miami, florida
saturday, july 2nd
7:50 p.m.

Bob Fire night at the Cove is a must if you're in Miami.

Well—if you're a college student like I am.

Tonight is probably one of the only reasons I missed Miami. Hot fires, dancing, s'mores, and swimming in the ocean when you can hear the distant chatter of your peers. God, I'm smiling like a idiot just thinking about tonight. Usually, these nights take place at the beginning of every month. Bon Fire night just so happened to land on one of the only Saturdays where I have no studying to do.

The Cove is a small bay on the South side of the city. It's completely sheltered by rocks and it has access to a private beach. I'd almost consider it a cave with the ocean in front of it. The main reason the Cove is so popular is because it's located right next to an abandoned amusement park. The place only closed due to faulty rides.

When I get out of my car, I see tons of people. Presumably college students. It took me fucking forever to find a good spot to park. I ended up driving in circles until I saw someone pull out of their parking space. Of course it wasn't the best spot, but I didn't want to park too far from everyone.

Sex money feels die by Lykke Li blares from the area and everyone has their hands up in the air. As I get closer, people grinding on each other comes into view. I cringe slightly and brush it off.

The hot July air feels muggy and gross and sticks to my hair. I basically put on perfume for nothing. Oh well. My hair sticks to my forehead with sweat.

I climb down a few rocks to get to the Cove and I'm greeted with the blazing heat of a bon fire I didn't see. There's about three laid out on the sand. My sandals meet with the grainy sand and I pinch my eyebrows together. This is the equivalent of stepping in shit.

I gaze up and watch people sitting on top of the cove, their legs dangling down. Some people are laid out in the sand or swimming in the water. The amusement park is crawling with people, probably making out on the rides, and there isn't a single empty space. This is a shit ton of college kids.

In count, I probably pass about five groups of people to find my own group. On the way I find a open ice chest and steal a can of hard seltzer. The mango covers my tongue in tropical heaven. Ahh yes, commercialized paradise.

I wander through a few more huddled up groups until I find the people I'm looking for underneath the cave. They're surrounding a fire and stuffing their faces with s'mores. Joyous smiles are laid out on their faces and their ugly laughter brings a smile to my face.

Mikasa is leaned against a log and has her hands thrown in the air at something Sasha says. They're both wearing the same outfit but in different fonts. A one piece swimsuit with their hair tied back. Annie Leonhart, a friend that I haven't known as long as Mika and Sasha, is laughing with her hand on her chest.

She has a blue two piece on that holds her boobs perfectly and the same "jesus" sandals I have on but in white. Annie catches sight of me and waves me down.

"Y/n! Nice to see you," she pats next to her. "Take a seat."

I sit down on the ice chest right next to her and take on of the many s'mores they have laid out on a plate.

"Damnnn, hot outfit babe!" Sasha bats her eyelashes at me and makes dreamy eyes.

Looking down at the white tank-top I have on and the blue jean shorts, I almost giggle. I didn't bother putting effort into my hair so I just put on a baseball cap and called it a day. Basic but it works.

"I look like I just came out of a Forever 21," I say and roll my eyes.

Sasha blows me off and leans on the log. She closes her eyes. The fire lights up their skin and makes them all seem flawless. They really are. I've always been jealous of their perfect skin. No imperfections. No blemishes.

"We're glad you came. Was there a lot of traffic?" Mika glances at me before sipping her beer. We're all freshly twenty-one, so drinking is new to us.

I nod my head, "Yep. And finding a parking spot was a bitchhh."

"We've been here since five," Annie speaks up.

Gawking at them, I open my mouth. "Do you guys even have hobbies?"

"Of course we do! We like to—" Sasha opens her eyes and pauses.

"Fuck?" She finally says.

We giggle at her remark and begin talking about college. I got off on a rocky start, but now I'm kind of loving everything about it. Plus, campus is gorgeous.

Mikasa mentions how her cousin is a professor at our school and how he is "literally a grandpa in a millennial body." She tells how girls in his class swoon over him and always stay late after class for "extra credit."

