2 4 | p o r t  k e m b l a

MYBIKE CREAKED LOUDLY as I wheeled it down the pavement towards Clemente House, the sky tinting golden behind it. I sighed, stretching in the light and letting the warmth of the morning sun wash over me.

I was exhausted. My muscles were sore from work and my shoulders slumped from lack of sleep. To make it worse, I'd been up all-night thinking about Everett.

Thinking about his lips against mine. Thinking about his past – aching to know more about his dad and Emma and everything that had led up to our meeting. Thinking about what had caused him to become that miserable boy I'd met at the start of summer.

Thinking about how Austin had revealed an embarrassing secret to him yesterday.

I groaned, humiliation flooding me at the memory.

In the distance I could already see Everett against the porch railing, his head dropped low and fingers wringing together.

We hadn't spoken much after returning from Isla yesterday. I wanted to thank him for defending me against Austin, but a part of me was still mortified.

I was angry at Austin. No, I was furious. How could he bring up such an embarrassing moment from my past? And so casually too, like it was just a big joke to him, in front of everyone. In front of Mia – and Everett.

But now he knew. And I was still waiting for him to tease me about it, call me a second choice. A part of me was dreading it. Maybe that was why I hadn't attempted to have a real conversation with him since then.

It definitely wasn't River's words getting to me. I most certainly hadn't stayed up all night replaying his words in my head.

I see the way you look at Everett.

What was that even supposed to mean? The only special way I ever looked at Everett was when I wanted to strangle the life out of him. That was it.

Besides, I was in love with Austin. Even when he didn't text me for days. Even when he invited Mia to our special island. Even when he had me waiting ten years for something – anything more than his tight hugs and friendly handholding.

Because Austin was like Shellside Bay – permanent. Comfortable.

Everett would be leaving in less than a month. He was the complete opposite of Austin. His smiles were always teasing. His eyes were always burning – never gentle. And soon, he'd be gone.

Within another few steps, my bike let out another resounding creak, causing Everett's head to snap up and lock eyes with me.

I ignored the way my stomach flipped when his hazel eyes locked onto my brown. I stepped forward, my face warming as my bike rattled over the rocky path. Everett cracked a smirk at me, raising a brow.

"Still haven't put that bike out of its misery, Monroe?" Everett asked, stepping down the porch steps to stand beside me.

I released a weak chuckle, avoiding his eyes. "Are you offering to buy me a new bike, Conolly?"

"You work every single day of your summer break, and you're asking me to buy you a new bike?"

"I told you," I said pointedly. "I'm saving up."

"Ah," Everett hummed, leaning towards me. I met his eye, glittering with amusement, a smirk playing on his lips. "Right. Always saving up for... What was it again? Food and stuff?"

"Yes," I said, narrowing my eyes in challenge. "And what about it?"

"Nothing." He shrugged, turning away. "Just wondering. Exactly what stuff are you saving for that requires you to work nonstop for the entire summer?"

"You know." I was growing flustered now and, though I didn't show it in my voice, I knew he could read me. He always could. I shifted beneath those burning hazel eyes and wrung my fingers together. "Stuff. Like... nail polish."

"Nail polish?" His eyes drifted to my bare nails resting on my bike handles and I subconsciously clenched them into fists.

"Yes, nail polish."

"I didn't realise nail polish was so expensive in Australia."

"Well, it is."

"Right."

"Yep."

"So," he began, his voice suddenly serious. "What's the real thing you're saving up for?"

I paused, turning to him. He watched me, waiting for an answer, his brow wrinkled. I frowned. No one had ever asked me that. Not even my mother.

People preferred the easy answers. The answers they expected – the ones they wanted to hear, even if they didn't realise it. It always changed depending on the person. Textbooks when my mum asked. Food when Sky asked. Clothes when Austin asked. And then they let it go.

But not Everett. Never Everett.

