But did you rock it enough?

Everybody sits in hushed silence as the original bikini girl walks back onto the stage, carrying what is probably the promised swimswim bikini that's on the line. She's got a big, happy, and infectiously warming smile as she clears her throat, but you don't care, and you sorta wish she'd get to the point.

"Alright everybody, it was really close, but I think I know who our winner is!" She calls out, drawing a few short cheers from the crowd herself. "Without any more ceremony, the winner is....."

She leans forward and mimes for the audience to start a drumroll on their laps, which they do. None of the other girls that competed join in, but you do.

She closes her hands and slides them apart, signalling a silence. Then, after a short pause, she says....

"Girl number three!"

There's cheers and applause, as one of the girls near you eagerly stands up to the chorus of "good job!"s and "nice going!"s from the other contestant, including pats on the back to boot, before skipping over to the stage. Your heart sinks as she accepts the bikini and holds it up for the audience to see, grinning ear to ear.

You didn't do it. Maybe if you'd known what you were doing a bit better, you could've.... should you ask for a recount? No that would be bad sportsmanship. You're feeling sorta glum and a bit sorry for yourself, so you resign yourself to staring down into the sand and drawing with your finger in it until eventually the fanfare dies down and, one by one, the audience members and contestants go their own ways.

It sure was fun being a bikini girl, but it looks like you'll have to hang it up now. 'Tis better to have loved and lost, you guess....

There's nothing but the sound of waves, seagulls, and far off chatter as a group of shirtless beachmen move the planks back into the car that they came out of, everybody else having left as you finish up your sand drawing of two little triangles linked by a line. Sniff.....

"....Uh, hey, you okay?"

You look up slowly. It's the lead bikini girl again. You should probably give her the bikini back now, then. You shake the sand off of your fingertip, then slowly and mournfully reach back to untie your bikini right then and there. It doesn't even matter that you'll be naked on the beach, because nothing matters anymore.

"Dude. It's... look, it's fine. I've got other bikinis. You can just have that one if you really want."

Your heart skips a beat. Your eyes rush up to her face, to make sure she's not fooling.

"Seriously, are you alright?"

She's not fooling, for real! You leap up out of the sand and lunge forward to take her into a big and tight squeezing hug. No way! She's actually letting you keep this bikini, even though you didn't win! She must've seen you out on that plank stage and recognised your potential as a certified bikini girl. This is the best!

"Yeah. Glad you're, uh, feeling better." She reaches up to slowly push you out of the hug, her palm on your forehead. "Enjoy it, I suppose. Don't.... let it get to your head?"

"I promise!" You shout. She gives you a sort of confused wave, before turning and moving to help her friends load up the wood planks. You look down to confirm that, yes, you're still wearing the lime green bikini. You cup your chest in your hands and give a quick squeeze, just to feel the triangle fabric against your fingers, big smile on your face. This is real!

You spend most of the rest of the day happily frolicking around the beach, making sure to slow down any time you pass somebody so that they can get a good look at you. You still need to fix the straps every now and then, and for the most part people just smile and give you little nods like they normally do, but you feel pretty great splashing around in the water and kicking around in the sand while being a member of high society at the same time. Once it starts getting a bit colder, and you start getting a bit tired, you grab your old swimsuit from where you left it folded in the changerooms and make your way back to your house, happy with your successful day. You keep the bikini on for the entire journey back, because again, you want people to know exactly where you stand in the world.

Once you're home, you hang your old bathing suit up again -- it's still nice to have, even if you feel magnitudes prettier in the lime bikini -- and rush to your bed ready to fall asleep in your bikini. You're feeling very chuffed with yourself, and very very beautiful too.