"Wake up!" The door slammed open, and my brother barged in, clanging two pans together like a maniac.

I groaned, yanking the blanket over my head in a desperate attempt to muffle the obnoxious noise.

"Liam, seriously?" I muttered, my voice barely audible over the relentless clatter.

Beside me, James stirred, lifting his head just enough to glare toward the doorway. "What the hell, man?" he growled, his voice thick with irritation. "Why? Just why?"

Liam finally stopped, laughing at our misery. "Breakfast is ready, lazy asses," he called out with a laugh before disappearing out the door, his chuckling echoing down the hall.

James groaned, flopping back onto his pillow.

"Come on, we have a huge day ahead of us," Liam added, his voice trailing off as we heard the same chaotic banging coming from Emma's room moments later.

"Are you fucking serious!" Dylan yelled.

I glanced over at James, who groaned dramatically, covering his face with a pillow. Annoyed, I looked at my alarm clock.

"Are you kidding me, Liam? It's 7 a.m.!" I shouted.

James laughed, sitting up on his bed. "Told you you'd need energy," he said, chuckling as he got up and stretched, wearing only his boxers.

I tried not to look, I really did.. but my eyes betrayed me for just a second. Oh. My. God. I felt my face heat up instantly.

When James turned his head toward me, I looked away pretended to be fascinated by literally anything else in the room. Seriously Hailey snap out of it!

I let out a small cough to break the awkward silence and sat up, watching as James casually grabbed his clothes. I waited for him to leave the room before quickly changing myself.

So much for sleeping in on my last day before college, I thought with a sigh, putting on my hoodie.

From the hallway, the loud pan-banging echoed again.

"Liam, I swear to God!" Emma's frustrated yell made me laugh as I headed toward the kitchen.

When I walked in, Amber and Liam were seated around the table, clearly enjoying the chaos my brother had unleashed. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Liam teased with a grin as I sat down, glaring at him.

"So, first of all, Dylan is going to cook us a great breakfast," Liam announced confidently, clapping his hands together.

"I am?" Dylan laughed, raising an eyebrow as he andEmma came in. "Good to know."

Amber chimed in, her usual enthusiasm lighting up the room. "And since we just moved into this cabin in the woods, obviously we're going to take a nice morning walk!"

"Then we'll hit the beach, and we'll finish the day with a campfire," Liam added, his excitement matching Amber's as she cheered.

James leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a playful roll of his eyes. "When you said you'd plan something for us, I didn't think it would be this early."

Amber stuck her tongue out at him. "Come on, it's going to be fun!" I sure hope so.

-

We just came back from our walk, I love the fact that the cabin is in the woods but still close enough to college, like 15 minutes away. Dylan and Emma kept whinning the whole time but we still had fun, its so beautiful outside.

We went to put on our swimsuits, mine was a blue bikini. It was the one I bought last year and lets say I've grown a little since then. It still fits but we could see my ass a little bit. I looked at myself in the mirror, It doesn't look that bad. I walked out and bumped into something hard.

"Whoa there, princess," James said, steadying me with a smirk as I stumbled slightly. He was shirtless, a towel slung over his shoulder, and his toned chest was impossible to ignore. I immediately felt my face heat up.

"Sorry," I muttered, quickly stepping back, avoiding his eyes.

His gaze lingered for a moment too long, and I noticed him glance down at my bikini before meeting my eyes again, that familiar cocky smirk playing on his lips. "Nice swimsuit," he said casually.

"Thanks?" I replied walking away. Why do I have the feeling he's looking at my ass? Shaking off the moment, I took a deep breath and headed outside, where the others were already waiting by the car, ready for the beach.

"Hailey, you're so cute," Amber said with a playful grin, adjusting her vibrant red bikini. She looked amazing and confident, as always, showing off her toned figure without a care in the world.

"Thanks," I muttered, my cheeks slightly warm. Next to Amber, I always felt a little more self-conscious, but she never made me feel bad about it.

Emma and Dylan strolled in then, hand in hand. Emma wore a classy black one-piece that fit her perfectly, complementing her natural beauty.

"You both look stunning," Emma said, smiling at us. "I feel like a grandma next to you two, though."

"Oh, please," Amber teased, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You're killing it in that suit, don't even."

Dylan smirked, sliding an arm around Emma's waist. "She's right, you look amazing."

I smiled at their easy banter, already feeling the excitement for the day ahead. "Alright, let's get to the beach before Liam decides to bring the pans out again," I joked, making everyone laugh.

-

We piled into the cars and drove about ten minutes before the ocean came into view. I've always loved the beach, its so beautiful and today, we were lucky to find it nearly empty.

