The Sun Rays Among Other Things

[neap]

Sami laid peacefully among the hot sand, watching the waves crash along the beach shore. She enjoyed soaking in the warmth the sun provided, feeling instantly at home. She personally felt that the sun's rays were more relaxing than anything else in the world. It soothed her worries and her previous night's nightmare. It was the one thing she could rely on in this world all by her lonesome. She closed her eyes, her faintly glowing hand making its way to clasp her amulet, her most prized possession. It basically was what made her, her. 

Her golden blonde hair almost seemed to melt into the warm sand, blending into its color. It looked like she matched the sun itself, her golden skin and hair along with her pastel yellow bikini. She wasn't entirely sure what her reasoning was for coming to this beach. After all, she was a horrible swimmer. She hoped it wasn't weird to come to the beach without taking a step into the water. It was just one of those lazy days where she wanted nothing to do but to soak up the sun, therefore, making the beach the perfect spot for that. 

Samarah had set up her little area away from where most of the crowd was. She wasn't interested in mingling with a huge group and risking her chance of getting water on her. So, instead, she chose a quiet place to rest and enjoy the warm, pleasant feeling the sun brought. 

[clouds just clouds]

The bright sun had April grinning from ear to ear. When was the last time they had been on the beach? For since, like, ever. "Jay! Come on, don't be a party-pooper!" April crossed her arms but couldn't help the bright smile on her face.

On the sand, underneath an umbrella, sat Jayden. He looked irritated as ever, glaring at April from underneath his shade. "No, April. My pasty-white flesh wasn't made for the sun." A sigh left him and he eyed all the other people enjoying the nice sunny day. There were too many people...

He felt his gut pinch and his cheeks warm. "I wish I stayed inside," Jayden murmured to himself. The sound of a seagull caught his attention. Glancing up, Jayden felt his lips twitch slightly. "Hey, Ape, looks like that seagull likes your sandwich."

"What!?" April exclaimed, whirling around. A seagull had pulled her sandwich out of her bag. "No! Mr. Seagull! No!" She leaped towards the seagull, but it leaped into the air, with the sandwich, and took off down the beach. "No!" April cried, shooting after it. "Mr. Seagull, come back! Come back, please!?"

Jayden began laughing behind his hand, "Oh, sweet, sweet karma. I've been waiting for you..."

April didn't really pay attention to what was on the ground. Her eyes were on the seagull who stole her sandwich--which was totally uncool, come on. "Mr. Seagull! Please!" She cried, waving her arms in the air. Her frantic running had her running straight towards Samarah, who was someone April didn't even notice.

[neap]

Samarah, completely relaxed and content by the sun's warmth, opened her eyes and looked towards the sudden commotion. She watched the girl chase the seagull curiously, her eyes following the seagull as it flew over head. She then sat up, in case she got trampled on by the frantic girl. She couldn't help as a quiet laugh escaped her throat, "You're not going to get your sandwich back." She pointed out with a sigh. Her eyes darted back towards the girl as she brushed the sand away that clung to her arms.

[clouds just clouds]

The sudden voice made April gasp, and her feet came to a stumbling stop. Her eyes fell on the strange woman on the sand. All too soon, April forgot about her sandwich and was enticed by the woman's looks. "Oh? Oh! Yeah, sandwich." A sigh left April and she pouted. "It was a really good sandwich too. I put the right amount of mayo with the pepper, and then the good ham, even bacon!" She groaned into her hands, but then peaked out at the woman through her fingers. "I've never seen someone with your skin color before, it's so beautiful!" April fell to her knees, smiling brightly up at the woman. Extending her hand, April said, "My name is April! I'm here with my brother and his boyfriend." April paused. "Well, they say they're not going out, but you can totally tell they so love each other."

[Dina Doo]

It didn't take much longer for Jack to return from his rendezvous to the small concession stand that stood where the parking lot and the beach started. Carrying a small food tray/boat of cheese fries- only because he wasn't in the mood for making his own sandwich like his sister- the young man made his way back over to where Jayden sat. "'Sup?" He muttered, taking a seat on the towel and removing his sunglasses. "Jay, you're seriously not going to be a loser and hide in the shade the whole time, are you?" Jack couldn't help but snicker as he lifted a fry to his mouth. "Trust me, you could use some sun. And maybe a good swim too, you little introvert." As he ate silently, he let his eyes wander the beach for a moment till he caught sight of his sister and... "Hey, who's April talking to?"

