Sat on rooftops, tree branches or soaring across the sky, the birds of Blue Windflower Lake celebrate the nice summer's day. The chirps of their birdsong blend together in harmony. Some whistles are faint, barely there. Some are soft, a melodic tune in the above. And then there are the high-pitched ones. Louder, more intense than the rest, as if claiming their spot center stage.

Where she lies at the end of their small dock, Fizzy lets out a long sigh-sounding exhale. She lifts her head—and for one brief moment Stella swears the Golden Retriever shoots her an amused glance—,using one of her hind legs to scratch her ear before she rolls over on her side again, going back to sleep.

The sun beats down on them, its rays warm as they sprawl over Stella's skin where she's propped up on her stomach—the terrycloth of her orange-and-white striped towel pressing a pattern into her elbows.

Notch between her brows, pen perched between her lips, she glances down at the crossword before her. The magazine carries a faint whiff of paper having gone slightly damp, another droplet of water falling from her hair onto the ruffled page where it smudges the blue ink.

She nudges her sunglasses from where they're sat atop her head and lets them linger on the slope of her nose for a moment, only to push them back up again with a small sigh.

Letting the pen fall to the magazine with a light thud, she reaches out to grab an apple slice from the plate stood next to her. She rests her chin in her palm as she lets her gaze linger on a faraway bee hovering above the flowerbeds of the garden. Following its small movements, she absentmindedly reaches for another slice just as Jake appears in the corner of her eye.

"I need your help," She says as he effortlessly heaves himself onto the dock and out of the water. She motions to the six bottles of nail polish all lined up before her. "I can't decide on a color."

Cold water prickles her skin as Jake comes to stand next to her, eclipsing the sunlight as he casts her in shadow.

Twisting to look at him, elbows twisting grooves into her towel, Stella presses her lips together to quell a small smile as she watches him shake the water out of his hair. She cannot deny the motion reminds her of Fizzy emerging from a swim.

Jake's eyes narrow as the corners of her lips twitch dangerously, though his mouth remains in its upward tilt. "What?"

Stella rolls her lips together again, smile evident in the way her cheeks tighten. "Nothing."

Stretching his arms overhead, Jake causes a faint flex of muscles beneath his skin before he drops down next to her on the wooden planks. And though she's the one who's been splayed out underneath the sun while he just emerged from the water, where they lie side by side—as close as they possibly could without touching—, she can sense the warmth radiate off him.

That's Jake: warmth. Always beaming smiles and full laughs and dark eyes carrying the notion of empathy.

 Her gaze lingers on his profile as he props himself up on his elbows. Droplets of water trail along his skin as he makes a great show of examining the bottles of nail polish. Sticking to his dark lashes, running down his cheekbones, touching against the faded scar on his chin.

"Well," He says, bottom lip jutting out as he considers the six contestants. "You've done red already,"

Stella's eyes flicker from the creases etched into Jake's skin, lingering proof of his bright smile—not quite dimples but far from what one would call wrinkles—, to the bottles as he moves the bright red aside.

His fingers close around the bottle of sage green next. "And then you did this one," Eyeing the selection, he moves yet another bottle aside. "And then this. So...,"

Jake grabs the bottle of rose pink, weighing it in his palm. His fingers brush against hers as he holds it out for her.

"This one."

"Good choice."

Sensing his eyes on her, Stella turns her head to find Jake's taken his gaze off the bottles. The faintest crease appears between his brows as his eyes flicker over her features, lips slightly parted before they press together and form a hint of a smile.

Wrapping her fingers around the bottle of the nail polish, Stella draws a circle in the terrycloth of her towel. "Do I have food on my face or something?"

Jake shakes his head with a soft chortled breath, gaze falling away from her to glance at the magazine-spread. A beat of silence passes between them before he says, "Beirut."

"What?"

He taps his finger against the page, drawing her eyes to the crossword.

Her lips silently form the six letters. "Oh, thanks,"

Taking hold of the pen, she fills the boxes with her italic scrawl before grabbing another apple slice. She extends the plate to Jake, letting her pen rest between her fingers as she lightly taps them against her chin in thought.

Then, as Jake makes to push himself to his feet, the pen clatters to the dock as Stella's hand shoots out to wrap around his wrist.

