Suntan City

The sun was shining bright and downtown Nashville was busy. People were everywhere preparing for Fourth of July that was a mere four days away. The girls and I were shopping for our upcoming trip to Panama City Beach. We were going in and out of stores buying things here and there, basically just killing time.

“Hey Niall wants to know if we want to meet him and the boys for lunch at the Stockyard.” My best friend Haley said holding her phone to her ear. Her red hair braided to the side with her sunglasses perched on top of her head.

“Yes! Please! Food!” Rhiannon exclaimed. The rest of the girls shook their heads vigorously in agreement.

“We’ll see you there in ten. Alright, love you.” Haley said hanging up the phone. We all looked at her and smiled knowingly. She and Niall had been together for a year now and they were the cutest couple ever.

“What?” She asked cautiously.

“You and Nialler.” I smiled as she blushed. The girls all awed as we continued to tease her good naturedly.

“Shut up.”

We laughed rounding the corner to continue to the Stockyard. It was our group’s favorite place to hang out. It was like our Central Perk, ya know from Friends?

When we walked in, the first face I saw was the last face I wanted to see. Harry Styles.

As if on cue, he swaggered over to us stopping in front of me. “Couldn’t stay away?”

“Get over yourself Styles.” I stated rolling my eyes.

“Well, well, well. Someone is wearing a nice shade of bitch today.”

I scoffed rolling my eyes again and brushing past him.

“Once day those eyes are just going to pop right out of that pretty little head.” He called after me.

“Why haven’t you given him a chance Lan? He’s so hot.” Rhiannon whispered in my ear.

“First of all, he’s a douche bag which pretty much cancels out the hotness. Plus, you know my rule, no one night stands. And that’s just exactly what he wants with any girl. So no thank you.”

Harry, my brother Louis’ best friend, was one of the “proud members” of Kappa Sigma, the brother fraternity to my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. He and my brother have been friends since I could remember, even with Lou being two years older. Harry was no doubt, one of the most attractive human beings I’d ever met, but I tried to stay away from the fratters, mainly because I know exactly what they wanted, sex.

I was in no way a virgin, but one night stands were not my thing. I used to have a small crush on Harry when we were in high school, but it quickly faded when he started hanging out with his older brother’s friends. They were all fratters and took him in quickly. He adapted to their ways as if it was something natural. He started hooking up with college girls left and right, and I knew then, that I should move on.

As I looked around the table of my friends, I noticed my brother was missing. Usually, he’s with the guys. “Um, where’s Lou?” I asked Liam.

“Oh, he had to go get Chloe.” Liam smiled resting his arm behind Charlie. the length of her Auburn hair falling over her shoulder as a warm smiled stretched across her pretty face.

“Chloe?” I asked confused. “Who is that?”

“This girl that he’s been dating. She’s cool.” Niall answered stuffing his face with rolls.

Why didn’t Lou tell me? We usually tell each other everything.

“Sorry we’re late.” I heard the voice of my brother say. He walked up to our table holding the hand of a beautiful blonde.

“Um, everyone, this is Chloe.” He smiled looking over at her.

“Sorry to intrude. Lou dragged me here against my will.” She giggled.

Everyone greeted her and Lou sat in between Harry and Chloe in front of me. She smiled at me as I scolded Lou. “Um, Lou. Why didn’t you tell me you had a girlfriend?” I asked raising an eyebrow.

“It never came up.” He replied.

“How long have you been dating?” I asked Chloe.

“Just a few weeks. Maybe four.” She replied cautiously.

I sighed, aggravated at Lou for keeping this from me. “Well since my brother hasn’t properly introduced us to each other, I’m Lana.”

She smiled warmly, “Nice to meet you. Lou didn’t tell me he had a sister.”

Lou shrugged and placed his arm on the back of her chair. I rolled my eyes at him as she laughed.

Throughout lunch I chatted with Chloe. She seemed to fit in perfectly with our group. I learned she was a drama student at Vandy, and how acting was her passion. Oh and that she didn’t take any of Lou’s shit. I smiled, she would be just fine.

