Now I'm  sixteen, I have perfected the art of watching without being watched.

I knew exactly how to angle my body on the deck chair so that my sunglasses hid where my eyes were pointed. I knew the rhythm of Daniel's mornings-how he'd emerge from the house at seven sharp with his board, stretch on the sand for exactly four minutes, then paddle out before the crowds arrived. I knew the way his laugh carried farther when he was with his surf friends, louder and sharper than the one he used with family.

And I knew, with a certainty that made my chest ache, that he still didn't see me. Not really.

Not the way I saw him.

This summer, the beach house felt smaller somehow, even though nothing had changed. The same creaky stairs, the same sailboat wallpaper peeling at the corners, the same bunk beds where Simon and I had shared a room since we were kids. But I'm sixteen now-taller, curvier, with sun-bleached highlights in my hair and a bikini I'd bought in secret because it made me feel brave. Mom had raised an eyebrow when I wore it the first day, but she didn't say anything. Just exchanged a look with Mrs. Williams that I pretended not to notice.

Daniel noticed, though.

Or at least, I thought he did.

He'd glance my way sometimes-quick flickers when I walked down to the water or when I laughed at something Simon said. But then his attention would slide away again, back to his phone or his friends or the horizon, like I was just another part of the scenery.

Simon noticed everything.

He always had.

 He's now seventeen-lanky but filling out, with shoulders that had broadened from swimming and a jaw that had lost its boyish softness. His hair was longer, curling at the nape of his neck, and he'd started wearing these wire-rimmed glasses when he read, which made him look older in a quiet, unexpected way.

He still treated me like his best friend. Maybe even more than before.

We spent hours together that summer, the way we always had. Building elaborate sandcastles with moats deep enough to trap the tide. Racing each other into the waves until our lungs burned. Lying on our backs in the shallow water at dusk, letting the current rock us while we talked about everything and nothing.

I told him things I didn't tell anyone else.

About how I was scared of starting junior year-how the popular girls at school intimidated me with their perfect hair and confident laughs. About the college brochures Mom kept leaving on my desk, even though I hadn't decided what I wanted to study. About the way art class made me feel like I could breathe, like the world made sense when I had charcoal under my fingernails.

And, eventually, about boys.

Not Daniel. Never Daniel.

But the others-the ones who asked me to dances or texted me after school or left notes in my locker. The ones who made my stomach flutter in a small, safe way that never quite measured up to the wildfire Daniel ignited with a single glance.

Simon listened to all of it.

He always listened.

It's already a week into the vacation, we stayed up later than usual. The adults had gone to bed early after too much wine, and Daniel was out with his surf crew at some bonfire down the beach. Simon and I sat on the deck with a stolen bowl of popcorn, our feet dangling over the edge, the ocean a black void below us.

I was telling him about Jake-from my art class. How he'd asked me to the spring formal and how I'd said yes because he was sweet, even if we are just friends and drew almost as well as I did

Simon nodded, tossing popcorn into his mouth. "He's a good guy," he said. "Treats you right?"

"Yeah. He's... nice."

Simon went quiet for a minute. Then: "Nice is important."

I laughed. "You sound like my mom."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Just saying. You deserve someone who sees how awesome you are, Lis. Someone who doesn't make you feel like you have to prove anything."

I bumped his shoulder with mine. "You're sweet."

He looked away, toward the dark water. "Yeah. Sweet."

The word hung between us, heavier than I intended. His hands tightened on the deck railing and he quickly change the subject.

The next day, Daniel came back from surfing earlier than usual. I was sketching on the patio-trying to capture the way the morning light hit the waves-when he dropped onto the chair beside me, still dripping.

"Whatcha working on?" he asked, leaning over without waiting for permission.

I tilted the sketchbook away instinctively. "Nothing. Just messing around."

"Come on. Let me see."

I hesitated, then turned it toward him. It was a study of the shoreline, all soft curves and sharp shadows.

He studied it longer than I expected. "You're really good, Lisa."

