Forgotten

Chapter 8

Chapter Title: Sun-Kissed and Star-Struck

Our skin was warm and sticky—the kind of stickiness only the ocean can leave behind. It had been a fun day, and even with sunscreen, I managed to get a bit of a tan. I’m lucky that when I burn, it turns into a brownish-red glow instead of an angry red. I got that from my mom—her skin always had a sun-kissed hue. She loved the sun.

When we arrived at Liara’s house, we unloaded the car before heading inside to take well-deserved showers. I borrowed a pair of pajamas from her since it was still too early to get dressed for the evening. We also wanted to eat before getting ready.

That shower was everything. It’s always my favorite part of any beach day—that moment you get clean, your muscles tired from the sun and play, and then you melt into the couch or bed. You can feel the day’s warmth still radiating in your skin.

After our showers, we went down to the kitchen to make something to eat. I offered to cook—I rarely get the chance at home. Liara sat at the counter, watching me while I worked.

I decided on pineapple fried rice—a Thai dish I’d once had at a restaurant. I’d never quite managed to replicate the exact flavor, but it was still delicious. hilies. I made enough for her parents too.

By 3 PM, the food was ready. We carried our plates into the living room and started watching a random movie while we ate.

“I can smell that Alysson has been in my kitchen,” Liara’s mom, Maggie, called from the hallway.

I smiled. They knew I loved experimenting in their kitchen, and they always reaped the benefits.

“This looks delicious, sweetie!” she shouted again, and I couldn’t help but beam at the compliment.

Not long after, both of her parents joined us in the living room, plates full.

“Your dad must love it when you cook for him,” Maggie said.

“He’s actually never tasted my food,” I admitted. “We have a private chef at home, and I’m not allowed in the kitchen. Lyssa would have a heart attack if she had to eat something that wasn’t lean and tasteless. She’s all about no-fat, no-fun meals.”

I finished my plate, feeling completely stuffed.

“At least we have an hour before we need to start getting ready,” I said as Liara set down her empty plate too.

“We should go change and pack everything for tonight,” she added, standing up.

“Do you need money for anything?” her dad asked as we walked past.

“No, Daddy. We already bought everything we need. Thank you.”

Still, he held out some cash for her. She smiled and took it before we headed upstairs.

Her room was beautiful, filled with memories. Fairy lights draped across the walls, highlighting an endless collage of photos. Her big white canopy bed was lit up too, soft and magical. One corner was her study space—messy, cluttered with books, notes, and stationery.

I dumped my entire bag of clothes onto her bed.

“I couldn’t decide what to wear. Tonight feels like such a big moment,” I said, staring down at what looked like half my wardrobe.

“Have you heard from Jacin?” Liara asked as she started sifting through my clothes. She wasn’t prying—she just wanted to know if I was putting my heart on the line and whether I might get hurt.

“Yes. We texted last night… we flirted a bit.” I smiled, then picked up my phone to see if he’d replied to my message from earlier. He had.

His reply came in just after we’d left for the beach—I’d completely missed it.

[I’ll see you then. I can’t wait to see you. I still feel like I need to reassure myself that I met you again and it wasn’t all a dream. I read our messages again this morning just to make sure.]

I blushed at his words. He felt the same way I did. It wasn’t just a want—it was a need. Something urgent enough to make us search for each other.

“So… are you excited?” Liara asked, still digging through the heap of clothes.

“I’m so excited—and nervous. I’m afraid he won’t like me once he really gets to know me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “The more he gets to know you, the more he’ll love you. You’re every guy’s dream. You’re gorgeous, independent, and you actually like food.”

She shook her head as she finished sorting through my options.

“Nope. These won’t work. Everything here is so drab. It’s a beach party, not a funeral. You seriously need to move away from white, nude, black, brown, and green. We need to go shopping soon and inject some color into your wardrobe.”

She disappeared into her closet and returned a moment later with a bright outfit.

“I have the perfect thing for you. Just know—it’s a bit out there for you, but it’ll look amazing with your sun-kissed skin. No complaining. Just try it on.”

I was nervous, but I trusted her. I nodded and took the outfit.

It was a yellow and white striped set. The shorts were high-waisted, loose, and wide. The top was what she’d warned me about—a maxi cardigan-style halter that tied between the breasts, revealing cleavage and a sliver of stomach. It flowed down to my ankles.

She was right—I looked amazing. But I still felt slightly exposed.

