Sky's POV

"Instead, tell the sunset about us," he said looking straight into my eyes. It didn't sound like a ridicule to him because all of his facial muscles were stern. Dew was serious.

He knew. Was I being too obvious?

"I don't have time for jokes, Dew. I have to finish this outline by today," I said ignoring his words, shrugging. That's what seemed the best to me.

"You know I am not joking right now," he said,

So, what am I supposed to do? Just embarrass me in front of you? Then what? I don't have the heart to do this, to lose the least that we have.

He sighed, "Okay, let's talk again when you're ready," he paused,

"But, just know one thing, Sky. If something is burdening you, I am willing to listen. If you want to tell me something, I am not going to act like a child and embarrass you. So, just do what your heart tells you to do, starting with trusting me," he completed.

Turning around, he started walking along the lines where the sand and the water met. The water formed foam when it crashed on the shore that hit his legs, the wind made his hair dance and he had shoved his hands in his pockets.

His words, unknowingly, meant so much to me. Maybe I should just tell him and take the risk. He is the only thing I can lose, and I've lived seven years without him, it can't be that difficult.

Whom was I fooling? It would be more than difficult.

I looked down at my sketch; something seemed missing. I had drawn the setting sun, the water, and the beach. Then I realized what was to be added. I took out my other pencil which I use to shade and started sketching a human figure walking along the shore with his hands in his pockets and hair dancing with the breeze with water crashing at his quarterly submerged feet.

I lifted my head to see him, he was looking down at the water foaming up on his ankles. At that moment, I knew how much I trusted him. I would not have shown up here with anyone now if I had a choice, except him. He looked like an artwork as the sun kept getting into dark golden that hit the side of his torso. He illuminated.

And that is what I drew. Soon, I finished my first sketch. I wrapped up all my pencils and other things, then I looked up at him. He turned around and smiled as he walked back to me,

"Are you done?" he asked rubbing the sand stuck on his legs. I nodded. "Can I ask you something?" I asked,

"Of course,"

"Why did you agree to come here with me?"

"Didn't you need assistance or something?"

"You know I could've managed myself,?"

He narrowed his eyes, "Honestly, I don't know. I just wanted to come along, saying no felt wrong somewhere,"

"What do you think we would have been if not enemies?" I asked after pausing for a minute or two.

"Definitely not friends," he said with a smile,

"Then?" if not friends, maybe something more?

He just looked at me, winked, and started walking ahead. "Come on, let's go back to our lodge," he said. I smiled and ran a little to catch up to him. He put his arm around my shoulder.

I stopped walking, "What?" he asked as I pushed his arm off,

"Are you going to tell me shit like not being too comfortable with you again? If so, you better stay six feet away from me," I warned,

He chuckled and put his arm around my shoulder again, "I told you, I am not going to act like a child again,"

I softly smiled and we continued walking. I liked how things were now. His words, expressions, and actions strangely felt secure and promising.

We reached our lodge, freshened up, and headed downstairs for dinner. After we were done, we were walking back when we saw the signboard of a swimming pool.

We both looked at each other at the same time, smiling we nodded. We then followed the sign and reached the doors to the clubhouse. Opening the doors, we quietly entered the swimming pool area. It was densely quiet.

He walked ahead and sat on the pavement dipping his legs into the water and I did the same. The water felt cold at first but then I got adjusted to it. The lights on the edges of the pool fell on the water, it looked like the moon was floating on the floor of the pool making the water an entirely different shade of blue.

"This is peaceful," I said pushing the water with my legs. The air held the smell of chlorine and calmness.

"I know, right," he replied keeping his hands on his thighs,

"I don't know why we need to keep fighting all the time. I wish I knew what went wrong with our fathers,"

"Me too. If only we knew, we could at least try to sort things out, but Dad never talks about it,"

"It must be something big,"

He nodded, agreeing.

For a few moments, the silence lingered so I decided to break the ice,

"Would you still be sitting here with me if I told you that maybe I like guys?" I asked. It took me a lot of strength to ask this to him, but I decided to go for it because one day or the other he ought to know, and I wanted to know how he would react to it.

He looked at me with what felt like confusion, then he turned to look at the water again.

"Your life, your sexuality, your decision," he said casually and the amount of relief that flooded over me was insane. I felt weightless as if I was finally floating, "I am no one to decide for you, all I care about the person in you,"

"I thought you would just get up, pack your things, and leave," I said,

"You really need to get to know me better,"

I chuckled,

"So, when did you find out?" he asked,

"I don't really remember," I said,

"Do you have anyone that you like then?"