My name in his mouth still did things to me. Dangerous things.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

He leaned back, stretching his arms along the back of the chair. His fingers brushed my shoulder-barely or Accidentally.

"You coming out with us later?" he asked. "Big group heading to the pier. And trust me, there will be Music, food trucks, the usuals."

I tried to play it cool. "Maybe."

He grinned. "You should. It'll be fun."

Then he was gone, jogging inside for a shower, leaving me breathless and overanalyzing every word.

Simon appeared a minute later, towel around his neck, hair wet from his own swim.

"Was that Daniel?" he asked.

"Yeah. Inviting us to the pier thing tonight."

Simon nodded slowly. "You gonna go?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

He sat down where Daniel had been, but he didn't sprawl like his brother. He sat forward, elbows on knees, staring at the sketchbook still open in my lap.

"That's beautiful," he said quietly.

I smiled. "Thanks."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "You know you don't have to wait for him to notice you, right?"

My heart stuttered. "What?"

Simon's eyes met mine-steady, serious behind his glasses. "Daniel. You don't have to wait for him to see you. Someone else already does."

The air felt suddenly thick.

I laughed, but it came out forced. "What are you talking about?"

He opened his mouth then Closed it.

For one terrifying second, I thought he was going to say it.

Instead, he sighed Daniel's name under his breath, like a prayer or a curse-I couldn't tell which.

"Nothing," he said finally. "Forget it."

He stood up abruptly. "I'm gonna grab breakfast. You want anything?"

I shook my head, confused and unsettled.

He left me there, staring at the empty space where he'd been.

That night, I went to the pier. Daniel was surrounded by his usual crowd-loud, beautiful people who made me feel small and awkward in my sundress. He waved when he saw me, pulled me into the group with an arm around my shoulders that lasted exactly three seconds before he was distracted again.

Simon stayed close, but not too close.

He bought me a lemonade when I said I was thirsty. He stood between me and the crowd when it got too pushy near the stage. But when the band started playing a slow song and couples paired off, he disappeared.

I found him later, sitting alone on the sand beyond the lights, skipping stones into the dark water.

"You okay?" I asked, sitting beside him.

"Yeah. Just needed air."

We sat in silence for a while, listening to the muffled music from the pier.

Finally, I nudged him. "You were weird today."

He huffed a laugh. "Was I?"

"That thing you said,  about someone already seeing me."

He went very still.

Then he picked up another stone, turned it over in his fingers.

"I just meant..." He trailed off. Threw the stone. It skipped four times before sinking. "You're worth more than waiting around for someone who might never look up."

I swallowed. "You think Daniel doesn't see me?"

Simon didn't answer right away.

When he did, his voice was soft. Too soft.

"I think he sees exactly what he wants to see. And I think you deserve someone better."

My heart pounded.

I wanted to ask what he meant.

But then Daniel's voice cut through the dark-"Lis! You down there?"-and the moment shattered.

Simon stood first, offering me his hand to pull me up.

His palm was warm. Steady.

I took it.

But when Daniel jogged over, grinning and carefree, I let go.

Simon's hand fell to his side.

Daniel didn't seem to notice the tension. He just slung an arm around my shoulders and steered me back toward the lights. "Come on, you're missing the good songs."

Behind us, Simon followed at a distance.

We went back to the pier, The band had shifted to slower music-old songs everyone knew the words to. Couples swayed together in the sand, shadows dancing in the firelight.

Daniel handed me a drink-something sweet and fizzy-and pulled me closer to him. 

"Dance with me," he said. It wasn't a question.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I let him lead me into the small crowd. His hands settled on my waist, light but sure. Mine went to his shoulders, careful, like I was afraid he'd vanish if I held on too tight.

We moved slowly, not really dancing so much as swaying. The fire crackled beside us. The ocean roared in the background. Everyone else faded away.

"You look different tonight," he said, voice low.

"Good different?"

He smiled-that slow, dangerous smile that undid me every time. "Very good."

I couldn't breathe.

