The forecast lied, a miserable aura blanketed the city with a dark cloudy gloom. The girls were discussing this unfortunate event via their group chat.

  Ai: Ahwell, should clear up by tomorrow apparently

  Triss: Can't do that, got to babysit sorry.

  Haine: I mean in that case... why don't we just go anyway..?

  Ena: Haine.

  Triss: Haine your crazy

  Triss: Lets do it

  Ai: ?!?!?!

  The beach was situated a short 15 minute walk from Paradise so it was not a far travel. They had gathered at the concrete stairs that lead down to the sand from the road. To the left of the beach was a bridge that stretched over the water - connecting to a hilly island a short distance away. The beach itself was of a dull sandy orange, and stretched a good distance to the right of the bridge, curving around in front of a flood defence that had seen better days.

  Triss had a green flannel atop a brown t-shirt with some punk graphics. Her hair was tied back and she wore baggy jeans and fairly worn trainers.

  "Nobody's here."

  Haine was wearing a red cropped top, light sky blue denim shorts and pristine brown sandals. She was also carrying a carrier bag of spades and buckets.

  "Well Duuh."

  Haine swung her bag around her in a helicopter motion before she ran off to claim her territory with Triss casually following along with her hands behind her head.

  Ena watched this unfold from behind, her white woollen jumper making another appearance and with her dark joggers made her seem to be the only one of the group that made the connection lots of clouds mean rain. Sunglasses a given, of course. At her side was Ai, who had a white shirt only known from the neck, cloaked with a brown jumper. She was carrying a seaside parasol that she clutched close to her. Seeing that Ena had turned to her, Ai smiled. They followed the group.

  Ai and Ena planted the parasol a few meters behind where Haine had dumped her bag of goodies - a location Triss had already claimed and was seemingly trying to sunbathe.

  The three relaxed for a moment as Haine was planning her masterpiece, drawing upon the sand with a stick. The other girls watched in amusement until out of her bag she took out a long, dark wooden shovel with silver trimming.

  "Okay holdup-"

  Her inner child took hold and Triss moved to join Haine. She was given another equally impressive spade and a bucket but Haine struck a line through the sand to separate their two creations.

  Both got to work.

  Ai watched on and giggled.

  "You can join them if you want." Ena told her.

  Ai paused. "Then what would you do?"

  Another moment of quiet.

  "That was the band yesterday, the one that didn't show up?"

  Ai looked to the sand.

  "Yeah."

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Triss had achieved a respectable but regular sand castle, turning to see Haine's progress she saw that she had created a palace like structure with her strategically placed castles. Ripping her eyes from the competition Triss attempted to work faster.

  "You put us over them, why? You haven't known us that long."

  Ai put her right index finger gently in the sand in a circular motion.

  "It wasn't the first time. It had been getting worse for a while and - to be honest I was considering leaving that night we played."

  She slowed the movement of her finger.

  "You haven't known us that long."

  She stopped moving her finger.

  "No, but if I had to."

  With all the fingers on her right hand she'd scratch over the circle she had made in the sand.

  Continuing with a small tremble in her voice.

  "I'd make that choice again."

  Triss had made respectable progress now. Attempting to decorate the front section of her castle with some shells she moved her right foot slightly backwards - nudging into Haine's work causing a large crumbling of half the castle.

  "Oh my bad Hai-"

  Haine who was facing the other way had heard the noise, she turned her face to the side and with her left eye glared at Triss menacingly.

  Triss scurried back to the safety on the Parasol.

  "Hi guys."

  Haine loomed over Triss' abandoned build.

  "Nice castle Triss."

  "Why thank y-"

  Haine started ferociously stomping all over it.

  "HEY!" Triss scampered up quickly taking Ena and Ai's attention.

  Ena spoke to mediate. "Haine that isn't very-"

  Triss was demolishing the remains of Haine's. Ai started laughing as Ena put her head in her hands in defeat.

  They were now all sitting under the Umbrella, Triss and Haine at opposite sides.

  "Could be worse." Ai tried to lift the mood.

  The sky rumbled.

  After a frantic run the girls had made it to a lavish apartment lobby. Triss and Ai were hugging Ena who calmy held the Parasol.

  Haine, who had run ahead, was drenched.

  A well dressed elderly man had entered who had been approaching the elevator, but seeing the strange crowd of girls congregating around he opted to take the stairs instead.

  "Told you it wasn't that far. Come on now, I'm on floor 7."

  The girls were suprised by just how luxurious the place was. The elevator was immaculate and even the corridor of Haine's room had fountain's along the walls and elegantly placed plants.

  They stood behind her as she went to unlock the door, expecting to find this was some elaborate prank.

  The door opened.

  Ai and Ena cautiously followed in.

  It took Triss a few more moments, she was still shocked.

  As had been the case since she had moved in, there was a single sleeping bag among the sea of emptiness and a single TV planted a ways away on the floor. Some clothes were also piled in a far corner of the room - but that was it.

  "This is where you live?" Ena asked, as the girls sat around the floor in a circle - the rain still pouring outside Hanie's large window that oversaw a balcony connected to the room.

  "Yes."

  "Like this?"

  "Yes."

  Ena shook her head. After they sat down they took a moment to recover from the journey back. They were all looking at Haine.

  Triss spoke what they were all thinking. "Who the hell are you?"

  "Well i'm Haine,"

  "I mean how are... you... rich?"

  "...Ashria, Haine."

  This meant absolutely nothing to Triss so she was going to continue but Ena took over. "...As in, Ashria Corporation?"

  "Regrettably."

  Haine lied down in a star shape.

  "WHAT DO YOU MEAN REGRETABLY?" Ai asked bewildered as she leaned over the her.

  Ena gave a "Damn." and a small smirk.

  Triss shook her head. "I don't even know what that is." She said in a confused whisper.

  Haine sat herself up, with Ai moving over in turn.

  "My dad, grumpy old fart, owns the company. My older brother, professional fart, is in line to take ownership of it..."

  Haine saw that the others were glued to what she was saying and nudged herself slightly away from the group.

  "But old fart still wants me to still do business which is So boooring" she grumbled.

  "Parents, huh?" Triss replied.

  The rain started to clear up as their conversation continued. A piece of the sun cut through the dark clouds - rays escaping into the apartment.

  They turned to face the light.

  After this break of conversation, Ena spoke. "That song won't write itself."

  The rest of the evening they thought together, with short cuts of games between.

  A sheet of paper laid between them. Atop in heartful writing it read;

  "Emotions."