Some truths arrive quietly, carried in glances and pauses, not words. Sometimes, it is not the confession that lingers it's the silence that follows.
That was just how gentle Liam could be. Sometimes, Fae caught herself wishing she had fallen for him instead. Maybe things would've been easier. He used to have a girlfriend, but they broke up because, according to him, she was too controlling, always demanding, always jealous of the three girls in their group who were close to him. In the end, he let her go.
They had all wondered why he never dated again after that. Once, when someone asked, Liam only shrugged and said it had been too much, too scarring. He hated being forced to choose between his friends and someone he cared about. Until he found someone who could understand and accept their little circle of seven, he said he'd rather stay single.
So, when Liam wrapped an arm around her from the side and let her rest against his shoulder, Fae didn't resist. He told her to sleep for a while, and she let herself sink into him.
"If only it were that easy," she thought. "If only I could move everything I feel for Rome over to Liam. I wouldn't hesitate. At least with him, I know my heart would be safe."
Before she knew it, her eyes had drifted shut, lulled by the warmth of his shoulder. She didn't even realize they had arrived until Liam gently shook her awake.
"Unfair! You had such a good nap while I didn't get to sleep at all," he whined as they climbed out of the van.
"Why didn't you? No one told you couldn't nap just because I was leaning on you," she teased back.
"Because Leon wouldn't shut up! He kept talking and joking around the whole time. No chance to close my eyes," Liam pouted like a kid.
Fae laughed. "You should be used to your twin by now."
"Never! He's too much," Liam grumbled, sticking out his lip even more.
"Oh, wow. I let you be my pillow and you're sulking because I laughed at you?" she teased again, shaking her head.
Liam huffed dramatically, still pouting, and Fae couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh harder or apologize. Meanwhile, Leon was still chattering away, now bothering their cousins in the front like he had endless energy.
"Fine, sorry. I'll make it up to you. Next time, I'll let you sleep on my shoulder, okay? Then we'll be even," Fae bargained, guilt softening her voice.
His eyes lit up instantly. "No take-backs?"
She rolled her eyes. "Wow, you're really excited about this, huh?"
"Of course! You promised," Liam said with a grin, and Fae couldn't help but smile back.
They both laughed then, and before she realized it, his arm was around her shoulders again, guiding her toward the girls' cottage. Their place was smaller, but right beside the boys' larger one. After dropping their bags, the whole group came back out to help prepare the food grilling, unpacking containers, and setting everything up for lunch before their first swim in the beach.
Since none of this was new to them, everyone already knew what to do and who was in charge of what. The group fell into their usual rhythm, some grilling, some preparing, some setting up the tables, while Leon entertained their cousins with his endless chatter. Fae had to hand it to him, that boy never ran out of stories, and somehow, he never ran out of energy either.
Liam, on the other hand, was different. He wasn't exactly quiet, but he also wasn't a nonstop talker like his twin. Most of the time, he was just enough calm, steady. Though, when he'd had a drink or two, he could get as talkative as Leon. Today, though, he kept the mood light, joining in random conversations while they prepared.
At one point, Fae caught Rome slipping away from Suzanne after Liam asked him to grab his DSLR from the boys' cottage. A part of her relaxed at the distance between them, though she'd never admit it.
Meanwhile, Dale had pulled out his guitar once his turn at grilling was done. That was just so Dale, always making people swoon without even trying. It wasn't just his looks, though he was definitely good-looking. It was his voice, smooth and steady, the kind of voice that fit perfectly with ballads. And when he sang with that guitar in his hands? Everyone dropped what they were doing to listen.
As usual, one song turned into a sing-along. Sometimes it drifted into sentimental territory, sometimes it ended with people laughing and dancing. That was just the way it always went with Dale around.
But Rome never asked Fae to dance first. That role always went to someone else, and it stung even if she tried not to let it. Of course, it made sense. He was part of the school's dance troupe, of course he'd go for a partner who could actually keep up.
Later, after a swim at the beach, the group decided to play a beach volleyball match. Since there were nine of them, they split into two teams of four, with Fae taking the role of scorer. Liam, Dale, Rob (one of the cousins), and Suzanne formed one team, while Leon, Rome, Glacey (the other twins' cousin), and Isle made up the other. They deliberately kept the numbers even, knowing Isle was a varsity-level volleyball player and could easily carry her team.
As the scorer, she didn't have to push herself too hard, which was a relief, she couldn't risk exceeding her limits. She had always been careful to keep her condition a secret, especially from her closest friends. It was far easier to guard her secret than to face the worry it might cause them.
The game was tight, both teams refusing to give in. Stakes were high: the losers would have to serve as "slaves" to the winners for the rest of the day. But in the end, Isle dominated, and her team's score surged ahead.
Isle's presence was quietly striking, made even more distinct by the pixie cut she wore with effortless confidence. The short, layered strands framed her face, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and expressive eyes that seemed to hold more thoughts than she ever spoke aloud. Her hair, dark brown with a natural sheen, gave her an air of boldness that contrasted with her usually reserved nature. Standing tall with the lean, sculpted frame of a varsity athlete, Isle carried herself with the balance of strength and grace, broad shoulders, toned arms, and long legs that spoke of endless hours on the volleyball court. Her complexion was fair with a subtle, sun-kissed glow, and when she smiled, rare, but always sincere, it softened the quiet intensity in her gaze. Isle's look wasn't conventionally delicate, but it had a rare kind of allure: sharp, strong, and quietly magnetic, like someone you couldn't help but notice even if she stayed at the edges of the crowd.
It was fair, Isle's skills were undeniable. Even during summer, she trained nonstop, which was why the group never scheduled outings on weekdays. The twins and Dale had their own training schedules too, since they were on the varsity basketball team. Rome was the only one who wasn't into sports, his focus was on the debate club. That was something he shared with Fae, which meant they were partners every time the team had a match.
Sometimes Fae thought about quitting the debate club, switching to the Supreme Student Government instead. But her parents would never allow it, SSG was way too demanding. Unlike debate, which only really got busy around competitions, SSG was a year-round responsibility stacked on top of academics and events. It ate up too much time, way more than debate ever did.
And so, even if she wanted to put some distance between herself and Rome, quitting wasn't an option. Debate tied them together, whether she liked it or not.