The Cove Chapter 1: The Riptides

Amber woke up to the sound of her alarm clock ringing in her face. Rolling over she hit the alarm clock and whined in annoyance. It was only 7:30 in the mourning. She pulled her grey comforter off of her and went straight to her bathroom. Her feet walking across the cooled wooden floor. She tiredly looked through her dirty mirror at her red long tangled hair. Her bright jade eyes pierced through her mirror looking back at her. Amber debated if she should brush her hair or not. “Nah,” she said sleepily . “I brushed it yesterday. I can wait till tonight.” She got her tooth brush and bubblegum flavored toothpaste out of her cylinder holder. The cold water touched her hand as she wetted her toothbrush. Afterwards she went to her closet looking for some clothes. She chose some light washed mom jeans, a green shirt with flower print on it and of course her signature black flannel. For today she didn’t need her swim gear because it is only a cub meeting. She finally put on cat socks and her black converses. She put her phone in her yellow Kanken backpack and walked across the hallway to Nicholas’s room. Lucky he was already up fixing his hair. “Awwww, is the jester getting all dolled up for Princess Lucy.” Amber chuckled. “Jezz Am! Knocked next time, I could have been naked. And um no it’s just only a meeting today with no practice.” Nicholas said, rolling his eyes. “Okay first ew gross, i don’t even want to think of you naked and second I was totally joking, kinda. I see how you eye sex her all the time.” Amber said sitting on Nick’s messy bed. “Do you ever clean in here.” Amber said grossly. “Yeah, I just didn’t have time this week with practice.” said Nicholas shutting his bathroom door. Amber looked out Nichlas’s window that was a perfect view from the beach, she remembered her and Nick arguing for this room but of course he got it because he was a year and 3 months older. “I’m ready Am, lets go!” Nick said, grabbing Amber’s wrist. “Someone is excited to pick up Lucy.” Amber laughed. “C’mon enough with the teasing.” Nicholas whined as they ran down the stairs. “Hey kid, I want breakfast.” exclaimed Susan Greenhouse.” “No thanks mom! See you after lunch.” “Bye Am and Nick!” said 9 year old Allie. “Bye kiddos.” yelled Nick. “ Bye have fun.” said Allie’s twin brother, Nate as Amber shut the white painted door. As they hopped into the sea foam green hippie van they called Shelly. As they drove off their Dad, Billy Greenhouse waved to them, “Have fun kids!” Both siblings waved goodbye.

As Nick drove Shelley up the mountains towards the bigger and nicer houses Josh called Obnoxious Rich People Who Look Down Towards Us MIddle Class Peasants. The Russo girls and Lucy just rolled their eyes when hearing this when they first drove up there for Valentina’s 14th birthday. Amber smiled looking out the van window smiling at the memory. They drove up to the driveway of Lucy Villa’s house. It was white with orange-brown terracotta roofs. It was only 2 stories but also was one of the most expensive mansions in LA. Amber pushed the doorbell of the white mansion and Judas Villa opened it. “Hello Am, Lucy will come down in a couple of minutes. Do you and Nick want to come in.” said Judas, looking at her up and down. “That would be great, thanks bro!” Nick said before Amber could open her mouth. Judas nodded annoyingly and let the redheads in. He shut the door and said, “So not practice today or are you guys going skinny dipping.” “Um, just a meeting.” Amber said as her face got red. “Stop embarrassing the girl.” Judas’s twin Cora said as she came down the stairs in her red bikini. “Sorry Amber I was totally just joking, are you really swimming at 8 in the mourning?” Judas questioned. “ Nah, me and mom are sunbathing, apparently she doesn’t believe in going to the tanning with a machine.” Cora rolled her eyes. “Can you guys not bore my friends.” said Lucy putting her black hair in a side braid. “Aww come on little sis, it’s better than waiting alone for you to find an outfit to impress-hmph” said Judas as Lucy elbowed him in the stomach. “Shut up J. Hey Am, Nick. You guys are ready to pick up the rest of the gang.” Lucy said, sighing. “Yep ready Luc. Let’s go.” said Nick blushing. As they walked out Judas shut the door and the trio went into the van and drove off up the road. The car drove up the small hill that was the driveway to the nice modern mansion. The Rusoo sisters, Valentina and Persephone already waiting outside. Lucy opened the 2nd row doors,” Hey girlies ready for the meeting.” Lucy exclaimed. “Yeah totally Luc, I hope it’s about any competitions, I know you’ve been dying to get a new camera for reef pictures with the winning money.” Persephone said smiling, greeting everyone else with a wave. “Yeah, totally. My dad also said if we win any upcoming competition we will have a big party!” Lucy said thrilled. “That sounds so dope, a party by the Villa family never ceases to let me down. “ said a delighted Valentina. “Right on Val!” said Nick backing out the driveway. “I love your dress by the way.” said Perswphone. Lucy looked down at her pale pink plaid dress. “Aw thanks Pers. I can say the same or you.” said Lucy looking down at Persephone’s outfit. Amber looked over the tan leather seats to see Persephone in a cream colored skirt and a baby blue laced crop tank. She also had a cream colored sun hat on. “Yeah I agree with Luc, dressing to impress a certain blonde.” Amber said, raising her eyebrow. “A blonde?” questioned Valentina. “Oh! You mean Josh.” “I don’t know what you guys are talking about.” said Persphne quietly. “Oh come on Pers. He totally is crushing on you as well.” Val said adjusted the cuffs of her black ripped jeans and fixed her nirvana shirt. “Guys, me and Josh are just friends, best friends to be exact. Nothing more.” Persephone said a little more louder as she stared out the window. The van went silent until Micholas said, “So anyways, me and Amber were thinking of going to the Pizza Palace for lunch then the beach. Do you guys wanna go?” questioned Nick. “Sure.” “Sounds good.” “Okay, what about Josh?” “I already asked him this morning, he said he’s down,” answered Nick. “Awesome” “Great.” They finally got to the large apartment complex. Persephone called Josh telling him that they were there. Josh walked out with his black longboard and his curly shoulder length hair blowing in the wind. Valentina opened the door and hopped into the back of the van next to Persephone. “Looking good Goddess.” Josh smirked “Can’t say the same to you blondie.” Persephone smirked back. Josh laughed and put his long blond hair in a bun. There was absolute silence for a couple of minutes. “Okay, it’s def quiet here.” Lucy finally said. “Agreed.” Amber said as she put her phone on the aux. The beginning of riptide started to play.” Nick rolled down the windows and started to hum. Val started to sing and Lucy joined in. Persephone began to sing as well while leaning onto Josh’s shoulder drawing flowers, and other small doodles on his hand. Josh’s ocean blue eyes looked down towards Persephone’s face smiling and blushing. Valentina was looking at the two with a motherly and proud look on her face. Amber put her black converse on the dashboard singing as loud as she can with her red hair flow around her face. Lucy put left hand out of Shelly’s window and moved it up and down along the curves of the land around the group of friends. “I got a lump in my throat because you’re going to sing the words wrong.” All 6 of them were terribly harmonized. They finally got to Venice Beach and Shelly made her way down to the big bungalow with the dolphin logo on it. Nick parked the van. All 6 got out and walked along the beach straight to the bungalow. “Ah look who it is,” as the group walked in. “, my favorite group The Riptides.” The 6 smiled at the male adult.