**

The sound of my alarm rang through my ears in the early hours of the morning. I groaned rolling over to turn it off. I could hear my mom in the kitchen preparing breakfast like she did every morning.

I pulled myself from the comfort of my fluffy bed and trudged into my bathroom. The reflection I saw in the mirror was appalling, really. Mascara was smudged under my eyes, my long brown hair was piled on the top of my head in a messy bun.

After a quick shower, I dried my hair and straightened it. Only a light layer of makeup was applied before I walked to my closet and pulled out some running shorts, my Chacos, and a baggy t-shirt.

I gathered all of my last minute things, stuffing them into my bag. After grabbing my phone and shutting off the lights, I made my way downstairs.

Louis was already sitting at the table chowing down on his breakfast. My mom, still cooking away, turned to me. “What time are you two leaving?”

“Whenever Miss Diva can get her shit together.” Louis said not looking up from his phone.

My mom, not phased by Lou’s openly foul mouth, simply shook her head. I rolled my eyes, “Meanwhile, your douche bag of a best friend could be three hours late, and still, I’m the diva.”

*

“Lana, for the last time, lets go!” Louis shouted from the garage.

“News flash Lou, I’ve been sitting in the car for ten minutes waiting on you.” I noted not looking up from my phone.

He sighed, climbing in the driver’s seat of the jeep beside Harry while I sat in the back with Chloe.

As we drove down the road, Harry put in his Coldplay CD. If there was one thing that I liked about Harry Styles, it was his impeccable taste in music.

“Once upon we were burning bright, now all we ever seem to do is fight, on and on.”

*

Finally, we made our first stop after three hours of driving. We were all starving and dying to get out of the car. As everyone made their way into the McDonald’s, I found my band of girls.

“So how’s the trip so far?” Rhiannon asked. Her blonde hair was braided to the side and chunky glasses covered her olive green eyes.

“For starters, all Lou and Harry did was talk about some stupid soccer game while I sat in the back with Chloe. Then Harry decided to be his douche bag self. The only thing saving me was my headphones. I felt bad for Chloe though, I mean Harry shoved her in the back with me.” I explained.

“I would offer to let you ride with us, but ya know, Zayn and I are kind of occupying the back seat.” She smirked.

“Really Rhi? In the car? With other people?”

“Relax, we’re not doing anything. We just like our space.”

I scoffed, “Yeah, space.”

**

“Haz, you mind driving?” Lou asked as we made our way back to his car.

“Nah, why?”

Lou nodded his head over to Chloe who was climbing in the backseat.

“Oh yeah, get some man.” Harry said slapping his hand with Lou’s.

Lou rolled his eyes before sliding in beside Chloe. “Well hello stranger.”

She giggled kissing him. “Nice to finally see you.”

I rolled my eyes at their cheesiness before climbing in the passenger seat.

This was going to be a long trip.

**

The ride was mostly quiet except for the radio at a low volume. Louis and Chloe were passed out in the back seat. Chloe’s body lay in between Louis’ legs while her head lay on his chest. His arms were wrapped around her waist, head leaning against the window.

Harry hummed along to the Mumford & Sons song as I gazed out of the window. It was late, almost midnight. The corn fields just kept going on and on. Faint city lights were shining in the distance. I always liked back roads. They gave you time to think. Time to be with yourself and forget about all of your problems.

“So, how is life in the ZTA?” I heard Harry’s voice speak up.

I turned to him surprised by his asking about something other than sex. ”Um, it’s good I guess. How are the Kapps?”

“Oh ya know, party here, party there. The usual.” He stated awkwardly adjusting the black snap back that covered his dark curls.

I nodded slowly before returning back to my original position against the window.

“I love this song!” I smiled turning up the volume and singing along.

“All that’s lost was not in vain, burning like a memory, what’s left inside of me.”

I felt a bigger smile creep on my face as I continued to sing. “If it wasn’t for you, don’t know what I’d do. I’d have nothing to prove, I’d have nothing to lose.”

