I nod, turning it over in my hand. “Thank you.” He chose all my favorite colors: purple, blue, and green. When we were younger, we made a pact that we had to make whatever presents we gave each other. I know this was partly Micah’s idea because he felt bad for me and didn’t want me to feel like I had to spend money on him. I like our tradition, though. It makes all of our presents more special.

“So what are you going to do all summer?” Micah asks as he helps me tie the bracelet around my wrist.

I shrug. “Probably help my parents out with gardening chores, and find some babysitting jobs.”

“Ugh. Babysitting. Not the Grayson twins, I hope.”

“They live the closest.”

“Those kids are horrors, though. Remember that time they tied you up and then wouldn’t let you go?”

“They have boundary issues.”

“They have life issues.”

“At least their dad pays well.”

“Well, if you take a job with them, tell me and I’ll come help you.”

“I can’t afford to split the money. Sorry.”

“I’ll do it for free! That’s how good a friend I am.”

“You just want them to tie me up so you can laugh and take a picture.”

“You don’t know me at all!” He makes a fake offended face.

“Fine. You can come. Maybe you can teach them some manners.”

“Exactly.”

We lean back on the sand and look up at the sky. There isn’t a single cloud up there, just blue, blue, blue forever.

When we’re too hot, we walk to the shoreline and stand up to our ankles in the water.

“Too bad we didn’t think to bring our bathing suits,” I say.

“Who needs bathing suits?” Micah starts to wade into the water.

“We don’t even have towels!”

“We have the sun! Come on!”

We race to see who can go under first. Micah always wins because I hate the ice rush. But I can’t be outdone, so I force my head under. Beneath the water, the world feels completely different. The echoey sound of the water surrounds me, and I open my eyes.

Micah swims over to me and waves as we hold our breath. I move my hands through the water to keep myself under, and my hair dances out around me. Micah makes a funny face, then blows bubbles at me. “Can you hear me?” he yells, but it sounds all distorted and strange. I pop my head up and gulp fresh air.

“I won!” Micah says.