As soon as we parked, Liam and Amber took off like excited kids, laughing and chasing each other. Liam caught her around the waist and spun her in the air, both of them grinning from ear to ear. It was such a sweet sight; I couldn't help but smile. They were adorable together, and I was genuinely happy for them.

"Yeah, sure, just run off while we get to carry everything," Emma said, rolling her eyes but grinning. Her comment made us laugh as we gathered the stuff from the car. James grabbed the cooler while the rest of us grabbed the chairs and towels.

We wandered across the warm sand, finding the perfect spot to settle down. I spread my towel on the ground and stretched out, the sun immediately warming my skin. It felt so relaxing, with the sound of the waves and the distant seagulls.

I glanced toward the water and saw Liam and Amber already splashing around, laughing like kids.

"Someone's excited," Dylan commented with a smirk.

"I wanna make a sandcastle!" Emma announced enthusiastically, grabbing Dylan's hand and dragging him toward the water before he could protest.

I chuckled and turned back to the cooler just as James pulled out a beer. To my surprise, he handed me a juice box instead.

"Thanks," I said with a soft laugh, taking it from him. I poked the straw through and sipped, looking out at the sea. James sat down beside me, close enough for his presence to be noticeable but not uncomfortably so. Neither of us said anything for a moment. The silence wasn't heavy, just... there. A little awkward, maybe, but not unbearable."Okay,"

James leaned back, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright, two truths and a lie," he said, clearly ready to stir up some mischief.

"Okay, go ahead," I giggled, curious but already bracing myself for whatever he'd say.

"Alright," he started. "I love sushi. I've had a threesome before. And my middle name is George."

I blinked, caught off guard but not entirely surprised by his choices. "Okay, well, the threesome is obviously true," I said, rolling my eyes playfully.

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes, shaking his head at my assumption. "And George as your middle name?" I continued, narrowing my eyes. "No way. Thats the lie."

"Wrong," he said with a grin. "I hate sushi, and yes, my middle name is George."

I burst laughing, clutching my stomach. "Wait, James George Walker? Are you serious?"

"Shh!" he whisper-shouted, laughing with me but glancing around as if someone might overhear. "Don't say it out loud. It's classified information."

"Classified?" I repeated, still laughing. "That's the best thing I've heard all day."

"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "My turn." What should I say?

"I skipped a grade in middle school, I've only slept with one guy in my life, and I once kissed a girl." I smirked, glancing at him.

"Please tell me the lie is that you've only slept with one guy," he said, his smirk fading slightly as he studied my face.

"Nope. That one's true. I've never kissed a girl, though." I laughed softly, feeling a little self-conscious.

His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Really?"

"Yeah," I admitted with a shrug. "I've only been with one guy. Ryder. You remember him? We dated for four years, and, well... that's it."

For a moment, I felt the weight of those memories pressing down on me. Ryder... my first love. He made me believe in forever, only to shatter it when I found out he'd been cheating on me for nearly a year. Looking back, there were signs, but I was too blinded by love to see them.

I looked down, tracing shapes in the sand with my finger. "He wasn't exactly who I thought he was," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady.

James leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting. "Well yeah, he was an idiot, I always knew he wasn't good enough for you." he said simply, his voice calm but firm.

I glanced up at him, surprised by his sudden seriousness. "Maybe," I said, shrugging, "or maybe I was the idiot for trusting him that much."

James shook his head, his expression softening. "Nah. Trusting someone isn't stupid. It's just... brave, I guess. It's on them if they mess it up."

The sincerity in his words caught me off guard. There was no teasing, no smugness, just a warmth that made me feel strangely comforted.

I smiled a little. "Thanks. I guess."

The moment lingered, but he broke it with his trademark grin. "Anyway, I'm still stuck on you skipping a grade. Nerd alert."

"Hey!" I said, laughing as I lightly shoved his shoulder, trying to shake off the tension from our conversation.

"Says the one studying neurology." I smirk at him.

"Okay, you got me there." He chuckled.

I shook off the lingering tension from my conversation with James and made my way over to Amber and Emma, who were lounging on their towels near the edge of the water. Amber immediately waved me over, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Took you long enough!" she teased as I sat down beside her.

"Yeah, what were you two talking about over there?" Emma added, raising an eyebrow and smirking.

I rolled my eyes, trying to downplay it. "Just... two truths and a lie. Nothing special."

Amber snorted. "With James? Please, I'm sure it was full of innuendos."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Let's just say I learned some interesting things."

"Ooh, spill!" Emma leaned in eagerly.

"Later," I said quickly, desperate to change the subject. "So, what are we doing now?"

