Footprints In The Sand - Michelle Horst Page 0,2

off a lot of muscles and skin. Oh, my gosh! I can stare at him all day long. He’s so handsome! I wonder what it would feel like to touch his chest.

“Girl,” Hayden whistles just as Seth reaches us. Hayden bursts out laughing and my eyes dart back to him. He waves a hand over the length of me, “who the hell wears jeans to the beach? You’re so fucking white I need sunglasses so I don’t burn my eyes just looking at you.”

Embarrassment flashes hot through me and I feel my cheeks warming. It’s safe to say I now hate Hayden Roberts.

Before I can say something in my defense, Seth steps forward. “Hey, back off, man. What she ever do to you?”

Hayden lets out a bark of laughter. “The mouse almost scorched my fucking eyes out.” He steps up to me and throws his arm around my shoulder. “I tell you what, Mouse.” He wags his eyebrows suggestively. “How about you get out of all of that,” he waves over my body and I feel my neck and cheeks flush hotter than before, “and then we’ll see if that blush colors your whole body.” I shove him away and bend to pick up my book. “Such a pity, it sure looks like you have a fine ass.” Another bark of laughter is all it takes from Hayden to make my temper explode.

I swing around and the corner of the book clips Hayden’s cheek. Stunned I watch as he grabs his face and roars with pain. “Bitch! What the fuck man?”

Seth steps between us, but not before I see the red welt and tiny drop of blood on Hayden’s cheek. Hayden is going to be so pissed! I’m not sticking around to see what he does. I take off running home, not sparing either boy another glance.

Only when I reach our RV do I dare to peek down the street. No one followed me. I let out a huff of air. “Stupid jerk!” I lash out as I open the door. “The one time I get to see Seth and Hayden has to ruin it!” I fill a glass with water and drink it standing by the sink, and then I remember that Seth stood up for me.

“EEEEEP!” I shriek and start to jump up and down. “He freaking stood up for me! Twice! Oh, my gosh! I’m going to die!” I fall back on the couch and stare at the ceiling, but all I see is Seth.

~*~

Chapter Two

Seth~

As I wake up the thought hits me, “Yes! It’s the last day of school!” I get up with more vigor than usual, fold my blanket and place it at the foot of the couch. I can’t wait until I’m finished with school and I can get out of this RV. I miss our house and Mom. Mom left us two years ago. She just disappeared one night.

Dad’s a struggling writer and barely makes enough for food. Mom was a teacher with the more steady income, and she came from a wealthy family. I still don’t understand why she just left us like that. The only other family I have is my Aunt Janice. She’s Mom’s older sister. Mom has a trust fund she inherited from her parents, it used to help a lot financially. But, since Mom took the high road, the trust fund went with her.

I grab my bag, throw it over one shoulder and grab my phone on the way out.

I managed to get some extra hours working as a lifeguard. I’ve been working weekends for the last year. I need the money for when I start college. Mr. Herbert said I can come in on Thursdays and Fridays now that it’s summer break. That will be a great boost for my savings.

On my way to the bus stop I text Marcus to make sure he’s up. He always over-sleeps. He responds a few seconds later with a thumbs-up. I hate it when he does that. I send him a pic of my middle finger and seconds later he phones me.

“Hey man, I’m running late. Don’t let the bus drive by my stop without me,” he says out of breath.

“Dude, you were late for your own birth,” I laugh. “If I didn’t wake you, you’d never get to school on time.” Marcus is the most disorganized person I know.

I smile at Dad as he passes me and for a moment I wonder what he’s doing out so early. He’s