"All right," you say, "I think we got everything."
To kick off the start of summer, you and your friends decided to take a trip to the beach. It's early in the morning, and the breeze is pleasantly cool. Owing to it being the start of the season, there's still a faint crispness to the air that's reminiscent of spring. Still, the high today is set to be a scorching 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
"Nice!" says Naomi, brushing her unruly hair back as she examines the contents of the trunk. "Towels, umbrellas, beach balls, beer…looks good to me! What do you think, Lucia?"
Lucia frowns, her face half-hidden by her comically large sun-hat. "Yeah…sure." She yawns, her blue eyes sleepy. "I can't wait to take a nap."
"Aw, come on, Lucia! It's the first weekend of summer vacation!"
"It's seven in the morning. Normally I'd still be asleep."
"Oh yeah…" Naomi glances around, "where's Ella? She's supposed to be bringing the coffee."
"I'm here," a voice says. Rounding the corner is Ella, her steps measured and even as she balances a tray of coffee. Once she reaches you all, she sighs, blowing a strand of brown hair out of her face. "Apologies for the wait. There was a ridiculously long line. Anyways, we're all here now, right? Let's go."
With that, the four of you climb into the van and set off. After some minor bickering over who gets to pick the songs, your group settles into companionable conversation. Well, at least, you, Ella, and Naomi settle into conversation—Lucia opted to pull down her hat and fall asleep. The highway runs along the cape, and as you look to the side you see the dazzling blue of the endless sea. The air is crisp and clear, tinged with the salt of the ocean.
Soon, you reach the beach. The sun hasn't yet reached its apex, and the sand is pleasantly warm under your toes. The sunlight dapples the sea, and the waves lap gently against the shore. You take a deep breath: salt, sand, and the sweet tinge of sunscreen.
Who do you hang out with?