Amber perked up, grabbing a bottle of sunscreen. "Well, we were just about to talk about how much we love our swimsuits, but clearly, yours wins, Hails. You look hot!"

I blushed, glancing down at the blue bikini that I'd been second-guessing all morning. "Thanks, I guess. It's a little small."

Emma grinned. "Yeah, but it fits you perfectly. And trust me, James noticed."

"What?" I snapped my head toward her, my face heating up.

"Come on, you didn't catch the way he looked at you when you walked out earlier?" Emma teased. "He might as well have had a neon sign flashing over his head."

Amber laughed, giving me a playful nudge. "She's right. He couldn't stop staring."

"Okay, can we please change the subject?" I said, groaning as I tried to hide my embarrassment.

Amber smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Fine, fine. So, what's the plan for later? We're definitely doing a campfire, right?"

"Absolutely," Emma agreed. "S'mores are non-negotiable."

We continued chatting and laughing, the tension from earlier finally melting away. For a moment, everything felt normal again—just three friends enjoying the sun and the waves.

We were deep in conversation when a group of guys walked by, their laughter catching our attention. They were loud, a little rowdy, but I didn't pay much attention, until I felt it.

A hand grabbed my ass, firm and deliberate. I froze, my heart skipping a beat as shock and anger flooded my system.

I whipped around to see one of the guys smirking at me, his friends laughing behind him like this was some kind of joke. My face burned with humiliation and rage.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I snapped, my voice shaking as I glared at him.

Amber and Emma immediately stood, their expressions equally furious.

"You're disgusting!" Amber shouted, stepping in front of me like a protective barrier.

"Seriously, who raised you?" Emma added, her tone dripping with disdain.

The guy just shrugged, his smirk growing. "Relax. It was just a joke."

"A joke?" I repeated, my fists clenching. "You think that's funny?"

Before I could say anything else, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"What the fuck did you just do?" Liam's voice boomed, and I turned to see him storming over, his face a mask of fury.

The group of guys faltered slightly, their bravado fading under Liam's intense glare.

"Hey, man, calm down," the guy said, holding up his hands. "It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal," Liam growled, his fists clenching at his sides.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw James approaching, his expression darker than I'd ever seen it. He moved past Liam without a word, heading straight for the guy who'd touched me.

He grabbed the guy by the collar, yanking him forward with a force that made his friends step back.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" James snarled, his voice low and dangerous.

"Hey, man, let go!" the guy protested, struggling against James's grip.

But James didn't let go. Instead, his fist shot out, connecting with the guy's jaw with a sickening thud. The guy stumbled back, clutching his face as blood trickled from his lip.

"James, stop!" I shouted, stepping forward. But he didn't move, his body tense and ready for another hit.

"Come on, man, let's just go," one of the guy's friends muttered, pulling him away. The group quickly retreated, their laughter replaced with nervous glances back at James.

The beach fell silent as the group disappeared down the shore. I stood there, my heart racing, as James finally relaxed his stance, his fists unclenching. He turned to me, his eyes softening when they met mine.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with concern.

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Liam walked over, his anger still simmering. "Thanks for stepping in, man," he said to James, though his tone was tense. "But you can't just go punching people like that," Liam said, his tone sharp as he stepped closer to James. "You're becoming a doctor, dude. You can't afford to lose your temper like this."

James turned to face Liam, his jaw tight and his eyes blazing. "Yeah, well, when I see some asshole putting his hands where they don't belong, I'm not going to stand there and do nothing."

"That's not the point," Liam argued, his voice rising. "You're becoming a neurosurgeon, James. You can't risk everything for one stupid fight."

James laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "A fight? That wasn't a fight, Liam. That was me standing up for your sister. Something you should've done before I got there."

Liam's face darkened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Don't you dare try to put this on me."

"Enough!" I snapped, stepping between them. My voice surprised even me with its force. "Both of you, stop it."

They both looked at me, the tension between them still thick. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I tried to calm down.

"James, I appreciate what you did, but Liam's right. You can't just go around punching people, no matter how much they deserve it," I said, my voice firm but not unkind.

James's gaze softened as it met mine, and he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Okay. I get it."

I turned to Liam, who still looked ready to explode. "And you," I said, pointing a finger at him. "You don't get to stand here and lecture him like you're some kind of saint. This isn't about you."

Liam blinked, his anger faltering for a moment before he sighed heavily. "Fine. Let's just... drop it."

"Good," I said, crossing my arms. "Now can we please try to enjoy what's left of this day?"

The group dispersed slowly, the tension still lingering in the air. Amber and Emma walked with me, their presence comforting as we headed back to the towels. James trailed behind us, his expression unreadable.

