The second day at the lake brought even more sunlight, laughter, and that sense of freedom that only comes when you're far from deadlines, alarms, and campus noise.
They had no schedule. No pressure. Just each other.
Steve stretched out on the dock, hands behind his head. "We should just live here."
Jordan nodded, skipping a stone across the surface of the lake. "We could open a café. Lila could paint, Michelle could write, and we'd serve really bad coffee with amazing views."
Michelle laughed from her hammock. "And you'd both get fired for flirting with customers."
Lila raised her eyebrows. "Especially you, Jordan."
He grinned. "Guilty."
Steve glanced at Michelle, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "You think we'd survive here? Just the four of us?"
Michelle leaned on her elbow. "If we had Wi-Fi."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Canoes and Confessions
That afternoon, they rented canoes from a small nearby marina. Michelle and Steve took one boat; Lila and Jordan the other.
As they paddled to the far end of the lake, the sun shimmered on the water. Dragonflies skimmed the surface, and the only sound was the dip of paddles and the occasional giggle from the other boat.
Steve paused, resting his oar. "Hey."
Michelle looked at him, breathless from the sun and the rhythm.
He smiled softly. "You feel far away from everything right now?"
She nodded. "It's like this version of life is clearer. Softer. Like the world got quieter just for us."
Steve reached across and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. "I want to remember you exactly like this."
Michelle's eyes met his, wide and warm.
"You always make me feel seen."
"Because you are," he said.
Then, gently, he leaned in and kissed her — their canoe drifting slowly, lazily on the still water.
Nightfall Secrets
That night, after a big dinner and a round of board games that turned into a war of sarcasm and shouting (Lila and Michelle won by pure intimidation), the four of them sat quietly by the fire.
Jordan stared into the flames. "This… feels rare. What we have."
"It is," Steve agreed. "But maybe that's what makes it real."
Lila glanced at Michelle. "Has he told you yet?"
Michelle blinked. "Told me what?"
Steve raised an eyebrow. "Lila."
Lila smirked. "Oops."
Steve sighed, then looked directly at Michelle. "Okay. Fine. I was going to tell you later. I've been applying for internships in the city. For next year."
Michelle's breath caught. "Oh."
"But," he continued, "I chose only programs that would keep me close. I don't want distance to be what undoes this."
She searched his face. "You're thinking ahead?"
"Always," he said gently. "When it comes to you."
Lila smiled into her cup. "Okay, this is sweet, but also — I'm going to cry, and I hate that."
Under the Stars Again
Later that night, Michelle and Steve snuck away from the others and lay beneath the stars like the night before.
Only this time, Michelle rolled onto her side and asked softly, "What if it gets hard? What if we mess up?"
Steve looked at her, brushing his fingers along her cheek.
"Then we fix it. We grow. We choose each other anyway."
Michelle's throat tightened. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not," he said, "but you're worth it. We're worth it."
She moved closer, her lips brushing his. "Then promise me something."
"Anything."
"No matter what happens… you don't pull away."
"I won't," he whispered. "You're home."
They kissed again — this time slower, deeper. A promise sealed not just in words but in the quiet beating of two hearts learning how to love fully, and without fear.