As we pulled up to the beach house, the sky was painted with hues of pink and orange, the sun beginning its descent. I was tucked into the passenger seat next to Izzy, who had been driving the whole way. I couldn't help but sneak peeks at her. Her seat was reclined just the slightest bit, one arm on the wheel and the other resting on the gear shift. Veins ran up her arms, and her lips were coated with vanilla chapstick, a detail that made my heart flutter every time I caught a whiff of the sweet scent. Vanilla had always been my favorite.
Izzy had the most perfect side profile. Her eyebrow slit brought out her chocolate brown eyes, eyes that seemed to see right through me. She was about 5'8" or 5'9", taller than me, which meant I had to look up at her. It was why I blushed most of the time around her, a warmth spreading through my cheeks that I couldn't control.
We parked, and as we stepped out of the car, the cool evening breeze kissed my skin. Izzy came around to my side, her presence making me feel giddy. She smiled at me, a soft, genuine smile that made my stomach do flips.
"This place is beautiful Izzy", unable to take my eyes off her.
She nodded, her eyes locking with mine for a moment longer than usual. "Yeah, it really is," Izzy said.
As we grabbed our bags and headed inside, I couldn't shake the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. Every brush of our hands, every shared glance, made my heart race. The beach house was stunning, with large windows that let in the fading sunlight, casting a warm glow over everything.
We settled in, and after a while, everyone decided to explore the beach. Izzy and I found ourselves walking along the shore, the waves gently lapping at our feet. The sound of the ocean was soothing, but the proximity to Izzy was electrifying.
"I love the beach at sunset," Izzy said, her voice soft and dreamy. I could hear the music in the background; Scarlett decided to bring a speaker.
"Me too," I replied, glancing at her. Her hair caught the light, making her look almost ethereal. "It's so peaceful."
We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the waves and our footsteps. Every now and then, our shoulders would brush, sending sparks through me.
"You know," Izzy began, her tone a bit more serious, "I'm really glad you're here, Eve. You've... you've made things different, in a good way."
My heart skipped a beat. "I feel the same way, Izzy. You've been amazing to me."
She stopped walking and turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "I mean it, Eve. I don't know what it is, but there's something about you that just... fits."
I felt a blush creeping up my neck. "I feel it too. Like I'm supposed to be here, with you."
Izzy smiled, a shy but genuine smile, and took a step closer. The space between us seemed to disappear, and the world around us faded away. It was just us, standing there on the beach, the sunset painting the sky with a promise of something beautiful.
"I've never felt this way before," Izzy whispered, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Me neither," I confessed, my voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.
In that moment, it felt like the universe had aligned just for us. The tension, the unspoken feelings, everything seemed to crystallize. I didn't know what would happen next, but I knew one thing for certain—I didn't want this moment to end.
Izzy reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. Her touch was soft, sending shivers down my spine. "You're amazing, Eve," she said, her voice full of sincerity and warmth.
"So are you, Izzy," I replied, feeling the intensity of our connection.
Suddenly, I was pulled back to reality, realizing I had been daydreaming. I need to stop thinking about my friend like this but her presence still makes my heart race. For some reason...
We stood there, the sun setting behind us, and I couldn't help but feel like this was the beginning of something extraordinary. It was as if the universe was giving me a glimpse of what could be, and I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, it was right.
