Let's Go to the Beach Beach
With the end of the internship coming closer and closer, the week sped by in a blur. Pao lost four points when he was caught flirting with Tom by Chef Man, Zol lost three points when she interrupted P’Tuck while she was talking about how to improve their image, Manaow lost six points when she accidentally double-booked a room, Pun lost four points when the shower he was trying to clean fell down and sprayed everywhere, Tops lost a point when a customer yelled at him, while Zen lost two points for staying too long during his break since the baristas had distracted him. Win was personally very proud of himself that he didn’t lose any points while pretty much everyone else did. But despite the points lost, everyone was looking forward to the beach.
“You’ve got to be kidding me” Zol said, looking at the sky. It was gloomy and humid on the day they planned to go. “I thought it was supposed to be sunny”
“I told you guys the weather might not cooperate but no one listened to me” Win called out, carrying a cooler of sandwiches. “But the beach is better when it’s cloudy since no one is there”
“That’s true” Del said doubtfully, looking a little unsure as she helped Manaow with the towels.
“Do not expect me to get in the water” Tutor grumbled. “I like no crowds but I don’t feel like getting wet”
“Are you kidding? That’s the best part of going to the beach” Manaow said.
Pun looked happy to be going at all, and was cheerfully helping everyone with anything.
“We all ready?” Pao asked as they stood in a huddle.
“Yup!” Pharm said cheerfully, holding a bucket with sunscreen and bug spray.
“Then let’s go!” Pao said, linking arms with Pun and Manaow.
The others cheered and they walked down to the beach, where there were a few die-hard tourists, but as Win had predicted, it was pretty deserted.
“This is a good spot” Del said once they got closer to the water.
The interns put down their towels, looking excited.
“Sunscreen, guys!” Manaow called out, grabbing it from Pharm’s bucket.
Everyone sprayed it on, Win and Tops helping each other rub it in for each other.
The ones who wanted to ran to the water. Pharm, Tutor, Del, and Zen stayed on the beach, unwilling to get wet.
“Do you guys want to build sandcastles?” Pharm asked, emptying his bucket of the things in it.
“Yeah, I’ll help you” Zen said, flashing a smile to Pharm.
“I’ll help too” Del offered.
“I’ll look for shells” Tutor said, standing up and putting his flip flops on.
Pharm beamed, happy that they could have fun without getting wet.
“So how’s your first time at the beach?” Win, treading water, asked Pun, who had his hair back in a small, high ponytail.
“This is great” Pun said earnestly. “My dad was too strict, so that’s why I’ve never been”
Pao snorted.
“Can you swim though?” Tops asked from Win’s back. Despite them being the same height, Tops was holding on to Win.
“I’ll be fine” Pun said, smiling. “We aren’t too far from the shore”
“This is nice” Zol said, floating on her back while holding Manaow’s hand to keep from drifting away. “We should have come here earlier”
“It was super busy though” Manaow said. “They’ve really had us working!”
“It’s been a pretty good experience, though” Tops said.
Win made a face. “I’d rather get back to my gigs” he admitted.
“I’m ready to go back to social media” Pao said. He had been taking pictures with his phone in a waterproof pouch.
“My stories are calling my name” Zol said, righting herself and climbing on Manaow.
“I can’t wait to see Nott and be at his workshop” Pun said.
“We all sound like we don’t care if we win or not” Pao said absentmindedly.
“I’m last place” Win said grumpily. “I know that for a fact”
“I’m second to last place” Zol said.
“Who’s going to win then?” Pun asked.
“We still have a week” Zol reminded him.
“Fine, be like that” Win said dramatically, letting go of Tops and floating himself. “It looks like it’s gonna rain. I hope it does”
“You do?” Pao asked curiously.
“I love it when it rains at the beach”
“You’re weird” Tops informed Win, kissing his forehead.
“Says the one who likes hairless cats” Win said fondly.
“I seem to remember a certain someone not wanting to give him back though” Tops reminded Win.
Win stuck his tongue out.
“Wow, this sandcastle looks great!” Pharm said cheerfully.
