Her Swimmer

Mistake

As Aitana stirred awake, the sunlight barely streaming through the hotel room's curtains, she felt the warmth of another body against her own. For a moment, it was peaceful. But then the realization hit her like a wave crashing against the shore, and panic set in. She was tangled with Talia, the taller girl's arm draped lazily over her waist, their legs intertwined beneath the sheets.

Her heart pounded in her chest. What have I done?

With a shallow breath, Aitana slowly, carefully, slipped out from under Talia's hold, her movements deliberate to avoid waking her. She stood by the side of the bed for a moment, staring down at Talia's peaceful, sleeping face. Her mind was racing. She couldn't believe it—here she was, naked, in a stranger's bed. With a girl.

She hadn't even been with a woman before, yet here she was, waking up next to one after a night filled with passion. What would people think? She was Aitana Bonmatí, a role model, a figure that young girls looked up to. And now she had crossed a line she never even realized she was capable of crossing.

Her fingers trembled as she hurried to find her clothes, scattered across the floor. Each item she picked up seemed heavier than the last, guilt and fear weighing her down. She threw her shirt back on, slid into her jeans, and stuffed her feet into her shoes as quickly as she could. She barely dared to breathe, praying Talia wouldn't wake up. She didn't dare look back at her.

How could I do this? she kept thinking. She felt a deep shame building within her chest, but there was something else too—a flicker of confusion, of wonder about what had happened, and what it meant for her. But that thought scared her more than anything.

Without a second glance, she slipped out of the room, her mind swirling in chaos.

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Talia woke slowly, the warmth of the early morning sun filtering through the curtains. She stretched out her arm, expecting to feel the softness of another body beside her, but instead, her fingers met only cold, empty sheets. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light, and glanced around the room.

No sign of Aitana.

Talia sat up, her chest tightening slightly as her gaze scanned the empty hotel room. Clothes were gone, shoes nowhere to be found. There was no note, no goodbye—just an empty bed and the lingering memory of last night. She sighed deeply, rubbing her hand over her face as reality sank in.

The girl had done a runner.

She fell back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. She wasn't angry, more resigned than anything. She'd seen it happen before—had been on both sides of this kind of situation. But something about Aitana's sudden disappearance left an ache, a quiet disappointment she hadn't expected.

No note, huh?

Talia thought to herself, her lips pulling into a small, wry smile.

Talia groaned as she finally rolled out of bed, stretching her stiff muscles before padding across the room to the bathroom. The shower was quick, the warm water washing away the remnants of the previous night. As she wrapped a towel around herself, she found herself glancing at the empty bed again. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts of Aitana away, but it was easier said than done.

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Dressed and ready for the day, she headed out to meet the Morales family for breakfast. It was comforting to be around them—Isobel's bright laughter, Daniel's attempts at being nonchalant due to newly becoming a teen, Sofia's easy company, the familiar teasing from Javier and Carmen's motherly aura. They talked and joked through breakfast, and for a moment, Talia could forget about the empty hotel room she'd woken up in.

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Later, at the beach, the sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow on the sand. Talia spent much of the time helping Isobel with her swimming. The young girl was eager to learn, her small frame cutting through the water with determination, and Talia smiled as she gave her pointers.

But in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but replay the events of the night before and the awkward silence of the morning. Aitana's sudden disappearance left a lingering question, one that nagged at her despite her best efforts to brush it off.

As they all gathered under the shade of an umbrella, Sofia leaned over with a teasing smile. "So... how was your night after you left us?" she asked, her tone dripping with suggestion.

Talia rolled her eyes, but a small smirk tugged at her lips. "Apparently a massive mistake."

Sofia's eyes widened, and she gasped dramatically. "She left? No way!"

Talia nodded, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Yup. I woke up, and she was gone. It's... whatever, though. Just weird. I wasn't expecting it, you know? She didn't seem like the type to just ghost like that."

Sofia tilted her head in thought. "Maybe she had something to do? Was there a note or something?"

"Nope," Talia replied with a shrug. "No note, no explanation, nothing. Just... poof."

"Damn," Sofia said, shaking her head. "Well, forget her, then. She doesn't deserve you."

Talia sighed, feeling a bit lighter from the conversation. "Yeah... forget her."

She smiled, leaning back in her chair and watching as Isobel played in the water, letting the moment wash over her. For now, she could focus on the present—on the laughter of the Morales family, the warmth of the sun, and the peace of the beach. The rest could wait.