There's a blonde woman on the dock.

Well. A young blonde woman. A twenty-something woman. Her panicked laugh echoes through the clear sky, light and loud as it blends together with the sounds belonging to a Blue Windflower Lake morning. Birds chirping—one noisier than the other, sprinklers watering a lawn, a lazy bee hovering above a flowerbed.

From where she's just stepped out onto the still overnight cool tiles of the patio, Stella watches as the blonde balances on the edge of the dock: the skirt of her yellow sundress fluttering against her lean thighs in the mild breeze, arches of her bare feet pressed into the wooden plank as her fingers dig deep into the skin of Jake's wrists, as if holding on for dear life.

"No, no, no!" She yells through her laughter, pushing back against Jake's attempt to wrestle her into the water. Somehow managing to keep her balance, the blonde retreats one of her hands and sprawls her fingers wide before Jake's eyes. "Jacob."

Laughing as well, though his is quieter than the blonde's, Jake pauses. Holding onto the blonde, now being the one to anchor her balance, they take a collective step back onto the dock before he lets go.

"Thank you," The blonde breathes, shaking her head with a small smile as she shoves past Jake—familiar grin having slipped onto his lips—to the other end of the dock where she crouches before a small straw tote bag.

Fizzy, tail wagging happily, comes to the blonde's side—rewarded with a sweet-sounding chortle as she nudges her cheek—while she slides a ring off her left hand and tucks it safely into a sunglass case.

Straightening up, the blonde gently pats Fizzy's head. "Okay, now, let us act like the adults we are and–AAAH."

A loud splash, the patter of droplets reaching far and wide, sounds over the backyard as the blonde breaks through the surface of the lake. Only drowned out by Jake—who's folded over himself—choking out a wheezing laugh.

Heaving herself up onto the dock, the blonde gently coughs through a laugh of her own and glares daggers at the boy who just threw her in.

She runs a hand down the soaked through fabric of her dress. "Not funny."

"Says you," Jake counters, laughter till spilling from his lips. "I happen to think that was hilarious,"

Stood leant against the wall of the house, Stella watches as Jake seems to conjure up a beach towel out of nowhere. He wraps it around the blonde, his arms lingering around her in a hug as he says, "Come on Team-wrecker; you're much prettier when you smile."

Stella presses her lips together, the tightened pull of her heartstrings only the top-layer of feeling as though she's intruding on a moment she's not supposed to be part of. Considering neither Jake or the blonde knows of her presence, she's pretty sure she is.

Turning around to leave, she's about to step back into the kitchen and grab something for breakfast—only to stub her toe on the threshold of the sliding door instead.

"Ow!" She howls, jumping back solely on her uninjured foot as a jolt of pain shoots up her leg. Clenching her teeth, she swears under her breath. "Fuckity-Fuck. Fuck."

Well, there goes her swift exit.

Soon, Fizzy is by her side, wagging her tail happily as she circles Stella. Stella, who still has her palm wrapped around her toe. With a ragged exhale, she lets her foot come back down to the ground just as the blonde comes running up the slight hill in quick strides, the towel lying discarded down by the dock.

"Are you okay?" She calls, lips forming a small smile despite the display of concern etched into her features.

"Yeah, just–," Stella dusts her palms off on her dark denim shorts with a small sigh. "Yeah."

Stepping onto the patio, the blonde—the water dripping from her hair and dress creating a pattern over the terra-cotta tiles—reaches her hand out in greeting. "You must be Stella."

Stella's eyes flicker to Jake, walking across the lawn, before letting her gaze return to the blonde. "Yeah. That's me."

"See?" The blonde says then, letting her palms come to her hips as Jake sidles up next to her. "I told you she was fine, didn't I?"

Jake shoots the blonde a sideways glance. "Whatever."

Turning back to Stella, the blonde's lips twitch in what can only be amusement. "He was worried. Something about you not being up at the crack of down?"

