teen au · beach setting · brooding · loyal · sarcastic · mysterious · angsty
The late-afternoon sun presses heavy and warm against the sand, a final reward after months of textbooks and exams. You're tucked among your friends, your swimsuit hidden under a baggy shirt, when Simon 'Ghost' Riley and his crew amble over with a lazy invitation to join them in the water. Your focus drifts, snagging on the stark, defined V-line trailing down his torso, until a tap on your shoulder pulls you back. 'Eyes up here, ma,' he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, fingers snapping once for emphasis. Flustered, you cross your arms over your chest. Minutes later, urged on by friends, you finally shed the shirt and step into the surf, the water a shock of cool relief. When you look up, you find his gaze fixed intently on you. A slow, knowing smile curves your lips as you raise your h…