"Let's do it together," She says, flashing him a smile before she lets her lips fall into a feigned pout. He knows it well, it's the same she's perfected ever since they were kids and she made a claim for the last KitKat bar. Reaching for the pen, she offers it to Jake. "Help."

A hint of a smirk plays over his smile as he takes the pen from her hand, shifting his weight between his elbows as he lies back down next to her.

 Stella moves aside, offering him at least part of her beach towel as she begins to unscrew the cap of the bottle of nail polish. The chemical yet comfortably familiar scent hits her nose in an instant, rising into the summer air—where it blends with the notes of ruffled magazine sheets and sunblock melting into her skin in the warmth—as the two of them take on the rest of the crossword together.

━ ♡♡♡ ━

Stella runs her index finger along the rim of a hand-painted vase—daisies on a green canvas, flickering her gaze across the table it's stood upon. Next to it is a portable radio in turquoise, a set of six coupe glasses on its other side.

They—Jake and her—abandoned the dock some hour past noon in favor of exploring the town, starting off with a late lunch at Lottie's, as per Stella's request, before embarking on their adventure of simply sauntering about.

The niche boutique they're browsing through now, with its chosen selection of interior, coffee beans and confectionary rhyme along the same theme as the rest of the shops lining this street. Picturesque. With potted flowers out front and the faint whiff of cotton scented candles filling its premises.

"Stells."

As Jake's voice sounds through the store, she glances over her shoulder to find his eyes are already set on her, lips tugging into a small smile as her gaze catches his. He nods his head to the side as she lets go of the coaster in her hand, carefully placing it atop the stack with the rest before making her way through the room.

Weaving through oddly placed tables and shelves, she sidles up next to Jake as her eyes flicker to the shelf of ceramic tea-and coffee cups before him. They come in different shapes, colors and sizes, each and every one unique yet alike: a quote slapped across the ceramic, surrounded by countless of illustrations. There's one with butterflies, another with frogs. One with cactuses. Next to it there's one with sunflowers, and next to that one with bees. In the back, behind plenty of others, Stella glimpses one with whales painted in shades of gray, black and blue.

She shoots Jake a sideways glance, the corners of her lips lifting into a smile. The cups aren't ugly—the illustrations are cute, but they're not exactly swoon worthy either. "Looking for a new breakfast companion?"

"I was thinking one of each."

Reaching her hand out for the cup closest to her, the ceramic cold against her fingertips as they close around it, Stella reads the quote sprawled across it. It's inspirational. Thoughtful.

She sets it back on the shelf before running a palm over a few creases in her black linen sundress.

"What do you say?" Jake says, mouth in an amused upward tilt as he grabs another of the cups. "This one?"

"Be your own reason to smile," Stella reads off the cup, digging her cherry chapstick out of her petite shoulder bag. It's warm, almost melted, as she smooths it over her lips. Regarding the lilac butterflies surrounding the quote, she slants her head to the side. "Well, that's cute. I guess."

"Could use it for all that coffee," Jake says, putting the cup back on the shelf as he scrunches his nose up with a faint grimace. "And that chamomile tea of yours."

"Hey! One more word of that chamomile slander and you'll be walking home."

"We came here in my car."

"I know."

"You don't even have a license."

"That's–," Stella presses her lips together, cheeks tightening with a traitorous smile as Jake raises his brows with a hint of a grin. "...Entirely not the point."

"I mean," Jake turns his gaze away from the shelf to fully rest on her. "It does seem like a pretty important aspect of the point. To me."

Stella pushes past him, reaching for the cup he just put back on the shelf. "Well, you're wrong. Come on. Let's go pay."

"You're actually going to get that?"

"Well yeah," She turns the cup over in her hands, letting her smile fully bloom as she shrugs. "It's a souvenir. You should pick one as well—we'll match."

An amused breath slips Jake's lips, regarding her for a beat longer before surveying the selection of the cups.

"Okay," He says. "Let's see–"

"No. Wait. I get to choose yours."

"Well, then I get to choose yours."

"I already have one."

"No you don't," Jake snatches the butterfly-illustrated cup out of Stella's hand and sets it back where she found it. "I'll find you a better one."

They begin to rummage through the shelf, picking and choosing between the cups crowding it as Stella's struck with a thought.

"Should we get one for Faye as well?" She flickers her eyes over the quotes of the cups, looking like they have been picked straight off a motivational board on Pinterest. Nodding to no one in particular, she says, "We should get one for Faye as well."

