"JULIE, NO. SUMMER clothes go in that section!" Laavanya yelled over her shoulder as she caught her best friend sneaking a piece of yellow cloth into the dark colour pile. "And please, fold them! No rolling."

"Why does it matter? You're going home anyway!"

Laavanya huffed and stumped towards the other side of the bed. She snatched the clothes out of Julie's hand and began folding them. "Things need to have a system or they end up being messy." She placed the clothes in the suitcase. "You've been my best friend for so many years. How do you not know that?"

Julie lifted her chin to look at her. "I did." She gave a toothy grin. "I just think it's stupid. System or not—life takes an unexpected turn anyway."

"Don't turn it into a philosophical lesson." Laavanya eyed her. "And hurry up, I am getting late. My ferry leaves in an hour. I can't be late."

"You have so many ships and boats right under your tips. You can just ask for one shoe and grandpa would gladly give you glass slippers. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves anyone on this planet—except for grandma of course."

"It's easier to say than believe it and besides—the ferry is fine." She zipped her suitcase and took the help of Julie to make it stand. She pulled out its handle and looked at her best friend. She gave her a hug. "Don't miss me too much at the party."

"And don't be scared of your potential. Don't let a man ever control you again, got it?" They separated and Laavanya nodded. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Laavanya pulled it out to find her mother's name flashing on her screen. Julie deciphered her hesitance and squeezed her shoulder. "You should take that. I'll be downstairs."

"Hey, Ma."

"Laavanya, hi. How are you? Are you with the Morris'? How is everyone?" Her mother replied from the other side of the world. Her voice was loud and excited—as if she hadn't left her when Laavanya was seven and contacted her until she turned sixteen.

"I am fine, they are fine."

"So, tell me more. Are you excited for the–that party?"

"Um, I am not going. I have work. I–uh, speaking of which, I have a ride to catch so I will call you later." Laavanya hung up before her mother had a chance to reply. She put her head in her hands for a minute before wetting her lips and taking the suitcase handle in her hand. She was about to roll it out of the room when another palm grazed against the back of her hand to hold the grip. The blood rushed to the spot of the contact when she looked up and saw Ryker give her a tight lipped smile.

"Let me help you with that," he whispered.

Laavanya didn't argue—she already had two other handbags to carry. She looked at him gratefully and they walked out of the room down the stairs where Julie waited for her. Ryker didn't say much but he helped them lodge the luggage into the golf cart. Julie hopped on the driver's side and waited for Laavanya to jump in.

She turned to him for a moment. She waited for him to say something and when he parted his lips—just for a second—she hoped he would whisper a soft goodbye but he didn't.

A small frown lingered on her face as she spun back towards the golf cart. She lifted her knee to get on the vehicle when Ryker took her palm in his and helped her up. She looked at their entwined fingers before meeting his eyes. A flare of hazel rose in his eyes but they didn't exchange any words. She silently sat in the cart and Julie drove off.

"What in the world was that?" Her best friend squealed at the top of her lungs once they were a significant distance away from the mansion.

"What?"

"You and Ryker!" She said as a matter of factly. A colour of red tint rose of Laavanya's tan face. "The tension, the sexy unreadable eye contact. Oh my God, you like him!"

"What? No. I am not a teen, okay! I—"

"You do!" She laughed. "Just admit it."

Laavanya stayed silent—partly because she knew the answer.

im sure you very well know where the golf cart scene comes from <3