"I think of childhood friends, and the dreams we had. We live happily
forever, so the story goes," everyone sang in the car on the road trip to
North Carolina. Mira borrowed her mom’s car and drove beside Taylor in the
passenger seat. Preston and Kathryn sat in the backseat. "But somehow we
missed out on that pot of gold
But we'll try.... best that we can... to caaaaaarry on," They all shouted.
"Hey, last pixie stick," Taylor announced holding it up. "Going once, going twice. I don’t want it, it’s orange."
"I’ll take it," Kathryn reached from the backseat.
"Yo chief, we’re running low on snackage," Taylor said.
"Alright. We’ll stock up when I get gas," Mira told him.
**************
"Go Mira," Taylor said once they were back on the road and were trying to name as many movies with one word titles as they could.
"You know she’s gonna beat us at this," Preston said.
"Psycho," she said.
"Big," Taylor went.
"Um..." Kathryn thought. "Batman."
"The Shining," Preston decided.
"Two words, pal," Mira told him.
"Nuh uh," Preston raised his eyebrows.
Taylor turned around. "Pres, ‘the’ is a word."
Preston looked off to the side. "Shining."
Mira laughed. "You suck."
*********************
They finally got to the beach late that night and crashed. Mira and Kathryn slept in one bedroom while Taylor and Preston fell asleep in another one. Mira woke up around 10:30 the next morning. When she went out into the kitchen, she saw Taylor standing in front of the open refrigerator in just his boxers.
"Hey," she sleepily greeted running her fingers through her messy hair.
"Morning," he said taking out the carton of orange juice. "How long has this been in here?"
Mira shrugged. "Don’t know."
Taylor held it up to his nose and nodded in approval before pouring himself a glass. "You want some?"
"Sure. Thanks," she said hopping up on the counter.
"We need to hit up the grocery store, big time," he said jumping up beside her.
"Yep. But I’m all about the beach first."
"I hear ya," he agreed.
"Should we wake up the losers first?"
"Their loss. I say we get ready and go."
"Cool," he said before finishing off his juice.
*****************
"Listen, we don’t need to lay too close," Taylor said lifting the white t-shirt off his body. "I don’t want other girls to think we’re together."
Mira raised one eyebrow as she slid her shorts off. "Fine. Go lay by yourself then." She took off her tank top and put it in her bag.
He looked down her body clad in a navy bikini with white trim and back up at her face. "Well I probably won’t be by myself for long."
"I thought you were through with women," she quoted him.
"That’s different. This is the beach we’re talking about," he said stretching his arms over his head. "It’s all about the hook-up."
Mira rolled her eyes and sat down on her beach towel. "Well I bet I can get more phone numbers than you can," she said looking up at him through her sunglasses.
Taylor raised his eyebrows. "Really now?" He picked up his towel and threw it across his shoulder. "It’s a bet, sweetie. See ya later," he smiled and began to walk down the beach.
Mira laid back and laughed to herself as she closed her eyes. A few seconds later she was greeted by a huge golden retriever licking her face. "Whoa," she opened her eyes and sat up. "Hey buddy," she said scratching the dog behind his ears.
"Baxter," a guy’s voice called jogging over to them. "I’m sorry about him," he smiled bending down next to her picking up the frisbee the dog was supposed to catch.
"Hey it’s no problem," Mira smiled back at the tan, dark haired guy next to her. "I’m sure he does it to all the girls."
"Only the cute ones," he told her.
Mira laughed. "Nice one."
"I know. I tried. This is Baxter, by the way," he introduced his dog.
"Hey Baxter," she said as his dog rested his paw on Mira’s bent knee. "Aw, he’s gorgeous."
"He knows," he smiled.
"So what’s your name?" She asked.
"Cooper," he told her shaking her hand. "What’s yours?"
"Mira."
"Mira," he nodded. "So do you live around here?"
"Um no," she said. "Me and some friends are here on vacation." She looked around for Taylor who was walking back in her direction.
"Cool. Where are they?"
"Still asleep. So what about you? Are you on vacation?" She asked.
"No, I live a couple minutes from this beach so me and Baxter come out here every now and then."
"Hi," Taylor appeared next to Mira’s towel.
"Well hey Taylor," she grinned. "This is Cooper and his dog Baxter. We were just talking," she raised her eyebrows indicating she knew Taylor had struck out on his side of the beach.
"Hey Taylor, nice to meet you."
"You too," Taylor narrowed his eyes at Mira. "Wow, cool dog," he bent down next to him.
******************
"5, 6, 7," Taylor finished counting the pieces of paper with phone numbers on them in front of Mira later that night. "Oh man, I’m so money," he smiled resting his chin on his hand at the kitchen table.
"Eat me, Taylor," Mira said taking his pieces of paper. "Not all of us can spot every slut on the beach."
"Wow," Taylor raised his eyebrows. "I’ll take bitter for 500, Alex."
Preston laughed. "How’d you do, Mira?"
"I did fine," she told him.
Taylor rolled his eyes. "Do it, Cooper," he teased.
"Well sorry he’s no.." she read one of his numbers. "Tristi," she raised one eyebrow at Taylor.
Kathryn laughed. "Tristi?"
"She’s a business major, thank you very much," Taylor snatched the pieces of paper from Mira.
Mira stifled a laugh. "I bet."