━ ♡♡♡ ━

A light sheen of sweat sticks to Stella's skin as they walk down Daisy Avenue.

The paper shopping bag holding their three cups dangles from her fingertips as they walk, the soles of her denim mules slapping the cobblestones of the pavement with her every step. Beds of flowers line the front of the stores, offering a lingering floral addition to the town air—Lottie's fried pancake batter, newly clean, disinfected carpets of a Bed & Breakfast lobby, the occasional whiff of a car running its engine.

The sky is cloudless, sun hung high on the blue sky, its blinding rays beating down on them in the enclosure of thick, humid heat. It's almost too warm to be sauntering about outside, and Stella exhales a small breath of relief every time they step into yet another quaint shop, welcomed by the breeze of a functioning A.C.

Weaving through the near empty streets by Jake's side, she wonders if maybe they should have stayed put. On the dock, with the shade of the house and its patio just a stone's throw away. With the opportunity to dive into the water for a swim in the palm of her hand. She imagines that's how most of the town's tourists and inhabitants are spending this warm day. Lathered in sunblock—crowding docks, lawns and small beaches.

Rounding a heap of colorful bikes thrown haphazardly to the ground, they pass a group of kids stood shoulder to shoulder, jamming coins down a gum-ball machine while fervently turning its wheel; a metallic click sounds with every spin as a few gum-balls fall from the glass bowl.

On the next street, a woman's bright orange sundress flows out behind her as she walks at a brisk pace—a cone of ice cream in the grip of her right hand as she pushes a stroller in front of her with the left. A slip of paper falls out of the stroller just as she's about to turn the corner and Stella's quick to dive for it just as Jake does, narrowly missing knocking her head into his.

Their smiles mirror one another as they straighten up and Stella quells a chortle as she closes her fingers around the slip, hurrying to catch up with the woman.

"Excuse me!" She calls, finding her voice slightly more high-pitched than usual—both peppier and gentler simultaneously. Her lips crack into a small smile, similar to those one would flash a high school yearbook photographer, as the woman whirls around in a startled step. "Hi. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. You just–... you dropped this."

"Oh, thank you," The woman shifts in her stance, securing the stroller with her flip-flop clad foot as she reaches out for the slip of paper. "Really, thank you so much."

"Of course."

Turning back around a moment later, Stella finds Jake further down the street stood by yet another extravagant floral arrangement. Her gaze moves to the two shelves stood right outside the door of the storefront as she sidles up next to him—one of them filled to the brim with postcards, the other a selection of baseball caps.

With the pier only a short distance away, she can sense the lake water here. A scent reminding her of dampness: of grass coated in morning dew, of slippery stones and tall trees. It lingers, clinging to the pressing heat as it blends with the faint whiffs of sweetness trickling by.

Amusement parks.

That's what the air of the streets reminds her of. Heavy notes of sunblock and spun sugar. Privative of the impromptu cascades of puke that is.

Handing their shopping bag to Jake, she plucks a navy baseball cap off the shelf and puts it on, nudging the edge of the hair-clip holding her hair together in an updo at the back of her head.

"So?" She turns to Jake, her mouth already set in an amused upward tilt. She probably looks ridiculous, especially with the pink capital lettering reading Blue Windflower Lake at the front of the cap. "What do you think?"

He pushes the shopping bag back into her hand. "Let me...,"

Reaching out, he adjusts the position of the cap atop her head, tapping its screen with a small knock and Stella's cheeks tighten with a brighter smile.

"There you go," Jake's about to retreat as he pauses again, fingers hovering above her cheek. "Wait, you have–"

"Is it a bug?!" On its own accord, Stella's hand flies into the air—matching the panicked tone of her voice. "Get it off me! Jake!"

"Not a bug," Jake says through a chortled breath which soon spills over into laughter as she glares at him. "Here, stay still."

A traitorous laugh slips Stella's own lips; Jake and his damn infectious smile.

Her hands ball into fists, the way a toddler's would upon putting on a fight in the grocery store. "It's not funny!"

"Stay still."

"But–"

Jake's thumb brushes over her cheekbone, his touch gentle and featherlight. Pressing her lips together, Stella's words die on her tongue.

"There," He says, a faint warmth lingering on her skin in the wake of his touch as he shows her the pad of his fingertip. "A lash."