I felt a set of eyes burning in my skin. I turned to see Harry staring. A slight blush crept on his cheeks as he quickly turned his attention back to the road.

“You have a very pretty voice.” He mentioned, keeping his eyes trained on the road ahead.

“Um, thank you.” What was with him? He was actually trying to make conversation, AND he complimented me? Hell must have frozen over.

*

“We’re here!” Chloe exclaimed excitedly. I cheered along with her as we crossed the bay bridge and drove into Panama City.

The windows were rolled down and the thick salty air filled the car. The smell of the ocean invaded my senses making me smile. We drove through the small town, finally making it to the beach.

I saw Haley stand up in the car in front of us and come through the sunroof raising her arms as the wind whipped around her. I laughed doing the same in the jeep with Chloe. Horns honked at the scene, making us laugh. Harry kept driving down the strip laughing and even cheering along with us.

*

The house was perfect, after all my dad built it with his own two hands. He was a perfectionist and settled for nothing but the best. The two story house had six bedrooms, and six bathrooms. The kitchen, built to my mother’s preferences was furnished with dark mahogany and granite counter tops. Overall the house was simply beautiful, all decorated by my mom of course.

The salty air came in through the open doors of my balcony as I walked into my bedroom. The others were busy claiming their own. I sighed, thankful to be there.

As I unpacked, I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.” I called hanging up some garments in the closet.

The door opened and in stepped Haley. She immediately dove onto the bed face down. Her head popped up as she watched me go back and forth from my suitcases to the closet.

“Why are you unpacking? You’ll have plenty of time to do that later!” She whined.

“Hales, it won’t take me long. I’m already halfway done.” I responded.

She sighed and rolled into her back to look at the ceiling.

“So Harry actually initiated a regular conversation with me last night.”

She chuckled, “And what was said?”

“I mean nothing really. It was just so awkward. He asked me how ZTA was out of no where. Like since when does he care about my life?”

“Since when does anyone care about sororities?” She smirked.

I scolded throwing a pillow at her face. She laughed, “Hey! I’m just joking, geez.”

“Anyway, then a song came on and I started singing it and he just kept looking at me. Then he told me I had a pretty voice.”

“At least he’s making an effort to be nice.”

“But, I don’t understand. Why all of the sudden does he want to talk to me again? And most of all, why is he complimenting me like it’s a normal thing for him to do?”

“I don’t know, but hurry up. Niall and the boys are ready to get down to the beach.” She exclaimed before scurrying out the door.

Moments later, there was another knock.

“Come in.” I called from the bathroom where I was taking my hair down from a braid.

“Lana?” I heard the slow, deep voice of Harry call out.

“In here.”

“Oh there you are.” He said standing in the doorway, clad in black swim trunks and a black snap back. His bare chest showed my favorite of his many tattoos, the swallows.

“Like the view?” He smirked.

“In your dreams Styles.” I muttered brushing past him.

“Every night.” He replied smoothly taking a sip from his red cup. “Listen, I came in here to ask you if you wanted a drink. Like a specialty to start the trip off.”

“It’s only one o’clock.”

“Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere.” He laughed. “What’ll it be? Jager bomb? Screw driver? Sex on the beach?”

I sighed, “I’ll just go with a Mike’s Hard black cherry for now.”

I pulled out my bikini ready for him to leave so I could change. “Come on Lan, live a little.”

He was close, I could feel his breath on my neck as I stood with my back to him. My breathing wasn’t steady, I hoped that it wasn’t evident. His free hand found my waist as he tugged me closer to him.

“Um, I need to change.”

I scurried into the bathroom bikini in hand as I leaned over the sink. What the hell is going on?

After I was changed, I carefully entered my room.

“Damn Lan.” Harry muttered, scaring the shit out of me.

“What are you still doing in here?” I asked clutching my heart.

“Waiting for you, isn’t it obvious?” He smirked laying on my bed.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my sunglasses and sliding on my sandals. I left him in my room as I made my way downstairs. I immediately went to where the drinks were being poured and grabbed myself a shot of tequila. I would need all the drinks I could get to get through this trip.