Prologue

"Casey! Where on earth are we going?" Jason laughed, dimples flashing, as he picked his way across the sand dune, thongs hanging from his right hand. He was following a bouncing mass of dark curls, pale skin and a fluro pink pair of shorts.

The only response he received was a giggle as she ran up the next dune, pausing to look back at him before laying down, and rolling out of sight. The golden sand flew everywhere in her wake, and he could hear her squeal as she raced down the other side.

Running his left hand roughly through his short brown hair, he jogged to the top and looked down. He shook his head softly, wondering how he managed to be best friends with the crazy person making sand angels below.

"Imagine if this was snow!" Casey began on a sigh, running her hands up and down by her side languidly. "We could be making the coolest snow angels. Well if you weren't being an idiot like you are now, of course."

"One day we will be making snow angels together, we are going traveling together, remember? you know, sometimes I wonder if your mum lets you have too much sugar during the day, Case. You have way too much energy for the silliest things." He responded as he began the treacherous half walk, half slide down the warm slope.

His last few steps were a trot, and the momentum carried him straight to Casey, who was running the sand through her hands, still lying on her back. She was wearing his aviator sunglasses again today, she had stolen them on their walk to the beach before running ahead. He had her sunshine yellow glasses tucked into the front of his T-shirt.

"As if! I don't even eat sugar – it would go straight to my hips!" she replied, mock serious expression perfectly applied.

Sometimes he couldn't tell whether she was being serious or not, especially if he was unable to see into her bright green eyes. Somehow her eyes always told him the truth, a testament to their friendship. Lowering himself ungracefully to the sand with a loud groan, Jason shook his head at her for what felt like the millionth time today. She was absolutely nuts.

"Oh my god old man, are you okay? Do you want me to fetch you a wheelchair? What are you, 18 going on 90?" Casey teased, using her feet to flick sand at him playfully.

"Casey Anne Donovan, you are a month younger than me! Watch your tongue." he said while flicking some sand back.

"Make me, Jason Charles Martin." She replied, giggling.

Taking the opportunity, Jason jumped at her and grabbed hold of her feet, pulling her closer to him. Casey shrieked and curled onto her side in an attempt to evade him, but he hung on tightly. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, knowing she was about to regret baiting him. Again.

His hands found their way to her waist quickly and he paused, allowing her a few seconds of anticipation. They were the longest seconds of Casey's young life. The next moment they were tracing over her stomach and she could no longer breathe past the bursts of laughter his expert hands always managed to extract.

Jason always tickled her until her cheeks hurt, her stomach cramped, and she thought she might pass out from lack of air. Sometimes she even ended up with tears in her eyes from laughing so hard, and he wouldn't relent until she started to hyperventilate.

"Come on skippy, lets actually get to the beach, what do you say?" Jason asked, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet carefully as he turned towards the glistening ocean.

"Sure. But I don't really want to go swimming. Apparently there has been some shark sightings lately." She said whilst brushing the loose sand from her shorts. She lent over and ran her hands through her messy curls, shaking loose half the beach in the process.

Jason paused and turned back to look at her puzzled. "So you made me come pick you up and take you to the beach, but you don't want to actually go swimming?"

A blush crept lightly across her cheeks, and she looked directly at her feet, squeezing the sand softly between her toes. "Well it's kind of embarrassing, but yes. I like all my limbs attached, thank you very much. Besides I enjoy just smelling the salt air and listening to the waves."

Jason surprised her by letting out a loud bark of laughter, and slinging and arm around her shoulders and pulling her in close. "Sure Case, let's just watch the water and stuff, but can I have my sunnies back?"

Wordlessly she removed them and slid them onto his face, snagging hers from the v neck of his shirt and putting them on. "These ones totally suit me better anyway." She quipped, bumping shoulders with him as they began to walk towards the waters edge.

Casey closed her eyes softly and took a deep breath of fresh sea air. This was perfection. She could hear the waves crashing against the shore; the gulls flying high above, calling to each other; the crunch of the sand underfoot. The warmth of the sun was delicious, and the smell of the ocean had an immediate relaxing effect on her.

Jason could feel the stress and anxiety drain from Casey as they walked. Sneaking a glance at her face he saw her eyes closed behind her glasses, her face glowing softly in the sunlight, and a small content smile gracing her lips. This is the Casey he loves spending time with. Relaxed and happy, and just enjoying life.

"Case?" he murmured softly as they reached the waters edge, toes curling as the cool water brushed against them.

"mmm." She responded, leaning her head to the left and onto his shoulder.

He curled his right arm around her tightly, pulling her in front of him and further into the water. She gasped at the sudden cool water swirling around her ankles, then she leant back gently into his chest. Jason pulled his other arm up, wrapping it around her waist, and giving her a hug from behind. He sighed softly, his larger frame dwarfing hers as he tucked his chin on the top of her head.

They stood like that for a few minutes, eyes closed, breathing the salt air deeply into their lungs, the sea breeze lightly whipping Casey's hair across her face. Both smiling softly.

"What was it Jason? What did you want to ask?" Casey's voice whispered, breaking their comfortable silence.

"Oh, I was just wondering if you wanted a piggy back?" he replied, squeezing her lightly and rocking her side to side in fun.

"Do I ever!" she yelled, turning abruptly and pushing Jason, causing him to stagger a few steps before regaining his balance.

Both laughing softly, Jason turned and bent down to one knee, making it easier for Casey to climb on. Legs in a death grip around his waist, and a loose hold around his shoulders, she laughed as he stood straight and turned on the spot quickly, eliciting a squeak of delight from the girl attached to his back.

"I hope I'm not too heavy." She said shyly, trying not to shift her weight as he moved.

"Case. Shut up." He mumbled, jostling her as he picked up speed.

Casey ducked her head and pressed a feather light kiss to the back of his neck in a wordless thanks, before closing her eyes once again to soak in her surroundings. The gulls were moving further up the beach, their calls distant and fleeting; the waves were beginning to break offshore, the crash lulling her into a sleep like trance; the taste of the salt breeze on the back of the tongue; and the crunch of the wet sand underneath Jason's large feet. She always felt at home at the shore.

"Jason, where are your shoes?" she asked when they had reached the end of the beach, knowing full well he left them in the dunes when they had their little skirmish.

If the curse under his breath didn't confirm it for her, the sharp about turn was a dead give away. The slow, easy pace was continued back towards the opposite end of the cove, the dunes, and his shoes.