6 | Lake trips

"I broke my own heart loving you."

Willa

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

Avoidance. That was the plan. A simple, foolproof strategy: don't look at him, don't think about him, don't let him worm his way back into my head like he always does.

I had spent the last week perfecting it—pretending he wasn't there when I felt his eyes on me in the hallways, ignoring the way my stomach twisted whenever I caught a glimpse of him at lunch, steering clear of anywhere he might be.

I had been doing well.

The entire senior class was heading to the lake for the day, an unofficial tradition before the real weight of the year settled in. The perfect chance to relax, to soak up the last of the summer heat, to be around my friends and no one else. That was the goal.

But deep down, I already knew. I knew he would be there. I knew there would be no avoiding him forever.

The drive was loud and chaotic, the windows down, the hot wind whipping through the car as we sped down the highway. Daisy was driving, Alex was in the back with me, and Jasmine had called shotgun before anyone could argue. The music blasted, a mix of summer anthems and whatever Alex was obsessed with at the moment.

We weren't super close with Daisy and Jasmine, but we shared nearly all our classes together, and when Daisy offered to take us at the back of math class yesterday, it was the only logical pick.

"He's so unfairly hot," Jasmine sighed, scrolling through her phone.

I didn't need to ask who she was talking about.

"Who?" Alex played along, smirking as she flipped through the aux options.

Jasmine scoffed. "As if you don't know. Dominic West."

My fingers curled around the hem of my shorts, but I didn't say anything.

Daisy grinned. "God, I swear. It's like he was genetically engineered to ruin people's lives."

"Willa?" Jasmine turned to me. "What do you think?"

I forced a shrug. "I think you guys need new crushes."

Alex twisted in her seat, lifting her sunglasses. "You're awfully quiet."

I rolled my eyes. "I think you're all ridiculous."

Alex smirked in the rearview mirror. "I mean, you would know best."

Jasmine nearly choked. "Wait. What?"

Alex grinned. "Old news."

Daisy's eyes went wide. "Oh my god, I knew it."

While these girls were my friends they were also known to be heavy gossipers so while Alex had just blurted out my past with Dom, I doubt they didn't already know.

I groaned, sinking lower in my seat. "Can we not?"

Alex raised a hand. "Fine, fine. We'll change the subject." A beat of silence. Then, "But just to clarify, you don't think he's hot?"

I glared at her. She winked.

The lake came into view before I could argue, a stretch of blue cutting through the endless green. Cars were already parked along the dirt lot, people unloading coolers and blankets, the sound of music blending with laughter and the occasional splash of someone already diving in.

The heat hit the second we stepped out of the car, the pavement warm under my sandals. We grabbed our bags and headed toward the rocky outcrop near the water, where we usually set up.

I let myself relax, letting the sun sink into my skin, the familiar sounds of summer filling the air. Alex stretched out beside me, already tugging her tank top off to reveal her bikini. Jasmine and Daisy were setting up their towels, unpacking drinks from the cooler someone had dragged over.

The sun was relentless, pressing down on my skin like a warm, heavy hand. I stretched out on my towel, adjusting my sunglasses as Alex shifted beside me, her body angled just enough to catch the best rays. The rocks beneath us were smooth and warm, radiating heat even as the occasional breeze off the lake sent a shiver through the air.

Jasmine and Daisy were chatting beside us, flipping through their phones and reapplying sunscreen. The air was thick with the scent of coconut lotion, lake water, and whatever cheap cologne the guys had doused themselves in before getting here.

It was nice. Peaceful, even.

A sharp laughter caught my attention, and I turned my head to glance over at the sound only to immediately freeze.

Emma.

She was pressed against Dominic like a second skin, her fingers curling around his arm, her laugh too loud, too deliberate. And the worst part? He wasn't pushing her away. Probably too high to notice.

Something twisted in my stomach, sharp and sudden.

I shouldn't care. I didn't care.

Except that was a lie, because I was still looking, my chest tightening as Emma leaned in closer, saying something that made him smirk. That stupid, lazy smirk that had once been reserved for me.

Alex shifted beside me, lifting her sunglasses just enough to see where my gaze had landed.

"Oh, hell no," she muttered.

"I don't care," I said quickly, voice clipped.

