summer of ava

THE LAST DAY

Saturday, Ava woke up with swollen eyes and a plan: make today perfect. Make it a memory worth keeping forever.

She texted Jason: Ice cream? My treat.

He replied almost immediately: You never treat. What's the occasion?

Does there need to be one?

Fair enough. 2pm?

Perfect.

They met at their usual spot—the ice cream place with the weird flavors. Jason ordered mint chip like always. Ava got something called "midnight cookie butter" because it sounded ridiculous and she wanted to remember this.

They walked through downtown, licking their cones, talking about nothing and everything. Ava memorized it all—the way Jason laughed with his whole body, the way he got ice cream on his nose and didn't notice until she pointed it out, the way the afternoon sunlight made everything look like a movie scene.

"What's your plan for the rest of summer?" Jason asked. "After tutoring ends?"

Ava's heart clenched. "Oh, you know. Family stuff. Probably boring."

Lie. It was a lie. But she couldn't tell him. Couldn't watch his face when he realized she was leaving.

"What about you?" she asked quickly.

"I don't know. Was thinking maybe I'd actually do something this year. Maybe take more photos. Maybe not completely waste the next month."

"That's good," Ava said softly. "You should do that."

They ended up at the park, sitting on the swings like little kids. Ava dragged her feet in the dirt, not really swinging, just rocking back and forth.

"Hey," Jason said. "You okay? You've been weird all day."

"I'm fine," she lied again. "Just tired."

He didn't look convinced, but he let it go.

When he walked her home that evening, the sun was setting, casting everything in that golden-hour glow that photographers love. Ava wished she could freeze this moment. Wished she could stay right here forever.

They stopped at her driveway. Jason shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at her with something in his eyes she couldn't quite read.

"See you Monday?" he asked.

Ava's throat tightened. She forced a smile. "Yeah. See you Monday."

She watched him walk away, watched until he turned the corner and disappeared.

Then she went inside and cried again.