The smell of the salty ocean, the cool breeze, and the warmth of the sun on my skin is what summer is all about. Spending long summer days at the beach has been my favorite thing ever since I was younger, and since I grew up in Florida, I’ve never known summers to be any different. My parents and I moved here when I was three, and my best friends Marissa, Olivia, Genevieve, and I have loved spending the last summer days relaxing at the beach. Our colorful beach towels of bright yellow, pink, purple, and green are spread out neatly side by side across the warm sand, and as the seagulls are squawking, my friends and I are waiting for what the start of our senior year of high school is about to bring.

Marissa, Olivia, Genevieve, and I met when we were back in kindergarten because we all sat at the same table. However, I’m not sure if any of us are looking forward to the start of high school because, once our senior year ends, we’re all probably going to be attending different colleges, and life as we now know it will never be the same. We made a pact in kindergarten that we would be friends forever, but now I’m worried that might not happen because Olivia and Marissa have a crush on the same guy, and when something like that happens, it makes friendships difficult.

Zach is the guy Marissa and Olivia both have crushes on, and he’s a lifeguard. He’s not just tall; he’s towering, with a physique that’s the envy of every guy on the beach. His sandy dark brown floppy hair falls just right, and his ocean-blue eyes seem to hold a secret. He’s charming, always ready with a smile or a witty remark. Genevieve and I find it hysterical whenever Marissa and Olivia can’t take their eyes off Zach. We both don’t know what they see in him because he isn’t really our type. Zach is starting college this fall, so the chances of any of us seeing him after summer are very unlikely since we will all be starting our senior year of high school soon.

Marissa and Olivia are so busy taking selfies that they don’t notice that Zach has taken his shirt off and is now jumping into the water to save someone. I briefly look up from my Teen Vogue magazine and throw a potato chip in their direction to get their attention. After the chip hits Marissa on the forehead, she and Olivia finally look toward the water and see Ethan. And in unison, they both say, “Ooh, Zach is looking sexier than normal today!” Genevieve and I roll our eyes because we still don’t understand why they love Zach so much. “You two are hopeless,” I say, shaking my head. “He’s just a guy.” Olivia and Marissa both look at me as if I’ve lost my mind. Then Olivia says, “Have you lost your mind, Sophia? Because Zach is the cutest guy on the entire beach.”

As Zach emerges from the water, he resembles Zac Efron in the movie “Baywatch,” carrying the body of the latest shark attack victim. The man, likely in his late thirties, has suffered a severe shark bite on his leg. Zach begins to resuscitate the man while a small crowd gathers around him, including Marissa, Olivia, Genevieve, and I. We all hope and pray that Zach can save the man’s life.

Zach plans to study to become a doctor after college, so it’s not surprising that the man starts breathing again after spitting out a lot of water. The crowd that has gathered around Zach, including my friends and I, begin clapping because we’re all so relieved that the man didn’t die. Soon, the ambulance drives onto the beach, and the man is whisked off to the hospital, so we all think he might be okay.

Zach then turns to the four of us and flashes a smile in Olivia’s direction, slowly walking over to us. He then gets down on one knee and proposes that he and Olivia should go out on a date with him. Olivia blushes and then says, “Yes, of course, I’d love to be your date to the beach bonfire tonight, and I’ll wear my favorite sundress.” Marissa looks upset, and in a fit of rage, she knocks over a young boy’s sandcastle that he had just built. Genevieve and I chase after Marissa to see if she’s okay, but we both know that she wishes it were her going on a date tonight with Zach, not Olivia.

Marissa then proposes the idea to both Genevieve and me with the idea of us going to the beach bonfire with her tonight. Eager to seize the opportunity to savor the last beach bonfire of the summer, we unanimously agreed to partake in the evening’s festivities. As we readied ourselves, Marissa, Genevieve, and I carefully selected our favorite sundresses in soft shades of lavender, light pink, and pale yellow. We spent time curling our hair and applying delicate makeup, preparing ourselves for what promised to be an unforgettable night.

As the fiery yellow sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple as we made our way to the beach bonfire. The sound of laughter and music filled the air, mixed with the sound of the gentle waves crashing against the shoreline. Marissa, Genevieve, and I walked arm in arm; our excitement was palpable as we approached the flickering flames.

As we arrived, we noticed the familiar faces of some of our classmates gathered around the bonfire, their silhouettes dancing in the soft glow of the firelight. The scent of roasting marshmallows wafted through the air, enticing us closer to the warmth of the bright orange bonfire.

Marissa, still reeling from the earlier events, plastered on a brave smile as she scanned the crowd for distractions. Genevieve and I exchanged knowing glances, silently offering our support for our friend as we joined the festivities.

Throughout the evening, we laughed and danced, our worries temporarily forgotten in the glow of the fire. As the night wore on, Marissa’s spirits lifted, her infectious laughter filling the air as she spun around the fire with Genevieve.

Meanwhile, Olivia and Zach seemed lost in their own world, their laughter and whispered conversations drowned out by the crackling of the flames. Despite the initial tension, it was clear that tonight was a night of new beginnings.

As the bright orange bonfire burned and a thousand stars lit up the night sky, we knew that summer was drawing to a close. But as Olivia, Genevieve, Marissa, and I stood hand in hand, watching the glowing embers of the fire fade into darkness, we realized that the bonds of our friendship forged on this beach would continue to stay strong long after the summer sun had set.

This was written by our co-founder and editor, Hanna Perry.