I released a bitter laugh, shaking my head. Of course, not Everett. He could never make it easy for me, could he? My fingers tightened around the bike handles.

"To leave," I said finally, the words a breath of relief.

"Leave?" His expression turned to a look of curiosity. His eyes were bright with the words I'd spoken. Like he understood what I meant, even without elaborating.

But I'd said the words, and it had felt invigorating. To leave. Who knew two words could taste so incredible? And now that I'd spoken them into existence, I couldn't stop.

"I want to leave Shellside Bay," I said finally. "I can't stay here forever. I want to go to university. I want to study, and meet all kinds of people, and make a life for myself."

Everett was silent for a moment, and when he spoke, his words were full of realisation. "There's no university here."

I shook my head. "So, I'm saving to leave. Get an apartment in Sydney. Apply to universities after I graduate." I released a long breath. "It's expensive, though. I'd have to have enough for at least three years."

"That's why you won't fix your car," he said, his voice slowing with realisation. "Or buy a new bike."

I nodded and he released a low whistle. "That's a lot of money."

"I know," I sighed. "Which is why I need to work every day. Every summer. And even then, it won't be enough."

"But why?" he asked finally. "Why not take your time? You can go to university whenever you want. Hell, do online college. What's the difference?"

"My dad –" my voice cracked, and I bit my tongue.

His face appeared in my mind. His warm smile. His skin, darker than mine, black freckles on his face from the sun. I thought of his voice, deep and clear. Always striking.

Isla, he'd tell me, in that warm voice of his. He'd take my tiny hand into his large, calloused ones and press his forehead to mine. Promise me this. You'll go to university. Put your brain to use. Make yourself a better life than me.

Warmth covered my hand and I blinked to realise Everett had placed his palm over mine, resting on the bike handle. I met his eyes, surprised by the fire I found in them. Fire and warmth. I swallowed thickly.

"My dad didn't get to study. He took a gap year to work. Then it turned into two, three, ten." I frowned, thinking of the stack of books on his desk. Books he'd never read. Books he'd never study. "Then he died."

The words left me in a forced breath. It was painful, remembering him. Letting myself remember him without shoving the memories away to deal with another day.

It was scary, too. The way I was beginning to forget how warm his arms felt wrapped around me. The way I couldn't remember the exact texture of his hair anymore. Was it like mine? I wasn't certain anymore.

But it was nice. It was nice to speak about him without being pitied. To speak about him with someone who could understand.

"Tell me about him."

I blinked, facing Everett. We had reached the beach by now, but we were still early. I paused at the sand, taking my time as I locked my bike on the rack. He sent me a small smile, and I found myself wanting to talk about him. Wanting to tell Everett all about him.

A part of me wished they could have met. My dad would have liked him.

"He was the best," I said eventually. "He had these brown eyes that turned honey gold in the light, with crow's feet at the corners because he was always smiling. He always put me and my mum first. Even after a ten-hour night shift, he'd come to my surfing competitions and sports carnivals at school. Never missed one."

"He sounds amazing."

"He was." I paused, realising I was grinning, matching Everett's expression. I wondered if my eyes were as bright as his. "He was the best. He worked his arse off to provide for me. Gave up on his dream of becoming an architect."

I wondered if those books were still scattered across his desk. I wondered if they'd begun gathering dust, or if my mum had packed them away.

I hadn't looked at it since that day – since the day he'd laid in that hospital bed and never got up again. I swallowed thickly, meeting Everett's stare.

"So, you see, I have to go to university. I have to pick up where my dad left off." My smiled wavered and my voice fell. "I can't get stuck in Shellside Bay."

"You want to be an architect?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "I want to study marine science. My dad always told me, I had to chase my dreams. I had to study what I wanted, get my dream job. Achieve what he never managed to do."

"And you will," Everett said suddenly. "You will, Isla. I know you will. If anyone can do it, it's you."