His thumb traced a small circle on my hip. Once. Twice.

Then he leaned down and kissed me. I thought my heart would explode.

The kiss was soft at first-barely there, like he was testing. When I didn't pull away, he deepened it, one hand sliding up to cup my jaw. He tasted like salt and whatever was in that drink, and I melted into him like I'd been waiting my whole life for this exact moment.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.

"Been wanting to do that for a while," he murmured.

I couldn't speak. Couldn't think.

All I could do was smile like an idiot.

He kissed me again, quicker this time, then tugged me back toward the group, his arm still around me like it belonged there.

I didn't see Simon watching from the edge of the firelight.

Didn't see the way his face went blank.

Didn't see him turn and walk away down the dark beach, hands shoved deep in his pockets.

All I saw was Daniel.

All I felt was the ghost of his mouth on mine.

After the whole party, I went back to my room and I couldn't stop thinking about what just happened. I laid in the bottom bunk replaying the kiss over and over until my lips tingled, I told myself it was everything I'd ever wanted. 

I can't believe Daniel finally noticed me...

I spent the next two days thinking about everything that just happened.

Every time I closed my eyes, I was back at that pier-Daniel's hands on my waist, his mouth on mine, the way the world had narrowed to just the two of us and the crackle of flames. I replayed it endlessly...the soft press of his lips, the quiet confession that he'd wanted to do that for a while. It felt like a dream I was terrified to wake up from.

Simon barely spoke to me the next day.

He wasn't cruel, he was never cruel but the easy rhythm we'd always had was gone. Mornings, he'd leave for his run before I woke up. Afternoons, he'd disappear with a book or his guitar. Evenings, he sat on the opposite side of the fire pit, laughing with the adults or scrolling on his phone.

I told myself he was just giving me space. That he understood this was big for me. That he was happy for me.

But every time I caught him looking at me when he thought I wasn't watching, his expression was shuttered. Closed off in a way I'd never seen before.

Daniel, on the other hand, was everywhere.

Not in the overwhelming, possessive way I'd once imagined. More like he'd finally decided I was worth noticing, and now he couldn't quite stop. He'd brush past me in the kitchen and let his hand linger on my lower back. He'd save me the best seat on the deck. He'd text me from the attic room when we were both supposed to be asleep.

On the fourth night after the pier, he sent a different text.

Meet me on the pier. Midnight,Just us.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I stared at the screen until it dimmed, then lit it up again to reread the words.

I should have hesitated. Should have wondered why he didn't just ask me in person. Should have noticed that he hadn't once held my hand in front of anyone else, hadn't acknowledged what happened at the pier beyond those secret touches.

But I didn't notice any of that, I only saw the invitation.

I waited until the house was quiet. Simon had gone to bed early-claiming a headache. I slipped out of the bunk in the dark, careful not to let the ladder creak. Pulled on shorts and a hoodie over my tank top. Tiptoed down the stairs and out the back door, the cool night air raising goosebumps on my arms.

The beach was silver under the moon. The pier stretched out like a dark ribbon over the water, empty except for one figure at the very end.

Daniel.

He leaned against the railing, hands in his pockets, staring out at the black ocean. When he heard my footsteps on the wooden planks, he turned.

And smiled.

Not the cocky grin he wore with his friends. Something softer. Real.

"You came," he said.

"Of course I did."

He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. Without a word, he cupped my face in both hands and kissed me. Not soft this time. Not testing. Deep and certain, like he'd been waiting days for this.

I kissed him back, my hands fisting in his hoodie, pulling him closer. The world tilted. The waves crashed below us. Everything else disappeared.

When we broke apart, we were both breathing hard.

"I've been thinking about that since the last time," he said against my forehead.

"Me too."

He laughed quietly, then took my hand and led me to the end of the pier. We sat on the edge, legs dangling over the water, shoulders touching.

For a while, we just sat. He traced patterns on the back of my hand with his thumb. I leaned my head on his shoulder, afraid to speak and break whatever this was.

Finally, he said, "I didn't expect this."

