𝓢𝓾𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓢𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓼 - 𝙹𝙹 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚔

chapter three

The ocean breeze carried the sound of laughter and distant waves, the perfect setting for what was sure to be a night full of carefree fun. With a kegger in tow and a stack of plastic cups, they'd secured their spot at the heart of the gathering.

Within an hour, the crowd had grown. A group of friends, then a few strangers, and before long, the fire pit in the center glowed, lighting up the night. Music blared from a speaker someone had brought, its beat pulsing through the sand as people danced, laughed, and toasted the start of another carefree night. Gabriela sat cross-legged in the sand, nursing a drink while Kiara plopped down next to her, stretching her legs out in front of her with a sigh.

The energy around them was buzzing, yet Gabriela couldn't shake the tension creeping into her chest. Her eyes flickered across the fire to where JJ stood, leaning against a cooler, a girl hanging onto his every word. He flashed that easy, mischievous grin of his, one she had seen a thousand times - except now, it wasn't aimed at her. The girl laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder in a way that seemed too rehearsed.

Gabriela looked away quickly, focusing on her drink, swirling the liquid around as if it held answers. She didn't want to care. She didn't want to care that JJ was flirting with someone else, because, after all, he was just her friend. Right?

But Kiara, sharp-eyed as ever, wasn't fooled.

- So... - she started, voice low but teasing - is there something going on between you and JJ?

Gabriela felt her heart skip. She looked at Kiara, her friend's expression casual but curious, and shook her head quickly.

- What? No. We're just friends. - she said, trying to sound casual, but even she heard the slight crack in her voice. She internally winced, willing herself to sound more convincing.

Kiara raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

- Yeah, but you're also always flirting and calling each other 'babe'. - she pointed out, her tone playful but digging for truth.

Gabriela shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting back toward JJ for just a second too long before she forced herself to look away again.

- We're just playing around. - she insisted, offering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes - Y'know, just joking.

Kiara leaned back on her elbows, tilting her head toward Gabriela with a knowing smirk.

- You don't joke like that with John B or Pope.

Gabriela opened her mouth, searching for a retort, but nothing came. Instead, she did what she always did: deflected with humor. She turned to Kiara, a flirtatious glint flashing in her eyes as she leaned in closer.

- But I do it with you, don't I, love? - she teased, her voice laced with playful flirtation.

Kiara laughed, the sound warm and familiar. She shook her head, amused.

- Yeah, but I've told you that I'm straight. - she shot back, her grin widening as she playfully nudged Gabriela with her shoulder.

- And it kills me every time I remember it. - Gabi let out a mock sigh, placing a hand over her heart dramatically.

They both dissolved into laughter, the tension momentarily broken, but as Gabriela glanced back toward JJ again, she couldn't help but feel that knot in her stomach tightening once more. There was something about him; about the way they always gravitated toward each other, the way his teasing felt like more than just jokes, the way he could make her feel like she was the only person in the room, until suddenly she wasn't.