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“Haven’t seen you around, Anna. Where are you staying? I’m Josh, by the way.”
“Oh, not here. We’re down the road. Tregethworth.” He nods, but I can see that he’s not impressed. He turns to another of his mates, and they seem to snicker between them.
“Is there a problem with Tregethworth?” I say to Jeremy, suddenly pissed off.
“No. Just these guys only come here. They think they’re better than everyone else.”
“And you?” I challenge, looking up at him and waiting for him to say something bad about one of my favourite places in the world.
“I don’t care, Anna.” Then he smiles at me for the first time, and I’m speechless. Those piercing eyes with a perfect smile are deadly, and he steals my thoughts and reason.
“Good,” I force out and turn my head, needing to escape his spell. “I haven’t been to this beach for years.” Changing the subject seems to be a safe play. I step forward, looking out at the sea. The tide is high, and the sun has turned the sky golden and rich with colour. The sun will set soon, and I can’t wait to see it as it sinks into the ocean.
“Want to take a walk?” Jeremy asks.
“Sure.” My stomach flutters at the thought of being alone with him and being able to have an actual conversation with the boy that every girl has been after forever.
“There’s a coffee hut that’s still open. Want a hot chocolate or something? There’ll be beer later on.”
“Hot chocolate will be great. I might pass on the beer.” I brush my hair behind my shoulder and kick off my flip-flops before picking them up, anything to stop me from staring.
“Catch you in a bit,” he calls back to his mates, and I ignore the jeers and lude comments that follow us for a few feet.
“They’re your friends?” I check. They don’t seem particularly nice.
“Well, for the summer. They can be full-on. But it can get pretty boring sometimes without people to hang out with.”
I nod. I can see that. Although, I don’t understand how he can be bored in a place like this.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“No. My parents are preoccupied with entertaining and whatever else they do. I’m left to do as I want.”
“Why do you come then? Wouldn’t it be better to stay home? I love my time down here.”
“It’s a tradition, I guess. Plus, my mum’s keen for me to be down here with her. I’ve grown out of it, though. What about you? Any siblings?”
“No. Just me and my mum. But we’re only down for two weeks. It might be different if it was the whole summer. Can’t you bring some of your friends from school?”
“Maybe. This place is different from back home. I don’t think they’d fit in.”
Ah, we won’t fit in with his rich friends — got it. I shake my head and stride out a little.
“Hey, Anna?”
“Yeah?” I turn towards him.
“Did I say something?”
“Maybe. Let’s just get the hot chocolate. Then you can get back to your summer friends.”
“I know we don’t know each other that well, but I’m getting the impression you’re not impressed with what I just said.”
“I get it. Your friends back home won’t fit with your rich friends here.”
I see the little coffee hut and walk up to it. But before I reach it, Jeremy grabs my wrists and pulls me to the side.
“Look, back home, my friends seem to be focused on what comes with me: the boat in the harbour, the pool at home, the cinema system. It’s all about the money. I get tired of it. Here, these guys don’t give a shit because they all have the same. It never feels like a thing. They might be entitled arseholes with it, but it’s nice not to be the only rich kid.”
