The Lost Element

"The missing shirt"

As the group journeyed on, they decided to take a break on the second day by a gentle river. The warm sun beat down on them, and the cool water beckoned. They agreed to take a swim, but not wanting to get their clothes wet, they decided to wear their underwear.

"Should be okay, right?" Ava said, grinning mischievously.

Emilia nodded, already starting to peel off her shirt. Liam, who was busy unpacking the food, couldn't help but glance over. His eyes widened as he took in Emilia's toned physique, her skin glistening in the sunlight.

Little Marcus, excited to join in on the fun, started stripping off his clothes, revealing his tiny superhero underwear. "I'm going swimming! I'm going swimming!" he squealed, running towards the water.

Emilia laughed and scooped him up, twirling him around before gently placing him in the water. "Okay, little man! Let's go!"

The others followed suit, laughing and splashing in the water. Liam joined in, trying to shake off his distraction, but he couldn't help sneaking glances at Emilia, who was swimming and playing with Marcus.

As they swam, Elijah teased Ava about her bright pink underwear, making her laugh and splash him in return. Marcus giggled and tried to join in, splashing Emilia and making her shriek with delight.

The group's joy was infectious, and Liam found himself smiling, despite his earlier awkwardness. Emilia, noticing his gaze, smiled back at him, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable.

But as they got out of the water, Emilia's proximity to him made him feel flustered again. He quickly grabbed his shirt, trying to cover himself, and muttered something about getting dry. Emilia, still dripping wet, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, a hint of a smile on her lips. Marcus, shivering with excitement, ran to Emilia, who wrapped him up, and they both smiled at Liam.

Emilia stood by the riverbank, her underwear clinging to her skin, her hair dripping wet. She looked around, realizing her shirt was nowhere to be found. "Oh no, my shirt! It must have fallen in the river!"

Liam, still wearing his undershirt, quickly came to her aid. "Here, take mine," he said, offering his shirt.

Emilia hesitated for a moment, but the cool breeze and her damp underwear made her accept his offer. Liam's shirt was huge on her, fitting like a dress that reached her mid-thighs. She looked up at Liam, who was now only wearing his undershirt, and smiled. "Thanks, Liam. I owe you one."

Liam chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No problem, Emilia. Just be careful, or you'll start a new trend."

Ava and Elijah, who were busy getting dressed, burst out laughing at the sight of Emilia in Liam's shirt. "Wow, Emilia, you look like you're wearing a tent!" Ava teased.

Emilia playfully rolled her eyes. "Hey, it's better than being topless, right?"

Marcus, who was watching the exchange, giggled and said, "Emilia looks like a princess!"

Emilia smiled, ruffling Marcus's hair. "Thanks, little man. I think."

Liam smiled, looking at Emilia with a newfound appreciation. He had never seen her like this before, carefree and playful. He felt a pang in his chest, realizing his feelings for her went beyond friendship.

Liam couldn't help but notice how good Emilia looked in his shirt. The way it hugged her curves, the way the sleeves slipped down her arms, and the way the hem fell mid-thigh, revealing her toned legs. He felt a flutter in his chest, and his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.

Emilia, oblivious to Liam's gaze, smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I feel like I'm wearing a dress!" she exclaimed, twirling around, the shirt flying around her legs.

Liam's eyes followed her movement, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quite process. He had always thought of Emilia as just a friend, but in that moment, he saw her in a different light.

Ava, noticing Liam's gaze, raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eye. Elijah, too, caught the exchange, and he grinned, nudging Liam playfully.

Emilia, still spinning around, finally stopped, her eyes meeting Liam's. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension between them palpable.

Then, Emilia's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, mumbling something about getting dry. Liam, too, looked away, trying to shake off the feeling that had settled in his chest.

***

As they finished their lunch and prepared to continue their journey, Marcus looked up at Emilia with a curious expression. "Emilia, are you and Liam boyfriend and girlfriend?" he asked, his voice innocent and direct.

Emilia's cheeks flushed, and she hesitated for a moment before answering. "Uh, no, Marcus. We're just friends."

Liam, who was packing up the remaining food, looked up, his eyes meeting Emilia's. He smiled, trying to appear nonchalant, but his heart skipped a beat at the question.

Ava and Elijah exchanged a knowing glance, their faces trying to hide their amusement. "Yeah, just friends," Liam echoed, trying to sound casual.

Marcus looked puzzled, his brow furrowed in confusion. "But you look like boyfriend and girlfriend," he said, his voice matter-of-fact.

Emilia laughed, trying to deflect the question. "Oh, Marcus, we're just comfortable with each other, that's all."

Liam nodded in agreement, trying to hide his true feelings. "Yeah."

Marcus nodded, seeming to accept their explanation, but his eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if he knew there was more to the story. The group continued on their journey, the tension between Emilia and Liam palpable, but unspoken.