the warm and humid air of the night clung to your skin as you and Sarah darted through the maze of tall grasses and palmettos that lined the back path to the beach. the moon was nearly full, and it was casting a silver light over everything, and illuminating Sarah’s smile as she glanced back at you. her blonde hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, glowing under the pale moonlight. god, she was beautiful.

she put a finger to her lips, eyes sparkling with excitement and a touch of mischief. “come on,” she whispered, she grabbed onto your wrist and pulled you behind, for you to follow her as she stepped over an old, weather-worn fence that marked the boundary between the private and public parts of the island. the thrill of sneaking around, the whispered laughs, shared looks, small kisses between all the running, it made your heart race faster than the run itself.

“sarah, if we get caught—” you started, but the words died in your throat as she reached out, pulling you over the fence with surprising strength.

“if we get caught.” she repeated in a mocking tone, her voice low and warm as her eyes met yours. the soft glow of moonlight made her look even more ethereal, like she was part of the night itself. she reached up and pushed a strand of loose hair away from your face, then pressed a quick, feather-light kiss to your lips before tugging you further down the path, where the sand was cool beneath your bare feet. "for the record, if we get caught, I think its worth it."

you couldn’t help but laugh softly, glancing back to make sure no shadows moved in the distance. the sound of the waves grew louder, and the salty breeze played with sarah’s wavy hair as she turned around and walked backward, her gaze never leaving yours.

“trust me,” she said, her voice dancing with that irresistible confidence. “i’ve got this.”

with the ocean as your only witness and the thrill of secrecy buzzing between you, it felt like you were in your own world—just the two of you against everything else.