Involuntarily, the corners of Stella's lips twitch up as well—warmth a splotch of blush on her cheeks. It's true she slept in, even though any normal person would shake their head at what she considers a sleep-in, yet she didn't think Jake would notice. Glancing at the time upon waking up this morning, she'd figured he probably wouldn't even be out of bed yet.

But he is. And so is this blonde woman. Girl. Whatever.

Jake shakes his head slowly with a roll of his eyes. "It wasn't that serious."

"I had to hold you back from barging in there to check up on her. So I'd say it was."

"You're obviously sleep-deprived. And jet-lagged," Jake pushes the sunglass-case into the blonde's hand. "Here."

"Oh," She opens the case up, sliding what is clearly a simple—yet elegant—engagement ring onto her finger. "Look at you being helpful."

"I'm always helpful."

Stella's gaze moves between the other two again, the crease between her brows growing deeper with every passing second.

"Sorry," She says, rolling her lips together as the wheels of her mind turn, trying to figure out exactly who this girl is. As well has how and when she got here. She's fairly certain she'd remember such an addition to their household. "I didn't catch your name."

"Oh, I'm sorry; I missed that part," Something apologetic flickers over the blonde's smile before it widens. "I'm Avery. Jake's friend."

Friend.

"It's nice to meet you too, I don't think I said that before." Stella presses her lips together again, this time to quell the smile threatening to overtake them—somehow feeling lighter than before. Even a bit light-headed. Maybe it's time she has something to eat.

As if reading her mind, Jake rounds the two girls and leads the way into the kitchen. He makes an over exaggerated show of carefully stepping over the threshold, having Stella briefly considering shoving him into a cupboard door.

Throwing a glance over his shoulder, Jake's gaze meets hers. But instead of the familiar grin she's expecting, his lips are pursed in thought. "You remember Ethan, right?"

A moment passes as Stella's brows etch together. Then, a memory flashes before her eyes, having her features smooth out. "Yeah, I think so. He's the guy who pushed Faye down the stairs."

A surprised chortled breath sounds from beside her as Avery coughs out, "He did what?"

"He didn't do it on purpose," Jake shoots Avery a tired look. "And we were kids."

"You were fourteen."

"Yeah, kids."

"Angelina did tell you not to bring the ball into the house."

"Let me guess," Avery effortlessly levers herself up into a seat atop the kitchen island. "They brought the ball into the house?"

Stella flashes Jake a small smile, which grows satisfactory as Avery eyes him with disapproval. "They did."

"This you remember but as I brought my birthday up the other day you drew a blank."

"I do know your birthday," Stella walks over to the kitchen table, pulling out one of the chairs and sits down. "It's August... something."

"13th," Avery supplies, drawing a circle on her leg. "Ten days after mine."

"See? I was right. And your birthday didn't push my sister down the stairs."

"Staircases and footballs aside, you do remember Ethan?"

"I do," Stella leans back on her chair. She'd know Ethan Taylor's name even if he was a stranger and not the guy who once—though accidentally—pushed her sister down the stairs. "He's a whole football star now, right?"

Avery's cheeks lift with her softened wide smile. "He is."

"Yeah-yeah," Jake tugs at a lock of her still damp hair. "You've barely been here an hour, don't you start missing him already."

Avery's gaze falls to her hand. "Too late."

"Oh," Stella's eyes cast in the same direction, the puzzle pieces slowly coming together. "You're engaged to Ethan?"

The corners of Avery's mouth pull up once. "Married."

Lips parting, a surprised puff of air leaves Stella's lips. Avery cannot be more than a few years older than she is; a couple of years, she'd guess. Considering how close the girl is to Jake. And Ethan, apparently.

"Uh-huh," Jake leans back against the kitchen island, his ever-present smile beginning to hint of a smirk as his brows lift in amusement. "My reaction exactly. Give it a few months and you'll get used to the idea."

