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The first thing Summer noticed as she stepped into the trendy Barcelona café was the unmistakable sound of Hector's laughter. She froze mid-step, her heart lurching. Her gaze darted around the bustling room, and there he was—sitting at a corner table, across from Clara.
Clara, effortlessly radiant in a casual sundress, leaned forward, her hand brushing Hector's arm as she said something that made him laugh again. Summer's chest tightened at the sight. It wasn't the first time she'd seen them together since the dinner, but somehow, this felt worse. More intimate.
Summer's mind screamed at her to turn around and leave, but before she could, Marc called out, "Summer! Over here!"
She sighed, forcing herself to move. Her friend group had claimed a large table not far from Hector and Clara. Of course, they hadn't noticed the storm brewing inside her.
"Hey, Summer," Ana greeted her warmly, pulling out a chair for her. "We were just talking about your genius idea for Fermin's birthday prank."
Summer forced a smile, sitting down. "Oh yeah? What's the plan now?"
"Glitter bomb in his locker," Pau said with a grin. "It's subtle yet devastating."
"And impossible to clean up," Evelyn added, laughing. "Perfect."
The group erupted in chatter, but Summer could barely focus. Her eyes kept drifting to Hector and Clara. He looked so at ease, so natural with her, and it stung in a way she hadn't anticipated.
"You okay?" Ana's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.
Summer blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yeah, just tired."
Ana didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, Lamine slid into the seat next to Summer. "Okay, who's got the snacks? I'm starving."
"You just ate!" Gavi exclaimed, tossing a napkin at him.
"Yeah, but that was two hours ago," Lamine retorted.
The group dissolved into laughter, the familiar camaraderie momentarily lifting Summer's spirits.
As the group chatted, Hector and Clara stood up to leave. Summer kept her gaze firmly fixed on Marc, who was animatedly recounting a story about a failed trick shot during practice. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hector glance in their direction.
He hesitated, and for a moment, their eyes met. Summer quickly looked away, her pulse racing.
"Hector!" Marc called out, waving him over.
"No, no, no," Summer muttered under her breath.
But it was too late. Hector and Clara approached the table, their presence casting a shadow over the group's lively energy.
"Hey, guys," Hector said, his voice cautious.
Clara offered a polite smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Clara!" Evelyn said with forced enthusiasm. "How's it going?"
"Good," Clara replied, her tone friendly but guarded.
The group exchanged pleasantries, but the tension was palpable. Summer focused on stirring her coffee, determined not to look at either of them.
"So," Marc said, breaking the awkward silence, "you two grabbing lunch?"
Summer couldn't take it anymore. She stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Excuse me," she said, grabbing her bag. "I need some air."
"Summer—" Ana started, but Summer was already walking away.
The cool air hit her face as Summer stepped outside, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths to steady herself.
"Summer."
She turned to see Ana and Evelyn standing a few feet away, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.
"What's going on?" Evelyn asked.
Summer shook her head, trying to hold back tears. "I can't do this. Seeing them together... it's too much."
Ana placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to pretend it's okay. We get it."
"I just don't understand," Summer said, her voice breaking. "How can he act like nothing happened? Like I don't exist?"
Evelyn exchanged a look with Ana, then said, "You don't deserve this, Summer. Whatever's going on with Hector and Clara, it's on him. Not you."
Before Summer could respond, the door to the café opened, and the rest of the group spilled out.
"You good, Summer?" Marc asked, his tone unusually serious.
"I'm fine," she lied.
"No, you're not," Gavi said bluntly. "But that's okay. You don't have to be."
Summer gave him a weak smile, grateful for their support.
Deciding they needed a change of scenery, the group walked to a nearby park. They spread out on the grass, the conversation flowing easily as they tried to lift Summer's spirits.
"Okay, new rule," Marc announced. "No more talking about anything that makes Summer sad. Only happy topics allowed."
"Like how Marc tripped over his own shoelaces during warm-ups yesterday?" Pau suggested, earning a round of laughter.
"Or how Evelyn tried to bribe the waiter for extra fries and got caught?" Lamine added.
"Hey, I regret nothing," Evelyn said, tossing a blade of grass at him.
The group's antics were exactly what Summer needed. For a little while, she forgot about Hector and Clara, laughing until her sides hurt.
That evening, Summer returned home feeling a bit lighter. But her peace was short-lived. As she scrolled through her phone, another notification popped up: "TMZ Exclusive: Hector Fort and Clara Delavine Spotted at Romantic Dinner."
The article featured more pictures of Hector and Clara, this time at a candlelit restaurant. The captions gushed about their "undeniable chemistry" and "power couple status."
Summer tossed her phone onto the couch, a fresh wave of anger and hurt washing over her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She opened it to find Ana and Evelyn standing there, holding a tub of ice cream and a bottle of wine.
"We figured you'd need reinforcements," Ana said with a small smile.
Summer let out a shaky laugh. "You guys are the best."
The three of them settled on the couch, the ice cream and wine serving as temporary remedies for Summer's broken heart.
As they talked and laughed late into the night, Summer realized one thing: no matter how much Hector hurt her, she had people who would always have her back.