"What part?"

"You." He turned to look at me. "I've known you forever, Lis. You were always just.... the little girl who cried when we made her watch Jaws."

I laughed, embarrassed. "I was nine."

"I know. But somewhere along the line, you stopped being that girl, you changed."

My heart was pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it.

"I've liked you for years," I admitted, voice small. "Like... a lot."

He went still.

Then he kissed me again, slower this time, his tongue teasing the edge of my lips until I opened for him. The kiss deepened, hungry and unhurried, his hands roaming now-one sliding up my back under the hoodie, the other resting on my thigh, fingers tracing lazy circles that sent sparks through me.

I shifted in his lap, turning to face him, straddling his hips without breaking the kiss. His hands tightened on my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. I could feel the heat of him, the hard press of his body, and it made my head spin.

His mouth moved to my jaw, then my neck, kissing a hot line down to my collarbone. My breath hitched when his hand slipped under my tank top, palm flat against my stomach, inching higher. His fingers brushed the underside of my breast, then higher still, grazing my nipple through the thin fabric of my bra. I gasped, a soft, involuntary sound, and he groaned against my skin, his thumb circling now, teasing until it hardened under his touch.

The sensation was overwhelming and intense, like nothing I'd ever felt. My hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging in as he kissed me again, harder, his other hand tangling in my hair. His fingers kept moving, pinching lightly, and I arched into him, lost in the heat and the want and the dizzying reality of Daniel wanting me like this.

But it was too much, too fast.

My body was racing ahead of my brain, and a tiny spark of nerves flickered through the haze. I tensed just slightly but he felt it.

He froze. His hand stilled, then slowly slid back to my waist. He pulled back, breathing hard, eyes searching mine in the dim light.

"Hey," he said, voice rough but gentle. "We should... slow down."

I nodded, face burning, my lips swollen and tingling. "Yeah."

He rested his forehead against mine, both of us catching our breath. "You okay?"

"Mm-hmm." I was embarrassed, exhilarated, overwhelmed.

He kissed me softly-chaste, almost-then shifted me so I was sitting beside him again, his arm around my shoulders.

"Be my girlfriend," he said suddenly, voice low and serious.

It wasn't a question.

But I answered anyway.

"Yes."

He smiled, pulling me closer. "Good. Because I don't want anyone else kissing you."

I grinned so wide it hurt.

We stayed out there for hours after that. Talking, Kissing-gentler now, less frenzied. He told me about college-how overwhelming it was, how he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life. I told him about my art, how I dreamed of studying in Paris one day. He listened like he really cared. Like I mattered.

When the sky started to lighten at the edges, we knew we had to go back. He walked me to the deck, fingers laced with mine the whole way.

At the door, he kissed me one last time-soft, lingering.

"See you tomorrow, girlfriend."

The word sent butterflies exploding through my stomach.

I slipped inside, floating up the stairs, and crawled into my bunk just as the first birds started singing.

Simon was awake.

I froze in the darkness, one knee on the mattress.

He was sitting up on the top bunk, elbows on his knees, staring at the wall.

 "You're up early," I whispered, trying to sound normal.

"Couldn't sleep," he said. His voice l flat.

I climbed the rest of the way in, pulling the blanket up to my chin. "Everything  okay?"

Silence.

 "Where were you?"

My stomach dropped.

"Just... couldn't sleep either. Went for a walk."

Another long silence.

He didn't call me out. Didn't push.

But when he finally lay back down, the bunk creaked louder than usual.

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window, there was something on my pillow.

Not a shell this time.

A single strand of seaweed, dried and brittle.

I picked it up, confused.

Simon was already gone.

I didn't see him all day.

And when Daniel found me on the beach that afternoon, pulled me into his arms right in front of everyone, and kissed me like he couldn't wait another second, I just told myself everything was perfect.

 I turn around, to see someone staring hard at me in disapproval.

The rest of that summer became a blur.

Daniel was mine, Officially. The word girlfriend still sent a thrill through me every time he said it-and he said it often, usually with that slow smile that made my knees weak.

