"We're officially done!"

I squealed as Lachie pulled me into a hug, spinning me outside the exam hall. Around us, students turned, sending us looks as they flooded out into the open air, but I didn't care. I was officially free.

"Freedom, at last!" Lachie cheered, setting me back onto the ground. "Let's go wreak havoc. Let's burn our notes and lab manuals to ash."

I laughed, waving my notes in the air. "I know our first semester is officially over, but as much as I would love to burn these notes, I feel like we'll need them for next semester."

"God, don't remind me that we have another semester," he groaned.

"And another after that, and another, and another..."

"Go to university, they said. It'll be fun, they said."

I rolled my eyes, whacking his arm with my loose papers. "You're such a dork. Don't pretend you aren't having fun. I see you, with your millions of friends on campus and parties every other night."

"Hey, that's on you for living off campus. Campus is where the fun's at." He paused to grin. "You know, because I'm there."

I scoffed. "Right, because you're such a blast."

"I really am," he replied. He shrugged his backpack higher onto his shoulders and turned to me. "So, what are your plans now that you're free? You down for dinner?"

He blinked at me hopefully, a charming smile pulling on his lips. I shook my head.

"Nah, I'm off to Shellside Bay," I said. "River's picking me up from here and we're heading straight down to the beach."

His smile faded with a nod. "Right. Of course. That sounds amazing. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."

"Hopefully." I turned the conversation back towards him, suddenly feeling bad for turning him down for dinner. "What about you? Aren't you heading home for the holidays?"

Now that I thought about it, I'd never asked Lachie where 'home' exactly was. I knew he lived on campus, which usually meant home was probably too far to just catch a train or drive each day, but that was just an assumption. I had no idea where he'd really come from.

"No, not me," Lachie said. He looked away from me, a forced smile pulling on his lips. "It's—uh—a bit too far. My parents live out past Dubbo, actually."

I frowned. I knew Dubbo was pretty far from the city, but it couldn't be that far. It was probably just a few hours longer than a trip to Shellside Bay. Surely, he'd be okay with the distance for the chance to spend a month with his family—especially after not seeing them for so long.

He seemed to sense my thoughts because he quickly added, "Besides, I'm sure they've got a lot on their plate right now. I'd rather stay here instead of making the trip. More to do anyway."

"Right," I muttered. We met eyes and he shrugged slightly, as if waving the subject off. I couldn't help it. I felt sorry for him. Even if he seemed to have a lot of friends on campus, how fun could it really be sitting on an empty university campus all break? And how many of his friends would be leaving for home themselves?

He'd be here, alone, for weeks until everyone returned.

The words came tumbling out before I could stop them.

"Hey, why don't you come down to Shellside Bay with us?"

His brows furrowed. I resisted the urge to smack my hands over my big fat mouth. Had I really just invited him on a three-hour road trip with me and River? That would probably evolve into an almost month long stay with us?

Where would he stay? What would he do the whole time?

What would River say? He'd either laugh or murder me in my sleep. Both were terrifying prospects when it came to River.

But worse—what would Everett say?

God, I really hadn't thought that through.

Everett knew Lachie wasn't a threat. Really, no one was a threat against Everett. Except for maybe Tom Holland, but that was highly improbable.

No, he knew Lachie wasn't a threat, but that wouldn't stop his heart from breaking when he discovered that Lachie would be spending a few weeks in Shellside Bay with me while Everett was stuck on the other side of the world. The thought would eat him alive.

It was too late, though. The words were out, drifting in the air between us. I couldn't put them back in. It was like my entire body was frozen, waiting for a reply as Lachie opened his mouth and his answer came out—

"Is Everett coming?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Everett. That's your boyfriend's name, isn't it? Is he going to be there?"

"No," I said slowly. "He's back in New York."

It was a perfectly normal question, and yet it felt strange somehow. Why was he asking that? Why did he need to know that to answer me?

"Right. Well, I'd have to check with work. See if I can get time off so suddenly," Lachie replied.

"Oh, of course!" I rushed out, waving a hand. "I mean, no worries if it's a big deal. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble or anything."

Part of me felt entirely relieved. He had to check with work. There was no way he'd be able to find out if he could come before River arrived.

I glanced towards the road—where was River? What was taking him so long? I tapped my foot against the pavement, anxiously waiting for him to help me escape this conversation and the consequences of my own fat mouth.

Right on time, a car pulled up on the road beside us. Any normal person would have called or texted, but instead, River honked loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone on the street.

When I refused to acknowledge him, he rolled down the window and started yelling.

"Come on, Monroe, or I'm leaving without you!"

I rolled my eyes, flipping him off, keeping my eyes on Lachie.

"Well, I need to get going. Maybe next time then, yeah?" I spoke quickly. Lachie smiled, glancing towards River.

