So funny story: I set the beach scene blogfest thinking I would certainly have a nice beach scene by now. After all, my current project takes place at a lake resort with a beach. A beach scene is inevitable.
But…so far there is no beachiness in So97. So I sat down this morning and took about 15 minutes to pound out a scene specifically for this. It uses the characters from So97 and at some point might make it into the actual manuscript (I am sure some seriously edited variation of it will), but for now it is just a free-standing scene.
Enjoy!
“We’re almost there.” Weston looked over his shoulder at me, his grin like a little kid’s. I had never seen him like this before; normally he was all business and propriety.
I stepped over another log – probably the 5th in as many minutes – and checked my watch: 11:15. “Um, where is there exactly? We have a ride in half an hour and we still need to saddle up.”
Weston laughed. Really? Mister We-have-to-make-this-place-more-professional laughed at me wanting to be on time? I will never understand some people. He hopped onto another log, nestled between two bushes, and turned to face me.
“Relax, Sam. The Worthingtons cancelled. We are free for the afternoon. Thus,” he held his hand out to me, “a picnic. I found this little place when I was surveying the grounds last week and thought it would be perfect.”
I took his hand and followed him over the log. Past the bushes, it was like entering a different world; in one stride, we put the forest behind us.
The sun glinted off the water, making each ripple glitter. The beach itself was only about twenty feet wide and completely surrounded by bushes, but the sand was pure and golden, like it had been untouched. I looked around, but from the beach I see no boats, no cabins, nobody. It’s like we’re completely alone in the world.
My gaze followed Weston as he crossed the beach and sat on a sun-bleached log. Wait. I recognized that log. I looked around again, and it slowly came back to me.
“Dead-Fish Beach.”
“What?” I looked at Weston, who was looking at me like I was crazy.
“Dead-Fish Beach,” I repeated, more loudly. “When we were little, we would all have competitions to see who could find the most fresh-water clams. One year, Rory and I sneaked off into the woods and found this place. We totally won – there were so many clams out there.”
Weston looked a little crestfallen. Was he trying to show me something new here? I realized then that it must be hard for him trying to fit in with a group of people who practically grew up here. It probably didn’t help that Rory and Karissa treated him like a total outsider. And, okay, so did I.
He cleared his throat. “So, um, why Dead-Fish Beach?” His smile looked forced. Did it really upset him that I had been here before?
“When we first found this place, there was a dead fish on it.”
“Creative.”
“Whatever. We were eight.”
He laughed, and suddenly he was back to normal. Maybe I had been imagining that he was upset. We sat together on the log and ate the lunch he brought – egg-salad sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and (I couldn’t help but notice) two fruit roll-ups for me.
When we finished, Weston gestured toward the water. “I’ve decided we can’t go back until you find me ten clams.”
“What?” He couldn’t be serious.
“Hey, you are the one who was bragging about how many clams are out there. Prove it.” His smile held a hint of a challenge.
“Okay, fine.” I kicked my shoes off and rolled my pant legs up to my knees. I loved wading in the water; if we didn’t have to work, this was a pretty good way to spend my time.
Seven clams later, the wind picked up. My hair blew around my face – why did I grow it long, again? – and stuck to my lip gloss. Seriously, I am talking half a head of hair stuck to my mouth here. And my hands totally covered with mud. After a few attempts of brushing the hair away with my shoulders, I admitted defeat and turned to Weston.
“A little help here?”
He was already taking his shoes off.
He waded out to me, and stood a little closer than necessary. Not that I minded. He swept my hair out of my face, but didn’t take his hand back. He locked eyes with me, that look of hunger I am so familiar with on his face, as he cupped my neck in his hand. His warmth radiated around me, and the old tingling sensation began in the pit of my stomach. I forgot how much I loved that feeling.
I took a step closer to him, letting our bodies touch just barely. The tingling left my stomach and traveled through my whole body; my skin buzzed with goose-bumps. Did he feel it too?
