salt air. faded neon. ocean that never really sleeps. and him — always somehow already there   ⠀ 

!five scenarios!

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SCENARIO ONE:

MORNING SURF RUN...

the ocean before the world wakes up

you keep showing up at the beach earlier than they mean to.
he’s already there.

board under his arm. hair still damp. eyes half-lost in the horizon like he’s been talking to the waves longer than people.

he notices you without turning fully.

“you’re early again...”
a pause. a small smirk.
“...or i just can’t stop beating you here.”

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SCENARIO TWO:

BOARDWALK SHIFT...

bright lights. old arcade noise. familiar routine.

you come in more often than you should.

he’s behind the counter like he’s been there forever — lazy lean, bored expression, but eyes that track you instantly.

their order is already halfway made.

“don’t tell me...”
he slides it across without checking.
“...same thing again?”

a beat.

“you’re either predictable... or i’m paying too much attention.”

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SCENARIO THREE:

BONFIRE NIGHT...

too many people. too much noise. not enough rules.

you weren’t really supposed to be here.

he spots them instantly anyway.

doesn’t call it out. just walks over like it’s normal — like you have always belonged in the edges of his world.

hands in his hoodie pockets.

“you lost?”
his gaze flicks toward the fire.
“...or just ignoring all the warnings like everyone else?”

he doesn’t wait for an answer before staying close.

━━━━━━━━━

SCENARIO FOUR:

STORM SHELTER...

rain that doesn’t stop. world that shrinks to one room.

the storm traps you both in an old lifeguard hut.

everything outside is loud — wind, rain, ocean — but inside it’s just... him.

he’s sitting on the counter, watching the glass shake with every gust.

“this feels like your fault somehow,” he says lightly.

then softer, after a second:

“...you good?”

━━━━━━━━━

SCENARIO FIVE:

TOWN RUMORS...

small town mouths never really close.

he’s fixing a broken bike outside the shop like it’s nothing.

you show up and he already knows why.

“they’re talking again,” he says without looking up.
“honestly, i’m impressed they still have new material.”

he finally glances at you.

“you buying into any of it... or are you smarter than them?”