A LOUD SHRILL ran across the ship—indicating that they had arrived on the island. Laavanya climbed down her soft bed that had succumbed her whole for the last four hours. She picked up her bags and opened the door—almost running into Ryker.

He looked at her but didn't say a word. He took a step back and let her leave first. She nodded at him as a thank you that she hoped he would decipher and walked past him towards the exit. Julie was standing on the port when Laavanya climbed down the stairs. She jumped to hug her best friend before Laav could even set her luggage down.

"You're here!" Julie shrieked with happiness as she pulled herself apart. "I am so excited for this summer. Dad made some changes in the—" She paused and looked at her swollen nose and dark circles that were now visible since Laavanya's makeup washed down with her tears earlier. "Are you okay?"

Laavanya shook her head with a pressed smile. "Yes, of course. I am fine."

Julie was unconvinced. "Is this about the interv—"

"It's fine, Jules. I am here to have fun with you." Julie's eyes went past Laavanya. She turned around to see who Julie was looking at. Her gaze followed Ryker as he silently got down the ship—his eyes on the phone. He was wearing a white unbuttoned shirt and blue shorts with glasses on top of his head. Even though she had lunged at him, this was the first time she noticed a scar stretched from the valley of his chest down to the edge of his belly button. "What's with the scar?" She whispered silently to Julie when she met her eyes again.

"Swimming dive accident." Laavanya scrunched up her nose at his reply and turned around. Ryker towered over her. "You could've asked me. No need to go behind my back. Wait...that's right. You don't believe me." Laavanya watched him for a moment—unsure if he was being playful or not.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" She questioned. He typed something on his phone and submerged his phone into his pocket. Laavanya glanced at Julie who took it as her cue to suspiciously eye her before walking away. "I...I am sorry about hitting you. I don't know what got into me. It wasn't y—"

"Hey," he intervened. "It's alright. I caught you at a bad time. I get it."

"You do?"

"Yeah, no hard feelings." He shrugged. "Word of advice, I get that you're going through something but you're on an island. Away from the whole busy world. Use that. Let loose. And have fun."

"I guess so. Um, see you around?"

"It's a big island, I hardly think you'd want to see me around." A toothy grin appeared on his face and that made Laavanya relax visibly.

"Yeah, of course. I'd love to know the story behind the scar, though. God, I hope it's something embarrassing," Laavanya giggled.

He smiled. "Never, Shaw," he said before walking away.

***

"So, what was that with you and Ryker earlier at the port?" Julie asked as soon as they walked into the mansion that Julie's paternal grandfather owned. Laavanya's eyes travelled around the living room spread out in front of them. Julie's father—who was sitting on the couch reading a book—lifted his chin when Laavanya approached him with Julie by her side.

"Not now," she murmured to her best friend and smiled when he stood up to hug her. "Andre, it's so good to see you again. Why are you wearing a suit? Are you leaving?"

"Julie baby, you didn't tell her yet?" He looked at his daughter for a moment before smiling at Laavanya. "We have a small surprise party in the ballroom in an hour. Eat something and I'll see you there. I'll go check up on my wife." He smiled at the two of them before he dropped the book and went in the search of Mrs. Morris.

"It's so cute how much your parents love each other," Laavnaya said, resting her head on Julie's shoulder as she watched Andre's retreating figure.

"Yeah, it's nauseating." They stayed like that for a minute. "Anyway, let's go get ready. Do you need something to eat?"

"No, I used the room service on the ship."

While I was drowning in self-hatred, she wanted to add. But she didn't. She wasn't planning on telling Julie anything yet. Julie needed this time away too and Laavanya wasn't going to steal it from her. They hooked their arms in each other and made their way to each of their rooms—which, without a doubt, were beside each other.

Laavanya picked up a maroon dress that tickled her knees. The dress had cuts on her hips and she questioned herself if it was appropriate for the event. She brushed her hand around her flat stomach and frowned. She wetted her lips and watched herself in the full length mirror. She had dark circles and textured skin around her cheeks. She was tired—and her body didn't hide that. She pushed herself forward and sat on the bin bag with her makeup pouch. She hid every part of her face that showed that she was exhausted.

Right when she was done with her makeup and tied her hair up, Julie walked in through the open door. "Ooh, I love that dress." She commented and plopped on the bed. "Wait, is that the one we got three years ago that you couldn't get into? I thought you—" The realisation hit her. Julie walked to the other side of the bed and asked, "Have you stopped eating, Laav?"

"No." She sighed. "But I don't spend much on food anymore. I've cut down on snacks."

