"To new beginnings?" A vigorous grin curved Claire's pink-shaded lips as she raised her champagne flute.

Her friend linked her tiny glass to the flute, producing a dramatic clink that made them both laugh loudly and brightly despite the uncertainty of the future now that college was over.

"Aren't you going to dance?" Gena sassed, her plump lips wedging the rim of a tequila glass, ready to slip the Mexican legend into her dry throat.

Smiling softly, Claire wandered her eyes around the blue-lightened club. Alcohol-infested chattering and techno music blurred her heartbeat to silence.

"No, I'd rather observe from a distance and savor the sight of their faces as it may be the last time we may see most of them," she answered, eyes on her classmates that had terrorized the dance floor. "Besides, I'm leaving very soon." She slowly sipped the champagne in her glass, her attention back to her gorgeous Japanese friend she'd known throughout her college years.

Claire and Gena were more than best friends; they were pledge sisters who had each other's backs through thick and thin from the first day they met during the First Year orientation. Neither of the two could imagine life without the other.

"Why now?" Gena cried, pursing her lips into a pout after a grunt of refreshment from the burning, water-like liquid. "Are you in the mood to fight with your witch stepmom or something?" She grabbed a lime slice to quell the effect, ready for another shot.

Claire scowled. "Not really; she's the least of my concerns right now and I wouldn't give her the satisfaction."

"So... what's with the rush?" Gena queried.

Another sigh emitted from Claire's lip. "I wanna spend the weekend at the beach house. Care to join me?" she asked, eyeing Gena hopefully.

She wanted so badly to get away and clear the list of things that needed her attention at last—some things she'd been dodging for a long time now.

"What?" Gena remarked loudly, the music blaring heavily against the club walls.

"The Lakehouse! I'm going there! Will you come?" Claire yelled.

"Oh, the lake house? Of course! I'd love to!" Gena snapped gleefully. "You know I adore having a good time, don't you?"

"Was just making sure; who knows?" Claire shrugged, taking a lazy sip of her champagne as though being here was a chore beyond her.

Frankly, Claire did enjoy going out and having fun, but lately, it felt like something way more exciting was missing in her life. This was probably the time to search for it.

College life had been exciting, but in a way too dull for her, and no one could believe that she had spent the four years without having a fling or relationship with anyone as the unwritten rules stated for any new adult trying to figure things out.

"We both need a break, girl." Gena dropped onto the barstool with a sigh, pulling the hairband to free the glossy black strands onto her bare shoulders.

"Well, let's do it then," Clare suggested grimly. "Besides, I've got something important to do there... and maybe some adventure can be a bonus if the town folks have the wild side, too." Her eyes were faintly rueful despite the playfulness feigned in her voice.

Gena knew something was amiss.

"Let's see." She leaned into the counter and folded her arms atop it. "Are you finally going to visit your father?" she asked, and Claire nodded softly. "I figured as much. But, hey, it will be fine; don't beat yourself." She squeezed her friend's hand gently, a tiny smile on her face.

"I hope so," Claire breathed, the feeling of loss overwhelming her until today. "Anyways, let's forget about that." She tried to enjoy the after-graduation party she only attended out of Gena's conviction.

They'd just graduated from college a few days ago.

"Exactly! Speaking of which, I can't believe we are done with the school shit," said Gena, beckoning for another drink from the bartender. "Hashtag... new beginning!" Her mood was infectious, and Claire's smile affirmed it.

"Hopefully." Claire sighed, staring at her glass as if it had grown wings, and suddenly she looked at Gena with a bright, hopeful smile. "We should do something fun," she uttered.

All she hoped for was to bury the emptiness in her heart. Was there anything out there for her? Should she take a vacation or something? Claire couldn't decide, for she had a lot to think of now that school was over.

"I'm all ears." Gena snapped her fingers, disrupting Claire's trance. "Anything in mind?"

Claire sighed, her hazelnut eyes brimming with foreign excitement. "I want to feel alive, Gena," she said breathlessly. "Even for just one day, I want to feel like I'm really, really, really living a life a woman deserves to live."

"What?" Gena grabbed her second tequila from the bartender, her eyes skeptical. "You're scaring me unless you mean you want to get laid."

Get laid? Okay, that's typical Gena Montero. But why not? It's been ages. Claire smiled.

"Never mind, it's nothing to stress about," Claire said dismissively. "I'll just go home now; I'll see you tomorrow, huh?" She yawned while saying this.

"Sure," Gena uttered, "I guess even after all that speech, you still don't want to dance and maybe get laid tonight and feel whatever the hell you were talking about."

"Nope. But... gracias." Claire stood up, a playful grin dancing on her face.

She didn't waste any more time at the club. The air was crispy outside as she hopped into a taxi and let her mind drift. Today had been a bit emotional for her as far as her memories and thoughts were concerned.

The taxi pulled over in front of her house, and quietly she scrambled out.

The house was a large two-story with an electric fence and an enormous gate. Inside the gates, Claire's eyes landed on a well-trimmed garden, a vast swimming pool, and a pair of swings that always linked her to her childhood for some reason.

A soft smile escaped her as she staggered through the stairs, thanking the heavens that her stepmother wasn't on the loop to ruin her evening further. She was probably cooking her deadly potions somewhere, Claire thought, for she always considered her a witch.

In her bedroom, Claire kicked her golden heels and peeled her dress a minute later. She climbed on the bed right away and texted Gena about the time of their departure before shutting her eyes to rest her mind.

___

The next day, the two began their journey to Montesby, a small town with splendid natural scenery, where the green met the blue. The sea and the vegetation merged and turned the place into a paradise.

Exuberant smiles adorned their faces as they stepped out of the taxi right in front of the beach house she called her second home. It was mid-afternoon, the sun pouring down the earth in small rivulets compared to the city.

"Claire!" an old man regarded her in awe. "What a surprise, my girl! You have gotten so tall that I nearly couldn't recognize you." Lines of age matted his face, but he was strong enough to care for the mansion to perfection; the whole place was clean and attended, the vegetable garden included.

The place was a breath of fresh air.

"I will take it as a compliment, Grandpa. How are you?" Claire returned happily, her smile as bright as the golden sunlight bathing her blonde hair with curled ends.

"Very fine, my child," the old man said. "I see we have a guest." He threw a curious glance over Claire's shoulder.

Gena was watching them without a word, smiling.

"Um..." Claire moved aside wittingly. "This is my best friend, Gena. And Gena, this is my grandfather," she introduced them.

"Nice to meet you, young lady." The old man smiled at Gena with politeness.

"Same...Claire's grandpa!" Gena grinned awkwardly, for her social skills with older people were always lacking—her own words.

"Come in, ladies. I'm sure you must be hungry, right?" the old man said urgently, leading the way toward the pair of mahogany doors.

"Oh, I could use some coffee right away," Gena remarked.

As for Claire, this was just the beginning of her new journey that she willingly intended to take to free herself from the aching past.________

A/N: Thank you so much for clicking on this story. Pls add the book to your library for updates. It's a new version, so for any old reader, expect some plot changes, but nothing will ruin the flow.

Remember to vote, and comment.

Love,

Grace.