Weston lowered his head to mine. We stood there, forehead-to-forehead, for almost longer than I could stand. Each breath he took caressed my skin, and my body screamed for him. I lifted my head to finally take the kiss I needed so badly.
Our lips brushed slightly, and then it was over. Weston’s hand was no longer on my neck, I couldn’t feel him near me at all. I opened my eyes to see him backing away from me.
“Rory,” is all he said. He was stopping because of Rory? Sure, maybe there was something between Rory and I, but we definitely weren’t together. I was free to kiss anyone I wanted. I opened my mouth to tell West this – to tell him that I wanted to kiss him, but he motioned with his head to a spot behind me.
I turned around to see Rory coming around the bend in a canoe.
Now go read everyone else’s scenes! 
I am going to work on editing this beast.
21 Comments
Ok, that was soooo not nice! What happens???? What is going on? I want more! Now! *stomps feet*
…
Over my tantrum. Seriously, that was great. I was totally hooked and could feel the tension between them. Awesome job! And that was a last minute pounding out of words? Not fair!
Good tantrum! I don’t even know what happens.
I am writing this one totally seat-of-pants style, so we will have to see what unfolds.
LOL, that was great. I loved the naming of the beach. Ha! And I loved the barely a kiss part. I think I would have to strangle Rory for interrupting, but I don’t know what their relationship is.
Oh. man. The ending really hooked me. Between the last 2 blogfests, I’m ready to read all of So97! I posted mine a few minutes ago – sorry it is a bit late. I had it scheduled for 1am since we were driving all night and then I went to sleep when I got home. When I went to look at my post a few minutes ago- ta da! It wasn’t published. But it is now. Excited to read the rest.
Yay! I will go over and read it now.
I am glad you are excited for So97. If I ever get through the whole thing (kidding…I will – it is just moving really slowly), I just might have to send it to you for a beta-read, if you want.
Hi,
Free-standing scene as such, but would make one hell of a short story!
Great how Rory shows up! Nice little twister.
best
F
Dang, girl, you are good. Very good scene.
Thanks!
I would be honored to beta for you!
Yay! It might be a while, but I will definitely send it your way when it is ready!
Awesome, I can’t wait!
So when exactly can I buy S097? No fair just stopping there! So what does Rory say?
And ‘dead fish beach’ – LOL! That’s such an eight-year-old name for something. My 8yr old goddaughter used to call oaks “pig nut trees” because we once told her wild boars ate acorns.
Thank you so much for hosting this ‘fest, it’s been great fun!
Fifteen minutes? Seriously? I’m impressed. Great entry for the blogfest. And thanks so much for hosting it.
Awesome Rachel. For a quick write you’ve done marvellously. Love the characters and the description, eg ‘The sun glinted off the water, making each ripple glitter.’ Thanks for hosting.
Thanks for hosting this blogfest!
Why does Rory always show up at the wrong moment?
BTW I didn’t know the narrator was a girl at first…made for a bit of awkward reading.
Nice job!
Oooh, that was a lot of fun! Love the dialogue between them and the interaction. I was curious about the dynamics and the ending, and I really wanted to know more.
Thanks for hosting this!
That was great fun! I loved the moment of awkwardness when she’s caught up in a memory he can’t share – because it was so awkward for that moment, but there’s obviously something more going on between these two. Thanks for hosting the blogfest!
Sorry I’m getting to all these posts to late mine didn’t get posted until yesterday even though I signed up forever ago! But I loved this, and when her friend Rory (which is one of my baby sisters names and I never see it used anywhere! So that made me smile) interrupted them. Safe to say I was very upset why do friends always interrupt moments like that? *Sigh* next time. Great post and thanks for hosting!
Hi,
Just dropped in to say thanks for holding this blogfest. Have really enjoyed reading the entries!
best
F
So as I’m reading the description I think to myself- she must be remembering DFB in this. Lo and behold:) I love it because I feel like I’m in on your narrator’s private joke;)
I know! I am having SO much fun writing this story, ’cause while almost nothing that happens has ever actually happened at the lake, I am pulling a lot of stuff like that for the story. I thought you would like it.