In Too Deep

Lucas had wandered a bit down the beach before he found a quiet spot, away from the watchful eyes of his friends and the ever-present rush of the waves. He sat down on the sand, his thoughts in turmoil. 

"Idiot.." he mumbled.

The sound of the waves crashing on the shore provided a soothing backdrop to his internal struggle. He couldn't deny the surge of emotions that had taken hold of him today, especially after seeing Amelia and Alex grow closer. 

His mind replayed the day's events as he gazed out at the horizon. The thrill of riding the waves, the genuine laughter shared with his friends, and the undeniable shift in his relationship with Amelia. The wind pressed against his skin. The dampness was ever so present. 

Running a hand through his hair, Lucas couldn't help but feel like time was moving without him and that he had no control. What did it all mean? He had always protected her, like a big brother, or so he had thought. But today, that protectiveness had morphed into something gnawed at his insides. It was possessiveness, a feeling he couldn't comprehend. I want Amelia. I want to be more than just friends.

Placing his hands in the sand, he leaned back, turning his head to the sky and taking in the sun, eyes closed. 

He never knew what it was about Amelia that would excite him. Push him to venture into places he had never been and do things he would never do alone.

A smile played on his lips. Even in his irritation and jealousy, it was clear to him. He was falling in love. The timing, he realized, was not great as they were already older now. A wave of embarrassment came over him. How would he return to the group after such a reaction? Lucas knew he needed to sort through these emotions before he could face his friends and Amelia again. He needed clarity. 

Lucas' hands gripped the sand, an the subtle action made him think about her.

He had never felt this way before her. Something about her made him want to know everything about her. She was more than just a pretty face. Or a pretty smile. Without even trying, he was drowning in her eyes. He couldn't imagine his future without Amelia.

Could you blame me?

His eyes opened at the sound of steps that shifted in the sand. From the distance, the legs were short—Emily's.

Emily couldn't contain her curiosity and concern for her brother as she reached him. She plopped beside him, her expression a mixture of sisterly care and youthful impatience.

"Lucas, Why did you leave like that?" Emily asked, her voice hushed but insistent.

Lucas sighed, knowing he couldn't hide his feelings from his perceptive little sister. "Em, it's... complicated. Something's been bothering me, and I'm trying to figure it out."

Emily folded her arms, her eyes narrowing with determination. "You can't just leave it at that, Lucas. I know when something's up."

She poked his forehead, causing him to groan and rub it in annoyance. "What is that for?" He asked, pushing her away.

"You get that ugly little wrinkle on your head when you are upset," Emily said, crossing her arms again before looking back to the group. "Is it about Amelia?"

Lucas hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, it is." His eyes moved to the water. "-But, Em, promise me you won't make a big deal out of it. It's just... I've been feeling weird today and need some time to sort it out."

Emily nodded solemnly. "Okay," her eyes were on him again with worry. "You know Amila always makes me feel better when I am upset. If you tell her she could help. Even if it is about her."

Lucas gave his sister a grateful smile and ruffled her hair. "Maybe... Thanks for understanding. I'll talk to her, I promise."

"Looks like you can do that now," Emily said, standing up and wiping off the sand. Her eyes were turned to the group.

Amelia's figure was walking towards them, and as soon as he saw her, Lucas put his eyes to the ground.

With his quick leave of the group, Amelia had felt an urgent need to talk to him. It was not like him to act this way. She thought to herself.

As she approached Emily, she whispered, "Hey, Em, could you return to the group for a bit? I need to talk to Lucas alone."

Emily glanced at her brother, then back at Amelia, and nodded in understanding. "Sure thing," she replied, trotting back to join their friends.

Amelia walked over to Lucas, her heart heavy with concern. She knelt to meet his eyes, her expression filled with genuine care. "Lucas," she began softly, "is everything okay?"

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Amelia, I need to talk to you about something," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "It's been bothering me all day."

Amelia gave a concerned nod, slowly slumped into the sand, and sat on her legs. "Of course, Lucas. What's on your mind?"

Lucas took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the sand beneath his feet. "It's... I don't know how to say this exactly. But today, seeing you with Alex it bothered me. A lot more than I expected."

Amelia looked at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. 

Lucas met her gaze, his eyes revealing a mixture of emotions. "I guess... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I got protective of you, jealous even, when I saw you and Alex spending time together. And it upset me to think about you spending time with anyone else but me. I know that's rude, and I'm sorry."

His confession took Amelia aback, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions. Without thinking, she interrupted him by wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Her face nestled into his neck as she whispered, "Lucas..." She said with a gentle cry. "I am so sorry."

Lucas was momentarily confused by her response, unsure why she was apologizing, but he held her. It felt right to him. The warmth and comfort of her presence. The smell of her hair.

Before he could speak,  Amelia continued, her voice soft and apologetic. "I didn't want you to find out this way, Lucas. I wanted our last summer to be great, and I didn't want you to worry or think about it."

Lucas frowned as he slowly began to understand her words. He tightened his grip around her, a lump forming in his throat as he realized what it meant. This was the first time he had heard about her not returning to the island after this summer.

Tears welled up in Lucas's eyes as the world crashed around him, much like the waves they had spent their summers riding. She couldn't just come back. They had shared every summer together, and he had taken it for granted. Lost chances to express how much he cared for her.

Amelia felt his emotions through their embrace, knowing the news had hit him hard. She held him tighter, her own tears falling silently. They stayed like that momentarily, finding solace in each other's arms.

After a while, Lucas gained his composure. He gently pulled back, his eyes filled with determination and a newfound sense of purpose. He wiped away his tears and looked at Amelia. "No matter what, we'll always be friends," he said with a reassuring smile. "And I promise, we'll make this summer one we'll never forget."

Amelia smiled back through her tears, grateful for his understanding and support. "Yeah." she nodded back.