He didn't hide me anymore.

The morning after the pier, he'd find me on the beach sketching, dropped down beside me in the sand, and kissed me deeply right there in front of everyone. His friends whooped. My mom raised an eyebrow from the deck but didn't look displeased. Even Simon, who'd appeared with coffee for the adults, had paused for a split second before continuing on like nothing had happened.

After that, Daniel was... attentive. In his own way.

He'd pull me onto his lap during bonfires. Hold my hand walking along the shoreline. Text me good-morning selfies from the water, hair dripping, grin wide. He'd sneak into the bunk room late at night after Simon was asleep-tiptoeing down from the attic and crawl into my narrow bottom bunk, wrapping himself around me until we fell asleep tangled together.

We didn't go further than we had on the pier. Not yet. He'd kiss me until we were both

breathless, hands roaming under clothes, teasing but always stopping before it got too far. "Not here," he'd whisper against my neck. "Not like this."

I believed he meant it.

The physical side was intense more than I'd ever experienced. Late-night make-out sessions in hidden corners of the beach house, or out on the sand when everyone else was asleep. His hands knew exactly how to touch me, sliding under my shirt, thumbs brushing over my nipples until I arched against him, biting my lip to stay quiet. I learned the sounds he made when I kissed his neck, the way his breath hitched when I rocked against him.

It was intoxicating. Addictive.

I was in love. Or at least, I was in something that felt like love-big and bright and consuming.

But there were cracks, small ones I tried to ignore.

Like how Daniel only ever touched me when we were alone. Or when his friends weren't around. How he'd pull his hand away if one of them walked up, turning the moment into a joke. How he never posted anything about us online-not a single photo, not even a story. When I asked once shyly, if he wanted to take a picture together, he jokingly declined and I didn't bother to read much meaning to it.

I told myself it was because we were keeping it private. 

Simon watched it all from a distance.

He wasn't rude or didn't avoid me completely. But the easy friendship we'd had for years had shifted into something careful, like we were strangers sharing a room.

He'd ask how my day was. Pass me the sunscreen without being asked but the late-night talks were gone or the inside jokes.

Now, when Daniel pulled me away for another walk, Simon's eyes would follow us for a second too long before he looked away. I missed him. But I was too wrapped up in Daniel to do anything about it.

I was alone on the deck, sketching the cove while everyone else was inside napping off lunch. My phone rang-Stephanie's name lighting up the screen.

I answered immediately, grinning. "Steph!"

"Oh my God, finally," she said, voice bright but a little sharp around the edges. "I've been dying for details. Your texts have been so cryptic. What's going on down there?".

I haven't been able to communicate with her for a while now.

I bit my lip, excitement bubbling over. "Okay, you're not going to believe this. Daniel asked me out. Like, officially... I'm his girlfriend now."

Silence for a beat.

Then. "Wait... seriously? Daniel Williams?"

"Yes!" I laughed, hugging my knees to my chest. "It happened a few nights ago. He asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes, and it's been... amazing. He's so sweet, Steph. It's a dream come true. 

Another pause.

"Wow," she said finally, her tone high and enthusiastic but I knew her well enough to hear the strain underneath. "That's... huge. I mean, you've only been crushing on him since, what, forever?"

"Pretty much." I couldn't stop smiling. "It feels unreal. Like all those years of waiting finally paid off."

"Yeah," she said, laughing a little too loudly. "I bet. God, I can't even imagine. Daniel Williams finally noticing you. That's like... every girl's dream down there, right?"

I hesitated. "I guess?"

"Oh, come on, you know it is. He's always had girls chasing him. And now he picked you." Her voice dipped slightly. "Lucky." she hesitated 

But she recovered fast. "I'm happy for you, Lis. Really. You deserve this. It's like a movie."

"Thanks, Steph." I softened. "It really does feel like that."

"So... details. Is he a good kisser? Has he said he loves you yet? Tell me everything."

