3 1 | f r a z e r 

I TAPPED MY PEN against the chipped wood of the counter, scanning the page for the surname 'Parson'. My eyes landed on the booking – today at 5PM – and I crossed it out with a wide grin. Our final booking of the day had cancelled, meaning I could leave early.

I slammed the directory shut with a loud thud and looked up to meet Everett's gleaming smile. He watched me with those burning hazel eyes and I warmed under his gaze.

"What?" I asked, growing self-conscious.

"Nothing."

"You're staring."

"I can't stare at my girlfriend?"

I blushed at the term and turned away, casually rearranging my pens. "Not when it's distracting me from my work."

"You're finished anyway." He reached up then, his hand grabbing a stray curl and tugging on it. I met his eye and he sent me a pointed look. "Besides, you're too beautiful not to look at. I need to stare at you as much as possible before I leave."

I pouted. Because summer was ending in a week, and Everett would be gone after when I'd just gotten him.

"Just don't leave."

"I wouldn't if it were up to me," he grumbled, bitter. "My dad would throw a tantrum if I wasn't there for his wedding."

His smile had vanished, a grim expression replacing it and his brow wrinkling. I sighed, leaning onto the counter to cup his face and turn his eyes upwards. I knew he was angry at his dad. I knew he still missed his mum. But he had to face it. He couldn't hide here forever.

"The months will go by quickly," I said gently. "Then you'll be graduated, and you can move out for college."

His face lightened briefly before he released a tight breath and leaned into my touch. "College won't be fun without you."

"Then get good grades and transfer to Sydney," I scolded, releasing his cheek to poke at his nose. I turned, grabbing my duffel bag and shoving my things inside. "Really, Ev. If you just paid more attention in class, all this could be avoided."

"Not my fault your stupid colleges need such high scores," he grumbled back.

"Universities," I corrected. I heaved my bag over my shoulder and closed the shutters, locking them in place before locking the Shack door. Everett stood waiting outside, his arms crossed expectantly.

"Whatever they're called," he said. "I just want to be with you."

I smiled, leaning closer until he pulled me into a tight hug, pressed against his chest. "River would make you pay rent."

He hummed, his chest vibrating against me. He pulled back, pressing a small kiss to my lips before saying, "He'd probably make me pay double."

"I would."

I blinked, turning to see River frowning at us in disgust. I warmed, moving to pull away, but Everett's arms only tightened around me.

"Hurry up," River said, arching a brow. "We're going to Isla."

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With Sky, the Nauti Buoy was filled to its limit. She sat across from me, beside Austin, while Everett tossed a lazy arm around my shoulder, watching the waves roll past.

"You know, Everett," Sky said, a wide grin splitting across her freckled face. "The Nauti Buoy fits six people."

Everett turned to her and quirked a confused brow. "I know."

"And with you, there's six of us."

"There is."

"So," she said pointedly. "It's fate. You were meant to be a Nauti Buoy. Welcome to the group."

"Oh." Everett blinked, probably confused at this sudden change in conversation from the tiny Asian girl sitting across from him. "Thanks."

"Oh, don't thank me yet," she teased, nudging Austin roughly. "It's hell being stuck around these idiots all the time. You'll regret it soon enough."

His grip around my shoulder tightened and he glanced at me, his eyes glimmering and reflecting the ocean green. "I don't think I will."

"We're here!" River shouted, the engine of the boat rumbling to a stop. Connor whooped, the boat rocking wildly as he leapt into the knee-deep water and began tugging it, all of us still on board.

"Jesus, Connor," Austin laughed, quickly hopping off the boat and helping Sky follow. "At least wait for us to get off too."

I frowned at him. He'd been quieter than usual since our talk. We still texted and tried to pretend things were back to normal, but I knew he still worried about me leaving, still felt guilty about how this summer had turned out.

Everett's hand dropped to mine and I looked up to meet his smile.

"Ready?" he asked, excitement shining in his eyes.

I nodded. Despite the rocky start to the summer, things were perfect now. We were all back together. Everett was my boyfriend. Things would be back to normal soon enough. There was no point worrying about it all now.