"Do you need help with money, babe? I can loan you for—"

"No, no. It's good for me. I had been eating unhealthy a lot anyway. I'll be fine once I—" She cleared her throat. "--I get a job."

"I am sure Piper and Lawson Publishers will call in a day or two with some good news."

"Definitely. Let's go to the party but can you do my eyeliner first?"

Julie scoffed playfully as she took the eyeliner from her hand. "All these years and you still struggle with a perfect wing. What would you do without me?"

Once Julie and Laavanya were dressed and had taken a bunch of mirror selfies, they made their way to the ballroom. They were fairly late to the party yet the room wasn't filled by the rest of the family. Apart from the servants offering snacks and drinks along with a couple older people, the room was empty.

A waiter stopped in front of them. Julie picked a glass of champagne and murmured, "I don't want to face people yet, I am gonna find Savannah." She didn't wait for Laavanya and went her way to search for her favourite cousin.

Laavanya caught the eyes of Grandfather John who was talking to his oldest son and his wife. The moment their eyes met, he cut their conversation and moved in the direction of Laavanya. His arms were spread out as he approached to hug her. "Oh, Laavanya." The strout man gave her a warm hug. "It's so great to see you. Still smelling like coconut and wildflowers. I love it."

Laavanya was smiling ear-to-ear. "Thank you, Grandpa. How are you doing?"

"Oh, I miss Mary terribly. The mansion gets lonely without her. But it's good to have all of you here again." He sighed. His eyes went to the entrance of the ballroom. "Anyway, I have a few guests to attend to. I'll see you. Have fun."

Laavanya found Julie in a corner with a couple of her cousins. "Your family is full of lovers," she whispered before greeting everyone. The room was now filled with people. There was soft music playing and the crowd was chattering with one another. Laavanya tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear compulsively and looked around the wide room. But her eyes met someone's on the other end of the room.

Ryker raised a bottle at her with a smirk on his face. "Cheers," he mouthed. Laavanya was about to question it when a static sound evaporated throughout. Ryker looked hazily at the direction from which the sound came from and so did she.

Andre stood alone in a cleared area with a huge smile on his face. Everyone silenced as he said, "Attention, everybody!" He looked at someone from the crowd. "As you may have been wondering what this impromptu party is for, I stand here with an answer—or more like, good news. My nephew and your cousin or friend, Steve Morris, has graduated college and will be working in my firm from next month." Everyone burst into loud applause as Andre completed his announcement. "Steve, please come here and say a few words."

Steve smiled as he walked to Andre. He took the microphone from his hand and turned towards the crowd. He stood straight in his blue tux and his black hair gelled back. He took a deep breath and said, "Goddamn, it feels good to get away with college." A courtesy laugh echoed from everyone's mouth. "Sorry, dad. I know you're one of the Yale trustees but I gotta admit I hated college. The smelly roommates and stuffy lectures—ugh—but it's finally over and I am free to screw Uncle Andre's job. Joking!" He laughed and this time, the crowd let out a real laugh. "Jokes aside, thank you for this party and giving me a chance, Uncle Andie." He shoots a smile at Andre.

Georgia turned to Julie and me amidst his thank you speech. "I am sure he couldn't get a job and that's why Uncle Andre asked him out. Steve is one of the least brightest Morris ever." She chuckled and drank some champagne from her glass. "I am happy for him, though. Poor boy didn't have to go through all that rejection."

Great. I was here to get away with all the job talk and here we are. Life sucks. Laavanya thought.

She grabbed a glass of red wine when Steve made his way towards the group. "Hey, Laav. Happy to see you." He jumped for a hug which Laavanya answered stiffly.

"Congratulations, Steve." She formed a convincing smile. She placed the glass back onto the tray "I have a phone call to make. I'll see you around," She said and turned around. As soon as she walked away from him, the fake smile disappeared. She slumped her shoulders and made her way to someone she did not expect. He caught her approaching him and a confused grin plastered on his face.

Two of the guests he was with stopped talking when she arrived. Laavanya snatched the bottle from Ryker's hand and read the label on the bottle. She peered back at Ryker after taking a quick sniff. "What's in this?"

He stepped forward and traced the words written on the label. "World's finest red wine," he recited.

She scoffed. "I know you enough to know that it doesn't have wine or champagne."

It was a lie. All she knows is the assumptions she makes and the rumours she has heard.

"Whiskey," he answered. "I don't think you'll be able to handl—"

She brought the bottle to her lips. She took a big sip and her throat burnt as the drink slid down. She cringed and looked back at him. "You're not getting it back."

She spun on her heels and headed straight out of the room.

christmas is just around the corner—so I have to ask, summer or winter?