I spilled it all-the midnight pier confession, the way he couldn't keep his hands off me, the boat day, the late-night cuddles. I left out the parts where he stopped us from going further; those felt too private.

Stephanie made all the right noises-gasps, squeals, "no way!" but every so often there was a beat too long before she responded.

At the end, "Well, congrats, babe. You got the golden boy. Just... don't let it go to your head, okay? Some of us are still waiting for our turn."she laughed 

I laughed, thinking she was joking. "Your turn will come."

"Yeah," she said lightly. "Sure."

We talked a little longer about her summer job, about mutual friends back home but the energy had shifted. When we hung up, I felt a tiny pang of unease.

But I brushed it off.

Stephanie was my best friend. She was happy for me.

She had to be.

I was there for a while until I felt a hand wrapped around me.

"Hey, what are you doing here all alone?" He kissed me on my shoulders.

"Nothing. The weather is so nice today". 

"You want to go surfing with me?". Without thinking twice, I nodded my head happily.

He took me out on his surfboard.

Just the two of us. He paddled us past the break, into deeper water where the waves were gentle swells instead of crashes. I sat in front of him, legs in the water, his arms around me as he balanced us.

"This is my favorite place," he said into my ear. "Out here, everything else disappears."

I leaned back against his chest. "It's perfect."

He kissed my temple. "You're perfect."

We stayed out there for hours letting the ocean rock us.

When we finally paddled back in, the sun was low.

Later that night, Daniel snuck into my bunk again.

We made out until I was dizzy and he stopped immediately.

"Hey," he whispered, pulling back. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

I nodded, grateful. "I know. I just... not yet."

He smiled, kissing my forehead. "Whenever you're ready. No rush."

I believed him. He stayed with me till the next day. I woke up to find him gone, back to the attic before anyone noticed. I picked up my phone to check for new messages and there was a new text from him.

You're the best part of this summer.

I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.

After breakfast,I went to the deck which has now become my favorite place to sketch. my phone buzzed again, Not Daniel this time.

It was from Jake, the boy from art class back home. Jack and I weren't really close but we share the same view and we talk sometimes.

Hey. Heard you're at the beach all summer. Having fun?

I smiled, typing back a quick reply.

Yeah, it's been amazing. How's your summer going?

We chatted for a bit, nothing flirty, just catching up. He sent a photo of a new painting he was working on and I sent one of the sunsets I'd sketched the night before.

It felt normal, like having a friend who understood the art side of me.

I didn't notice Daniel was behind me,  glancing through my phone.

"Who's that?"

I looked back in shock "Oh, I didn't know you were there. It Jake, from school."

He nodded, but his jaw tightened slightly. 

"He's just showing me a painting he's working on."

Daniel sat down beside me, arm around my shoulders. "Cool."

But he pulled me closer than usual. Kissed my neck in a way that felt... possessive.

I laughed, pushing him away playfully. "People are around."

He grinned. "So? ...."You talk to him a lot?"

"Not really. Just today."

He nodded, staring out at the water. "You don't need to, you know.... Talk to other guys."

I frowned. "It was just about art."

"I know." He turned to me, expression serious. "I just... I don't share well, Lis. You're mine now."

The words should have thrilled me.

They did, mostly.

But there was something in his tone-something sharp underneath-that made me pause.

I pushed it down.

He kissed me then, deep and claiming, and I let myself get lost in it.

When I got back to the bunk room that night, Simon was awake again.

Sitting on the edge of his bunk, guitar in his lap but not playing.

"You're out late," he said quietly.

I hesitated in the doorway. "Yeah. With Daniel."

He nodded, he Didn't look up.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

Long pause. Then "You happy?"

The question caught me off guard.

"Yeah," I said. "Really happy."

He strummed a single chord-low, mournful.

"Good," he said. "That's... good."

But when he finally lay down, his back to me, I heard him sigh. I ignored, curled up in my bunk, replaying Daniel's kisses  and his words.

You're mine now.

I smiled into my pillow and closed my eyes to sleep.