"Are you really okay?" Amber asked, her voice low.

"I'm fine," I said, though my voice wavered slightly. "I just... I didn't expect him to react like that."

Emma nodded, glancing back at James. "He's protective of you. I think it caught all of us off guard."

Amber smirked slightly. "Protective or not, it was kind of hot."

"Amber!" I hissed, my cheeks burning as Emma laughed.

"Just saying," she teased. "I mean, it's James. He's not exactly subtle."

I didn't respond, my mind still spinning from everything that had happened.

When we reached the towels, James was already sitting there, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared out at the ocean. I hesitated for a moment before walking over and sitting down beside him.

"Hey," I said softly.

He glanced at me, his expression softer now. "Hey."

We sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the space between us. I traced patterns in the sand with my fingers, trying to find the right words.

"Thank you," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

James turned to me, his brow furrowing. "For what?"

"For standing up for me," I said, meeting his gaze. "Even if it wasn't the best way to handle it... I appreciate it."

His lips quirked into a faint smile. "I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. That guy was a prick."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Yeah, he was."

James leaned back on his hands, his eyes still fixed on me. "You deserve better, Hailey. You know that, right?"

I looked at him, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his voice. "Yeah," I said softly. "I know."

For a moment, we just looked at each other, the tension from earlier replaced with something quieter, something unspoken. Then Liam called out from the water, breaking the moment.

"Come on, you two! Are you gonna sit there all day or join us?"

-

The fire crackled softly as the night deepened, casting warm, flickering light over everyone's faces. Amber leaned into Liam, laughing at one of Dylan's exaggerated stories about his time fixing up an ancient car. Emma threw in her playful jabs, and the group's energy was still buzzing despite the long day. I stayed quiet, poking at the flames with a stick, my thoughts drifting to tomorrow.

James was sitting across from me, his legs stretched out in front of him, a beer dangling from one hand. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a thoughtful expression as he stared into the fire. I couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind.

The group's laughter settled into a comfortable murmur as the fire crackled on. Tomorrow marked the official start of something new, new classes, new people, a new routine.

Amber stretched beside Liam, pulling her hoodie tighter around her. "So, first-day predictions? Who's going to make a fool of themselves first?"

"Emma," Dylan answered immediately, earning a shove from her.

"Excuse me," Emma said, glaring at him, though the corner of her mouth twitched with amusement. "I'm going to thrive. Unlike you, who'll probably show up with grease stains on your clothes."

The group laughed, and Dylan threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Fair enough."

"What about you, Hails?" Amber asked, turning to me. "Any big plans for tomorrow? Other than showing all those psych majors how it's done?"

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone light. "I don't know. I guess... just see how it goes? Meet some new people."

Amber grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. "Maybe even meet someone special?"

"Oh, come on," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "It's not like that."

"Not yet," she teased, laughing when I shoved her lightly.

James, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, finally spoke up. "Meeting new people's overrated," he said, his tone casual but laced with his usual smirk.

"Just because you can't charm your way through neurology doesn't mean the rest of us can't make friends," Emma quipped, earning a laugh from everyone else.

James shrugged, unfazed. "I've got enough friends."

Amber grinned wickedly, leaning forward. "You sure about that? What if Hailey meets someone tomorrow who sweeps her off her feet?"

I shot her a glare. "Can we not?"

James's smirk faltered for a split second, but he recovered quickly, leaning back with an exaggerated stretch. "If she does, he better be able to handle her. She's not exactly low-maintenance."

The group erupted into laughter, and I narrowed my eyes at James. "Wow. Thanks for that, George."

Amber practically howled with laughter as James sat up, pointing at me. "You swore you wouldn't say that out loud."

"Oops," I said with a sweet smile, enjoying the rare look of panic on his face.

"George?" Liam asked, his eyebrows shooting up. "Wait, James George Walker?"

Amber and Dylan lost it, clutching their sides as James groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "This is why I don't make new friends."

-

The fire was down to glowing embers by the time I finally decided to head to bed. The cabin was quiet as I walked through the hallway, the distant hum of Liam and Amber talking softly behind their closed door the only sound.

When I pushed open the door to my room, the familiar sight of James sprawled out on his bed greeted me. He was already asleep, his arm thrown carelessly over his face, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The faint moonlight streaming through the window cast a soft glow over him, making him look unusually peaceful—almost innocent.

I shook my head at the thought and quietly changed into my pajamas. Sliding under my blanket, I turned my back to him, staring out the window at the dark woods outside. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. A new start.

But as I closed my eyes, my mind drifted back to James's words by the fire. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't belong there.

For all his teasing and arrogance, sometimes James surprised me.