I paired the outfit with white sandals, knowing I’d probably ditch them once we hit the sand. I curled my hair into tight spirals, then shook them out for a more natural, tousled look. A little mascara and lip gloss completed my look.

Liara wore a short white romper and had pulled her hair into a sleek high ponytail. Her makeup was flawless—she even winged her eyeliner, giving her that lifted, ethereal look. She looked like a goddess.

Once we were done, we packed everything we needed for the party, said goodbye to her parents, and headed back to the beach.

People were already there, buzzing with excitement and setting up decorations. We walked to the tables and arranged cups, snacks, and party favors. Next to the tables, we filled bins with ice and cold drinks, tucking the spares underneath.

The music was loud, and more people kept arriving. Soon, it was clear the party was getting way out of hand. I didn’t recognize most of the crowd—and the one person I wanted to see still hadn’t shown up.

He was only thirty minutes late, but it felt longer because I’d been here since five. Liara was dancing wildly in the sand, kicking it up as she moved. Mika sat by the bonfire, soaking up as much heat as possible. Zielle dominated a volleyball game with a group of guys, her competitive spirit shining.

My phone vibrated. A text from Jacin.

[I’m here.]

Butterflies exploded in my stomach. I looked around for him but couldn’t spot him. I texted back to ask where he was—but the message didn’t go through. So I went looking.

I bumped into someone—not too hard. I looked up.

Jacin.

He smiled down at me, and I instantly blushed. That smile was something else.

“I’ve been looking for you. This party is wild—I can’t believe it’s yours,” he said, still grinning.

This wasn’t how I imagined our reunion. I thought I’d spot him from afar, walk up, and hug him. But now, after starting a conversation, hugging felt weird. I decided I’d save it for goodbye. But the truth was, I just wanted to be in his arms.

“Yeah… it’s not really my party anymore. It got out of control. I didn’t even want a party. I just wanted a quiet beach day with friends. Then word got out, and it snowballed. I didn’t bring nearly enough drinks,” I said, glancing at the empty bins.

“You brought all the drinks? Why didn’t you just tell people to bring their own?” he asked, clearly surprised.

“I don’t know… we were talking at school, and everyone agreed on what to bring. But I still brought a ton of stuff. I felt like it was my responsibility.”

“School? You mean university?”

“No—high school. I’m seventeen. I’ll be eighteen in two months.”

He nodded slowly. I could tell that surprised him. I was worried this was the moment everything changed.

“Let’s take a walk—get away from this madness. You didn’t want this anyway, right?” he asked, reaching out his hand.

I placed mine in his, letting him lead me down the beach. We walked in silence until we were far enough to hear each other without yelling.

“That’s better,” he said. “You look beautiful, by the way. I should’ve led with that. I was nervous. Nervous about seeing you again. I was afraid you didn’t mean what you said.”

He felt the same way I did. Nervous. Unsure.

“I meant every word. I really wanted to see you. I was nervous too—especially when you were late. I thought maybe you changed your mind.”

“I almost didn’t come,” he admitted. “I couldn’t figure out what to wear. I don’t have a lot of beach clothes. I didn’t want to look too casual, so I settled on rolled-up jeans instead of trunks.”

I laughed. “You look very handsome.”

He stopped walking, turned to me, and gently cupped my cheek. I tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let me.

“I love when you blush like that,” he whispered. “Especially when I’m the reason.”

“Does it bother you that I’m still in high school?” I asked, staring into his blue eyes.

“It should… but no, it doesn’t. I just assumed you were older. But I promise—I don’t care.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty. So, only a two-year difference. Does that bother you?”

“No. Not at all,” I said honestly.

We stayed close—so close I could feel his breath.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, eyes flicking to my lips.

I licked my lips, nervous. I didn’t answer—because I didn’t need to. He kissed me softly. Once. Then again, deeper. I placed my hands on his chest and stepped closer. The kiss was warm and electric, like it lit every nerve in my body.

“I should’ve done that when I first met you… but I was stupid,” he murmured. “Was that okay?”

“More than okay,” I said—and rose on my toes to kiss him again.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and my hands found their way around his neck. The kiss deepened. It was sweet and dizzying and maybe even dangerous. We were practically strangers—but this felt like something that had always been meant to happen.

A cold wave splashed over our feet, making me jump.

“I guess we needed to cool down,” I teased.

I took his hand and led him back toward the party.

Now that I knew how he felt—really felt—I could breathe.

I didn’t have to be afraid anymore.