When We Were Us [BxB]

Isadora

The sun blazed down on São João, casting its heavy, lazy warmth across the cobblestone streets as Lucas and Matheus strolled back from the beach. The air was thick with heat and salt, the familiar hum of summer wrapping itself around the sleepy town. It felt like any other day in São João, unremarkable yet comforting in its simplicity. The kind of day that Lucas had grown up with, where everything moved at a slow, steady rhythm, like the ocean that stretched out in front of them. The silence between him and Matheus was easy, familiar, the quiet filled only with the sounds of their footsteps.

But as they neared the small café on the corner, Lucas saw her.

She stood outside, talking to the barista, her laugh cutting through the still air like a melody. Everything about her seemed out of place in their quiet, small town. Her dark brown skin shimmered under the sun, her thick coily hair cascading down her back in long, glossy waves. She was tall, poised, and elegant—like someone who belonged in a different world altogether.

Lucas squinted, trying to place her, but she was a stranger in every sense of the word.

"Who's that?" he muttered under his breath, though he already felt the answer forming in the pit of his stomach as he glanced over at Matheus. The way Matheus had stopped, his gaze locked on her, lips tugged into a small smile—it was all too telling.

"I don't know," Matheus murmured, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But I think I'd like to find out."

Before Lucas could respond, Matheus was already heading toward her, all easy confidence, the way he always was around new people. Lucas lingered behind, stuffing his hands into his pockets, watching the scene unfold with a sinking feeling. It wasn't that he minded Matheus talking to girls—they'd been through this countless times. But something about this felt different.

Matheus flashed the girl his signature grin, the one that never failed to charm. "Hey," he called out casually.

The girl turned, her eyes meeting Matheus's, and for a split second, Lucas saw something spark between them—a flicker of interest, a connection. Her smile widened, and she tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "Hey yourself," she replied. "I'm Isadora."

"Matheus," he introduced himself smoothly, motioning to Lucas, who had finally caught up. "And that's Lucas. We're from around here."

"Nice to meet you, Lucas," Isadora said, her voice warm, though her attention quickly shifted back to Matheus, her eyes lingering on him.

"Visiting?" Matheus asked, already inching closer to her, sliding into that natural rhythm he had with people—especially women.

"Yeah," Isadora nodded, her smile softening. "I'm staying with my aunt for the summer. Needed a change of pace from Rio."

"Rio?" Matheus's eyes lit up, his grin growing wider. "That must be a huge shift from here."

"It is." Isadora laughed, a carefree sound that made Matheus laugh along with her. "But I needed the break."

Lucas stood awkwardly to the side, watching the effortless way their conversation flowed. His stomach twisted into knots, that familiar feeling bubbling up inside him again—the one he tried to ignore whenever he saw Matheus get close to someone else. He felt like a third wheel, standing on the outskirts of something he didn't understand, and that feeling weighed heavier than ever now.

Lucas cleared his throat, desperate to say something, anything, that would make him feel less like an outsider in this conversation. "So, you're staying the whole summer?" he asked, hoping to inject some life into his voice.

Isadora glanced at him briefly, nodding. "That's the plan. My aunt's house is right on the beach, so I'm not complaining."

Matheus chuckled. "Well, you picked the right place for a break. São João's perfect for taking it easy. If you were looking for excitement, though, you'd have to look elsewhere."

Isadora's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Good thing I wasn't. I needed the quiet."

Lucas could see the way Matheus's face softened, the way his body subtly leaned toward hers. There was something in the air between them, something Lucas could feel even from where he stood. It wasn't jealousy, at least not in the way he might have expected. But it was something—something that made his chest tighten with a mix of emotions he didn't want to name.

"You should join us tonight," Matheus said suddenly, catching Lucas off guard. "We're having a bonfire down by the beach."

Lucas's heart sank. The bonfire was supposed to be their thing—his and Matheus's. It was tradition. Just the two of them, sitting by the fire, talking about everything and nothing, with the sound of the waves crashing in the background. It had always been that way, every summer since they were kids.

"Sounds perfect," Isadora said, her smile brightening. "I'm in."

Lucas forced a smile, though inside, everything felt wrong. He wanted to protest, wanted to tell Matheus that this was supposed to be their night, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he nodded along silently, the weight of his unspoken thoughts pressing down on him.

As they left the café, Matheus and Isadora walked ahead, their conversation filled with laughter and easy banter. Lucas trailed behind them, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his thoughts swirling in a mess of confusion and frustration. He could hear the sound of their laughter floating back to him, and each time Matheus's hand brushed against Isadora's, Lucas felt that tightening in his chest grow stronger.

The sun had begun to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the town, but Lucas couldn't find the beauty in it anymore. All he could feel was the distance between him and Matheus, a distance that had never been there before.

That night, as Lucas lay in bed, the sound of the ocean waves lulling the town to sleep, he couldn't stop thinking about the bonfire. The bonfire that wasn't going to be just theirs anymore. It had been something sacred, something special between him and Matheus, and now it felt like it was slipping away.

He turned onto his side, staring at the moonlight spilling through the window, the knot in his chest refusing to loosen. Everything had changed so quickly, and he wasn't sure if things would ever go back to the way they were.

The bonfire that night was lively, filled with people from around the town, but to Lucas, it felt strangely empty. He sat a little farther from the flames than usual, watching Matheus and Isadora as they sat close together, their laughter mixing with the crackling of the fire. Matheus looked so at ease with her, so natural, and Lucas found himself staring at them, unable to tear his eyes away.

"Why are you sitting all the way over here?" Matheus called out, his voice carrying over the flames. "Come sit with us."

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm good here," he lied, his voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean. Matheus shrugged, turning his attention back to Isadora, and Lucas felt the ache in his chest intensify.

He stayed quiet for the rest of the night, the sounds of the bonfire fading into the background as his thoughts consumed him. He didn't want to admit it, but deep down, he knew what this feeling was. He had been trying to bury it for months, maybe even years, but now it was impossible to ignore.

Lucas was in love with Matheus.

The realization hit him like a wave crashing against the shore, leaving him breathless. He wasn't sure when it had started—maybe it had always been there, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for a moment like this to bring it to the forefront. But now that it was out in the open, there was no going back. No pretending that everything was the same as it had always been.

And as he sat there, watching the firelight dance across Matheus's face, Lucas knew that this summer would be different from any other. It already was.