Always

Liam Today’s the last day of summer break, and by tonight the beach will be lit up with bonfires, cheap speakers, and half the senior class pretending we’re already adults. I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks. Not just for the party—but because I’ve decided I’m not going alone. I’m bringing Mia. She has no idea yet, but I’m fully prepared to beg if that’s what it takes. Mia has spent the entire summer buried in her “future.” Medical journals, anatomy flashcards, college prep books stacked higher than her nightstand. While everyone else was out chasing sunsets and bad decisions, she was inside planning the next ten years of her life. She needs a break. Mia and I have been best friends since we were five years old. We grew up side by side—literally. Neighbors. Shared fences. Shared secrets. She’s the book-smart one with color-coded goals and a five-step plan to achieve every dream she’s ever had. Then there’s me—the guy teachers warn their daughters about. I’ve got a reputation for getting into trouble and for never staying with one girl too long. But here’s the truth no one bothers asking about: I’m not some heartless player. Yeah, I flirt. Yeah, I’ve had my fair share of make-out sessions. But I don’t cross lines. I don’t sleep around. People assume the worst because it fits the image. It’s easier that way. Still, none of that matters when it comes to Mia. She’s always been mine—in that childhood best friend, scraped-knees-and-late-night-talks kind of way. I’ve loved her for as long as I can remember, but it was a safe love. Familiar. Like family. Lately, though… something’s shifted. She’s changed this summer. Not just physically—though that’s impossible not to notice—but in the way she carries herself. There’s confidence there. A quiet strength. And I see the way people look at her now. The guys at school who suddenly linger a little too long. Even some girls who glance at her like they’re imagining things they shouldn’t be. It makes something twist in my chest. Jealousy? Protectiveness? Something else entirely? I don’t understand it. I just know I don’t like the idea of anyone seeing her the way I’ve started to. Maybe tonight will clear my head. Maybe under the music and the stars and the sound of the waves, I’ll figure out what this feeling is. But first, I have to convince Mia to leave those books behind and come with me.