We sat together on the sand. Sand that was usually too hot to touch; that was now so cold it felt damp. Wind whipped my hair into my face, raising goosebumps on my exposed skin. The sun had vanished hours ago, fading into a cloudy night marked only by the harsh waves crashing on the shores nearby.

I pulled my sweater tighter around my arms, cursing the autumn weather of Shellside Bay.

The only light that guided us were the lights that lined the path nearby. Even the houses across the bay seemed to flicker in and out, half-hearted, sleeping until the promise of summer was fulfilled.

I wanted to join them. I wanted to curl against my mattress and close my eyes until December. Until Everett returned and refused to leave.

Sky sat beside me, her head resting on my shoulder as we listened to Austin talk about his day at work. Across from us, Connor laid on the sand, his head on River's lap as River toyed with his hair, smoothing it across his forehead and sliding his fingers down, across the slants of his cheeks.

We didn't talk about the things we used to.

It wasn't like when I was seven, and sat on these sands, arguing with Austin about who was the better surfer.

It wasn't like when I was twelve and Sky appeared out of nowhere and our group was officially formed, sitting on these sands, just talking about cartoons and surfing and sharks and whatever else popped into our pre-teen brains.

It wasn't like when I was seventeen, and Everett burst into my life in a series of colours and curses, and we sat on these sands, just holding each other until we were forced to let go.

This was different.

This was eighteen and sitting on the beach in autumn because it was all I could get now.

This was eighteen and stealing weekends at home to recharge after long months in the city.

This was eighteen and Shellside Bay being both home and as far away from home as possible at the same time.

Eighteen and sitting on these sands, waiting for the morning to send us apart again, only to reunite on the sands another day and fall back into our spots like nothing has changed—and yet everything had changed.

"When do you guys leave, again?" Austin asked when he was finished with his story.

"Next week," River answered. Connor frowned at him, and River's hand flattened against his face. "We'll come back for summer, though."

"Will Everett come too?" Sky asked. I could feel her eyes on me, feel everyone's eyes on me.

My face warmed. I looked down at my sleeves—Everett's sleeves—and nodded.

"He's coming as soon as his semester ends and he's moving in with me and River," I said. I couldn't help the smile that pulled on my lips.

Everett would be here in less than a year, and this time, he wouldn't be leaving. He'd be finishing the final year of his degree here, in Australia, with me.

And, by the end of the summer, Sky's gap year would be over. She'd be in Sydney with us. The Nauti Buoys, reunited.

At least, most of us.

Across from me, River's fingers were running through Connor's hair again, as if comforting him, reassuring him. We'll be back in no time. We'll call each other every day. We'll be fine.

Promises I'd made with Everett a million times, so often that I'd memorised that look on River's face. I could feel the ghost of it still on my own.

"Not long now, then, hey?" Austin asked. He smiled at me. Working in construction had made Austin look older. His face was darker. He carried wisdom in his skin and bones now. He didn't look like that eight-year-old boy I grew up with anymore.

"I'm happy for you, Isla," he said.

I smiled back, nodding. "Just a bit longer now."

It was only a few months, less than a year. And yet, the weeks seemed to stretch into months, the months into years. It felt like I hadn't touched Everett in months, when it had only been a few weeks.

But I'd be okay, because summer would be here in a few months, and I'd have Everett's arms around me again.

This time, forever.