“It’s pretty cute” Tutor agreed, placing a seashell on top of one of the “towers”. It was a very basic sandcastle, but they had decorated it with shells, kelp, and even had a little sea glass that Del had found. “Let me take a picture of it” He got out his phone and snapped a couple of pictures, sending them to the group chat.
“It looks like rain” Zen said, looking up at the sky. “Do you think we should go back?”
“Nah, not unless it actually rains. I’m actually down to go into the water, but only to my ankles” Tutor said, standing up and brushing his shorts.
“I’ll come with you” Pharm offered.
“Well, I’ll stay here” Zen said.
“Same” Del said. “I still don’t want to get wet”
“Well, you two can hold down the fort then” Tutor said.
“Hey look, Pharm and Tutor are coming to the water” Pao pointed out.
“So they are” Pun said, waving to them.
“Come over here!” Manaow called.
“No thanks, we’re just going in to our ankles” Tutor called back.
The interns in the deeper water looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
“We’ll come over to you then!” Pao said, and the six of them waded over, Win and Manaow sitting down in the shallow water once they were over.
“Why are you two sitting down?” Tutor asked curiously.
“Why not?” Win shrugged. “I like being in the water”
Tutor made a face of disbelief but let it go, splashing water back at Pharm when Pharm splashed him, but stopped when he felt water on his face that wasn’t sea water.
“I think it’s raining” Pun said, looking at the sky.
“Heck yeah!” Win cheered. “Rain at the beach! Looks like you guys are gonna get wet anyways”
“The sky is so dark” Pao observed.
As he mentioned it, it suddenly started pouring. Del and Zen were rushing around, trying to keep everything from getting wet, so Pharm and Pun went to help them.
“I love this!” Win shouted, looking wildly excited.
“I think you’re the only one!” Tops yelled back.
“Nah, this is great!” Zol shouted, her hair falling out of the bun she had it in.
“Poor Pun, his first time at the beach and it starts raining like this” Pao said, tripping a bit as a wave came up.
“If this was my first time at the beach, I would be so happy” Win said, moving his hair out of his face.
“Yeah, but I think everyone else wants to leave” Tutor observed, looking sulky that he had gotten soaked by the sudden downpour.
“Are you guys serious?” Win pouted, but a streak of lightning had him racing out of the water, pulling Tops along with him.
“Well, that got him to move” Manaow yelled as she ran as well, running up to Del and taking her hand.
“Do we have everything?” Tutor tried to ask, his voice drowned out by thunder.
The ten interns looked at each other, all of them holding something, and as one, ran to the safety of the hotel.
“Wow you guys are soaking wet!” Tom said as the interns huddled right outside the cafe.
“P’Tom, can you please grab us some dry towels? I don’t want anyone to catch a cold” Tutor asked.
Win snorted. “It’s 30 degrees. No one is going to get sick from being wet. I promise”
“What?” Pun asked, looking confused.
“Everyone says you get sick from getting wet. That’s not how it works, no matter what some dramas say” Win said.
“Well, I would still like to be dry” Pao pointed out.
“We’d probably get points taken off if we drip all over the hotel” Pharm pointed out, taking a towel from Golf, who had helped Tom acquire the towels.
“That’s true” Win said, wrapping a towel around Tops before taking one for himself.
“Since our beach day got cut short, should we all go shower and meet up in our room?” Pharm suggested.
“Sure, but what would we do?” Del asked, rubbing at her hair.
“I have an idea” Manaow said, her eyes lighting up.
“What is it?” Zol asked, looking curious.
“I think you should find out when we meet up in the room” Manaow said, trying to flip her hair, only to find it was too heavy with sea water to do that.
Everyone agreed to meet up in the room after about an hour, to account for everyone’s shower, and they dashed through the hotel to get to their rooms.
“What do you think Manaow’s idea is?” Win asked, rubbing his hair while sitting on the bed as Tops came out of the bathroom.
“I have no idea” Tops said honestly.
“I doubt it’s a game” Win said, pulling a face as he thought.
“Well, I’m sure it will be a good time anyways” Tops said.
“Pun, I’m ready to go” Pao said.
Pun, who was on his phone, didn’t react.
“Pun?” Pao asked.
