(August 2001)
(Gabriel's POV)

I had spent most of the summer away at basketball camp and when I was available, Hailey was either babysitting or away with her Dad and his new girlfriend.

They had spent a lot of time in Toronto where his girlfriend lived. Josie had gone to stay with them a couple times but because of basketball I'd stuck around Fenelon.

As a result we had hardly seen eachother all summer long. So, when Labour Day weekend hit and we were both back in town and getting ready for school, I was pretty excited to actually get to hang out with my best friend.

We had already decided that we were spending the day down by the lakefront with a bunch of friends and then sticking around for the barbeque and fireworks after.

When I pulled up to Hailey's on my bike I was surprised to see a different car, it caused me to ring the doorbell instead of barging in the way that I usually did.

Showing patience is not one of my strong suits and so, the fact that I was standing there waiting when I hadn't seen Hailey all summer long was a testament to the fact that for whatever reason I was nervous.

A beautiful blonde woman opened the door and I knew from Hailey's pictures that this was the new girlfriend.

Hailey had never met a woman that her dad had dated before.

After her mom, a woman who I considered to be a humongous shrew, had given birth and then taken off, her dad had committed to going it alone. I admired her Dad a lot because from what I could see he loved her enough for two parents.

He had taken his job seriously, never really dating anyone and had definitely never brought anyone home to meet Hailey. So, when he had started talking about Claire, Hailey had been really excited to meet her.

I had worried about it before they met but it turned out that the two of them got along wonderfully. According to Hailey, not only is Claire beautiful, she's also kind, active and went out of her way all summer long to include Hailey in anything they were doing.

One of the reasons why Hailey and I are such good friends is because her level of energy matches mine and according to Hailey, her dad's new girlfriend can keep up with her.

Claire opened the door and said "Gabriel right? I've heard so much about you! Although, Hailey had prepared me for a boy that would come right in. Don't feel like you have to change things up because I'm here."

Her smile was genuine and I could already see why Hailey was a fan.

It made me happy that she had a positive female in her life because I had always felt bad that her mom was missing. I wasn't sure what kind of parent chose not to be in their kids life but I knew that that wasn't the kind of person that Hailey deserved.

My own mom had fallen in love with her a long time ago and the two of them often spent time together even when my brothers and I weren't around. I might not have been able to see her this summer but I knew that she had seen my mom a couple of times.

She reached out her hand and formally introduced herself, "I'm Claire, it's nice to finally meet you."

I don't know what it was but I hated shaking hands. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get the hang of it. Maybe it was a kid thing, whatever it was, I never knew if I was supposed to squeeze hard or light or exactly what I was doing.
As a result, shaking hands made me uncomfortable. Exerting the perfect amount of pressure alluded me and I could only hope that at some point, I would figure it out.

I took her hand which was smaller than mine and awkwardly flopped it before quickly letting go and asking if I could go up and see Hailey.

She gave me a beaming smile and sent me up to her room. As I knocked I heard Hailey swear on the other side of the door but say I could come in. I already knew before I opened the door that I was going to find her nowhere close to ready, with a book in her hands.

As I opened the door, I shook my head. "Please tell me you're actually ready this time."

Hailed laughed, putting down her book and assuring me as she stood up, "I only need a few minutes."

I froze in my tracks for a minute, I wasn't sure if it was that I hadn't seen her for awhile or if I just forgot how pretty my friend was but as she laughed with me about her ridiculous time management skills, I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

Her dark hair looked shinier, and her brown eyes sparkled with hints of gold.

Was she wearing makeup?

Had her legs always been so long?

No way her boobs were that big in June.

Is swallowed hard. Not exactly sure what was different but I knew that I wasn't going to be the only one to notice it today and I could feel my shoulders stiffen as I thought about having to listen to anyone talk about Hailey being super hot or all the changes in her body.

We had started grade 7 last year and it had been exhausting trying to keep all my dirty ass friends from making her uncomfortable. I could just imagine what it was going to be like for our grade 8 year.

She grabbed her bathing suit and went over to the bathroom to change and I couldn't help but close my eyes and sigh at the fact that she had grabbed a couple pieces of cloth.

That I knew of, Hailey had never worn anything but a one piece and a part of me wanted to ask her to not wear a bikini today. Then I realized that if I said something she might not wear it. That would mean, I wouldn't get to see her in it either.

Keep your mouth shut Gabriel.

If just tell off anyone who did or said anything out of line. I wasn't sure exactly what got me so upset about Hailey, I sometimes made comments about girls too and it didn't bother me about anyone else.

I just knew that she deserved better than having us talk shit about her.

(Hailey's POV)

I had hardly seen Gabriel all summer long and was so excited to finally see him. I tried to hurry it up as I pulled on my bikini, it was the first time my Dad had allowed me to wear anything like this and it had mostly been due to Claire advocating for the fact that it really wasn't that different.

It had wide halter straps and the bottoms were like my boy short underwear. They actually covered more of my bum than any of my other bathing suits.

My new found boobs had way more support in this top too. So all things considered, I was pretty comfortable and feeling good. I pulled on my jean shorts and a tank top and walked back out. Gabriel was sitting on my bed reading the first Harry Potter and I came to a stop, just staring at him.

I had been reading a completely different book, the fact that he had grabbed my favourite gave me those heart flutters that always made an appearance whenever he was near.

Add to it that in this moment he was looking down and I could take him in. He was so beautiful but I rarely got to just look at him because I never wanted him to feel uncomfortable with my stares. As my eyes traced his face, those flutters intensified.

I laid down on the bed next to him and he gave me a blinding smile and then started reading it out loud.

I knew that we had friends that were waiting for us by the lake but they would be fine without us for a bit. I sighed, closing my eyes and letting myself enjoy spending time with my favourite person.

A/N- ohhhhh the heart flutters! 💕💕