"That's–" Stella rolls her lips together with her smile, fingers absentmindedly tracing the sweetheart neckline of her sleeveless linen blouse. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Jake steals a glance at the time. "Lottie's should have opened by now. Let's go—I'm starving."

"What a surprise," Avery mutters, amused. Jumping off the kitchen island, she heads for the upstairs. "Let me change into something that's less... well, wet."

A grin spreads over Jake's face at the words as he walks across the open space. Sunlight casts a pattern of shadows over the floorboards as he lets the front door swing open. "You ready to go?"

Looking up from where she's now crouched on the floor, gently stroking her palm over Fizzy's back, Stella meets Jake's gaze. "Me?"

A chortled breath leaves his lips. "Yes, you. Aren't you coming with us?"

"Oh, I... don't want to be in the way."

Jake's smiles softens ever so slightly. "Come on," He says, slanting his head in a sideways nod as he reaches his hand out—palm up—as if holding it out for her to take. "Let's go eat some pancakes."

━ ♡♡♡ ━

Following a lengthy, open-air-café breakfast at Lottie's, they spend a few hours sauntering through the town's cobblestoned streets; the soles of Stella's sandals slapping the pavement and cups of melting ice cream clutched in their hands.

They exchange the blend of florals, sunblock and a whiff of gas for dust as they step into a petite, poorly lit bookstore, roaming through the shelves. More accurately, Avery roams the shelves while Jake and Stella follow suit, careful not to spill their ice cream as they bide their time randomly flipping through paperbacks and hardcovers.

They weave their way through the few shopping streets, walk along the slightly wider avenues before continuing onto another side street—exploring insides of quaint boutiques and admiring the floral arrangements out front.

The sweet aroma of espresso beans trails them for a block as they pass by the coffee shop where Stella satisfied her coffee vice the day of the farmers' market, but as they near the water and the raised boardwalk it's soon exchanged for the earthy scent of lake water. Not to speak of the the waft of spun sugar, popcorn and every other eatable thing sold at the vendors lining the inside and outside of the pier.

The neon sign showcasing all the fun the pier has to offer twinkles against the white wooden panes of the wall above its wide arched entrance. And as the three twenty-somethings pause by the worn railing of the boardwalk, elbows propped upon it as they gaze out at the lake, Stella hears the faint sounds of joy from inside.

Jake's and Avery's voices are mere background noise as her gaze trails over the green crowns of the trees in the far distance, the edge of the lake as well as the dock of the pier reaching out into the water.

Though, through their time spent at Lottie's as well as exploring the town, the other two has made an effort to include Stella in their conversations, they occasionally fall down a path she impossibly can follow. Full of references of names and past memories she has nothing to do with—as expected; an old college roommate having gone into a research scholarship, another mutual acquaintance having settled down overseas. Stella doesn't mind much though, she enjoys seeing this side of Jake. Enjoying himself, being himself, in a friendship so alike yet different from their own. In a friendship so alike yet different from the one she's witnessed him share with Faye.

Now, though, his attention shifts to Stella—his eyes finding the flickering neon sign. He gently nudges her elbow with his own. "Considering another round?"

She smiles, hair fluttering against her sun kissed shoulders as a faint breeze travels across the lake and trails past them. "Maybe."

"Adventure golf?" Avery asks, having found the same sign, the note of skepticism evident in her tone of voice even to Stella who only met her this morning.

Casting the girl a sideways glance, watching her scoop some of her peach ice cream out of the bottom of her cup, Stella finds herself saying, "It's actually really fun. Once you look past the sticky floors and the kids being one stumble away from dropping their cotton candy all over your shoes."

Her words earn her a small smile from Avery but Jake snorts, smirk playing on his lips.

"Convenient how you've forgotten about wanting to slam your golf club through a plastic whale."

A chortled breath leaves Avery's lips as she almost drops her cup of ice cream, saving its fall last second. "I'm sorry, what?"

"In my defense, that whale stole my ball. And it doesn't even matter, because I won anyways."

