14 Days

13

When I woke up, I was alone.

Aunt Zoey called me down for breakfast, explaining that Beau already went. I ate with our parents, mostly only poking at my food. I didn't even get that excited when Aunt Zoey started a conversation with a guy at the next table. He was an engineer, or something, and explained that the pipes on the bathroom wall heated up from the hot water. You were supposed to put your towels on them so they'd be warm when you got out of the tub. Pfft, rich people.

"Devin," Mom called. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Nothing." I hummed then stood. "I'm not that hungry, that's all. So, uh, are we going to the lake today?"

"Yeah, once we finish eating. Make sure to put sunblock on. I'm serious. You're still getting over your last sunburn."

I waved off her concern and returned to my room. Beau was missing, no doubt out taking more pictures of the gardens. If last night didn't happen, I would have been with him...

"You can't regret it now," I whispered. "This shouldn't have started to begin with."

My heart wasn't as keen on the idea of forgetting as my mind though. It refused to slow, refused to give me a moment to properly breathe, especially when Beau finally showed himself. He stepped into the room, face blank and lips sealed. He grabbed a towel from his luggage, only speaking to me when he walked away, "We're leaving for the lake."

"Ah, o-ok."

I grabbed my stuff, rushing after him until I remembered last night. I lingered a few steps behind, nervously watching his back. Was he always so stiff? Or was he as uncomfortable as I was? That was a dumb question, I guess.

Our parents were chattering away in the van on the way to the lake, thinking nothing of their moody children continuing to be moody in the backseat. I, on the other hand, sat silently and nervously, watching Beau out of the corner of my eye. He leaned against the window, watching the view pass us by. His lips were tilted into a frown that only dug the blade of guilt further into my heart that had been screaming since last night.

But no matter how much it hurt, I had made up my mind. The time to end it had finally reared its ugly head. Our lives were taking different paths and that was ok. It happened. We had our own choices to make. Beau chose a school ten hours away, a life that would be grown in a new place with new people and new experiences. Even I would make a new life at school. The next adventure began now, and we were already on our own way.

The drive to the lake was short. Definitely not as crowded as the beach, but there were a handful of boats in the water. Mom had us taking pictures, forcing Beau and I together again. My arm was tense around his shoulder and Aunt Zoey pouted for a good five minutes to make Beau smile. The moment the picture was taken, he left, leaving me cold.

Without Beau, the day was gray. The water was too cold, the sun too hot, the food tasteless, and the laughter nonexistent. I sat on the shore, watching the water wash around me when Dad sat next to me. He offered some of his water then sighed when I declined.

"Beautiful out here, isn't it?" he hummed.

"Yeah..." My gaze shifted to a lonely boy with a camera. "Beautiful."

"Get into a fight, did ya?"

"Yeah--" I bit my lip then cleared my throat. "What are you talking about?"

Dad chuckled, stretching out his legs. I didn't see his face, but I heard the smile in his voice, "You and Beau never really got along, but you are acting abnormally weird today."

"We're extra annoyed with each other after being forced together for almost two weeks."

"I'd believe that if you hadn't been pretty docile the last few days." Dad pressed his hand to my shoulder. "Did something happen?"