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.

Three weeks into the  relationship and it felt so awkward. It wasn't dramatic at first, No big fights Just little things that piled up like sand against the door, slowly blocking the light.

Daniel still called me his girlfriend, still kissed me good morning in front of the parents. Still snuck into my bunk most nights, teasing me until I'm breathless. He knew exactly how to touch me now, how to make me fall apart quietly so we wouldn't wake Simon or the house.

But outside of those stolen moments, he was...somewhere else.

Mornings, he'd be gone before I woke, out surfing with his friends. he'd disappear to hang out at someone's pool or grab food in town. Sometimes he'd invite me. Most times he didn't, showing up late to family dinner, hair wet from a shower that definitely wasn't at our house, smelling faintly of someone else's coconut sunscreen.

I felt a strange feeling..., something I was not used to. I've always dreamt of dating Daniel but this was not how I've imagined it. 

But the little things kept coming.

He kept on making excuses whenever I bring up conservation that are not convinent for him.  

 A month into our relationship, we were at a big beach party a few houses down. The music was loud, bonfire huge and red cups everywhere.

Daniel was in his element-center of the circle, telling stories, making everyone laugh. Girls orbited him like satellites. One in particular-tall, red bikini, hair in perfect waves-kept finding reasons to touch his arm, his shoulder, his chest.

He didn't stop her.

I stood on the edge of the group, drink warming in my hand, watching.

When she leaned in and whispered something in his ear, he laughed and whispered back.

Something inside me snapped.

I turned and walked away, down the dark beach until the music faded to a dull thump.

I didn't realize Simon had followed until he sat beside me in the sand.

We were quiet for a long time.

Finally, he said, "You don't have to pretend with me, Lis."

I swallowed hard. "I'm not pretending."

"You are." His voice was soft. "You've been pretending for weeks."

Tears stung my eyes.

"He's just... being Daniel," I whispered. "He's always been like this. I knew that."

Simon turned to face me. "That's the problem.  You keep on making excuses for him, can't you see what he's doing to you?"

I looked at him then-really looked. The firelight from far away caught the edges of his face, the worry in his eyes, the tight line of his mouth.

"Why do you care so much?" I asked, voice breaking.

He laughed, bitter and quiet. "You really have to ask?"

The air between us felt suddenly thick.

I opened my mouth, but no words came.

He stood up, brushing sand off his shorts. "Come on. I'll walk you back."

We walked in silence. When we reached the house, he paused at the steps.

"He doesn't see you," Simon said quietly. "Not the way you need to be seen."

I was left confused.

Then he went inside.

I stood there long after, heart pounding. Not bothering to think about it, I went straight to bed.

The house was quiet-everyone still asleep or out early. I slipped out of the bunk room in my oversized T-shirt and shorts, padding barefoot to the kitchen for something to eat.

The counter was cluttered with last night's dishes

Daniel had left his phone on the kitchen counter while he showered. It buzzed-once, twice, three times.

I didn't mean to look.

But the preview lit up the screen.

miss you already, when can we hang again?

From a name I didn't know. With a heart emoji.

My stomach dropped.

When he came downstairs, towel around his waist, I held the phone out.

"Who's Kayla?"

He froze for half a second-then recovered with an easy smile.

"Just a friend."

"She misses you. Wants to hang again."

He sighed, running a hand through his wet hair. "It's not what you think."

"Then what is it?"

He stepped closer, taking the phone gently from my hand. "We hooked up a couple times before you. That's all. She's just being flirty. I haven't seen her since we got together."

I searched his face. "Promise?"

"Promise." He kissed my forehead. "You're the only one I want, Lis. You know that."

I wanted to believe him.

So I did.

He spent the whole day making it up to me-taking me out on the boat again, just us, kissing me slow and deep until I forgot the texts. Telling me I was beautiful. That I was his.

But the crack was getting widening.

He'd cancel plans last minute more often and get defensive when I asked where he'd been.

He did it again tonight. He  had bailed on our movie plans to help a friend with something, I found myself crying in the bunk room.

Simon came in late, saw me curled up pretending to sleep, and paused.

"You don't have to hide it," he said softly.

I sat up, wiping my face. "I'm fine."

"You're not."

He sat on the edge of my bunk-the first time in years.

"Talk to me."

And I did.

Everything spilled out. For some reason, I could not hold back the pain anymore. the distance, the flirting, the texts, the way Daniel made me feel like it was too much.

Simon listened without interrupting.

When I finished, he was quiet for a long moment.

Then "He's never going to change, Lis. Not for you. Not for anyone."

I started crying again.

He pulled me into his arms-careful, like I might break-and held me while I fell apart.

 "I told you so."

Just steady warmth

When the tears slowed, he didn't let go.

"You deserve someone who chooses you every day," he whispered into my hair. "Not just when it's convenient."

I pulled back, looking at him through blurry eyes.

His face was inches from mine.

For one heartbeat, the air shifted.

Then he stood up abruptly.

"Get some sleep," he said, voice rough. "You'll feel better tomorrow."

He climbed into the top bunk without another word.

I lay awake long after, listening to him not sleeping above me.

The fairy tale life I've always imagined was crumbling and I could not do anything about it or if I even wanted to anymore.