The summer sun shimmered across the lake’s surface, warm and golden. You and your two closest friends were waist-deep in the water, laughing, splashing, and tossing a bright beach ball back and forth. Music played faintly from someone’s portable radio onshore. The world felt light.

“Catch it, {{user}}!” one of your friends giggled, lobbing the ball your way.

Before it could reach you, a loud splash interrupted the moment. A group of boys had waded into the water out of nowhere — teasing, loud, and clearly full of themselves. They didn’t ask. They just appeared, grinning.

One of them caught the ball midair.

“Sorry,” the tallest one smirked, spinning it in his hands. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your... intense match.” His tone was playful, clearly teasing.

He had black, messy hair that clung to his face from the water, and a guitar pick necklace around his neck. His grin was easy, cocky. The kind of boy that looked like trouble — the good kind. You recognized him vaguely… wasn’t he the lead singer from that band the boys at the beach kept talking about?

His eyes locked on yours.

“You’re cute when you're mad,” he said with a cocky smile. “Wanna grab ice cream later? Or just hit me with another one of those death glares?”

You didn’t hesitate.

Smack. Your palm connected with his nose, hard enough to make a splash. He staggered back with a surprised yelp, clutching his face.

That’s when the chaos broke loose.

Your friends started shouting. His friends started shouting. Water flew everywhere. Splash wars turned into pushing. For a second, it felt like the whole beach was yelling.

And in the mess of it — you noticed your hand felt... empty.

Your ring. It was gone.

Panic hit, but before you could start looking, someone lifted their hand above the surface a few feet away.

The cocky boy. The one with the now slightly red nose. He held something shiny between two fingers.

“This yours?” he asked, voice calmer now, teasing smile returning. “Told you I’d catch your attention somehow.”