Pun still didn’t react.
Pao rolled his eyes and waved his hand in between Pun and his phone. “C’mon, let’s go” he said once Pun looked up.
Pun nodded and got up.
“Thanks, you guys for helping me carry this” Manaow said, holding a bag in one hand and holding Del’s hand in the other.
“I can’t believe you brought all this” Zol said, rummaging through the bag she was holding.
“Well, I bought some when I went out with Del and bought some more with Pao the other day” Manaow shrugged.
Del nudged her. “You have so much already”
“No such thing as too much though” Manaow sniffed, then smiled as they knocked on the door.
“Wow, what’s all that?” Zen, who had answered the door, asked.
“You’ll see” Manaow smiled mysteriously.
Zen looked to Zol, knowing she was fairly bad at keeping secrets.
“Makeup and nail polish” Zol mouthed.
Zen’s eyebrows raised, but he let the girls in. All the boys were in already, chatting on the beds or on the floor.
“What’s in the bags, Manaow?” Tutor asked from his place on the bed.
Pharm looked up from his phone. “I think I know” he giggled. “Manaow, are you giving us makeovers?”
“Yup, but you guys are in charge of your own nails, since I brought nail polish as well” Manaow said authoritatively.
“Do we have to get a makeover from you or can someone else do it?” Win wanted to know.
“If anyone else wants to help me, that’s fine” Manaow said cheerfully. “But Pao and Pharm at least knows I am very good at what I do”
“Should we have a theme for the nails?” Del asked as she brought out the small, bright bottles.
“Our pride flags” Pao suggested, looking at Manaow’s choices.
The idea was met with enthusiasm, and most of the interns went to the nail polish, crowding around the small table in the room, Manaow grabbing Pao for his makeover.
“Make sure to not get nail polish everywhere” Tutor reminded everyone.
“We all know how we’ll have to pay for it if we ruin anything” Tops said absentmindedly, who was trying to figure out how to use six colors for ten fingers.
“I’m glad my flag has five colors, makes my life easier” Pao said from the chair he was in, Manaow giving him eyeliner.
“Stop talking” she scolded.
“If I have three colors, how should I divide it?” Win asked.
“How bout two, one, two?” Zol suggested, already started, purple on her thumb and pinky.
Zen, who had been looking at the same bottles at Tops, brightened. “That works for us too, Tutor, Tops, Pharm!”
Pun was looking at the softer colors, ignoring the neons Win had chosen.
“Pastel vibes?” Del asked, unscrewing an orange bottle.
“Pastel vibes” Pun agreed, trying in vain to unscrew the small bottle of pink he had.
Del plucked it out of his hands and unscrewed it easily.
“Thanks Del” Pun said, accepting the bottle back with a smile.
“All you guys doing your nails already, I feel left out” Pao called out, where Manaow was putting the finishing touches on Pao.
“Dang Pao, that looks good” Win said, looking impressed. Manaow had given him golden eye shadow that shone in the hotel lighting, as well as a lipstick that matched his skin tone extremely well.
“Who’s next?” Manaow asked, holding up her brushes.
“I’ll go” Win volunteered, to everyone but Tops’ surprise. He finished painting his thumb with the blue he had and went over to Manaow, Pao taking his place at the table.
“You guys are going to need nail polish remover, aren’t you” Pao said, looking at everyone’s hands.
“I will for sure” Pun said, who was blowing on his right hand, trying to get it to dry faster. “But I like the pastels I chose”
“Yes, a very nice vibe” Pao agreed, taking the pink from Pun’s area.
Ten minutes later, everyone except Manaow was done with their nails, so Pharm and Del decided to run to the grocery store to grab some snacks to go with their sandwiches, which were still in the cooler. Win, his makeover done, joined the rest of them on the floor, where they had migrated after their nails were done. Zen went to get his makeover, and they talked and gossipped as they waited for more food. When Pharm and Del came back, everyone spread out towels and ate on the floor, complimenting Pao, Pharm, and Tops on the sandwiches they had prepared for the beach. When they were done eating, there was a bit of a lull. Pun was getting his makeover, but the rest weren’t sure what they should do. Fortunately, Pao remembered that Tom had said something about having a Nintendo Switch and lots of controllers, so once he had acquired the gaming system, the interns played Super Smash Bros.
