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Cass dug her toes into the sand, pulling her hair up as Barbara rubbed sunscreen onto her shoulder. The sun was blazing today, probably close to ninety-five degrees. Which made it the perfect day to go to the beach.
"Alright, I think you're all cover," Barbara said, patting in the last white dredges on Cass' upper arm. "Be back in two hours—I told Dick we'd meet him and Tim for dinner at six."
She stood up, brushing the sand off her shorts. "No promises."
"Brat." Barbara swatted at her half halfheartedly, waving Cass off as she left.
Cass wandered through the crowded beach. Most of the people hear were tourist like her and Barbara, probably trying to enjoy the last days of summer before school started. She pasted by a couple who were on the verge of a break-up, and another who were about to have a proposal. The further she got the thinner the population, and she eventually found a stream.
It was a large gap, bridged by large rocks that could make a risky walkway. Certainty more difficult than most people were capable of crossing. Cass however had spent years of her life making it her mission to scale anything and everything she possibly could. The most annoying part was how the water made the sand cling to her feet.
This part of the beach was deserted. Nothing besides a few crustaceans, seagulls and Cass herself resided here. It was picturesque, quaint. She'd have to bring Tim here if they stayed longer, her sort of brother would love taking pictures of the scenery. Subconsciously she began to hum.
Continuing on her path, Cass wandered closer to the water. Up ahead of her was a large collection of boulders, blocking off what she could see. Cass had to get there.
"Come to me."
Her hands scrapped against the boulder as pushed past. Her breath hitched in her throat as she came face to face with the most beautiful person in the entire universe. A blonde girl wearing a feathery shawl and sea shells decorating her hair, singing a melodic tune—the same one Cass was humming under her breath. It must be fate. She shuffles closer, and she must alert the girl to her presence as her eyes snap open talking in Cass.
"You're not what I usually catch," she says. Cass doesn't understand what she means, but it doesn't matter because Cass would agree with anything this girl said. "Why don't you come closer, hmm?" It takes the same conscious effort as breathing to cross the remaining yard of space to stand directly in front of her.
Now that Cass is closer she can see the freckles peppering the blondes skin. They're beautiful, she thinks taking in the sight of them. Memorizing. Cass gasps as cool fingers press against her cheek. She hadn't seen the girl move.
"What's your name?" the girl asks.
"Cass." It burst from her mouth unthinkingly. Immediate with no second thought. Then, "What's yours?"
"You can call me Steph." She picks up a strand of Cass' hair, twirling it around her finger. "Did you have to be anywhere?"
Cass thinks of Barbara telling her to be back in a few hours. Of the dinner plans they have and the drone show Tim was talking about seeing. She weighs it against stay with Steph. It's insignificant, she decides. "No."
"Good." Steph smiles with pointed teeth. Her hand moves so fingers ghost Cass' lips. "I think I'll keep you for awhile."