Last Summer

It was the last bonfire party of Shellside Bay before everyone was off to their futures.

Half of the graduating class would be staying in Shellside Bay indefinitely, taking over family businesses or jumping straight into working fulltime. The other half were mostly scattered off to different cities, secured into whatever universities and colleges would take them.

This was our final chance at one of our iconic bonfire parties—the last until nobody knew when.

We were intent on making the most of it.

Everyone had shown up. The entire graduating class, plus extras. Tourists, cousins, older graduates, younger grades. It was the entire young population of the town—plus some.

Everett's arm was thrown over my shoulder.

It was hot. The air was thick with sweat and heat. I couldn't tell the hot summer air apart from my panting breath. Apart from Everett's panting breath.

He leaned his face close to mine; not to kiss me or anything. He just smiled there, swaying tipsily as we danced to the music. I couldn't even make out the words over the sound of the waves and my heart in my ears.

I kissed him first.

I leaned up, pressing my lips to his—hard. Like reminding myself that he was here. That we were both here. And the bonfire beside us was real.

That this was all real, at least for now.

And now was all we had.

When I pulled back, he was grinning at me.

He leaned in close, his lips brushing over the skin of my neck. I didn't even think about the sweat that must have coated my skin, hot from the summer air and the heat of my hair sticking to my neck. Everett had learned every part of me now.

His lips moved higher, sliding over my ear.

"I think we should get out of here," he muttered.

I giggled. The alcohol was turning my bones fuzzy. "Where would we go? Your room?"

He shook his head. "My grandma would see us. Yours?"

"My mum..."

An idea struck me. I giggled again, grabbing his hand.

"Follow me."

We slipped away from the bonfire party, tripping over our own feet and the sand until the fire was a dot in the dark. We found our way across the beach off of muscle memory and the moonlight until we'd reached our destination.

"The Shack?"

"Tomorrow's a public holiday, they'll be closed all day," I replied. It took me three tries to unlock the door and let us in.

We collapsed on the floor, sighing in relief at the cold air that had been trapped inside the Shack, despite the heat that surrounded it outside. Sand stuck to my skin. I wondered if I'd taste like salt if Everett kissed me now. Salt mixed with tequila. The thought made me laugh.

Everett's side was pressed against mine. The ocean sounded far away from in here. It was muffled, like listening through a pair of headphones. There, and not there, at the same time.

He rolled over to look at me. Even lying down, the room seemed to sway a little. I was definitely tipsy at this point. We both were.

His hand lifted, tracing a path over the side of my face.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered. "I really love you."

I couldn't help the giggle that burst from my lips. "I love you too."

He smiled, sitting up to hoist me onto his lap. His arms tightened around my waist as I straddled his lap. "You mean that?"

"Of course."

"Even when I'm in New York? And you're here? And—and I can't be here for you when you need me?"

"Everett," I whispered. I leaned forward, pressing my forehead to his. His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't say that. You know that means nothing to me. We'll make it work."

He was silent for a moment. Breathing me in. And then, he kissed me hard.

His hands braced my face, his lips connecting with mine. It was a desperate kiss. And I knew, like me, he was proving this was real. That we were here, together. Sitting on the dirty floor of the Shack, covered in sand, and sweat.

His hands were all over me. On my face, then on my waist, sliding up beneath my shirt. His fingers were on my bare skin, over my bikini, then under. And I was gasping, writhing in his grip. He kissed me harder, leaning over me until my back touched the floor and I was breathing hard into his mouth.

I felt like I was sinking through the ground, and I wanted to pull him with me.

My shirt went first, and then my shorts. His lips pressed against my bare stomach and traced a path to the inside of my thighs. My bikini bottoms came off next. And he was whispering things against me, words I could barely make out over the buzzing in my ears, and my heart slamming against my ribcage.

I grabbed his hair, pulling him back up to my face. My fingers fumbled for his shorts in the dark, finding the waistband through pure touch. He moaned into my neck as I tugged them down, slowly, so slowly. Until he was groaning my name against my own skin.

The night faded around us. The dizziness from the alcohol quickly vanished, only to be replaced by the dizziness of Everett—of Everett on top of me, of his bare skin on mine, of his mouth tracing patterns over me, of him, deep inside of me and all around me.

We fit together perfectly.

And he kissed me like, in the morning, I would be gone.

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I sat in my biomolecular science lab, Lachie beside me as we stared, frowning, at my manual. My handwriting covered the page in smudged, ink scribbles, barely decipherable. I'd crossed out and re-written half the lines. Lachie narrowed his eyes, leaning closer to the page.

"You did the whole thing wrong," he started, "and yet you got the right answer."

"So... I'm right?"

"I mean—"

"Great!" I exclaimed, snapping the book shut and scooping my things into my bag. "So, that's settled."

