Evening Escape
Andrea didn't go straight home.
She couldn't.
Her head was too full again.
Samuel's words kept repeating in her mind.
"Because no one else is."
She walked past her street.
Past the familiar buildings.
Past the noise.
Until the city slowly faded behind her.
And there it was.
Šachta.
The lake looked the same as always.
Still.
Quiet.
Untouched by everything happening in her life.
Andrea stepped closer to the water and sat down in the grass.
The cold air brushed against her face.
She pulled her knees closer to her chest.
"This place again…" she whispered.
It felt strange.
How she always ended up here when things got too much.
Her grandpa died here.
A man she never met.
Someone who could've known her before the scars.
Before everything.
Andrea stared at her reflection in the water.
It moved slightly with the wind.
Blurry.
Unclear.
Just like everything else.
"I don't even know what I'm doing anymore," she muttered.
Matthew.
Samuel.
The party.
The rumors.
The kiss.
Everything felt like it was happening too fast.
Too messy.
Andrea pressed her hands against her face.
"I hate this."
Her voice cracked slightly.
And this time—
The tears came.
Not forced.
Not held back.
Just real.
They slipped down her cheeks quietly.
Finally.
"You always come here when something's wrong?"
Andrea froze.
Her head snapped up.
Samuel stood a few steps behind her.
Hands in his pockets.
Watching her.
Andrea wiped her face quickly.
"You're stalking me now?"
Samuel shrugged.
"You disappeared again."
Andrea looked away.
"So you followed me."
Samuel walked closer.
"I guessed."
Andrea laughed quietly.
"Of course you did."
Samuel sat down beside her.
Not too close.
But not far either.
For once—
He didn't say anything.
They just sat there.
In silence.
The lake moved softly in front of them.
Andrea sniffed slightly and wiped her face again.
"You didn't have to come."
Samuel glanced at her.
"I know."
Andrea frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
Samuel looked out at the water.
"Because you were crying."
Andrea's chest tightened.
"That's none of your business."
Samuel nodded.
"True."
Andrea blinked.
"…That's it?"
Samuel shrugged.
"I'm still here though."
Andrea looked at him.
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Then she asked quietly,
"Why?"
Samuel hesitated.
Not long.
But enough.
Then he said,
"I don't like seeing you like that."
Andrea laughed softly.
"You barely like me at all."
Samuel smirked slightly.
"That's not true."
Andrea raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
Samuel looked at her.
And this time—
There was no teasing in his eyes.
"No," he said quietly.
Andrea felt her heartbeat pick up again.
She looked away quickly.
"That's… weird."
Samuel leaned back slightly on his hands.
"You say that a lot."
Andrea smiled faintly.
"Because you are."
They fell into silence again.
But it didn't feel awkward.
It felt… calm.
Andrea stared at the water.
"You know what the worst part is?" she said suddenly.
Samuel didn't interrupt.
Andrea continued,
"I don't even know what I want."
Samuel glanced at her.
"Yeah, you do."
Andrea frowned.
"No, I don't."
Samuel shook his head slightly.
"You just don't want to admit it."
Andrea turned to him.
"And what do you think I want?"
Samuel held her gaze.
Something about the way he looked at her made it hard to breathe.
"You want someone to choose you," he said.
Andrea's chest tightened instantly.
She looked away.
"That's stupid."
Samuel's voice stayed calm.
"No, it's not."
Andrea shook her head.
"It is."
Samuel leaned slightly closer.
"It's honest."
Andrea swallowed.
Her eyes burned again.
"I'm tired of being second," she whispered.
The words came out quieter than she expected.
Samuel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
"You're not."
Andrea laughed weakly.
"You don't know that."
Samuel looked at her again.
More serious than ever.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"I do."
Andrea didn't respond.
She couldn't.
Because for the first time—
Someone said exactly what she was afraid to admit.
And they didn't laugh.
They didn't leave.
They stayed.
Right there beside her.
In the quiet.