The morning sun was streaming into Lauren and Matt's bedroom as they woke up in an unusual position: they were cuddled together, their legs intertwined. For a brief moment, Lauren felt comfortable and protected in his arms. However, reality soon hit her and she pulled away abruptly, getting out of bed, along with a high-pitched scream.

—What the hell is going on? Why are we sleeping like this? Why did you break through the pillow barrier I made the first night?!

—What the fuck are you talking about?- Matt asked, scratching his eyes, still completely drowsy.

—Matthew, I was almost on top of you! We can barely stand each other and suddenly we're sleeping together? That's ridiculous! It's unbelievable!

—So in that case, it's your fault, isn't it?! You were on top of me. And we're in a fucking double bed!

—Well, I wasn't the one with my arms around your hips.

The two of them exchanged looks full of resentment and confusion.

—Whatever, I'll get ready and earn more.- Matt grumbled, stomping his feet to the bathroom.

The tension between them reached its peak and the rest of the day unfolded in an uncomfortable atmosphere. Lauren chose to spend most of her time in the backyard, playing with and looking after her little brother, Dom, in an attempt to get away from Matt and the other two boys' questions.

It was then that Justin, the triplets' older brother, appeared on the porch. He immediately noticed the heavy atmosphere and the sad look in Lauren's eyes.

—What's going on, Lauren?- he asked, taking a seat next to her. You didn't even go out with the boys today...

—Justin, I don't understand.- Harrison sighed, watching her little brother chase Trevor, the Sturniolo's dog.— Matt and I used to be so close, best friends. But then, out of the blue, he stopped talking to me and we started hating each other. I don't know what happened. It's been two years!

Justin put his hand on Lauren's shoulder, offering support.

-Lauren, sometimes people change. It could be that something happened to Matt, something that affected him deeply. Maybe he's dealing with his own problems and doesn't know how to express them. You know he's always been quieter than Chris and Nick.

Lauren looked at Justin, searching for answers in his wise eyes.

—But why didn't he tell me? I thought we were friends, that we could share everything...

—We don't always know how to deal with our emotions, Lauren.- the older man replied, hugging her from the side.— Sometimes it's easier to walk away than to face the pain or confusion. Maybe he's going through something difficult and doesn't know how to deal with it.

As the sun began to set, Lauren thanked Justin for his advice and thoughts. She knew it was time to confront Matt and seek answers. She wanted to understand what had happened between them and, if possible, rebuild their friendship.

Later that evening, Lauren and the triplets decided to take part in a Luau on the beach at Nicolas' urging. The music, the laughter and the relaxed atmosphere brought some relief to the tension of the day.

—Hey, we haven't talked all day! How are you?- Nick asked his friend, offering her a sip of his drink.

—Stressed. I thought too much and ended up hurting myself. But I'm fine now and, honestly, all I need is alcohol.

—Wow, how she drinks!- the boy laughed, ordering a marguerita from the bar behind them.— I've got my eye on that cutie over there. He works at the market near our house.

Lauren ran her eyes over the crowd of teenagers there and soon found the boy. He was tall, black and very handsome.

—Do you want me to help you get him?- the blonde asked, raising her eyebrows repeatedly.

—Are you doubting my charm? I have my schemes and, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put them into practice.

Lauren laughed, watching her friend move closer to the other boy.

—Is that your boyfriend?- a voice behind her asked. It belonged to a charming young man, who approached her with a seductive smile.

—What?- the blonde laughed.— No! He's my friend and, by the way, let's just say that the fruit I like, he sucks right down to the core.

—Oh, I see.- the boy laughed.— I'm Cole, nice to meet you.

—Lauren.- the girl smiled, accepting his handshake.

—Is this your first time at a Luau?

—Ah, no! My friends and I go to luaus every day during the summer. We love the energy!

—I see. To be honest, it's my first time in Carolina Beach, I don't know much about it... I'm with my cousins and they're introducing me to it little by little.

—What a treat! Go downtown, there are lots of nice stores, I'm sure you won't regret it.

—I'll write that down, thanks!

The two of them started chatting animatedly, sharing laughs and stories. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and the flirting intensified.

The closeness between Lauren and Cole gradually increased. They exchanged intense glances and, in a moment of impulse, kissed softly.

Lauren, surprised by her own desire, pulled back a little.

—I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. I guess I overreacted.

Cole smiled understandingly.

—Don't apologize, beautiful. I enjoyed it. But if you want to stop, that's fine with me.

—No, no. It's fine! I was afraid I'd get a bit emotional.- She laughed, blushing slightly.

—Do you want to dance?- Cole asked, holding out his hand.

Lauren hesitated for a moment, but, faced with the desire to have fun and the feeling of freedom, she decided to accept the invitation.

Cole smiled and pulled her onto the improvised dance floor on the soft sand of the beach and they both went back to enjoying the party, enjoying each other's company with a mixture of lightness and intensity.

However, the boy's presence next to Lauren didn't go unnoticed by Matt, who watched from afar. Strange and confused feelings began to mix inside him, while the reality of his own emotions became more and more evident.

At the end of the night, Cole walked Lauren to the door, as it was getting late.

—Thanks so much for the company, handsome.- Harrison smiled, his hand already turning the handle of the front door.

—I appreciate it.- he laughed.— Will I see you again?

—Maybe.- Lauren smiled mischievously, leaving a small kiss on the corner of the bigger man's mouth.

Cole winked, leaving a kiss on the girl's cheek, who smiled in response. As soon as the blonde entered the house, he too went on his way.

Walking on tiptoe so as not to attract attention, Lauren climbed the stairs and made her way to her bedroom, finding Matthew sitting on the bed, fiddling with his cell phone.

She hadn't expected to find him still awake at that hour, so she decided to ignore him. She still hadn't gotten over the events of the morning.

—Had a great time today, didn't you?- the brunette asked, looking a little ironic.

—Yeah, any problems?- Lauren asked harshly, looking for her pajamas in the closet.

—Oh, I don't know, you've always been so against these one-night lovers and now you're doing them.- he said, shrugging.

—I can't believe you're jealous!- the blonde asked incredulously, frowning at him.— You stopped talking to me with no warning, no explanation, and now you're acting like you have some kind of right over my personal life?!- she said.

Matt stared at her in bewilderment, as if he were becoming aware of his feelings.

—You're a fucking asshole. Go to sleep on the couch tonight, I don't want to argue any more.- Lauren said, her voice a little bitter.

The boy left the room with only his cell phone in his hands, slamming the door as usual.

As she lay on her bed, Lauren reflected on the events of that night. Her feelings were confused, mixing anger, frustration and a strange desire for closeness. The bed was cold.

However, before Lauren could explore these feelings further, she fell asleep, exhausted by the intensity of the day. In the silence of the night, as Matt tried to find solitary comfort on the sofa, they were both unaware of what the future had in store for them and the journey they would have to face.

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