I warmed and my smile grew shy. Doubt crept into me, the way it always did, backed by hundreds of thoughts and calculations. What about my mum? My friends? Austin?

Sensing my uncertainty, Everett reached a hand to me. The sun had risen fully now, baking us in warm, golden light. Everett's skin glowed and I smiled, taking his palm into mine. I tangled our fingers together, all doubt washing out of me.

There were still thousands of unspoken words between us. About the kiss. About him defending me. About how just holding hands sent sparks down my arm and warmth blossoming across my chest.

But there was also the looming countdown towards the end of summer – the always present reminder that he would leave soon. That anything between us was impossible.

As if he could read my thoughts, Everett's grip on my hand tightened.

"Isla," he said, my name still foreign on his tongue by the way it sent shivers down my spine. "Listen. About... what happened..."

"The kiss," I said for him. His eyes widened in surprised, his ears turning pink, before his lips twitched up in a half-smile.

"Right," he said. "The kiss."

There was a tense pause where we both seemed to have words resting on our tongues but refused to speak. Everett caved first.

"I'm leaving in a few weeks."

"I know."

"And you like Austin."

My voice wavered. "I do."

"So," he said finally. His jaw clenched, but his eyes remained steady on mine. Hazel on brown. "We forget about it."

I didn't hesitate. I nodded quickly and firmly; glad we were on the same page. "We forget about it."

Because he was leaving soon. Because I was in love with Austin. Even if we were fighting right now, I liked Austin. I'd liked him my entire life.

Nothing was going to change now.

"Great," Everett filled the silence. He turned away, his eyes finally leaving mine, and I definitely didn't feel the twinge in my chest at the motion. I definitely didn't feel sad when his hand left mine and he began walking towards the Shack.

I let myself process the words for a moment. Let myself remember the feeling of his lips against mine and hands on my waist one last time.

Then, I shoved the memory far away and chased after him.

"My shift's only four hours today," I said brightly. Too brightly. But if Everett noticed, he didn't say anything.

"So, what are we doing afterwards?"

"I don't know," I hummed. I hadn't spoken to Austin privately in days, and after yesterday, I had no plans to. He was probably busy with Mia anyway. "Maybe River and Connor will visit."

"Maybe."

We fell into silence, the only sound between us being the screeching of distant seagulls and the quiet push of the tides. I chewed on the inside of my cheek for the rest of the walk, relief flooding me when we finally reached the Shack.

I went through my usual routine of unlocking the door, opening the shutters, taking out the stools and logbook and pens. By the time I'd settled in, Everett had already seated himself on one of the stools.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, still unsure about where we stood. Things felt awkward now. No, we'd been awkward ever since we kissed. I'd thought speaking about it would clear the air, but it hadn't.

He was on his phone again. I thought about the boy I'd met at the start of summer, with his grimace and pale skin – always on his phone. Always frowning at it.

That boy had disappeared at some point, but here he was again. Frowning at his phone.

A part of me wondered if he was stalking Emma again. If he was remembering how she'd betrayed him. How she'd hurt him.

I watched him for a moment. Noticing the way his dark hair fell over his forehead. He'd need a haircut soon. It was almost in his eyes. But I liked it like that.

I liked how it tickled his brow. How the very tips had turned a lighter brown than the rest since he'd spent all summer in the sun, thanks to me. I imagined how it would feel if I ran my fingers through it. If I tugged on, the way he tugged on mine.

I stiffened, quickly turning away. What was I doing? I couldn't be thinking things like that. Not when he'd be leaving soon. Not when we'd agreed to forget about the – I groaned, pulling my phone out of my pocket.

I needed to stop before I went too far. I needed a distraction.

It was time to text Austin.

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A U T H O R ' S   N O T E

Don't murder me 🤭 soo we found out a bit more about Isla's life! Thoughts? Next time: more Evela bonding 👀

Also omg 20k reads! Thank you all so much! Every read, vote and comment means a lot to me 💕💕 see you tomorrow!