[neap]

Samarah laughed before crinkling her nose in disgust. "Pepper and mayo? I'm sorry, but that seems like an awful combination." She admitted before giving the girl a smile. She watched the girl as she talked, a red hue covering her cheeks as she was complimented. "Thank you." She let out a small giggle, unsure how to take the compliment. She spotted the girl's, April's, hand and reached over to shake it. "I'm Samarah." She introduced, before looking over and spotting the two boys which she had previously talked about. 

"That's real cute." Sami paused with a growing smile. "Don't you hate it when that happens? Like it's obvious that two people like each other, just ask them out already! What are you waiting for?" She let out a laugh. "Would you like me to buy you another sandwich or something? I feel bad that yours was stolen." Sami offered.

[clouds just clouds]

Jayden felt a blush bleach his pale skin--as if mocking Jack's words. "If I step into the sun I'll get burned to a crisp in seconds." He turned to look over at April and a strange woman. A sigh left Jayden, sounding with a tinge of jealousy. "I don't understand how you two can talk to strangers like it's nothing." The very idea of it had his palms sweaty and his gut slamming into his ribs. Then the woman looked their direction and he swore his entire body erupted in flames. Quickly turning his nose down, Jayden muttered, "A seagull stole your sister's sandwich. I have no idea why she's talking to that woman. For all we know she's convincing her we've kidnapped her or something." The little demon. "Or getting a free meal out of her."

April's mouth dropped into a dramatic oval shape at Samarah's words. "Oh, no! It's okay! Don't worry about getting me a new sandwich. It was that seagull's fault, or mine because I wasn't looking!" A giggle left her and she shook her head. "It's really a good thing you said something, or I would have ran you over! If you wanted, you could come join us--oh! Were you over here because you didn't want anyone to bother you?" She bit her lower lip and tried to muster up a puppy-eyed look. "I'm sorry! I'm not bothering you, am I?"

[neap]

"Of course not!" Sami was quick to reply, but brushed it off with a small smile. "I only came out here really to get some sun... and not swim." A small chuckle escaped her throat as she listened to the kids scream with joy as the waves rolled in over them. She glanced over to where the two boys made their little camp. "Now it's my turn to say I don't want to bother you three!" She brushed the hair out of her eyes and returned her gaze to April.

[Dina Doo]

"Huh," was Jack's only reply as he slipped his sunglasses back on and continued to eat his food. But he wasn't through with tormenting Jay. "You know, Jay, what was the point in coming here if you're going to mope around like a kid who isn't getting the candy he wanted?" He laughed at his analogy. "Is this how parents feel all the time? Well damn.." Jack sat up and stretched his arms. "You could at least pretend like you're having a good time instead of looking like we dragged you here against your will. Look at April, having fun talking with a stranger! Lighten up, Jay! Just a bit."

[clouds just clouds]

Jack's entire speech about fun was met with Jayden's best I-really-don't-give-a-crap-what-you-say face, though he bet ten dollars that his face just looked borderline constipated. "Jack. Do you realize that you look like a complete fa-" A scream cut off Jayden's last word, and he looked around for the source only to see a little girl and her father or brother of the like playing with her. A sigh left Jayden and his eyes narrowed. "Last time I was at the beech, one of my little brothers thought it would be fun to pull my pants around my ankles. I never learned to swim, either. So call me a bit apprehensive. Do you know the statistics of getting hit with a tsunami is?" If Jayden knew how often tsunamis hit, where they hit, and so on, he could probably chug the math through his head. But he didn't. "Anyways, beaches are sun burns and things no one needs to see--like that guy. Who wears speedos?" He twisted his face into a disgusted expression, but then leaned over to steal a few fries from Jack.

April shook her head, quickly deciding that she really did like Samarah. Maybe she could be another friend? "No! Jack would probably love. Jay is really weird around strangers, so don't worry about him. He needs to practice! Plus, Jay's probably not going to swim either, so he should have a friend to sit with!" Standing up, April saluted Samarah. "We are travelers! Always looking to make friends!" With a grin, April let out laugh. "So don't be shy." Twisting her torso, April looked back over at her brother and Jack. Jayden would probably kill her for bringing a stranger over, but for a good while he'll be subdued to a stuttering and blushing mess. Which would hold him off for a while. Stretching her arms up, April surveyed the beach for an potential pairings. Mostly all were just children, no fun--wait, was that a...? "We could set up a volley ball game!" April gasped, turning to look at Samarah. "Please! Oh please!?"