"Oh, well, I could always drive down myself," he said. He waved at River who only glared in response, slowing rolling his window back up. Lachie turned back to me. "Look, I'll call my work and let you know, yeah?"

"Oh," I said, words escaping me. Right when I'd thought I got out of it. I cleared my throat, forcing my lips to move. "Sure! Of course. Right. Let me know."

"And, have fun on your trip, yeah? Enjoy the freedom and your three-hour car ride with River," he said. He leaned forward, whacking my back in the form of a brief hug before turning away.

I snorted, my feet already moving towards River's car as I waved goodbye. "I'll do my best! Have a good break! I'll see you next semester."

"Or sooner!" he hollered back.

My smile felt forced. "Or sooner."

I entered River's car with a slam of the door and a heavy sigh. He only stared at me, his face emotionless.

"What was that all about?" he asked. I sighed, my entire body slouching in shame as the words escaped me,

"I may have accidentally invited him to Shellside Bay this vacation."

"Accidentally?" he sputtered, chortling in disbelief. "How do you accidentally invite someone on a trip?"

"I don't know! It was like—he was telling me about how he's staying here for the break, and his family is, like, busy or something, and I just—my mouth kept moving! I couldn't stop myself! It was like—like when Mrs Clemente asked me to babysit Everett. The words just slipped out!"

River seemed to struggle in holding back his laughter. He clapped a hand over his forehead, shaking his head at me. "God, Isla, you're too nice for your own good."

"Sorry for having a heart. You should try it sometime, you know," I shot back.

He lifted a brow at me. "Yeah, well, based off the trouble it gets you into, I don't think I will. He's not coming is he?"

"What do you have against Lachie?"

He glanced at me, narrowing his eyes as if he'd caught me in a lie. "Oh, so you want him to come, then? It wasn't an accident?"

"No, it's just—he's—I don't know. He's nice."

River snorted. "Sounds real charming."

I rolled my eyes as he reached forward, starting the engine and the three-hour journey back home.

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Two hours into the road trip, Everett called me.

"God, don't tell me you're going to have phone sex for the rest of the drive," River complained.

Everett laughed through the phone. "You can relax, River. I'll save the phone sex for later."

"Everett!"

"Gross," River gagged.

Everett only laughed some more. "I've only got fifteen minutes before my next class anyway."

"More than enough time for you," I teased.

"Double gross," River gagged again. "At least Lachie isn't here to make it triple."

"Lachie?" Everett asked. "Why would he be there?"

"Oh, you won't believe it. Isla here accidentally invited Lachie to spend the break in Shellside with us."

"What?" Everett frowned through the camera.

Great. I glared at River. He just had to open his mouth.

"I felt sorry for him," I explained. "Anyway, it's no big deal. He said that he would have to call work first, so he probably won't even come."

"You mean, he might still come?" Everett asked.

I hesitated. "I mean, possibly, I don't really know... We didn't talk about it, I just left as soon as River pulled up!"

"Isla."

"If it's any consolation, I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth. But, I mean, I couldn't just take it back!"

"Oh, the struggles of having a heart," River teased wistfully.

"It'll be fine. Even if he does manage to come, it'll be like a friendly hangout, you know?" I justified.

"I still don't want him to go," Everett whined.

"You and me both," I replied.

"Well, I want him to come," River said. I turned to look at him and he grinned. "It would be funny."

"You know, I'm starting to second think that phone sex idea," Everett said.

"I take it all back."

"That's what I thought."

"Everett," I said, drawing his attention back to me. "It'll be fine. Besides, how would he get time off work so last minute?"

He paused, his face twisting into a sour frown before he nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, I know you're right. And I trust you so... How was your exam?"

I smiled. "Amazing, but only because it's over. Did I do well? Questionable. Is it over? Hell yeah."

"I'm sure you did incredible. You taught me lots about cell biology," he said. He paused, lifting a brow in a teasing smirk. "And other forms of biology."

"I will not hesitate to swerve this car into a tree," River threatened.

Everett laughed. "Okay, okay! I'm done! Please don't murder my girlfriend."

"I won't," River said. "For now."

"For now?"

"Make one more sexual innuendo, Everett. I dare you."

"I'm suddenly feeling very uncomfortable in this car," I said.

River grinned. "Good. Only an hour to go. And then you're stuck with me all month."

I forced a smile. "I'm so excited."

My voice was dry, filled with sarcasm, but the words themselves were true.

If I craned my neck to peak through the trees, the cliff dipped into the ocean—an ocean that connected to Shellside Bay.

An ocean that would lead me home.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys! Thank you for waiting for this update - I reallyyy don't like this chapter but my writer's block has stopped me from writing anything better soo this chapter it is lol but at least the gang is in Shellside Bay now so the next one will be fun!