A Not So Quiet Beach Day

“Come on, Prince!” Rey exclaimed as he tugged at Prince’s arm along with Neil.

No matter how much Rey and Neil pulled, Prince was as solid as a rock. He didn’t want to budge. With a day off from school, Rey and Neil wanted to go out for a beach day. It was something they needed with all the stress in their lives as of late.

“I don’t understand why you need me to come with you guys,” Prince said.

“Come on! It’ll be fun!” Neil exclaimed. “Besides, we want as much of the gang there as possible.”

“Heer, Zayn, and Akira are busy with homework. You definitely don’t have an excuse better than that,” Rey said.

“I do. I’m just not interested,” Prince said.

“You say that all the time!” Rey exclaimed. “It’ll be fun. We’ll hang at the beach while you just chill. You can relax as much as you want. Maybe even take a book.”

“Or a candy cane,” Neil said.

Prince sighed. He would rather stay in his room, but he also felt some relaxation elsewhere wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Fine. I’ll go, but I’m just going to chill there,” Prince said. “Got it?”

“All right! We’re heading out in an hour, so be ready!” Rey exclaimed as he and Neil left the room.

***

 In the late afternoon, Prince met up with Rey, Neil, Sana, and Krystal at the front of the academy. They headed downtown and boarded the bus. It didn’t take long for them to reach Swiftside Beach. As soon as the group arrived, no one was more excited than Krystal. She made her way towards the sand, saying, “Isn’t this so nice?! Zayn and the others are missing out!”

“Hell, I’m surprised Ms. Bookworm here wasn’t busy with homework,” Neil said, looking at Sana.

“Are you trying to say I don’t know how to have fun?” Sana asked.

“He isn’t trying. He’s just saying it,” Rey said.

“Well, let me prove you wrong then!” Sana exclaimed. “Who’s up for volleyball?”

“Sounds fun!” Krystal said. “Prince, join us!

Krystal and the others turned to see Prince was already settled. He laid on the towel he had set on the sand. Krystal said, “Prince, really?”

“I came here to relax,” Prince said as he got out a book from his backpack.

“Come on. Just one game,” Neil said.

“I’m good,” Prince said as he opened his book and began reading.

Rey, Neil, Sana, and Krystal walked off to set up for volleyball. Sana whispered to Rey, “Why did you invite Prince?”

“I thought he’d possibly lighten up and hang with us,” Rey said.

“You thought that by enticing him with relaxation only?” Neil asked. “And you guys make fun of my intelligence.”

“Who said that makes you any more intelligent, Neil?” Krystal said.

“You know what?! I’m gonna beat the crap out of you guys at volleyball!” Neil exclaimed.

“Dream on,” Krystal said.

As Rey, Krystal, and Neil got ready to start playing, Sana turned and looked at Prince. He didn’t seem bothered. If anything, he looked very much at peace, reading his book. She decided it was probably best to just leave him be.

Prince was deep into his book. He was reading a new novel called Lightning Strikes Silent Street by Rana Sandesh, and it was an engrossing read so far. He could feel the tension as he was getting through an intense chapter. The main character, Roohi, was wandering around in her apartment at night, unaware that someone was inside. As he got to the next page, he was startled as Sana, Krystal, Rey, and Neil were loudly commencing in their volleyball game.

“HA! We’re in the lead!” Krystal exclaimed after delivering a winning serve. She high-fived Sana while Rey and Neil looked ready to continue.

“It’s not over yet!” Neil exclaimed.

Prince shook his head as he looked back at his book. He tried to focus on the chapter. It was a lengthy read, but he was doing his best to pay attention while the others continued their game. After some time, his focus became disrupted again upon hearing Krystal shout, “Prince, watch out!”

“What?!” Prince said as he turned around. Before he could do anything, the ball smacked him in the head and he fell back, his book falling out of his hands.

Sana, Krystal, Rey, and Neil all ran up to Prince. Sana and Krystal helped him up with Sana asking, “Prince, are you okay?”

“If you want to get mad at someone, be mad at Neil! He served the ball!” Rey exclaimed.

“Really, dude?! You gotta blame me?!” Neil said.

“Well, you’re the one who threw it,” Rey said.

Prince hadn’t said a word. He was feeling a variety of things, but he was mostly agitated and angry. His head hurt, and he lost his place in his book, which was now dunked in sand. The others looked at him, and Rey and Neil looked particularly fearful of him. Maybe his agitation and anger were showing on his face.

“You know what?” Prince said. “I’m just gonna go get something to drink.”

Prince left while the others watched him leave. As he headed off, Neil said, “Damn. Is it me, or did he look mad?”

“It’s either that, or he’s annoyed. Probably both,” Krystal said.

“What should we do?” Sana asked.

“We should just leave him alone for a while,” Rey said. “Let’s get back to our game.”

“You guys go ahead. I’m gonna get a drink,” Sana said.

Krystal, Rey, and Neil got the ball and got back to their game. Sana picked up Prince’s book. She headed out towards the snack shack where Prince was at. He was drinking a large strawberry lemonade, and Sana could tell he was very irritated. She went up to him, handing him his book. Prince looked at her and took the book, saying, “Thanks.”

“How’s the book so far?” Sana asked.

“It was good until certain idiots smacked me in the head and made me lose my place.”

“Sorry. I know they can be a handful, but they didn’t mean to hit you.”

