she was sure she wouldn’t be on the leaderboards, but nina had finally gotten all of her tricks, and that was enough to keep her smiling.

her phone went off, and she pulled it from the small backpack slung over her bare shoulders. danny's name was a good one to see. maybe just the friend to go celebrate with? she had noticed he was on the leaderboards, at least.

she looked up from her phone, wondering if she could by chance spot him along the shoreline. when she had no luck, she texted back:

yea! i’m here too but i don’t see you… come find me 😊

DANNY HALL

for some reason, she’d expected him to ask questions. or demand that she help, too, which would have been reasonable. instead, there was radio silence, until she saw and heard him up ahead.

she grinned. ”you could’ve asked for hints.”

her mudkip trotted over, curious about danny’s offerings. what was in the bag, and could he have some?

after pulling a beer from the cooler, nina turned back with surprise about the leaderboards. she didn’t care if her name was below danny’s. the fact that it was up there at all was exciting news.

”really?!”

excitement squealed from her like a teakettle, every part of her exuberant.

”i didn’t think i made it. we should go surfing together sometime, since we’re both pros.”

DANNY HALL

a weird challenge to like. at least, she thought so.

mudkip was grateful for the fishie gummies, already pawing up danny’s leg for them before it was offered some. it looked surprised danny took some for himself.

”ooh, no i haven’t.” the ocean was spooky in the dark, but she didn’t want to admit it to danny.

”sounds fun. i don’t have my own mantine, though…”

the beer in her hand hissed as she pulled back the tab.

DANNY HALL

kipkip was absolutely thrilled, and danny was quickly forgotten. rummaging was maybe not the word, for the search was over. he did not discriminate when it came to fishie gummies. he would have them all.

luckily for him, nina hadn’t noticed yet. maybe he could be quick enough…

nina was looking over at the surfboards danny suggested borrowing. she had only done this kind of surfing a few times, only having recently regained her confidence in the water, but of course, she was up for the challenge.

she looked back over, grinning and taking a sip of her beer before nodding, “yeah, i think so.”

DANNY HALL

as danny went to go get the surfboards, her gaze drifted out across the vast ocean. no dorsal fins, at least not for now, that she could see.

when they were plopped near her feet, she tipped her beer back and downed it before stowing the can near his cooler. when she turned, she gave a long, deep breath.

“last one to catch a wave buys drinks next.”

quickly, she strapped a leash to her ankle, grabbed up the board and made a run for it, soon splashing down and paddling hard. her mudkip was right next to her the whole way. once the board was in the water, he jumped onto the nose of it for a ride.

DANNY HALL