Leaning forward, Avery reaches an arm past Jake, extending her palm to Stella in a high-five, which Stella returns with a growing grin.

From there, they continue to the grocery store—loosing their ability to restrict themselves, or plan, as they take their time moving through the aisles, catering to every impromptu craving their hearts desire as they fill their cart to the brim.

Once they step back into the windy heat of the outside, all three of them carry grocery bags and Jake and Stella are quick to agree as Avery says, "Let's get back to Fiz."

On their way back to where they parked the car along Blossom Street, Jake's gaze travels to the glass window of an ice cream café.

"I want one of those."

Stella shoots him a sideways glance, the thin handles of the grocery bags cutting into her palms. "Again?"

"You can never have too much ice cream."

Her lips slip into a small smile, reaching her eyes as she lifts her shoulder in half-a-shrug. "I guess not."

"We'll take these to your car." Avery says, somehow—despite carrying her own—relieving Jake of the grocery bags in his embrace.

Heading for the ice cream café, walking backwards, Jake lifts his chin ever so slightly. "You want anything?"

Avery shakes her head. "I'm good."

"Stells?"

"I mean," She begins, shifting the weight of her bags as her cheeks round with her smile. "If you're having one...,"

"Strawberry?"

"Yes, please. Thank you!"

━ ♡♡♡ ━

Sat next to Stella, Jake folds over the armrest of his chair—his familiar, clean with a note of citrus, scent tickling her nose as he leans in close.

An amused smile plays over his lips as his fingers reach over her shoulders to the hood of her blue sweater. His sweater, really—the UNC one.

Pulling up the hood of the hoodie, he pulls at the straps as tight as they go and grins as he leans back in his own chair again.

"Cute."

A tired smile tugs at Stella's lips as she gazes out of the small oval-shaped space left, her hair—still damp from her morning swim—sticking to her cheeks underneath the blue fabric. "Real mature."

"I think so, yeah."

Shaking her head, cheeks rounding with her small smile, Stella draws her knees close to her chest and scoops some yoghurt out of her bowl. "So, any plans for the day?"

From where they're sat by the patio dining table, she watches Avery's blonde hair flutter gently in the breeze. The blonde's laugh occasionally drifts their way, phone held to her ear where she walks back and forth along the wooden planks of the dock—balancing on its edge.

Unlike the past three days they've spent together, the weather's a bit chillier this morning. The sweltering heat exchanged for lukewarm winds.

Jake rips a sugar donut in two, handing her one of the halves. "Ave and I are going on a run in a while,"

Horror flickers over Stella's features, bringing a light yet throaty laugh out of Jake.

"I take it you don't want to join us?"

"I'll politely decline."

A moment later, Avery—dressed in an almost identical hoodie to the one Stella's wearing—drops into her seat across from them, wide smile on her lips.

Reaching for her cup of tea, her eyes set on Stella. "Are you coming with us?"

Jake refills his, and then Stella's, cups of coffee. "Stells is of the impression that running equals self torture."

Stella rolls her eyes, an amused quirk to her lips.

"It's just not my thing," She says and cups her palms around her coffee mug, warmth seeping into them. "But you guys have fun. I'll be here—not exercising."

Once she's alone—having watched Avery and Jake disappear out the door with Fizzy skipping happily at their heels, Stella takes her time cleaning away her dishes and changes into an oversized white cotton shirt before setting up camp by the pair of lounge chairs stood at the end of the patio.

Stack of magazines to her right, glass of iced tea to her left, she pushes her sunglasses into her hair and gets her phone out. She shoots Faye a short text, three simple words: Free to talk?.

An incoming FaceTime call from her sister appears on the screen a few seconds later and for the next forty minutes, Stella sips her iced tea while they fill each other in on the past few days. And while Faye listens with half an ear—her gaze flickering between Stella and whatever else is taking up the screen of her laptop—Stella speaks fondly of walks with Fizzy, last week's visit to the splashing cove as well as nights playing boardgames with Jake and Avery.