Stella's eyes flicker from the lash to Jake's grin as she absentmindedly crosses her arms over her chest in lieu of taking a step back. "Could've just said that."

Somehow, she doesn't quite want to leave their bubble of close proximity. Not yet. It's nice—being stood with someone like this without having to put any thought to it. Still she feels a need to put a small distance between them, something to separate them. To give her a small sense of control. A barrier, of sorts.

"Make a wish."

A short sigh-sounding breath slips Stella's lips as she rolls her eyes. "Make a wish?"

"Make a wish."

This close to her, the otherwise faint note of citrus clinging to Jake—somehow blending perfectly with his sunblock—envelops her. A light sheen of sweat lingers over his features as well, though on him it merely serves as a highlighter to his cheeks.

That's unfair. With the way warmth pools in her hairline and with how her skin grows stickier with every passing minute beneath the cloudless sky, Stella's feeling ready to drop a bucket of ice cubes over herself. Meanwhile, Jake makes sweating look like an art. An effortless art. A simple accessory to his bright smile. A little more color to his features. It probably helps he's so pretty.

Not that Stella thinks of Jake as pretty.

Not that he isn't pretty. Jake is definitely attractive. Captivating. With his infectious laugh managing to bring a comfortable twitch to her cheeks every time she hears it. Charming. In the way he doesn't shy away from holding her gaze during a conversation, even if she's rambling on about something as trivial as her favorite color. Handsome. In that alluring way; defined collarbones peeking out of the round neck of his black t-shirt and–

Whoa.

She's definitely spent far too long a time in the sun today.

This is the boy she used to be sat underneath the staircase playing Nintendo DS games with for heaven's sake. The boy who'd beg Faye to move spiders out of the way because he didn't want to do it himself. The boy who used to sneak them popsicles before dinner. Pineapple for her, fudge for Faye—and raspberry for Jake.

Warmth that has nothing to do with the sweltering afternoon heat swells in her chest, flushing her skin from the inside out as she closes her eyes to blow on the lash.

She could use that bucket of ice right about now.

"What'd you wish for?"

Stells squints as she bats her eyes open, the sun striking her in the face despite being protected by the screen of the baseball cap. In an attempt to gather herself, she draws in a deep breath and prays her cheeks aren't as blotched as they feel before peering up at Jake.

"If I tell you, then it won't come true. Aren't those the rules?"

Jake simply shrugs, easily having her lips tug into a small smile.

"Ice cream. That was my wish. And plenty of it too."

"We could arrange that."

"Wishes do come true!" Stella claps her hands together in mock-joy, gaze drifting to the opposite side of the street where a group of teenagers are just stepping out the glass door of a parlor—waffle cones in hand. "They have ice cream over there."

"They do," Jake nods, lifting his hand to point past the pier. "But we're going over there."

"Best in the world?"

"That would be overselling it. But in town? Yes. Definitely," He double-taps the screen of her baseball cap with his knuckle again. "Are you keeping this?"

Already reaching into her petite shoulder bag for her cardholder, Stella moves for the entrance to the store. "Yeah, I think I will."

━ ♡♡♡ ━

"Excuse you," Jake knocks Stella's fork back from the piece of blueberry crumble pie with his own. "We said we're sharing."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Stella rolls her eyes with a smile as she sets the fork down, reaching for her cup of strawberry-lime ice cream instead. "Have at it. Just not all of it."

Sitting up straighter in her seat at the worn picnic table, she lets her gaze wander to the expanse of lake stretching out before them, just below the wooden deck of the café's outdoor seating. The deep blue surface shimmers underneath the late afternoon sun, distant happy yells drifting their way from a hidden but nearby swimming site.

"Where exactly is our dock?" Stella asks, eyes on a row of houses in the distance—far, far away; all across the other side. Beaches, docks, lawns and patches of forest replace one another where they line the shore. "Geographically speaking."

Jake lets his fork rest against the plate of blueberry crumble. "Over there," He says, scooping some of his nearly melted ice cream up as he cocks his head backwards. "Some miles or so that way."

"Huh."

"Huh?"

Stella draws a pattern in the condense having formed on the side of her drink. "I'm just trying to glue the pieces together: get a sense of where everything is in relation to the house."

"It'll make more sense once you've seen it all."

"There's more?"

Jake's fingers tap a low beat against the wooden tabletop. "There's always more."

