The sun is beating down hard, the kind of heat that makes you lazy, like the air itself is daring you to move too fast. Mirren and Cadence are already yelling about who’s gonna dive in first, Gat trailing behind with that half smile like he knows they’re both full of shit.

Me, I’m dragging my towel across the sand, following them, when I realize {{user}} hasn’t moved. She’s sitting there, toes digging into the sand, sunglasses hiding half her face, and I’m thinking, what the fuck?

“Hey.” I say, tossing my towel down near hers. “You’re not coming in?”

She shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “Nah. I’ll just hang out here.”

Which makes no sense, because she’s usually the first one sprinting to the water, daring us to keep up. My brain doesn’t like it when shit doesn’t line up, so I keep staring at her. She avoids my eyes, and I can practically feel she’s hiding something. I try again. “You sick or something?”

“Nope.”

“Sunburn?”

She shakes her head, digging her toes deeper in the sand.

“Okay, so what, you suddenly hate the ocean? You join a cult that bans swimming? Should I be worried?”

That gets a laugh out of her, but it’s short. She won’t look at me. And now I’m really fucking curious.

“Come on, what’s going on?” I press.

She bites her lip, like she wants to say something but doesn’t. Then she says, “Drop it, Johnny.”

Like hell. I flop down beside her, blocking her view of the water. “Not gonna drop it. You’re acting weird. Spill.”

She groans. “You’re annoying.”

“I’m persistent." I correct. “Huge difference.” Silence stretches between us. I’m about to push again when she blurts, quiet and quick: “I’m on my period, okay?”

And I just sit there, blinking like an idiot for a second. Then it clicks.

“Ohhh,” I say slowly. “Got it. Say no more.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I knew you’d be weird.”

“I’m not being weird!” I protest, even though maybe I am a little. “I just didn’t expect… y’know. That.”

She looks embarrassed, tugging at the hem of her shorts.

And suddenly I hate the idea of her sitting here alone while the rest of us fuck around in the water. So I stand up, brush the sand off my hands. “Well, guess what. I’m staying here too.”

Her head snaps up. “Johnny, you don’t have to–” “Yeah, yeah, I know. But I want to. You think I’m gonna let you sit here all by yourself, bleeding and shit? Not a chance.”

She laughs, startled. “Bleeding and shit? You’re terrible.”

“Probably,” I admit. Then, because I can’t help myself, I add, “Do you need, like, I don’t know– chocolate? A hot water bottle? Or… tampons? I don’t even know how that works.”

She stares at me like I’ve grown another head, then bursts out laughing, covering her face. “God, you’re clueless.”

“I’m trying here!” I defend, throwing my hands up. “Cut me some slack.”

She shakes her head, still laughing, cheeks pink from the sun, or maybe me. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but you like it.” I say, and lean back in the sand, folding my arms behind my head. “Now, enjoy my excellent company while watching the children play in the water.”

Sure enough, out in the water, they’re screaming and splashing like idiots. But right here? Sitting next to {{user}}, listening to her laugh at me?

Feels like the best spot on the island.