"Isn't he 5'3?" Sasha makes a disgusted face.

"Exactly! Who even likes short guys?"

"Annie doesss,"Sasha pokes Annie in the side and makes kissing noises.

My eyes widen at her, "Annie! You have a boyfriend?"

Annie always claims she has too high of standards and that's why she can never get fucked. We tell her she needs to give some guy a chance or try out girls.

The fire let's me see the pint tint forming along her cheeks. I make a "ooo" sound and hug her from the side. I'm happy for her. Beyond happy.

"But he's 5'6.." Mikasa makes a strained expression and shakes her head.

Shorty.

"Height doesn't matter," Annie pouts. "He's in a band too!" She acts like it makes up for his shortness.

"Guys in bands have good dick!" My smile widens.

"But what band is he in?" I add on.

"The Paradis Devils. He plays the keyboard," Annie smirks. "Good with his hands, you know?"

I run that thought through my head and immediately go back to Hot Summer Nights. Oh yeah! The blonde I thought was short. I later found out his name was Armin, along with the drummer. He looked sweet, I guess.

But I wasn't drawn to him like I was to the leader singer.

Heat serges in my thighs when his hands pop into my mind. Fuck. A those veiny, huge hands. God, the way he just stared at me sends me into a frenzy. They don't know that I'm actually freaking about some guy I don't even know.

But what if he does that with any girl? Stare them down until they feel riled up and intimidated? Does it make him hard or something? It pisses me off that I don't know what he looks like. It isn't even my problem though and I shouldn't even worry about it.

It was a one night crush.

What the fuck am I even thinking?

"I'm going to the bathroom," I wipe crumbs off my shirt and get up.

All of the girls look at me and Annie speaks up, "There's no working bathroom close. Guess you're gonna have to piss in the water."

I groan and leave them. Truth is, I really don't need the bathroom. Perhaps a small walk to clear my mind would work? Yes! Moving around sounded like a great idea.

Exiting the Cove, I take a whole new direction. I go towards the water and run a hand through my hair that isn't covered by my hat. The air tastes salty and just like the beach in general. I close my mouth and my lips curve down. Nasty.

Couples play chicken in the water, while others just backstroke like they're in some sort of coming-of-age movie. I don't judge because I'd do it too.

Now the song playing is Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato. Whoever is managing the music turns it up all the way and the speakers sound like they're about to blow up. I even think that the ground beneath me is vibrating.

The song fits the occasion though.

I bend over to take my sandals off. I fumble with the straps and bite my lip. Shit. I'm bent over like a fool and look like I want to get fucked from the back. Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

I hop on one foot to let it look like I'm not wanting to get my back blown out. A grunt escapes my lips.

In my vision, something is coming my way. I can't quite see it because it's just this black blob. My eyes only go up so much.

One moment I'm trying to get my shoe off and then the next I'm on the ground on my back. On the fucking ground. And then—the stinging starts.

"What the hell?" I fan at my eyes to circulate cool air to them but I can't see shit. I close my eyes and rub them aggressively. It burns!

Something wet covers my shirt and try to open my eyes to see what it is but my eyes strain to see. It's all blurry. But there is one thing I can kind of make out.

A face. Over MY face.

The pungent smell of alcohol hits my nose and I figure alcohol was spilt on my shirt.

My white tank top.

And I didn't bother to wear a bra tonight.

I'm allowed to walk around with no bra on! It's 2022 for christ's sake! Let me be. A man can walk around with a shirt on and nobody bats a eye. So why can't I let my boobs get air every once in a while?

I take my hands away from my eyes and cover my chest. The face in front of me is just a basic blob of peach with a few facial features I can make out. In an instant, their face goes from resting to in a panic.

"Shit, I am so sorry!" The voice says. A deep and raspy. A man. His breath brushes against my neck. It smells like mint and like the cheap alcohol here.

I scowl and blink repeatedly until I can see clearly. Everything comes into view and it's clear a guy is on top of me. He pushes off of me and lends a hand out.

