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Elena had grown. Not just physically, like her blond, wavy hair that had started to become longer than her shoulders, but also mentally. She had gone to the bar again. And she had liked it.

She had to admit that it was not the bar she liked, because the music was too loud, the people too drunk, the dancers too sweaty and Elena too awkward. What was fun about it was the fact that she was with her friends.

Asher was there, holding her hand underneath the table as if no one knew they were a couple. Emily was there with Julie, who finally didn't have to work the nightshift. Kay was there, having invited Cory, a new boyfriend – again. And the siblings Nova and Micah were there too.

It really was one big, happy bunch.

The night had fallen, but it was still too early to go home. At least everyone except for Elena thought so. Her eyes were starting to fall closed in the warm, dark bar. If only the music was silent...

"Want to go for a walk?" Asher's warm voice suddenly asked, whispering so she was the only one who heard.

Happy for the distraction and longing for some fresh air, she nodded her head, unable to hide the smile that spread her lips. O how he could read her mind.

With her hand still clutched in his, Asher told their group of friends about the walk, making it clear that everyone else was not invited. How he could say those things without sounding rude, Elena would never understand.

She took a deep breath when finally the colder, fresh outdoor air surrounded her. It was amazing how awake she suddenly felt. Her ears rang a little, but she knew it would soon pass. She never sat close to a speaker because she was afraid to have a loss of hearing. Some would call her weak for that, but she didn't care. If that was a reason for people to dislike her, then so be it.

Still hand in hand, Asher led her passed Bear Lake, which was located near the bar. She watched it as they walked by it toward his truck.

"Do you ever wish you could dive into the lake and discover the secrets that are below the surface?" she asked Asher. She didn't doubt that he loved the lake as well, because he so often took her there. They could just watch the water move while sitting next to each other in silence. It was heaven.

"What makes you think there are secrets below the surface?" he wondered, sounding like a philosopher.

Elena chuckled. "There is always something below the surface."

"I don't think there are any sunken ship here."

A laugh escaped her throat. Bear Lake was not connected to the sea, nor had it ever been. It was formed by ground that was slowly sinking down and that still continued to deepen the lake. But not near Saint Charles. There you had to walk far into the water before it reached even your belly button.

"I mean coins, or something," Elena explained, "indicating that people had made wishes. Or torn pictures that tell the story of a tragic heartbreak."

A grin spread across Asher's face.

"That would be really great."

She looked over the dark lake, wondering what might be in the water. What would she throw in it? Would she ever be driven to such an extreme that she would want to throw something in it?

"What secret would you throw in the lake?" she asked Asher. She might not know her answer, but maybe he knew his.

But after a short silence, he shrugged. "I do not know. Maybe I don't have any secrets that I can't share with anyone. There is no reason to rely on the lake if I can rely on you, and my family."

She smiled. That was a beautiful answer. Was that also why she didn't know of a secret she could throw in?

They arrived at Asher's red pickup truck. He opened it and took out his fancy looking camera, then closed the door and pointed his camera at the lake.

Asher liked taking pictures. He always said he didn't want to become a photographer. But when Elena saw how often he took pictures and how beautiful they turned out to be, she doubted his words. Did he not want to show his amazing creations to the world? Did he not want to make his hobby a profession?

She had learned not to say much about it. So instead, she walked to the lake, wondering if he was too shy to show his pictures. It was almost laughable, Asher being ashamed of something. When he did something, he did it with much devotion. He would do everything he could do to not just be good, but the best.

Sometimes Elena felt talentless when she watched Asher do the many amazing things he did. He was good at school, a social and likable person. He had a passion for photography and painting, and an urge to stay fit. He had his own car and worked some weekends in a restaurant to make his own money.

And Elena? She studied whenever she could, and still Asher had better results than her. If she compared herself to Kay, she was happy. But she had set her eyes on being as good as her boyfriend, not as distracted as her brother.

The clicking of Asher's camera suddenly stopped.

"You're in my photo," he complained.

She felt her cheek heat up in shame, then stepped back to the pickup. The clicking restarted while she leaned against the hood and watched back over the lake.

Some days she wished she could swim across it and be in a different world. Her dream world would be one without worries or stress, where only happiness and fun was possible. But then she would imagine it like a scene in a movie or a book. Things would go wrong, and eventually teach her a lesson.

Without the sun there was no shadow.

Without rain there were no rainbows.

She wouldn't have ever known what the relief of freedom felt like if she hadn't been stuck behind her desk studying for an exam.

"You are dreaming," Asher suddenly remarked, bringing Elena back to the real world. She turned to him and found him watching her with his camera in her direction. She squeezed her eyes to slits.

"I thought you didn't like me in your picture."

He grinned while keeping his eyes against the small window of the camera. "This looks gorgeous."

She laughed, feeling like he was speaking more of her than of the composition of the photo. He suddenly lowered the device and looked through the photos he had taken.

"Usually I don't like working with a model. But in these, you are an added value."

He motioned for her to come closer, so she slid off the truck and came to stand next to him. She looked at the photos he had taken of her, the black night sky as background, the bright red pickup truck underneath her.

They were indeed beautiful pictures.

He grinned at her. "It's not only my boyfriend-eye that is telling you these are beautiful. My professional eye thinks the same."

She chuckled, then rewarded his compliment with a kiss. He gladly accepted her lips and deepened the kiss. They soon forgot the camera or the beautiful night sky as they were so caught up in each other's touch.

His arms went around her, making her skin tickle everywhere he touched her. The big explosion of her senses was at her lips, where Asher pulled them with his teeth, before taking them with his lips again.

She didn't know how long they had stood there in each other's arms. She only knew that she had to take a deep breath when they finally released each other. Asher, too, was panting while he smiled at her. Then he leaned closer and rested his forehead against hers.

"I love you, Elena."

Her heart swelled with heat at those simple words. She knew he loved her, just like she was sure he knew she loved him. But to hear him say it always made her think back of the first time he had said it, and the many other times he had. It made her realize how long they had been in love and how often they had kissed. How they didn't hide their love from anyone and proved it to each other every single day.

His words were not important by themselves, but because of the meaning behind it, the many times he had said it and the many more times he didn't need to say it for her to understand.

"I love you more, Asher."

He softly shook his head. "Not possible."

She grinned. "Watch me."

She pulled his head closer to hers and pressed his lips onto hers again. Their embrace tightened while their lips moved over each other and their tongues intertwined.

She loved this man.

She really loved this man.

With all her heart.

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Hand in hand, Elena and Asher walked back to the pickup truck. But to her surprise, Asher didn't take Elena to the passenger's seat, but to the back of the truck. He opened the tailgate, then pointed at the truck. With a frown, Elena turned to it.

Her eyes widened while her mouth fell open. The 'o' of her mouth turned into a smile before she started laughing at the amazing view before her.

Asher had laid a mattress in the cargo box of his pickup.

So often, they had fantasized about watching the stars and the moon shine bright at the night sky, and just enjoying each other's silent company until they fell asleep. The fantasy was always ruined by the thought of having to sleep on the hard ground, or watching the stars through the window if they wanted a bed.

But Asher had just found a way around the bursting of their fantastic bubble.

With a smile, he helped her up into the truck, then took two pillows and a blanket from the backseat. They laid down together, their arms around each other, their faces both lit up with smiles.

They enjoyed each other's company, the heat of their bodies, while watching the glimmering stars.

The night was wonderful.