Chapter 26: Beach Day Preparation

The next day, Alex and Mia were buzzing with excitement about their trip to the beach. Harrold was driving them to the store to pick up supplies. "What should we buy?" Alex asked, leaning forward in his seat.

"What about sandwich supplies?" Mia suggested, flipping through a list she had written down. "And fresh fruit? Watermelon would be great."

"Definitely watermelon! And honeydew too," Alex replied, smiling. "Can we get candy? I want gummy bears!"

"Of course, gummy bears!" Mia laughed. "And soda. We can't go to the beach without soda!"

Harrold chuckled from the front seat. "Alright, it sounds like we have our list set. Let's make a plan and grab everything quickly."

Soon, they arrived at WollMart, the mega store. They rushed inside, excitement buzzing in the air. "Look at that cart!" Mia pointed. "Get a big one!"

Alex grabbed a giant cart while Harrold led the way. "Clothing aisle first!" he called out as they sped through the store.

"I need some new swim gear," Alex said, weaving through racks. He quickly picked out swimming trunks with palm trees printed all over them and a black tank top that had a small star logo on the front. "What do you think?" he asked, holding the clothes up.

"I love it!" Mia replied with a thumbs up. "Very beachy!"

At the same time, Mia was busy picking out her own stuff. "I want this purple and black swimsuit!" she exclaimed, holding it up with a big grin. She spotted a fashionable beach hat and added that to her pile. "And I can't forget a swimsuit for Kyra. She decided to join us"

"That's going to be fun! Let's grab something cool for her," Alex suggested.

They wandered for a moment before finding a cute swimsuit for Kyra, who decided at the last minute to tag along. "Perfect!" Mia said, tossing it into the cart.

Next, they headed over to the sunscreen section. "We definitely can't forget sunscreen!" Mia said, eyeing the various options. "I don't want to burn!"

Alex picked up a bottle with high SPF and added it to their cart. "Good choice. And we need floaties! Kyra will love those."

"I'll go find us a cooler," Harrold said as he waved and started walking toward the back of the store, heading for the camping section.

Mia turned to Alex. "What else should we look for?"

"I think we're good," Alex replied, "but let's just grab snacks and drinks now before we meet up with Harrold."

They made their way toward the food aisle. Harrold found a sales rep and asked for advice on coolers. "Which one do you recommend?" he asked, inspecting a few options.

"This top-of-the-line cooler right here is great," the employee pointed out. "It has a huge compartment for food, a freezer section, and even a power bank for electronic needs."

"Sold!" Harrold said, nodding. He purchased the cooler, along with big beach towels and a beach umbrella, then made his way back to meet Mia and Alex.

As he approached them, he overheard their conversation. "What treat are we getting?" Alex asked.

"How about chips and some cookies?" Mia suggested.

"Perfect for the beach!" Alex agreed. "And I guess we can grab some ice cream too since we have a cooler now."

Harrold saw them and chimed in, "You really think you can carry ice cream in that cooler, huh?"

"Of course!" Alex said, flashing a grin. "Especially with all the freezer space. Let's get two tubs!"

Mia nodded enthusiastically. "One chocolate and one vanilla! Maybe we should grab some sprinkles too!"

"Good idea!" Harrold said. "Let's load up this cart."

They moved through the aisles, tossing in snacks, drinks, and the ice cream. Once their cart was full, they headed to the checkout. "Wow, look at all this stuff," Harrold chuckled as the cashier scanned their items.

"I can't wait to eat it all at the beach," Alex said, practically bouncing on his feet.

"Same!" Mia replied. "I hope Kyra is excited too. She always loves going to the beach."

"Yeah, it'll be a fun trip for all of us," Harrold agreed, smiling. "Alright, all done here. Let's load it up and head home!"

Once they finished checking out, they headed back to the car, loaded the trunk with their supplies, and set off. "So, what's the first thing you two want to do when we get to the beach?" Harrold asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

"I want to build a sandcastle," Mia said, grinning. "A huge one!"

"That sounds awesome! I'd love to see how big we can make it," Alex said, getting hyped. "And I want to go swimming first."

"Great idea! Let's have a little contest to see who can swim out the farthest," Mia suggested, nudging Alex playfully.

"You're on!" Alex replied. "Just don't forget who the champion is!"

"Really? We'll see about that!" Mia laughed. The excitement in the car was contagious.

"Okay, okay! Let's not forget about Kyra. She'll want to join us!" Harrold reminded them.

"Yeah, she'll probably beat us both!" Alex said with a laugh.

Mia chuckled. "I can't wait I'm so excited!"

When they arrived back at the house, they quickly sprang into action, unloading the supplies from the car. Alex grabbed the big bag filled with snacks while Mia carefully lifted the cooler, ensuring she didn't spill anything. "Let's hurry! I want to get the ice cream in the freezer before it melts," Alex said, a hint of urgency in his voice.

Once inside, they set everything down on the kitchen counter, arranging the snacks and drinks for easy access tomorrow. Alex felt a wave of satisfaction as he glanced around the kitchen, imagining the fun and laughter that awaited them. "Okay, I'm going to call Sebastian now to let him know our plans," he said, grabbing his phone.

Mia smiled. "Good idea! Make sure you give him the meeting spot too," she encouraged. 

Alex dialed Sebastian's number, and after a few rings, his friend picked up. "Hey, it's Alex!" he greeted. "We're coming to the beach tomorrow at 10 AM. We'll meet at the big lifeguard tower by the main entrance."

"Sounds great! I'll be there!" Sebastian replied, his voice crackling with excitement. "I can't wait to see you guys! We're going to have a blast!"

Once the conversation was finished, Alex turned back to Mia, who was gathering her things. "Don't forget to remind Kyra to be ready on time!" Harrold called out from the living room, where he was lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine.

"Yes, I've got it covered!" Mia called back, her tone playful as she made her way to the front door. "I won't let you down!" She laughed, knowing her grandpa always teased her about being late.

"Okay, good! We'll be counting on you!" Alex chimed in, chuckling. 

As Mia stepped outside, she turned and waved at them with a big smile. "See you guys bright and early! I can't wait!"

"Bye, Mia! Don't forget your sunscreen!" Harrold shouted after her, and Alex joined in, waving as she walked to the car.

"Yeah! Make sure Kyra knows too!" he added, watching her drive off. 

With Mia gone, Alex felt a sudden rush of excitement and a little bit of nostalgia. He started to think about all the fun times they would have. The laughter, games, and even the small adventures. He could already envision the warm sun on his back, the sound of the waves, and the smell of saltwater filling the air.

"I should probably get ready for tomorrow too," he said to himself, glancing at the clock. As he strolled toward his bedroom, he decided that he would need a good night's sleep to ensure he was energized for their big day.

Once inside, Alex flopped onto his bed and grabbed his laptop. "Before I hit the hay, a little anime will help me unwind," he said, typing a few commands to start his favorite show. He felt a comforting excitement buzzing in his chest—the anticipation of seeing his friends, feeling the sand beneath his feet, and just soaking up the joy of summer.

The screen lit up, and as the opening theme played, Alex quickly immersed himself in the captivating world within the anime. Hours flew by, but he wouldn't dare lose track of time. After a few episodes, he finally decided to turn off his laptop, knowing he needed at least a few hours of sleep. 

"Tomorrow can't come soon enough!" With a smile on his face, he closed his eyes, hoping for a dream of the perfect beach day that awaited him....but that's not what happened.