“Win, stop spamming down-B with Kirby!” Pao spluttered, as he was under Win yet again on the board.
“Not my fault he’s my main and you randomly chose Mr. Game and Watch!” Win said, eyes on the screen.
“How are you so good as a Peach main?” Del asked Zol, her Samus blasting Tops’ Luigi with one of the items she had picked up.
“Practice and spite” Zol said with a grin. “P’Zon is a Ridley main and got so mad when I kept winning”
“Why did I choose a Mii?” Zen asked as he fell off the edge and lost his last life.
“I chose Pit and still lost” Pun said mournfully, having joined a few rounds before.
Pharm said nothing, his Link surprisingly ruthless against everyone else, and he won another round.
“Okay Pharm, it’s your turn” Tutor said, his eyes sparkling under the magenta eyeshadow he now sported, holding his hand out for the controllers.
Pharm grinned and gave them over. Tutor switched to Marth and the next round started.
“Okay Tops, you’re the last one!” Manaow called, having finished with Zol. “Come get your makeover”
Tops, who had been dozing on Win’s shoulder, looked up sleepily. Win smiled and prodded him up.
“Go get beautiful” Win said, looking fondly at Tops, who nodded and got up, whispering something in Manaow’s ear when he got to her. Manaow looked surprised, then grinned, gently shoving Tops.
“Wouldn’t think you would like that color, but of course” Manaow said, looking mischievous.
“Okay, he’s all done guys!” Manaow said, standing in front of Tops to prevent the others from seeing him. “I’m going to paint my nails real quick and then we’ll take some pictures, okay? This won’t take long”
She moved out of the way and the interns got a look at him. His eyes had green eyeshadow and amazing wings, but what surprised everyone was the black lipstick on his lips.
“Black??” Zol asked, her eyebrows raised.
“Black lipstick looks good on everyone” Tops said simply.
“You have to admit, it looks good” Zen said, getting closer to look.
“Pao, you should call P’Tom over to take our pictures” Manaow said from the table, where she was putting on nail polish efficiently.
“He’s working though” Pao said. “I’ll go find P’Nook or something” He left and sure enough, five minutes later he brought Nook in the room, where she was surprised to see them all.
“You guys got a lot closer than we did last year” she said, accepting Pao’s and Manaow’s phone. “How bout you guys sit on the bed, five sitting down and five behind?”
The interns agreed, with the girls in the middle in the front, Win and Tops next to them, and the other boys behind them, sitting on their knees. Nook took several pics, then Pao asked her to take pictures of their hands. They made a circle with their hands, a bi between each rainbow, the omni and lesbian flags surrounding Zol’s aro and ace ones. The picture came out great, all the interns agreed. Nook left and Pao uploaded the pictures to his social medias.
“Can you guys help me pack my stuff up?” Manaow asked once all the selfies people wanted had been taken and sent.
Everyone started gathering the nail polish and makeup, with Pao finding the controllers for the Switch system and unplugging it from the TV.
“Pun, can you help me return this to P’Tom before we go to dinner?”
Pun agreed, and the two of them brought the system back to Tom before meeting everyone in the room where they ate their meals.
“Long time no see” Win said mischievously once Pao and Pun joined them at the tables.
“That is so lame” Zol said, although she was smiling. “Just think, next week we won’t be here anymore. The winner is going to be declared Friday, and while two of us will be working here, the rest of us will be back to our lives”
“These four months flew by, to be honest, faster than I thought” Pao said around a mouthful of chicken.
“Yeah, it was faster than I thought” Pun agreed. “I still can’t wait to be back with Nott, though”
“Who do we think will win?” Pharm asked, looking around.
“Not me” Win snorted.
“Honestly, no idea, the system here was weird” Tutor admitted.
“It really was, wasn’t it” Win said. “But my friend said last year was worse”
Oam, who had come in to check on the interns, smirked to himself as the interns all gathered closer to listen to Win, glad to see that they wouldn’t be leaving on bad terms.