In the heart of Harvard, Alessia Gilmore is ready to embrace her second year and the independence it brings. After a summer spent reconnecting with friends and discovering herself, she's determined to step out of her twin sister Rory's shadow and ca...
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The early morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the cabin's wooden floors. Alessia stretched, her muscles still relaxed from the warmth of the bed, but her mind already awake with thoughts of their last day here. She could hear the gentle rustle of leaves outside, and the quiet hum of nature surrounded her, so different from the constant noise of campus life.
She swung her legs off the bed, wiggling her toes against the cool floor, and padded over to the window. The lake shimmered under the rising sun, calm and still. A perfect mirror. It had been like this all summer—serene, simple, and exactly what she needed.
The clatter of dishes from the kitchen made her smile. Riley, no doubt, attempting to make breakfast before anyone else woke up. She grabbed a hoodie from the floor and slipped it on, heading toward the source of the noise.
Sure enough, there was Riley, standing over the stove, struggling with a spatula. "How is it that you can skate backward at full speed but still can't make pancakes?" Alessia teased, leaning against the doorframe.
He glanced over his shoulder, flashing her a grin. "These are a work of art, Gilmore. You wouldn't understand."
She rolled her eyes but moved to help, grabbing a second spatula and nudging him aside. "If we're going to eat, let me take over. You're going to burn the place down."
"Rude, but fair." Riley stepped aside, grabbing a mug of coffee from the counter. "So, last day. You ready to head back to reality?"
Alessia flipped a pancake, watching it bubble. "I guess. It's been...nice. Quiet. No pressure."
"No dining halls or classes. Just us and the woods," Riley said, staring out the window. "Beau and I were talking about trying to come back here next summer, make it a tradition."
Alessia's heart warmed at the thought. "I'd like that."
Just as the last pancake was flipped, the door creaked open, and Beau appeared, hair disheveled, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Are you two seriously making breakfast without me?"
Riley snorted. "Someone had to. Otherwise, we'd starve."
Beau sauntered over, pulling Alessia into a quick side hug before reaching for the plate of pancakes. "Well, I'm awake now, so the real fun can begin."
They ate breakfast on the porch, watching the sun rise higher, the air still cool but promising warmth later. The ease between them felt natural, effortless, as if this cabin had pulled them closer together in a way they hadn't expected.
"Any big plans for sophomore year?" Beau asked, leaning back in his chair, eyes half-closed against the sun.
Alessia thought about it for a moment. "Not really. I just... I don't know. I feel like I've changed a lot this summer. Like I'm ready to stop worrying about everything."
"You have changed," Riley said, giving her a thoughtful look. "You seem more...I don't know, sure of yourself."
Alessia smiled at that. "Maybe. Or maybe I just realized I'm tired of living in someone else's shadow."
"Logan know you're coming back a new woman?" Beau teased, but his tone was light, supportive. He and Riley had been nothing but encouraging about her relationship with Logan, which Alessia had grown confident in over the summer.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling to the last text Logan had sent. He was still at Yale, busy with internships and planning for next year. Their summer had been spent apart, but his messages were always warm, always full of affection.
"Yeah," Alessia replied softly, her thumb brushing over the screen. "He's been great about everything. We're making plans for when we get back."
Beau smiled, content. "Good. You deserve someone who gets it. Who gets you."
Alessia couldn't help but feel grateful—for her friends, for Logan, for everything that this summer had given her. But a small part of her still felt...uncertain. Like the weight of the school year would press down harder than before.
They spent the rest of the day by the lake, swimming, lounging on the dock, laughing as they played one last game of cards by the fire. It felt like the perfect ending to the summer, but there was a soft undercurrent of reality creeping in. Tomorrow, they'd pack up the car, drive back to Harvard, and face what came next.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the trees, Alessia found herself sitting on the porch alone, watching the sky turn a deep shade of pink. She pulled out her phone again, her fingers hovering over the screen. A part of her wanted to call Logan, to hear his voice, but another part of her held back. Maybe it was the fear of everything changing once they were back in school, of their relationship evolving in ways she couldn't predict.
She put the phone away, deciding to leave those thoughts for tomorrow.
Just then, she heard laughter behind her and turned to see Beau and Riley coming up the porch steps, their fingers intertwined. They were playfully bickering over who would get the last piece of chocolate from the stash they had hidden away for late-night snacks. Beau's laughter rang out like music, and Riley's playful smirk lit up his face.
"I'll let you take the chocolate if you let me have the last pancake tomorrow," Beau proposed, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Deal, but you owe me a massage after all this hard work," Riley shot back, pretending to stretch dramatically.
Alessia couldn't help but smile at their dynamic. They were so in sync, their banter comfortable and easy. "You two are adorable," she teased, unable to contain her affection.
"It's a tough job, but someone has to be the adorable one," Beau quipped, giving Riley a quick peck on the cheek, making him blush slightly.
As the sky deepened into twilight, Alessia felt a warm contentment wash over her. Whatever awaited them back at Harvard, she knew they would face it together. The bond they had forged over the summer—filled with laughter, love, and moments of vulnerability—was something she would carry into the next chapter of her life.
"Here's to summer," Beau said, raising an imaginary toast with his hand.
"And to new beginnings," Riley added, his eyes sparkling with hope.
Alessia raised her own hand, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop her like a blanket. "And to us," she said softly, a smile on her lips, ready to embrace whatever came next.
