• June 16, 2017 (Sunset at the beach) •

Kara and Zach came to the beach to see the sunset as decided earlier. They parked the car and came to the shore that was almost crowded with a number of tourists. It was very different from the early sunrise trips they had had as instead of the lovely golden hue, a deep orange tainted the sky.

The tourists had started to retreat to the eateries available at the beach but Kara and Zach stayed, watching the sun set below the horizon The deep orange darkened and then faded into dusky purple, the sky seeming no different from an artist's canvas splattered with colors.

The setting of the sun marked one day's end while a new sunrise would bring with it a new beginning. Perhaps the next sunrise would bring a new beginning for the two as well.

"So just a few days left..."

He turned to see her, a slight smile creasing his features, "yeah, just a few days."

"Are you excited?"

"Very," he admitted, hand gently entwining through hers as they walked barefoot on the beach, "but I'm also preparing myself not to get too disappointed in case I don't qualify. I have made it this far and I'm glad."

She knew he was very ambitious and making it to the World Championships mattered a lot to him even though at the moment he was making it seem as if he was content. He was the sort of person who soared to achieve his target no matter what the price may be.

And while it was admirable in a way, it was also somewhat detrimental.

"You'll definitely make it to the next round," she squeezed his hand reassuringly, "I just know you will."

"But then sometimes I think that if I do, I will have to leave," his voice had lowered and his features were set in a somewhat pensive look, "it might not be forever but it will be long enough. I find it difficult to stay away from all of you for such a long time."

"Don't worry, we can always talk on video call and if you're lucky, you might meet me much sooner than you think. As for Ava and your parents, I am sure they won't let you go alone for long. They might keep visiting you often."

"It's cross country. It would be difficult."

"Why are you not being optimistic today?" She asked, trying to assess whether she should really steer the conversation in the direction she had initially planned to or just leave it be.

If he was feeling slightly down already, she didn't want to make it worse.

He laughed, the sound of it easing her worries, "oh no, no. I am being optimistic. I am hoping for the best."

"Good."

A while passed in comfortable silence as they kept walking, the gentle waves of the sea washing over their feet every now and then. The water was cool as the hot sun had set and the weather had started to cool down as well, an airy breeze blowing all over.

Kara was still thinking how to bring up Mon but Zach gave her an opportunity himself.

"How's your friend Mike? He's still in the city or has he left?"

"He's doing good. And he's staying for a few months," she replied.

"I bet that's why I see so little of Connor," he remarked, a soft smile playing upon his lips, "looks like they are close because even Ava says Connor and Mike are inseparable."

"I guess... Ava met him?"

"Yeah. A few times."

"And she doesn't resent him like she does to Tim?" Kara asked, slightly surprised because Connor hadn't told her anything about Mon and Ava's meetup.

"I don't think so. She didn't despise Tim either until he dyed her room pink. And as far as I know, Ava keeps grudges forever until the other person sincerely apologizes."

"Tim never apologizes..."

He chuckled, "there you have it then. Ava will keep on hating Tim forever now. As for Mike, if he doesn't do anything to upset her, she won't resent him."

With the topic deviating again, Kara spoke up, "what do you think of Mike?"

Zach shrugged, "I only met him once. Not enough to know what I really think of him."

"But still..."

"He's your friend so I know he'll be worth the time and company. I think he's a bit shy but maybe that's because we met each other for the first time back then. Ava's description of him is very different because unlike me, she did meet him multiple times."

Kara knew she had to get the burden off her so she stopped and stood in front of him, taking both of his hands in her own, "Zach, I have to tell you something but I want you to promise first that you'll listen and not let it affect our relationship. Because I'm trying my best too and... And I can't keep you in the dark because we promised to always be honest with each other."

His eyes had flickered in slight surprise as he had not been expecting her to request that, "of course, I promise. You know even if you didn't make me promise, I would have listened and tried my best to understand."

"I know. It's just... Not something I could tell you easily."

"Oh." Slight concern was evident from his features as he pulled her close, "what is it?"

"A few days ago we had a family dinner at our place," she took in a deep breath as she started to tell him, "we had invited Mike over too and... He indirectly confessed that he might have feelings for me."

Zach was listening silently but his expressions were easy to read. His brown eyes were slightly wide as if shocked to hear that but his grip on her hands hadn't loosened and he let her continue.

"Maybe I just pushed him into telling me who he liked and it just... It kinda came out that way. We've been very awkward around each other since. And I was uncertain whether I should tell you or not because I didn't want to upset you."

She felt that perhaps she had upset him because he was so silent. But his silence indicated that he was thinking it all over, making himself view it from his perspective as well as hers.

"Kara, why do you forget that we're not committed to each other? So what if he said he likes you? You're very likable, anyone could easily fall for you so I don't blame Mike for that either. What matters is what you feel towards him," he spoke up at last but there was a slight sadness in his eyes even though his features had a soft smile lingering, "and if you do like him then... It won't upset me. It... It won't."

He had said that it wouldn't upset him but t was so obvious that it did. She shook her head, "it does."

He retrieved his hands from her, looking away as a slight dash of pink scattered over his cheeks, "what do you feel towards him?"

"I don't know," she replied honestly, "he's my friend and..."

"We are friends too."

"But with you, it's different. Everything's different and I don't think I could ever feel this way about... I don't want to..." Her voice trailed off, realizing that she had been slightly louder than usual and her answer might have been quite abrupt. 

However, Zach was looking back at her at that and there was a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes, "how is it different? And what do you not want to..."

"I don't want to lose you," she breathed, completing the sentence at last.

"Kara, you almost gave me a heart attack," he confessed, a slight chuckle breaking the awkward pause, "I might not be upset but I did get scared. For a second, just for a second thinking of you picking Mike over me. And even if you had, it would be fi..."

She had shoved him and he stumbled, falling into the cold sea water. Kara had been so nervous about the entire ordeal and he had ended up laughing it off.

Though just a few seconds earlier, she had seen the uncertainty and sadness in his eyes, the emotions that proved Alex's observation right that Zach was indeed in love with her, no matter if he tried to appear cool about it.

"Kara, what is this for?" 

He had sat up but didn't get out of the water as the waves surrounded him. The water was cold but pleasant and he had gotten drenched already so getting out immediately would be of no use.

"You and your habit of sending me into a shock and then laughing as if it's nothing..."

His hand had closed onto her wrist and before she could get herself out of his grip, he had pulled her down as well, the water creating a splash.

"Zach, what the hell!"

"Now we're even."

Her hands had closed onto the collar of his shirt yet he was still laughing, brown eyes sparkling playfully as his arm tightened around her waist.

"You're incorrigible," she remarked, her heart beating slightly faster.

 At that moment, she knew Alex had been right about a lot of things. Zach loved her and even though she wasn't sure of her own feelings, she didn't want to lose him nor what they had between them.

That realization could be more than enough for her to make a choice. And as his lips closed on hers, she knew that she would pick him in a heartbeat, no matter what the situation.

***