Alex snorted. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England."

I gritted my teeth, yanking my sunglasses off. "I'm getting a drink."

Before she could respond, I was already on my feet, marching toward the cooler near the tree line. I told myself I wasn't walking toward him. That it wasn't on purpose. That I wasn't looking for a reason to be pissed off.

And yet, my feet carried me directly into dangerous territory.

"Hey, Willa!" I smiled at Ben, who had been in my biology class for years, as I walked-stormed- past him.

Roman and Alec were leaning against the trees, cigarettes dangling from their fingers. Dominic was with them, facing towards me but with his head tilted slightly as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke into the hot afternoon air. Like the rest of the boys in out grade, he had no shirt on and the view of his glorious abs was a sight I'd take pleasure in.

What the fuck is wrong with you, Willa? Get your act together.

I sent Emma a withering glare as I approached them."Boys," I greeted smoothly, grabbing a Coke from the cooler and cracking it open.

Alec grinned, his gaze flicking down my body, the way my bikini dipped low against my ribs. "Damn, Willa. If I'd known you'd be showing up like that, I would've offered you my towel."

I ignored the heat of Dominics stare on my cheek and rolled my eyes, but there was amusement in my voice when I said, "You're assuming I'd take it."

Roman chuckled, flicking his cigarette. "Careful, Al. She bites."

Alec smirked. "Yeah? I'd take my chances."

I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "I don't know. I'd hate to ruin that pretty face of yours."

Alec put a hand to his heart. "You wound me, Butterfly."

He used the nickname as a joke. A taunt. The one Dominic had given me years ago, that no one else dared to say. It felt weird coming out of another persons mouth, it felt unsettling.

Of course the exception would be Alec.

And Dominic?

He froze.

The air shifted, thickening, the teasing edge of our conversation dulling as I finally spared a glance towards Dominic. His cigarette burned between his fingers, his gaze dark and unreadable.

"I'm gonna go. Bye Dom." Emma mumbled, I nearly fucking growled as her fingertips trailed down his bicep.

My fucking bicep.

I smiled sweetly at her as she walked past me, her attempt at a glare faltering as she looked at me.

"Why don't you shut the fuck up, Alec." Dom warned his eyes never leaving mine.

"Not like she's yours anymore-" Poor Alec wasn't even able to finish his sentence before a hand shot up and locked around his throat.

My own throat tightened, and my breathing stopped though not for the same reason as Al's. My breath caught, the world narrowed to that one detail, that one piece of him I had never seen before.

His back facing me, I had a perfect view of the dark lines, and curling branches of the Willow tree tattooed permanently across the majority of his back.

It was beautiful.

The realization hit like a punch to the stomach.

It was for me.

I took a step back.

"No." Dominic must've caught the change in my tone as I stared at him with wide eyes, his eyes widened slightly as though realising the same thing as me.

"Willa-"

"No." I repeated, the word sharp, cold. Dangerous. "You don't get to do that."

His expression darkened. "Do what?"

I let out a humorless laugh, gesturing toward his back. "That. You don't get to act like you give a damn. You don't get to keep pieces of me like some fucking souvenir."

Silence.

Alec and Roman exchanged glances but didn't interfere.

Dominic's jaw clenched, his cigarette now forgotten, burning low between his fingers.

"Willa, it's not—"

I didn't wait to hear an excuse.

"Would you just stop fucking running!" He shouted, not caring about the sets of eyes on us from our peers.

"No! You're a hypocrite! You're a fucking hypocrite!" I shout before turning back around and stomping towards my stuff.

"For fucksake." He mutters, chasing after me and successfully grabbing onto my wrist.

For a moment we just stared into each other's eyes, as though we were both 16 again. I felt like I was 16 again, hopelessly in love with a pair of brown eyes. But now standing in front of me was someone I could barely recognise, I doubted he could even recognise himself. His pupils were so dilated I had no need to assume he was off his fucking head, that alone made me snatch my hand back from his grasp. I tried to ignore the pain and hurt in his eyes as he looked down at me.

"You don't get to do that." I whispered softly, turning my back on him.

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

I told you guys my girl takes after her mama and don't forgive easily

Don't worry guys we're getting tot he good parts!!!!!!!!