I nodded,

"Who is it?"

You, you idiot.

"Just a friend," I said,

"And what made you like this person?"

I don't know. I just realized that you were there for me when I needed someone and it's just something about you that I can't explain.

"I guess, everything about him,"

"Oh my God, Skylar. You're so done for him," he said smiling,

I giggled too. "You should just tell him," he said,

"I don't think I can," I probably don't want to.

"Why? If things don't work out, it just means he wasn't supposed to be with you,"

"It isn't that easy,"

"Okay, just pretend that the person is me and practice how you will tell him,"

I looked at him with wide eyes. How are you so stupid, Dew?

He smiled and shifted closer to me, snaking his arm around my shoulder.

"If I were you, I would've probably told him by now. I mean, where would you get such a chance again?" he said looking at me with a smile I would never forget,

"What do you mean?" I was genuinely confused,

"Only the two of us, sitting by a swimming pool on a trip miles away. Where would you get such a chance to confess again, I meant," he winked and stood up, "You should say it when the time's right," he said and walked out of the clubhouse. Leaving me there with a storm of thoughts,

My legs couldn't carry me; all of me was in a statue. What just happened? Is he playing around with me?

I just sat there all by myself trying to process things. He knew it, all freaking along,

After a couple of minutes more in that silence, I decided to rush back to our room. I wish we had taken two different rooms if all weren't booked already, I felt so embarrassed.

I walked out of the club and soon reached our room. Opening the door, I saw him already sleeping, snuggled up in the blankets,

Let's just pretend nothing happened, I told myself. Changing into some comfortable clothing, I lay on the bed beside him,

He turned and lay facing me. He was still asleep. My eyes couldn't avert themselves from his sleeping figure. How does he look like this even while sleeping?

Starting from his hairline to his face shape to his caramel skin, everything suited him perfectly. His unruly arched eyebrows, double eyelids, and lips, all his features felt tailor-made. I couldn't find a single flaw, every detail complimented him,

"How long are you going to keep staring at me?" he asked in his sleepy husky voice, eyes still closed.

I quickly looked away, half panicking, "Who was staring at you," I defended,

He opened his eyes, "You think I wouldn't know?" he asked,

I turned to look at him, he was already wide awake. None of us spoke anything, instead we just kept looking at each other. The atmosphere between us felt so drunk as if we wouldn't remember any of this the next morning.

He shifted closer to me, and I did too, subconsciously. He then rested one of his arms on my waist and one behind him to support his head, our eyes still glued to each other's,

"Why didn't you tell me if you knew this all along?" I finally asked,

"I have never felt this way before. I thought if I could give me and Lila some time, we would be dating, but nothing seemed quite right with her. So, I wanted to wait,"

"And what do you feel now?" I said putting my arm behind my head, like him. We were almost whispering since we were so close to each other,

"It feels...like the right thing to do," he said with a smile, his gaze softened even more,

Being close to you like this feels like magic,

I smiled too, a little too flashily. He looked at me with the calmest eyes ever and it was impossible for me to not fall into such a serenity,

"From when did you start liking me, though? For as long as I can remember, all we did was fight," he said,

"Maybe among those competitions? I don't know when. It just happened and I realized...many things," I answered,

"Aren't you scared that I might just leave you, and you would find yourself all alone in the morning tomorrow?"

That was such a weird yet scary question, but then his eyes seemed to give enough reassurance,

"I know you won't," I replied,

"What makes you so sure?"

"You asked me to start by trusting you, well, that's what I am doing,"

He smiled and shifted even closer till our foreheads slightly touched. "Let's sleep now," he said closing his eyes. I smiled and rested my arm on his waist, copying him,

Seeing him smile, I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe how the night turned in my favor, but I was hoping for every power I knew, hoping things would be just the same from now.

***

I stretched and opened my eyes as the rays of the sun penetrated through the thin curtains. I threw my arm to the other side of the bed hoping to touch him, but all I felt was the pillow covers and the blanket.

My eyes flung open in shock. Dew wasn't beside me. I quickly got up and checked the bathroom, but he wasn't there as well.

Panic started taking over me. Did he really leave?

I could hear my heart shattering as all types of negativities flooded through me as if everything I trusted was mocking me. I tried calling him, but his phone was unreachable. Did he actually leave me? At this point, all of those soft emotions in me started vanishing, I could cry an ocean if I could right now and my chest physically started hurting.

Where are you, Dew?

***