"I'm pretty sure half the mark is in the working out," Lachie pointed out.

"What?" I pouted at him, and he laughed, closing his own manual and standing up.

"That's kind of the whole point of showing your work," he said knowingly. Sensing my disappointment, he rolled his eyes and said, "Don't worry, I'll send you a photo of mine later."

I beamed at him. "You're the best."

"Remember this the next time I need to copy your lab notes."

I cut him a glare, but my smile didn't slip. We walked together, waving to our lab tutors before exiting the room. The light rail was close to the labs, so Lachie tended to walk me there after our weekly class together.

And wherever we went, people waved at him, stopping him to say hello, inviting him places.

He was weirdly popular, which I didn't even know was a thing at university. I stared at my phone, pretending to text someone as he was stopped for the fifth time, this time by a dark-haired boy that I'd thought was Everett for one heart-aching second. It was truly incredible how many people Lachie knew on campus—and even more incredible how I saw Everett in every person I passed.

I scrolled through my phone, scanning my texts as if I hadn't read them all a million times. Everett was probably sleeping, but he'd texted me good night right before my lab. I'd already replied but I decided to text him that my class was over anyway. Not that it meant anything. By the time he woke up, I'd probably be asleep, and then he'd have his classes.

When was the last time I'd heard his voice for longer than ten minutes? A week ago? It felt like an eternity. I wanted summer back, where I could see him every morning until sunset, and even longer—without worrying about mid-terms and labs each day.

River had texted me hours ago reminding me to pick up some mixers for a party he was throwing tonight. I'd forgotten all about it. I frowned, suddenly realising I'd have to carry bags of heavy bottles up to the apartment now. Why couldn't he do it?

Ever since we'd left Shellside Bay, River had morphed into a sad lump that moped around the apartment all day, when he wasn't drinking himself half to death. A part of me wondered if he was always like this, for the eight months of the year that weren't summer.

I knew there was more too it than him missing the hot beaches and his board over the waves. No. It had more to do with the lack of texts he'd been receiving from a certain someone we'd left behind.

At least I could relate to him on that end.

"Sorry about that." I looked up to find Lachie stopping in front of me. He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "He's in my chemistry class."

I shrugged, pocketing my phone.

"It's fine," I said. Really, I was jealous and a little embarrassed. I wondered if he could tell that he was my only friend at university. I changed the subject immediately. "Actually, my roommate is having a party tonight. You should come."

"Oh?" A smile split across his face and he nodded eagerly. "Totally. Text me the address, yeah?"

"Of course," I replied. We'd reached the light rail now and I turned to him, tugging on my bag strap. "I'll see you tonight then?"

"For sure."

We grinned at each other and he turned, leaving for his dorm. I smiled to myself, pulling out my phone and popping my earphones in.

Tonight, would be good. I could feel it. After how horrible my start to university had been, it had to be.

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It was loud.

River never threw parties back in Shellside Bay. Those just tended to happen. A bonfire would appear and suddenly the beach would be filled with tourists, and teenagers, and alcohol, and it would be the greatest night ever to exist—until the next one.

Sydney parties were different.

They were music and lights and indoors. When was the last time I'd been to a party that didn't involve the sand and the ocean, with the moon glaring down on us from the inky sky?

These parties were crowded and stuffy. The air was sticky with sweat and the smell of vodka. I was choking on it. I sunk into the wall, a red cup clutched in my hands.

It was strange, going to a party without my Nauti Buoys around me. I missed having Connor with his massive, sweaty arm around my shoulders. I missed having Austin, rounding up the others when they got too drunk. I missed Sky—oh, I really missed Sky.

It had been a mission deciding on my outfit tonight without her around. It wasn't like I could wear my bikini like I usually did back home.

And of course, I missed Everett, for reasons that made me burn red in the face.

I'd settled on Everett's jumper and some denim shorts. It seemed good enough—until the guests arrived and all the girls were gorgeous in satin dresses and mini-skirts. Clearly, I hadn't heard the dress code. Not that it would've changed anything, with the majority of my clothes tucked away somewhere back in Shellside Bay.

I tugged on the hem of my jumper self-consciously, scanning the crowd for the only Nauti Buoy left.

River. He stood on the other side of the room chatting to a boy with short hair. I couldn't tell what colour it was with the flashing neon lights. I stared at him, willing him to turn to me, and a minute later, he did.

I lifted a cup to him and the boy he was talking to turned to look at me. Then, they were walking towards me.

I cleared my throat, pushing off the wall as they stopped in front of me.

"Isla!" River shouted over the music.

It was weird seeing him like this. River without a buzzcut. River in a hoodie. Sydney River. River, eight months out of the year.

He nodded towards the boy beside him.

"This is Alistair!" he shouted. "We went to high school together."

