Location: Avalon Beach – The Next Morning
The air smelled like sea salt and sunscreen.
Gulls called overhead. Sand clung to everything—sheets, socks, souls.
Inside the Vale Beach House, the group was slowly coming back to life.
Caelan had messy hair, a mug of black coffee, and exactly zero patience for morning people.
Azra was brushing mascara while humming off-key.
Liora danced barefoot in the kitchen, balancing a plate of pancakes and a speaker blasting 90s R&B.
Zaria (stretching on the couch): "I had dreams of someone stealing my snacks."
Jace (half-asleep): "That wasn't a dream. That was Noah."
Noah: "Worth it."
Isla: "Why are we awake before noon?"
Selene: "Because chaos doesn't sleep."
Scene: The Big Announcement
An alert hit everyone's phones at once:
AVALON BEACH IMMERSION: TALENT & BEAUTY/FASHION COMPETITIONS TODAY @ 4PM
Live performances
Fashion runway challenge
Surprise prizes
Open to all beach groups!
Liora (excited): "Oh my God, we have to do this."
Azra: "Yup. I call the beauty runway."
Zaria: "Back off. I'm walking too."
Isla: "I'm designing something for all of us."
Selene (to Caelan): "You entering anything?"
Liora (instantly): "He's singing."
Caelan paused. Mug halfway to his lips.
"Absolutely not."
Azra (grinning): "You're doing it."
Caelan: "I'd rather wrestle a shark."
Liora: "We've heard your voice. They haven't. You'll break the beach."
He stared at them all—deadpan.
Then saw the way Selene was watching him.
And sighed.
"Fine. One song. Then I vanish."
Azra: "Deal."
Jace: "I'm entering the dance challenge. Gonna embarrass all of you."
Noah: "I'll do the poetry slam."
Selene: "I'll walk with you girls."
Isla: "Then I'm turning all of you into runway legends. Give me two hours and no questions."
Scene: Getting Ready Montage
Outfits flew. Music blasted. Makeup kits exploded.
Isla stitched last-minute lace into Liora's dress.
Zaria lined everyone's eyes like a pro.
Azra helped Caelan pick a simple black shirt, half-unbuttoned, layered chain and leather cuff.
Caelan: "I look like a pop star."
Liora: "Exactly."
When they walked down the beach toward the crowd forming around the stage and runway setup?
Heads turned.
And didn't stop.
Scene: The Show Begins
First came the beauty/fashion runway.
Selene walked like silence. Cold. Controlled. Commanding.
Zaria spun mid-runway, flipping her green-dyed hair to cheers.
Azra walked like a warning wrapped in lipstick.
Liora glided like a dream. Soft, smiling, unreal.
By the end of their walks, people weren't even clapping.
They were screaming.
Scene: Talent Show – Caelan's Performance
The host called his name.
He stepped up.
Alone.
Mic in hand.
Eyes shadowed under tousled hair.
"I don't do this. Like, ever," he muttered into the mic.
The crowd chuckled.
Then the music started—a stripped acoustic version of "Wicked Game."
And Caelan Vale sang.
Low.
Rough.
Velvet soaked in thunder.
The entire beach went silent.
Eyes wide. Jaws slack.
Even teachers stopped what they were doing.
His voice was heartbreak and heaven.
And when he hit the final note?
Even his friends forgot to breathe.
Final Scene: After the Applause
The crowd erupted.
People ran up with compliments.
Others just stared, unsure if what they felt was a crush or something deeper.
Caelan jumped off stage and walked straight to the group.
"I'm never doing that again."
Azra: "You liar."
Liora: "They loved you."
Selene (softly): "I did too."
They exchanged a look. And in that look, something unspoken sparked.
Jace (grinning): "You just became campus legend number one."
Noah: "And we're not even halfway through the trip."