of adventure, and she was ready for it.
YOU ARE READING
My Last Summer
Teen Fiction"What begins but has no end, and ends all that begins?" A riddle that once stumped me but now I wish I never knew the answer. **************************************************************************************** Alina Doe, a cute, short and curvy...