Alistair nodded at me and I nodded back.

"Nice to meet you," I yelled. He only nodded again. Not the talkative type, then. A trait rarely seen among the Nauti Buoys.

"So," River shouted, leaning closer. His hair flopped over his eyebrows and I wanted to push it off—shave it all off. To see some semblance of the River I knew, of summer in Shellside Bay. But summer was over, and his hair was long, and he was yelling to me, "Why are you standing here looking so depressed? Get drunk! This is your house too you know?"

"I am drunk," I yelled back, lifting my cup.

"You're clearly not drunk enough!" he replied. He clinked his cup with mine before emptying his drink into mine. "You're not working at the Shack anymore, loosen up!"

I sniffed his drink and wrinkled my nose at the strong alcoholic smell. "What is this, straight vodka?"

"No, gay!" he shouted back with a wink. "It's actually all tequila. Enjoy!"

I raised my drink, taking a deep gulp and immediately gagging on the taste. "This is disgusting!"

He didn't reply, only winked again with a devilish grin before turning and making his way into the middle of the crowd. Alistair shot me a weak smile and followed him.

I sighed, leaning back against the wall. I could feel the dull thump of music through it. The crowd was growing, and I was only getting more and more bored, counting down the hours until Everett would wake up. Maybe we could talk before his morning classes.

I took another long drink from my cup. This time, the mixture of alcohol didn't sting as much.

"Isla!"

I spun, finding Lachie standing in front of me. I gasped, bouncing on my toes.

"You came!" I shouted.

He nodded. "Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Oh, I have to introduce you to—"

I paused midsentence as I turned to find River pressing Alistair against the wall, their mouths attached. I blinked, stunned.

"Introduce me to who?" Lachie shouted.

I shook my head, still staring in absolute shock. River's hands were all over him—over his hair, his shirt, his chest, his arms. And Alistair's were all over River. I wanted to gag but I couldn't look away. I could have sworn that River liked Connor.

And based off the way that Connor had pouted when River and I left, I'd thought something had happened between the two. I almost thought...

I blinked hard, finally ripping my eyes away and looking back to Lachie.

"No one," I replied. "Never mind."

"That's a shame because I genuinely don't know a single person here," he said, laughing.

I laughed back. The room was starting to sway slightly, and laughter came easily. I took another drink before raising it to him, as if toasting to his words.

"Me neither!"

"But this is your party!'

"No, it's not!"

"It's your place."

"It's not the same thing," I said wisely, wagging a finger.

Lachie laughed before he glanced towards the kitchen where the drinks were lined up. He touched my elbow and said, "I'm going to grab a drink."

I nodded and he left, pushing through crowds towards the drink table. I leaned back against the wall, silently observing the room, watching everyone dance, watching couples lean into each other, and strangers pressing their bodies together. River still had Alistair pushed up against the wall—just how drunk was he?

It was like I'd blinked, and everything had changed. There was no more summer, no more Nauti Buoys, and worst of all, no more Everett.

That summer we'd first met, Everett had been by my side at Shellside Bay's bonfire parties. He'd taken care of me while I drank. He'd kept me company while the rest of the Nauti Buoys vanished—while Austin vanished, leaving me behind for Mia.

And now he was back in New York and I probably wouldn't see him for months to come. Even when he did visit, the days seemed to slip past, and he'd be gone again before I knew it.

I took a large gulp from my drink, trying to ignore the pang in my heart.

Everett wasn't here but that didn't mean that I couldn't have fun. Tilting my head back, I swallowed the last of my drink and turned to the kitchen, trailing after Lachie.

When I found him, he was already surrounded by a group of girls. I walked right into the middle of them.

"Lachie!" I shouted over the music. "Want to dance?"

He gazed at the group around him before smiling at me and nodding. Minutes later, we were in the middle of River's trashed living room, screaming to some Post Malone song and jumping on the coffee table.

Lachie was next to me, teetering on the edge of the table. He was absolutely and completely drunk, and I was too. The room swayed and spun around me. If I stood still for too long, I began to tilt off the edge of the table and I knew I'd fall.

So, I kept moving, jumping, bouncing on my toes, and screaming to the music. Sometimes River would appear and pass me a cold drink, sometimes I'd find myself in the kitchen pouring one myself, alcohol sloshing all over the counter.

My shoes vanished and then my phone and by the time the sun had begun to rise, the room was completely tilting.

I paused for a moment, staring at the walls in wonder, feeling my head spin and my stomach churn. And then, just as I'd suspected, I began to fall.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

It's 1am and I just finished writing this chapter so apologies if anything sounds weird I'll worry about that when I'm actually awake hehe

Thank you for reading as always! Let me know what you thought of this chapter because it was different from my usual kind of writing writing!

Next time: the morning after, Isla has a visitor...