Digging her fork into another piece of the blueberry crumble, Stella relishes in its sweetness as it melts on her tongue. Next to her, her phone chimes with a text message in her bag.

Her lips tug into a wider smile as she pulls it out, catching sight of the screen as her fingers close around the sage green case.

She types a quick reply before glancing up at Jake. "Faye."

"Tell her hi," Jake says through a spoon of ice cream, flickering his gaze her way just in time to notice the phone-camera she's angled toward him—toward the both of them actually, considering she's twisted around in her seat, already beaming at the lens. "What are you doing?"

"I'm documenting!" Stella shoots him a smile through the reflection of the screen. "Come on, say blueberry crumble pie!"

Jake's lips—already resting in that natural smile of his—crack a grin. "Well, that's quite the mouthful."

"3. 2. 1. Smile!"

They both flash a few bright smiles for the camera before Jake leans across the table, easily plucking the phone out of her grip.

"What on earth are you–" Twisting around, Stella notices the camera is now directed at her. And only her. Shifting in her seat, she sucks her cheeks in. "Jake."

"Let me take your picture."

"Is that really necessary?"

"You said you're documenting."

"Yes, but– Ugh, fine."

Looking into the camera, Stella adjusts her baseball cap and lets her lips tug back into another—smaller—smile.

"Stop hiding."

"I'm not hiding."

Her eyes flicker sideways as Jake snaps some photos, noticing they have an audience: an older couple—a man and a woman—is sat a few tables over, chatting over their waffle cones as their gazes continue to wander to Jake and Stella.

"Okay great, I think we've got it," She says, smile instantly relaxing as she holds her hand out for her phone only to have Jake inch back and out of her reach to snap another picture. A small laugh slips her lips along a short exhale. "Jake. Come on."

Reaching across the table, she snatches the phone back and sinks into her seat. She quickly scrolls through the newest additions in her camera roll, noticing there are at least a couple nice shots in there while the rest are simply a series of her laughing as she grabs for the phone. She chooses one of the first—including the both of them—and sends it to Faye before she lets the device drop back into her bag.

A moment later, they're cast in semi-shadow, relieving them of the sun. Stood by the head of their table is the older couple she noticed earlier, having paused in their step while on their way.

"We were sat over there talking and I just must say," The man leans closer as if he is letting them in on a secret. "You two make a wonderful couple."

Stella's cheeks flush, lips pressing together to quell the uncertain laugh building in her throat. Across from her, Jake ungracefully snorts into his drink—setting off a series of coughs.

"Oh we're not–"

"Actually we–"

They both trail off, words fading at the tip of their tongues as the older pair frown as one. What seems to be proper disappointment slowly etches into their features and Stella shoots Jake a look before she rolls her lips together, fingers closing around the strap of her purse as she manages to flash the strangers a small smile.

"Thanks. That's very kind of you."

Following a short exchange of words, she lets her eyes trail the two as they leave the café behind. Her smile widens, the awkward tension beginning to wear off as she watches their slow trek toward the pier, their arms looped together.

Eventually, she turns her eyes back to Jake. Quick to pick her fork up, she knocks his away from the blueberry crumble.

"Don't hog it."

There's a flicker of amusement to his features as he pushes the plate her way. He nods to her empty tall glass. "Want a refill?"

"Well aren't you boyfriend of the year?"

The words slip her lips before she can stop them, cheeks tightening as her smile mirrors Jake's grin. She ignores the roll of his eyes and sets her fork down, folding her arms over the tabletop. "Yes please,"

He gets to his feet with a mock-salute, about to head into the café.

"Not diet," She adds. "Absolutely not diet. Oh! And a slice of lemon! And no ice, it–"

"Waters it out, I know. Be back in a moment."

Stella watches him leave, already picking her fork back up for another piece of the crumble. "Thank you!" 

. . . 

hi hello my friends! how are you? I hope you're all doing well!

as for me, my frazzled brain is kind of just trying to keep up but I'm good! I spent today out in the sun, the morning around horses (<3) and the afternoon having a somewhat picnic in the park with two friends. so happy it's finally sundress season! 

I hope you're enjoying 'coming up for air' so far! loved getting to include some banter in this chapter <3 it's a very different process with this one compared to WQ considering it's the very first time I'm attempting to put this idea into words on the page, sometimes figuring it out as I go, but I think I'm doing okay?

again, I hope you're well <3

much love, yours, 

linn