Small, secluded beaches are the best place to search for metal. They're quiet and isolated, without a bunch of people to have to interfere with, and the lack of people who show up means that there's always a chance that there's something hidden that anyone else could have just picked up. And they're abundant, too; you just need to know the lay of the land. There's absolutely nothing that can go wrong with searching there.
At least, that's what I thought. I had found a perfect beach and got there in the earliest parts of the morning with my metal detector and went to work before the sunlight even refracted against the waves. I had searched every square inch, being as articulate as I could be in a desperate attempt for any piece of metal that I could find. I didn't care if it was solid gold chunks or just a piece of scrap iron someone left behind; I just wanted something to show I was there.
There had been nothing there.
Not a single beep from my metal detector as it caressed the sand. While at first, I thought it was normal--usually, it takes a few minutes to find anything that could pique interest--the silence was starting to concern me when I was a third of the way done, and with two-thirds of the area completely covered, I was starting to get annoyed. How could a beach not have any metal anywhere? There had to be something, anything, just to remind me that I wasn't scanning hard enough.
At this point, the sun had already rose, the scent of the beach having grown all too familiar. It was pleasant, and the sea breeze was cool, contrasting the warming day; I had already taken my shirt off from the heat, with no plans on putting it back on until I left. It was already starting to reach near-noon, and outside of the natural reminders, like the birds growing quieter from their morning caws, the underlying roar of a car engine suddenly stopped and doors started slamming.
"Is this the place?"
"Yep. Looks pretty quiet, 'cept for that one guy over there."
"Let 'im do his thing. I'm sure he'll leave soon."
People were already showing up. I turned around and saw a group of people, a mix of men and women, all tanned and in swimsuits running as fast as the sand could allow them to run. I paid them little attention and returned my focus to my metal detector, which was still silent as if the batteries were drained. They seemed apt on having a compromise, where neither party interrupted each other, and given everything, I didn't mind. I was planning on leaving soon, anyway.
As I came to learn, the beach was absolutely barren. Considering it was secluded, it made sense there wouldn't be many rings or any pieces of jewelry left behind, but it didn't mean that it didn't feel bitter knowing that today was a lost cause.
"Hey, y'all wanna play some volleyball?"
"Hell yeah!"
A chorus of cheers came from the group of people. Maybe they had the right idea of at least having things to do. At least when they brought a volleyball net, volleyball was guaranteed.
Disgruntled at the lack of anything, I put down my towel and laid down on it, giving myself just a bit of time to relax and enjoy the sun's rays. Even if the beach hadn't given me any treasure, the sight of the waves was still enough to put my mind at ease, and the group had started playing volleyball, providing a perfect distraction from what seemed like a failure of a time searching for treasure. I kept my metal detector under my arm, the scanner facing away from me, just as easy to ignore as it was easy to remember to guard. Maybe, today I just wasn't going to find anything, and just being outside was worth it.
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I sat up and looked at my metal detector. Was it making noise now? I had already checked everything, and the static couldn't have come from anything else. After a few seconds of looking at it, I laid back down, wondering if it was just a fluke. Maybe I should have charged my batteries before coming in here. I laid back down, content with just spending the rest of my day here sunbathing. It wouldn't hurt to get a bit more tanned.
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And now this fucking thing wants to pretend that it's been working all along. I sat up once again and looked at it, now that it once again stopped making noise. It felt like mockery, and after a bit of staring, I put it back down, with the scanner facing away from me. I laid down once more, hoping my problems would--
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It wasn't going to stop. I laid there and slowly turned my head towards the metal detector, but only then was I stopped by what I saw in the background.
All this time, there was a young woman lying down near me, sitting on one of those long beach chairs. Her body was a rich tanned color, her eyes hidden by a pair of designer sunglasses. Her long, black hair was tied up in a high ponytail and slipped behind her left shoulder. Her black bikini left little to the imagination, her curves filling it up just a bit past full; perhaps it was a swimsuit from last year. In one of her hands was a clear cup from Starbucks, and the other was her phone, which she scanned between sips of her drink. A small brooch hung from her neckline, resting right at her breasts; that was probably what my metal detector picked up.
I tried not to stare, but it was difficult, especially as her plump lips wrapped perfectly around that straw. I ended up shaking my head to try to get the thoughts that were polluting my mind out. She was hot, yes, but there was no doubt she wasn't interested in talking.
But why not do it anyway? Worst that happens is she says nothing, and there wasn't much distance between us, anyway. I closed the distance with a few scoots, giving just enough space for it not to seem awkward.
"You here alone?"
She paused for a moment before returning her focus to her phone. She shifted slightly in her seat, and even through her sunglasses I could see the moment her eyes darted towards me. Yet, for now, that was it for the conversation.
That was, if it weren't for her putting her stuff down to stretch herself out. Arms above her head, it was as if she was showing her body off to me, from her ample chest to the slight hint of abs. I drank it all in, and once she rested again, her lips were curled in a small, but noticeable smile.
"Nah. I'm with that group over there," she said, pointing to the people playing volleyball. "I wasn't really feeling it so I decided to tan instead."