━ ♡♡♡ ━

Fingers tapping against the backs of her playing cards, Avery shoots Jake a wicked sideways glance. "Remember that year, at Thanksgiving, when we were all back in town and you–,"

"Nope," Jake says as he slaps his hand over Avery's mouth. "Ugh, did you just lick me?"

"Ugh, no. I may have kissed your palm though."

Jake gets up from his chair where the three of them are sat around the kitchen table, playing games of cards in the early evening. Sidestepping Fizzy, he walks over to the fridge. "You're so weird."

"You're so weird."

Stella flickers her gaze between her two friends. "I want to know what happened at Thanksgiving."

Bringing out a pitcher of lemon iced tea, Jake lets the fridge door fall shut behind him. "We're not going there."

"Oh come on," Avery stuffs a few chips into her mouth. "It's not that bad."

Stella lets her lips fall into a pout, glancing up at Jake as he sets the pitcher down on the table.

"No puppy eyes," He says, lips quirking up as he turns her head away with a gentle push of his palm—bringing a laugh out of her. "No."

"Don't worry," Avery says, refilling their glasses from the pitcher. "I'll tell you later."

Jake shoots her a pointed look, aiming a light kick at her leg as he sits back down. "No, you won't."

"Of course I won't," An innocent smile plays over Avery's lips as she speaks the words, then, turning her attention back to Stella she mouths, "I'll tell you tonight."

A groan escapes Jake, having another bout of light, easy, laughter spill out of Stella.

He looks between the two girls before picking up his cards, groaning again as he surveys them.

"Don't be such a sore loser." Stella tsks. "We haven't even begun playing yet."

"I was simply making an observation," Jake counters, smile tugging at his lips as Stella tucks her newly showered hair behind her ears. "Do us the honor and start us off?"

"Gladly."

A while into the game, Avery sips her iced tea and asks Stella, "So, are you coming out to Acebridge too?"

"Oh shit," Jake rubs his palm over his forehead, a sheepish grin beginning to etch into his features as he meets Stella's—somewhat confused—gaze. "I think I forgot to mention that. You should come. Mom and Dad would absolutely love that."

"I would love that," Avery adds, causing Stella's brows to draw even closer together. "For the party."

Breaking into her pineapple popsicle, which Jake got up to fetch for her a moment ago, Stella pops it into her mouth. "What's the occasion?"

"My wedding."

"Oh," A small smile slips onto Stella's lips. "Of course."

"Though, really, it's mostly my way of profusely apologizing to my mom for getting married without her there."

Lips against the rim of his drinking glass, Jake mutters, "Where's my apology?"

Avery rolls her eyes, the faint amusement to her smile mirroring Stella's. "So, what do you say? You up for a few days on our coast? We're leaving the day after tomorrow, I guess Jake didn't tell you that either."

"I did mean to tell you," Jake intercepts, genuinely apologetic as he glances at Stella. "I promise."

A silent chortle slips her lips as she meets his gaze. "I believe you," Then, absentmindedly moving her playing cards around, she flickers her gaze between the other two. "Are you sure I won't be in the way?"

"Of course not! We want you there, right Jake?"

"Yes," Jake shoots Avery a—to Stella, indecipherable look—before clearing his throat. "I'd like you to come along. You'll love Acebridge."

"Okay," Stella rolls her lips together to quell the wide smile threatening to overtake her face. "Yeah, I'd love to."

"Oh, and by the way?" Jake lays his cards down on the table, smile crossing into a smug smirk. "I win."

. . . 

hi my friends! 

I have to say, getting to write some of Avery this chapter was very comforting. I miss her a lot. Thankfully, for me and hopefully for you too, she'll stay with us for another few chapters. 

(for those of you who haven't read any of my previous works, Avery is the main character of my first novel 'Wrong Quarterback' which 'Coming Up For Air' is a spin-off off.)

I hope you're all doing well <3 

much love, yours always,

linn