“So? They literally made me come here just to annoy the hell out of me. All I care about is relaxing. Is that so much to ask?”

“Is there something going on? You’re crabbier than usual.”

“Oh, wow, that’s so helpful.”

“Come on. Seriously, is something bothering you?”

Prince finished his strawberry lemonade. He got out of his seat and headed out while Sana watched him leave. He had a hard time explaining how he was feeling. He certainly felt that whatever he was feeling was nothing compared to the stuff that Sana and Rey had dealt with recently.

As Prince got back to where his towel and things were, he saw Krystal, Rey, and Neil were out in the water, swimming. They were having a lot of fun, splashing each other and everything. Krystal looked at Prince and said, “Hey, Prince! Do you want to join us?”

“I’m fine,” Prince said as he tried to figure out where he was in his book.

“You came to the beach, and you won’t even get in the water?” Krystal asked.

“Some people come to the beach to just chill. It’s clear you guys don’t get that,” Prince said.

“Hey, man! I know you’re upset, but you don’t have to be a jerk,” Rey said.

“Oh, right. I should be an absolute ray of sunshine after getting smacked in the head during your stupid game of volleyball,” Prince said.

“It was an accident,” Neil said. “I didn’t mean to hit you.”

“Oh, like that’s supposed to make me feel better,” Prince said.

“Okay, enough of the arguing!” Krystal exclaimed. “You can just sulk while we have some fun here!”

“To hell with the drama,” Prince said as he rolled his eyes and went back to focusing on his book.

While Prince tried to find the page he was on in his book, a gust of wind wavered over the waters. Prince was splashed by the water, himself and his book drenched. Prince could see the others look at him, clearly horrified. Though they were probably more horrified at how mad he would be. He got up, grabbing his book and towel. Sana was there and asked, “You need help?”

Prince sighed. He didn’t want to admit it, but he could use some time with a friend.

“Yeah,” Prince said.

***

Sana got her things and walked further down the beach with Prince to get a private spot for himself. She helped him dry off, using his towel to dry his hair. As she helped, she said, “I’m sorry this beach day hasn’t been going well for you.”

“It’s not your fault. Karma must hate me or something.”

“Don’t say that. Now, you did take my help. Is there anything you want to talk about?”

“I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“That’s fine. You just take your time with it.”

Prince took a deep breath. He wasn’t really used to opening up about his feelings to anyone. Sana was cool though, and he did think she was a relatively easy person to talk to. He said, “I’ve been feeling pretty tired lately.”

“You mean like tired as in annoyed? Or tired as in exhausted?”

“I don’t know. Maybe both. I don’t even know how I can talk about this with you specifically.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, you and Rey have gone through a lot with the whole Madame Naga fiasco. My struggles are nothing compared to yours. I’m not like doing horribly, but I also feel like so much has been happening, and I just want a break.”

“Prince, whatever you feel is just as valid as what me and Rey are feeling. I’ll admit, things have been pretty hard with all the new revelations, but that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel tired. In fact, I think the entire group has been affected one way or the other. We just have to stick by each other through all of it.”

Prince agreed with everything Sana was saying. He realized he should’ve known Sana would care. She was a very caring person after all.

“So, I guess that’s why you wanted the perfect beach day all to yourself,” Sana said.

“I just wanted to relax and not think about anything. You guys love hanging out and spending time together, but sometimes I just enjoy being alone.”

“I understand.”

“Anyway, thanks for hearing me out.”

“Of course. That’s what friends do.”

Prince looked up, seeing Krystal, Rey, and Neil walking over to him. Neil said, “Hey, man. I’m sorry about earlier.”

“We should’ve been more direct with our apology,” Rey said.

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” Prince said.

Rey nudged Krystal. She said, “And I’m sorry for mocking you for wanting to be alone.”

“Look at that. Krystal can shake away her ego,” Sana said.

“Oh, shut up, Sana!” Krystal exclaimed.

Prince was pleased with his friends’ apologies. He did think that he should apologize as well.

“I’m sorry, too,” Prince said. “I shouldn’t have been so crabby with you guys.”

“Hey, it’s all good, dude,” Rey said. “We’re all cool here!”

“Anyway, we were gonna go to Devil’s Diner for dinner. Zayn, Akira, and Heer said they can join us there,” Neil said. “You guys want to go?”

“I’m cool with that,” Sana said. “Prince, since you wanted to have some alone time here, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

Prince was surprised at Sana’s gesture.

“Really?” Prince asked.

“Yeah, man. If you want some alone time here, it’s totally cool with us,” Rey said.

“Well, thank you then,” Prince said.

“All right. See you later then,” Krystal said as she headed off with Rey and Neil.

Sana went up to Prince, taking out a book from her bag and handing it to him. Prince looked at it, seeing it was a Rana Sandesh novel titled Silence Sounds Swell.

“I like Rana Sandesh books myself. It may not be the same one as what you were reading, but I figured you could read it until you get a new copy of the other one,” Sana said.

“Thank you, Sana. This is nice of you.”

“No problem. See you tomorrow then.”

“Actually, maybe I’ll join you guys later. After some time that is.”

“Okay. See you.”

After Sana left, Prince was by himself. It was a good kind of solitude. He finally had some peace all to himself.

Copyright © 2022 Meryl T

All rights reserved. All illustrations created by Meryl T.