"You should be, dick!" I get up on my own and continue to cover my chest up. My boobs are so easy to see and the moisture makes everything worse.

I place my hat back on and stare him in the face. His face.

A perfectly sculpted face that's framed by multiple brown baby hairs. And green eyes that stare through me. Long hair in a tight bun. White teeth that get shown every-time he speaks. So white. Ears pierced with dangly earrings and one eyebrow piercing on the left side of his face. Holy shit.

He wears black shorts—Adidas to be exact—and a black shirt with two dancing skeletons over his heart. I almost let out a laugh when I see the shoes he's wearing. White Croc's.

He scratches his neck and frowns. "I really am sorry. I wasn't looking and you were just there-"

He sighs, "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

He wants to help me? I guess this is one of those scenarios where you forgive someone because they're hot? I really hate to say it but this guy could do anything to me and I'd forgive him easily. Shit, why am I even thinking about this!

I fight my urges and shake my head no. "Nope. Watch where you're going next time, kay? The next girl you run into carelessly probably won't forgive you as easily."

Yes, Y/n! Fight those urges.

"Can I at-least give you my shirt? Every guy here has wandering eyes."

Give me HIS shirt?

God, what if he's super ripped under that shirt? Oh my god, Y/n. Stop it! This dick walked into you when he wasn't looking.

But he seems like a really sweet guy. And he wants to give me his shirt! Plus, he cares that guys would probably look at my tits in a heartbeat.

Accept the offer.

No-

"Fine," I mutter.

That frown on his face curves up into a sly smirk. He lifts up his shirt and I can't help but look.

FUCK!

I was right, he IS ripped. And oh my god... he has the V! That V-line stares me down and I gaze at the veins right in the middle of his hips going down to his... crotch.

The warmth in my thighs comes back but hotter this time. Screw that fucking anonymous guy, look at him! When he fully takes off his shirt and hands it to me, I don't take it for a few moments because I'm too busy staring at the eight-pack he has and his toned arms.

And there's tattoos—everywhere. Legs, shoulders, chest. Must have a high pain tolerance.

I'd say he has 0% of body fat because he is shredded.

I cough and take the shirt. He stares at me proudly like he's done the world the best deed ever. I hold the shirt close to my chest and his scent fills up my nostrils. God...he has THE guy smell. Like the expensive guy smell.

"Aren't you going to change?" He questions with scrunched eyebrows.

You've got to be kidding me. It's always the hot ones that are the dumbasses.

"And let people see my tits?" I glare at him.

"I could always cover for you as like a boyfriend or something." He shrugs.

Fuck it.

I turn around towards the water. Everyone in the ocean right now is too busy playing with each other or drifting off into daydreaming. The hot air covers my chest and I throw his shirt over my head.

"Nothing to see here.." I hear him say from behind me. A little smile grows on my lips.

I turn around and look back at him. His back is facing me and I'm met with dozens of little stick and poke tattoos on his back. Skulls, spiders, smiley faces. It's everything you could think of.

"You can look now," I speak up.

He turns back and grin wider than the last time. "Looks good on you!"

"You think so?" The shirt goes all the way down to my mid- thigh.

He nods.

"So are you gonna tell me your name or what?"

He ponders for a second like he has to think of what his name is, "Does Mystery Man sound good?"

I roll my eyes, "Well, Mystery Man, nice to meet you. I guess you can call me Mystery Woman?"

"It has a nice ring to it."

"Mhmmm. So why can't I know your name?" I push.

"It'll leave you thinking." This time, he just smiles with his lips and not his teeth.

I roll my eyes and pick up my shirt up. I stop right in front of him and look up to him. He's not that taller than me, maybe three inches.

I press my shirt against his chest and let him take it, then whisper, "I'd like to leave you thinking as well."

And with that, I walk right past him and back to my group. I can sense that he turned around and is staring me down. Those eyes just looking down at me a few moments come back to me and send a shiver down my back.

So long, "Mystery Man."

                                       —————

no bc i actually loved writing this chapter 😭 but goddamn it took me forever to write the last part bc i didn't know where i wanted that scene to be

-reece