So, I squeezed his hand and nodded. "Ready."

Soon, we were all racing on the sand, the sun setting in a warm orange glow behind us as we ran towards Isla's lagoon. Sky was first – leaping off the rocks with a scream to land in the blue water. Austin was next, and then River pushed Connor into the water, cannonballing after him.

My skin was warm from the humid summer night's air, sweat and sand sticking to me after a long shift at the Shack. I paused at the edge of the rocks, glancing down to see the others had moved back, waving me down.

"Hurry up, Isla!" Austin shouted, grinning widely.

A hand slipped into mine and I turned to see Everett smiling at me, his hazel eyes shining green in the setting sunlight.

"I'm going to miss this," he muttered.

And with a shout, he tugged me with him and we went tumbling off the rocks together.

The water hit my skin in a cold rush of bubbles. Everett's hand stayed gripped in mine as we hit the lagoon, the water turning a deep blue beneath the golden glow of the sunset.

I felt a chill run over my body, the cold lagoon a relief from the humid summer air that stuck to your skin in a layer of sweat. We didn't resurface immediately. Instead, I opened my eyes, coming face to face with Everett.

He smiled at me, bubbles escaping his lips and nose, and his hair floated in all directions. He swept forward, his body dragging through the water and flashes of light glittering over his skin. He wrapped his arms around me, pressing his lips to mine in a brief kiss.

I laughed in the form of bubbles, and then we were pushing back to the surface, taking in a gasping breath of air, wind biting at the wetness of our cheeks.

I wiped at my eyes, shoving wet hair off of my forehead. A wide grin split across my face, my eyes scanning the lagoon until they settled on Austin.

He watched everyone with a smile, laughing when Sky shoved Connor's floppy head of hair back beneath the water, and whooping when River tackled her next. But the smile didn't reach his eyes, and I noticed how he stood a bit further away from everyone else.

"Austin!" I shouted. He turned to me and I shot him a devilish grin. "You're going down."

His eyes lit up mischievously, but before he could make a move, a wave of water splashed over me. I gasped, turning slowly to send a deadly glare in Connor's direction.

"Wasn't me!" he squealed, pointing a finger at Sky beside him.

"Hey! Don't blame me!" she shouted back.

"It was you!"

"Snitch!"

"Liar!"

I slapped the water in both of their directions, sending a splash at their faces. I smiled in satisfaction as I watched the water spray into their half-open mouths, causing them to sputter and turn to me with agape jaws.

"You both made compelling arguments," I shrugged. Their eyes drifted over my shoulder, smiles tugging at their lips. My eyes widened a fraction, but I was too late.

Arms wrapped around my waist and heaved me up, out of the water. My eyes widened and I twisted to glare over my shoulder at a grinning Everett.

"Don't you dare," I said, narrowing my eyes.

"For the record," Everett started, raising a brow. "It was both of them."

He paused, tilting his head up to murmur by my ear. "By the way, I'm going to dunk you in the water now."

"Everett, like I said, you don't need to warn me –"

And with that, he tossed me into the water.

My back hit the water, but I was expecting it. I reached up, hooking my arms around Everett's neck and tugging him down with me. His eyes widened in realisation, but he was too slow, stumbling face first into the lagoon.

We floated for a moment, face to face. I sent him a cheeky grin, pulling him through the water to press a kiss to his lips. He smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing me back.

And then we rose back above the water and did it all over again until the stars lit the sky and the moon pulled the tides towards it.

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Everett's fingers laced mine as we walked the shoreline of Isla. The others were preparing the boat when I'd pulled him away, not ready to go home and have one less day with him.

One less day where I could kiss him whenever I felt like it, or feel his skin against mine, or lace or fingers together and dig our toes into the sand.

Thinking the same thing, his grip on my hand tightened and he paused at the edge of the water, where the waves were tugged out to sea and rose again, washing over our feet.

We stood in silence for a moment, listening to the quiet rush of waves and buzz of cicadas in the bush. The air was still warm, but summer was ending, and a cold breeze pushed past us, ruffling our hair and whistling in our ears.

"I don't want summer to end," I muttered, finally breaking the silence.

