The salty breeze danced through the air as Jake and his older sister Jayla arrived at the beach, their flip-flops kicking up soft grains of warm sand. Jayla, in her favorite oversized graphic tee and high-waisted shorts, carried a beach tote nearly as big as Jake. He trailed behind her with their beach towels slung over his shoulder and a Bluetooth speaker tucked under one arm.

“Okay, dibs on the good towel spot,” Jayla declared, dramatically scanning the beach like she was claiming territory on a treasure map.

Jake rolled his eyes. “You always get to pick. I swear, you act like you own the ocean or something.”

Jayla smirked as she plopped their stuff down by a spot close enough to the water to hear the waves, but far enough not to get soaked. “Well, I’m in charge. Perks of being the older sibling.”

“Barely,” Jake muttered under his breath.

Jayla pulled out sunscreen and tossed it at him. “Don’t forget this, lobster boy.”

He dodged it. “I don’t burn, thank you.”

Ten minutes later, they were both racing toward the water. Jayla shrieked the second the cold ocean hit her ankles, hopping up and down while Jake sprinted past her, diving right into the waves.

“Jake! You didn’t even warn me!” she shouted, chasing after him.

Jake laughed as he surfaced, water dripping from his hair. “You’re the one who said she’s in charge!”

They swam, splashed, and wrestled in the water like little kids again. Jayla kept dunking Jake and yelling, “Revenge for all the times you stole my snacks!” while he tried to hold her under for calling his Minecraft world “crusty” last week.

Eventually, they made their way back to the towels, exhausted and soaked, Jayla brushing sand off her legs and Jake digging around in the tote for snacks.

“I still can’t believe you’re leaving middle school,” Jake said suddenly.

Jayla looked over, a bit softer now. “Yeah… but don’t worry, I’ll still annoy you every day. High school doesn’t erase my sibling duties.”

Jake grinned. “Good. It’d be weird without you.”

She leaned over and bumped her shoulder into his. “You’re such a softie.”

“You literally fake cried about me last week.”

“Shhh. I’m having a wholesome moment here.”