You spot your teacher on the beach

The moment her eyes landed on you, the casual calm vanished. Her face lit up with immediate, unmistakable excitement, completely disregarding any of the usual distance between an instructor and a student on campus.

"Hey! No way!"

She shot up from under the umbrella, instantly revealing an astonishing, towering frame. At a full seven feet tall, she seemed to cast a shadow over half the towel line as she closed the distance in a few long, effortless strides.

Before you could get a word out or even step backward, she caught you up in an enthusiastic, breathless bear hug. The sheer difference in height meant you were lifted clean off your feet, your face pressed firmly into her chest and cleavage as her arms locked securely around your shoulders.

For a second, the entire beach disappeared behind a blur of sudden warmth, the scent of coconut sunscreen, and her cheerful laugh vibrating straight through you.

"I can't believe you're out here!" she beamed, finally setting you back down onto the packed sand so your feet found solid ground again.

She let out a soft, satisfied breath, resting a large, gentle hand against your upper back to steady you as she brushed off a stray bit of dry sand. Looking down at you with a broad, genuine smile, she tilted her head. "Well? Don't tell me you lost your voice—how have you been?"

The sun beat down across the shore, and a steady breeze carried the salty spray inland, but you hadn’t moved from the dry sand. You stood just beyond where the surf turned into flat, fizzing foam, watching the waves roll in while your feet stayed firmly planted.

Out in the shallows, she had been riding the crests, soaked from head to toe and catching her breath between waves. But as another swell washed over her waist, she turned to look back, expecting to see you swimming out behind her.

When she realized you were still standing near the towel line with your arms crossed, her bright, energetic smile faded.

She turned and began wading toward the shore, the water dragging against her legs as she pushed through the surf. As she cleared the wet, packed sand, her expression shifted entirely—the carefree playfulness giving way to quiet, focused attention.

She walked up to you, dripping seawater onto the hot sand, the wind blowing damp strands of hair across her forehead. She didn’t teasingly splash you or try to drag you toward the water. Instead, she stepped close, tilting her head to catch your eyes.

Her hand reached out, her fingers cool and wet from the ocean, and gently brushed the side of your cheek. She smoothed away a stray lock of hair, her thumb resting softly against your cheekbone.

"Hey," *she murmured, her voice laced with quiet concern. *"What's going on? You haven't taken a single step in."

She searched your face, her brow drawing in slightly. "Are you feeling okay? You usually love being out here... why aren't you enjoying it today?"

The heat radiating off the sand was almost unbearable by early afternoon, but she wasn't waiting around for it to cool down.

Before you even had the umbrella completely anchored into the sand, she kicked off her flip-flops, dropped her tote bag onto the towel, and took off toward the shoreline. The wind caught her hair, whipping it wildly around her face as she looked back over her shoulder, a wide, unrestrained grin lighting up her expression.

"Hurry up!" she called back, her voice carrying easily over the roar of the surf. "The tide’s coming in!"

She didn't wait to see if you were following. She hit the wet, packed sand at a jog and charged straight into the first breaking wave without an ounce of hesitation. The cold whitewash splashed up against her thighs, drawing a bright, startled laugh from her as she jumped over the next crest.

When you finally caught up, wading in until the water reached your waist, she turned to face you, completely drenched and radiant. Her eyes were bright with a fierce, carefree energy, all the quiet seriousness from earlier days entirely washed away.

"It’s not even that cold once you're in," she teased, though her shoulders twitched as another chilly swell rolled past, lifting her slightly off her feet.

Before you could argue, she scooped up a handful of seawater and sent a spray straight at your chest, laughing openly at your reaction. She pushed through the resistance of the water, catching your wrist to pull you deeper into the swell just as a larger wave began to curl toward you both.

"Come on," she said, practically bouncing on her toes as the water surged around you. "Jump with me on this one!"

The late afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the sand as the cool coastal breeze rolled in. Fighting the waves for hours had completely drained whatever energy you both had left, leaving your limbs heavy and your skin warm and tight from the sun and salt.

She was sprawled flat on her back across the blanket, thoroughly exhausted. Lacking the energy to even find your own spot on the towels, you collapsed forward onto your stomach, settling right over her. With her towering frame, you fit easily between her legs, your head resting comfortably against her chest as the steady rise and fall of her breathing filled the quiet air.

She let out a soft huff as your weight settled over her, but instead of pushing you off, she seemed entirely content to stay right where she was.

"Comfy down there?" she murmured, her voice thick with exhaustion and a trace of quiet amusement.

Before you could answer, she drew her legs in slightly, playfully pressing her thighs together against your sides. The gentle, rhythmic pressure pinned you in place, a lazy reminder of just how easily she could trap you even when she was half-asleep. She held the squeeze for a few seconds before letting her legs relax outward, only to press them back together again a moment later in a sleepy, teasing cadence.

"You're not going anywhere," she mumbled, draped in tired satisfaction.

She brought one long arm around your back, resting her hand between your shoulder blades to keep you anchored against her chest. With the steady, repetitive warmth of her presence and the distant crash of the tide, it took almost no effort at all to close your eyes and let the exhaustion take over.

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