42 The Beach

As Diana trained the autumn morning sun rose high behind her illuminating her silhouette and warming her back. Painting the sky in lavender and blossom pink with hints of ocean blue seeping through the cracks in the painting.

As the sun continued to rise, it became apparent that it was getting hotter and hotter until Diana was dripping sweat as she trained. It was clear it was going to be a hot autumn day far different to what Diana had expected.

After a while her dual blades slipped from her sweat drenched hands, hitting the ground with two distinctive clangs. She bent down panting hard trying to regain her breath as her long platinum hair stuck to her sweat covered face.

"Take this," Alex said as he offered Diana a bottle of water which she gladly excepted. As she gulped it down Alex bent down handpicked up her dual blades handing them over to Diana once she finished drinking. She slipped them into their sheaths.

"I wouldn't suggest training today especially if your not in shade," Alex berated "besides you only got out of the medical wing two days ago you should be resting."

"I rested for a week," Diana shot back

"In which you kept trying to leave," Alex countered.

"I did say how I hate being stuck in one place and I hate any tipe of hospital."

Alex was about to reply when the others came over all carrying bags on their shoulders.

"Alex! Why's it sooooo hot?" Liam moaned arm draped around Kylo.

"Stop moaning," Hunter said whacking Liam on the head.

"And get off, of me," Kylo groaned "you're heavy!"

"Am not!" Liam said offended.

"Anyways," Maddy cut in cheerily her emerald green knee high dress which does up around her neck swaying at her knees. Ebony hair tied up in a high ponytail. Her parakeet green swimsuit strap also tying around her neck. "here." she passed the second bag she was carrying to Diana, who took it looking sceptically at it.

"Well go get changed, you'll find your swimsuit in their just put it on and then shove some clothes over the top. Like we did," Crystal added her pale pink dress also fluttering around her knees thin straps laying on her shoulders. Hazel hair tied into a bun. The straps of her carnation pink swimsuit going around her neck tied in a knot at the back.

"Why?" Diana asked.

"Because we're going to the beach!" Liam said happily. His grey swimming trunks matched with an ebony top.

"Have fun with that," Diana said dismissively.

"Your coming to and don't even try to say no," Alex warned "because I can't be bothered with their moaning." His plain navy swimming trunks matching with a v-neck grey top.

"Fine," Diana said turning around and heading to her room. "I'll meet you at the stables."

"How did you get her to agree?!?!" Liam exclaim "She never does that!"

"I don't get what you're talking about I didn't do anything," Alex said nonchalant as ever, their voices growing fainter with every step she takes "now let's get the horses prepared for the ride."

With that they left and Diana quickly headed to room and found the swimsuit Crystal had talked about. Although she hadn't pointed out that it's a bikini and theres a DRESS, even worse.

Quickly washing up she slipped into her strapless blue swimsuit the neck strap tied round the back of her neck in a bow. The bottom half of my bikini tied at each side in a bow.

Before slipping into the cobalt dress which ties up around the back of her neck, flowing around her knees. Dianas long silver hair flowing like a river down her back as she put her belt on, swords hanging at her hips.

Walking over to the wardrobe Diana slipped on a pair of azure heels a thin strap running around her ankle doing up the clasps, a thin strap running over her foot just above Dianas toes. Grabbing the bag off the bed Diana headed down to the stables.

"Took you long enough," Hunter teased smiling.

"She wasn't even gone ten minutes," Maddy shot back.

"Let's get going," Alex said mounting Solis.

The boys followed swiftly after mounting their horses while Luna trotted over to Diana stopping just in-front of her. Just as Diana was about to mount Luna she realised Maddy and Crystal weren't mounting their horses. "What's wrong with you two?"she asked.

"We don't normally ride in dresses," Maddy admitted.

"If you don't feel comfortable sitting like you usually do then just sit side saddle,"Diana replied.

"Yeah, but then we fall off," Crystal confessed "we normally ride side saddle with one of the guys because then we won't fall off but then we can't do that because of the bags."

"If that's all then there's a simple solution," Diana replied before walking over and putting everyones bags onto Lunas saddle filling the hole space up. "Hunter, Maddy is riding with you and Kylo, Crystal is riding with you."

The boys jumped down and helped the girls up securing them in place as they remounted their horses. She led Crystals and Maddy's horses back to their stalls and unsaddled them. As she closed the stall door Alex jumped down and offered Diana a hand.

She happily took it sliding one foot into the stirrup she turned her body around so she was sitting side saddle in the seat. Alex mounted Solis after her, reaching either side of her grabbing Solis's reins they all took off in a gallop towards the beach. Luna following close behind them with all their bags.

A strong breeze picked up as they rode along, blowing the bottoms of the girls skirts up causing all three of them to grip onto their skirts and hold them down while Diana also held onto her hair stopping it from hitting Alex in the face, until the breeze passed.

Finally they reached the beach. Clear, sparkling waves shining and glimmering under the radiant beams of the sun. As it governs over the endless expanse of sky, dotted around it are pure fluffy clouds.

The suns rays heating the golden sand which slips into the ocean further on. Behind them lays a huge expanse of lush green trees, bushes, flowers and more. A cliff standing tall and dominant far off in the distance, the border between the sky and the ground.

"It's gorgeous!" Maddy exclaimed as she and Crystal jumped down from Kylos and Hunters horses taking off their heels before dropping them half way up the beach next they pulled off their dresses. Dropping them three quarters up the beach giggling the entire way as they ran through the water.

"You not going to join them?" Hunter asked.

"I'll go pick their stuff up, can you four sought the horses out?" Diana asked as Alex dismounted Solis before helping her down even though he knows all too well she can get down herself.

"Sure thing," Kylo replied as they all dismounted their horses. Not paying any attention to how she avoided the question. Diana walked up the beach picking up their stuff as she went staying away from the water.

"Diana!" Maddy called out.

"Come join us!" Crystal added.

"I'm alright, I'd rather not." she replied walking over to where the boys were. Folding up the girls clothes and setting them down with their shoes before sitting down under the shade they put up.

"I'm going to join them," Liam said throwing his top down but it ended up hitting Diana in the face.

"Liam," she said her tone eerily calm as she put the shirt down "don't throw things at me."

"Sorry," Liam said running towards the water causing Diana to get up and walk towards him.

"Liam, when you apologise to someone at least make it sound sincere." she berated him and before Diana knew it she was surrounded by glistening azure water. Kylo and Hunter running in behind her splashing her slightly as they ran past. When she looked down Diana saw the waves flowing around her knees her eyes growing wide as she felt her entire body go stiff.

Memories filling her head of pain, as she stepped backwards trying to escape them but instead tripped plummeting towards the sea. Alex caught her just as she was about to plunge into the water.

"You okay?" Alex asked.

Diana took a moment to regain her composure before answering "I'm fine," Alex made sure she was standing up right before letting go and Diana swiftly headed up the beach. Sitting down on one of the blankets the boys had placed down, pulling her knees to her chest. Looking up she watched the others play in the water and after awhile she folded up the boys tops and laid them in a neat pile to the side.

The waves drawing Diana in making her aqua eyes shimmer in longing. However, she refuses to ever go back in there, back in the water not after what happened all those times.