The weekend was supposed to be a break. Jordan had told himself that, over and over. He'd been burning the candle at both ends-football, school, and everything with Simone had drained him. He needed to get away.

And maybe, just maybe, he needed Izzie with him.

The idea had started as a fleeting thought, but as the days passed, it grew stronger, more urgent. He couldn't shake the pull he felt toward her, the way she seemed to make everything in his world feel a little more balanced. Every time they were together, it felt right. But it was more than that. It felt like there was something unspoken between them, something he didn't know how to deal with.

The beach house was a place of escape for him-a place he'd gone to when he needed to get away from everything. It was quiet, peaceful, a sanctuary of sorts. And lately, it felt like the only place he could breathe. But now, more than anything, it felt incomplete without Izzie there.

He couldn't explain it. He just knew he needed her with him.

Jordan paced in his dorm room, his phone in his hand, hesitating. He hadn't asked her directly yet, but he'd been dropping hints for the last few days. She'd taken the bait, but now he needed to ask.

Finally, he hit send on the message:

"Izzie... I'm heading to the beach house this weekend. I could really use some company. You in?"

Almost immediately, his phone buzzed with a reply:

"Are you serious? You're asking me to come with you?"

Jordan exhaled, feeling a flicker of hope. He quickly typed back:

"Yeah. I mean it. It's been a rough couple of weeks, and I just want to get away from everything. You're the only person I want there."

The message felt too forward, but it was the truth. He'd never been great with words when it came to feelings, but with Izzie, he didn't have to be.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed again:

"Alright, I'm in. Just don't expect me to go easy on you in volleyball."

Jordan couldn't help but grin. It was classic Izzie-competitive, bold, and always ready for a challenge. But there was something else in her response, something that made his chest tighten. She hadn't said yes because she felt sorry for him or because she thought it would be the right thing to do. She'd said yes because she wanted to be there. And that made all the difference.

The drive to the beach house was a quiet one. The familiar coastal views passed by in a blur as Jordan drove, the sound of waves crashing against the shore mixing with the low hum of the car engine. Izzie was in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone, but every so often, she would glance over at him, her eyes catching his in the rearview mirror.

The air between them had shifted in the days leading up to this moment. It wasn't just friendly banter anymore. There was something heavier, something that neither of them had fully acknowledged, but both could feel.

When they arrived, Jordan got out of the car first, stretching his legs and taking in the salty breeze. He stood there for a moment, the familiar scent of the ocean and the quiet hum of the waves calming his racing thoughts. This place always did that for him-helped him reset, helped him breathe.

Izzie stepped out of the car and joined him, her eyes scanning the horizon.

"God, I needed this," she said softly, taking a deep breath.

Jordan turned to face her, his heart beating a little faster than usual. "I'm glad you came."

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, the weight of everything they'd been tiptoeing around hung between them. There was so much unsaid, so much that felt just on the edge of being acknowledged, but neither of them were quite ready to confront it.

Instead, Izzie grinned, breaking the moment. "So, where's the volleyball net? You're not getting out of this that easy."

Jordan laughed, feeling the tension ease just a little. "You really want to play volleyball right now?"

"Of course. You know how competitive I am." She raised an eyebrow, challenging him.

Jordan smirked. "You know I'm not going easy on you either, right?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

They walked down to the beach, the sand cold under their feet, but the warmth of the sun starting to make up for it. They set up the volleyball net, the waves crashing in the background as they fell into a familiar rhythm-playful banter, competitive spirit, and an undeniable chemistry that neither of them could deny anymore.

As the afternoon stretched on, Jordan couldn't help but glance at Izzie a little more than he had before. There was something different about the way she laughed, the way she moved. She wasn't just his childhood best friend anymore. He could see it now-the way she fit into his world in a way no one else did.

But what did that mean for them?

As they walked back to the beach house, a silence settled between them again, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was... expectant. Like they were both waiting for the other to make the next move.

Jordan opened the door to the house, but before he stepped inside, he turned to Izzie.

"You're staying the weekend, right?" he asked, his voice softer now, a hint of vulnerability he hadn't meant to show.

Izzie met his gaze, her expression unreadable. For a moment, it felt like time slowed down-like everything else in the world faded away, and all that was left was her, and him, standing there on the threshold.

"I'm here, J. I'm not going anywhere."

And for the first time in a long time, Jordan believed her.