I turned to see Everett already watching me, his lips tilted in a tight frown.

"Me neither," he said quietly. We both paused, watching each other as if memorising this moment – memorising the curve of his lips in person, the feel of his palm pressed against mine, the way his hair had turned bronze at the ends and the freckles that kissed the spot between his eyes.

The next time I'd see him, he'd probably be pale again, his hair its dark brown that it was at the start of summer. I reached up, running my fingers through it. He'd probably get a haircut.

Things would be different. Time would move on.

It couldn't be summer forever.

Suddenly, he let out a loud, exasperated breath, turning to the ocean.

"This isn't fair," he said, shaking his head. "None of this is fair. Why can't we just – Ugh!"

He grabbed a small rock from the sand, tossing it over the waves with a flick of his wrist. We watched it skip over the water, jumping once, twice, three times, before sinking into the inky waters with a plop.

A second passed, then I was grabbing a shell from the sand and gripping it tightly in my fingers.

"Why couldn't I meet Everett ten years ago?" I shouted in frustration, whipping my hand and tossing the shell over the water.

It sunk with a loud plop and Everett laughed, raising a brow at me.

"That was terrible."

"Don't tease me, Everett, I'm sad."

He blinked, then grabbed another rock, tossing it out to sea.

"I hate making my girlfriend sad!" he yelled at the water, watching as it flew over waves before sinking far beyond mine.

I sighed, grabbing his hand and pulling him closer. "It's not your fault."

"It is, though. If I – If I were Austin, or River, or Connor –"

"I'm glad you're not," I interrupted firmly. I took his face in my hands, shooting him a pointed look. "I want you Everett. Even if that means I can't see you every day. Even if it means staying up until three in the morning to video chat. I want you."

"I want you too," he said, leaning his forehead against mine.

He sighed, his breath washing over my face, and I closed my eyes, hating the burning behind my eyes. Hating that summer was ending. Hating that we had to leave each other.

"We'll make it work," I said.

"We'll make it work."

"We'll video every day," I said."

"And every night."

"You'll come visit."

He nodded. "I'll visit. I'll – I'll get a job and save, and –"

"I'll visit too," I said quickly. I opened my eyes and sent him a small smile. "We'll figure it out."

His lips twitched in a sad smile, before his eyes were drifting to my lips.

"Isla," he muttered, his hand lifting to toy at my waist. He tugged at the hem of my bikini before flattening his palm against my bare skin, sending warmth through my body. My stomach flipped and I leaned into his touch, brushing my lips over his.

He leaned in, pressing his mouth firmly against mine in a slow kiss.

I sighed, parting my lips to let his tongue slip into my mouth. His hand slipped to the small of my back until he was holding me firmly against him in a passionate kiss.

I ran my fingers over his chest, tracing a path over his throat where new stubble scraped at my skin, to his jaw. I memorised the sharpness of his face, the scruff of his cheek, the dip of his collarbone, the hardness of his muscles, the warmth of his skin.

I pulled him closer, and closer, and closer – unable to get enough of his arms around me and his skin on mine. Water bit at our ankles now, the ride rising higher and higher, the sound of waves rushing in my ears.

The Nauti Buoy was probably ready to leave by now, but I kissed him harder, pulling away only for a moment to murmur against his lips.

"Everett."

A whisper. A promise. We'll make it work.

And he understood it, even with just that one word. And his eyes softened, and his lips parted in a sharp exhale. With only the moon and the stars as our witness, he pulled me back in for a slow kiss, his hand ghosting over my cheek like a whisper.

He tasted sweet on my lips and I swallowed his breath. The world around me turned silent, and all I could think was Everett.

And just for that moment, there was no such thing as summer.

There was just us, and this kiss, and nerves, and butterflies, and our hearts pounding madly between us.

A promise.

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A U T H O R ' S  N O T E

A bit of fluff now that Everett and Isla are official! I hope you enjoyed! Tomorrow is our final chapter!!! Let me know your thoughts / predictions / hopes and dreams now before it's all over!

Thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting on Isla! I'm going to miss y'all when this is over! See you tomorrow💕💕