Chapter 4: Between the Waves

The morning sun cast a warm glow over Austin, but Ava barely noticed. She sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers running absentmindedly through her tangled hair. Sleep had been restless. Her thoughts spun in endless circles, over and over Storm, Zane's cold gaze from the club, and the quiet unease that something was changing between her and Ely. She shook her head, trying to push it all away. Today, she thought, was just another day. But deep down, she knew it wouldn't be.

At school, Lily was already waiting by their usual spot near the lockers. As Ava approached, Lily's sharp eyes immediately scanned her, taking in her tired expression.

"You look dead," Lily teased, the smirk on her face a little too genuine.

Ava sighed. "Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."

Lily's teasing smile softened. "Rough night?"

Before Ava could respond, a wave of whispers rushed through the hallway, and she turned her attention to the growing buzz around the corner.

"Who's that?" one voice murmured.

"The new girl," came the reply.

"She's Adrien Dupont's sister," another voice added.

Ava's eyes caught sight of the girl walking down the hall, Marinette Dupont. She had long, dark hair that cascaded in soft waves, with delicate features that were framed perfectly by the natural waves of her hair. Her appearance wasn't overtly glamorous, but there was a quiet confidence about her that drew attention. And yet, behind that calm demeanor, there was something Ava couldn't quite place a hint of sadness perhaps or something deeper that she could sense in the way Marinette's eyes lingered on her surroundings.

Lily nudged Ava, whispering, "She looked at Ely weirdly."

Ava glanced at Ely, who was leaning casually against the lockers, seemingly oblivious to Marinette's gaze. But Lily was right. Marinette's eyes had lingered on Ely a little too long, and it didn't sit well with Ava. She chose to ignore it, though, and turned her focus back to the present. She had other things on her mind.

Just then, Ely strolled over, his usual playful smirk stretching across his face. "So, I have an idea," he announced, excitement lacing his tone.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Should I be scared?"

Ely grinned. "We're sneaking out."

Ava blinked. "What?"

"I'm serious," Ely said. "Let's ditch school and go to the beach. No stress. Just us. Making memories."

Lily hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, a smirk spreading across her face. "I'm in."

Ava crossed her arms. "And what happens if we get caught?"

Ely shrugged nonchalantly. "Then we blame Lily."

"Hey!" Lily protested, though she was already laughing.

Ava stood there, caught between reason and the sudden rush of rebellion that surged within her. When was the last time she did something just for herself, without worrying about the consequences? Something spontaneous? Without overthinking every little thing?

She exhaled, giving in. "Fine. But if this goes wrong, it's on you."

Ely's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of the plan. "Deal."

As they cruised down the road, the soft hum of the engine and the music filling the air, it was the track "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd. There was a strange sense of intimacy in the car. Ava sat in the passenger seat, her eyes drifting out the window, but she could feel the shift in the air. The quiet tension between them was undeniable.

Ely's hand gripped the wheel, his focus on the road, but every so often, his eyes flicked to her Ava caught it his gaze lingering on her just a moment too long. She quickly looked away, her heart skipping a beat.

She glanced back at him, only to find his eyes on her again. This time, their eyes locked for a brief moment She felt her breath catch, her pulse quicken. Ely's lips curved into a small, almost mischievous smile before he turned his focus back to the road.

For that brief second, it felt like the whole world had stopped, leaving only the two of them in that fleeting moment. Ava couldn't shake the feeling that things were shifting between them. She didn't know what it meant, but it was there like something unsaid hanging in the air.

They finally arrived at the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. It was fall, and the chill of the season was in the air, but the beach still held its own charm. The sand felt soft beneath their feet as they walked along the shoreline, the ocean breeze ruffling their hair and making everything feel a little more alive.

Ely sprinted ahead, kicking up water as he turned back to Ava and Lily. "Come on, slowpokes," he called.

Lily groaned, her voice teasing. "I didn't sign up for running."

Ava rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips as she watched Ely's carefree energy It was contagious.

The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and playful moments. They ran through the surf, the cold water splashing their legs, drawing shapes in the sand, and joking until their stomachs hurt from laughter. For the first time in ages, Ava felt the weight of everything lift, the pressure she carried vanishing with the salty breeze.

At one point, Ava stood alone near the water's edge, watching the sun dip lower in the sky, its golden light reflecting off the surface of the ocean. Lost in thought, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ely's voice broke through her reverie, soft and full of concern.

"You okay?" he asked, his tone gentler than usual.

Ava hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

Ely didn't push, but the quiet understanding in his eyes told her he saw right through her. "Thinking too much," he teased, nudging her lightly with his shoulder.

She smirked, trying to mask the turmoil inside. "You don't even know what I'm thinking about."

Ely paused, his eyes softening as he met her gaze. "Maybe not. But I know that look. It's the 'I'm drowning in my own head' look."

Ava's heart skipped a beat at his words. She wasn't sure why, but the way he said it, so tenderly, made her stomach flutter. It felt like a moment of honesty, of understanding she hadn't expected from him. She met his gaze, feeling the distance between them vanish for the briefest second.

Before she could respond, Ely suddenly pushed her lightly, his mischievous grin flashing as he swam backwards, pulling her along with him. "Catch me if you can," he teased, his voice playful but with an edge that made Ava's pulse race.

Ava narrowed her eyes, not one to back down easily. She splashed after him, grinning despite herself. But Ely was faster, ducking under the water and emerging a few feet away with a cocky smile. She kicked at the water, frustration bubbling in her chest.

Without warning, she swam toward him, determined to get him back. Ely didn't seem to notice the shift in her expression until she was right next to him. She pushed him gently, but he caught her wrist, pulling her toward him in one swift motion.

For a heartbeat, they were face to face, the water between them rippling gently as they floated. Their eyes locked so close now, it felt like the world around them had faded. The playful teasing was gone, replaced with something heavier, something that made Ava's heart race.

Ely's lips parted slightly, his breath shallow. He leaned in just a fraction, and for a moment, everything stopped. It felt like they were on the edge of something…something neither of them had said out loud but both could feel.

Just as they were about to close the space between them, a loud shout from Lily cut through the air. "You guys gonna stare at each other all day, or are we going to eat?"

Ava snapped back, her heart pounding, face flushing. Ely laughed softly, shaking his head, though his smile lingered an unreadable expression that left Ava wondering what had almost happened.

As they both climbed out of the water, the cool breeze hit them, sending a shiver down Ava's spine. She quickly wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake off the lingering warmth from the near-kiss. Her heart was still racing, her thoughts scattered. Her face was flushed, a deep shade of red she couldn't hide, and she hoped the low light of the late afternoon would cover it up.

Ely, on the other hand, was grinning like he knew exactly what had just happened. His hair was wet, messy from the water, and his usual confident demeanor was mixed with a hint of something else something playful but also knowing.

Ava didn't meet his eyes as she walked ahead, her mind still spinning from the moment in the water. She felt the heat of the water evaporating off her skin, but nothing could cool down the storm inside her.

Ely caught up to her, his steps light, matching her pace without saying a word. But the tension between them hadn't dissolved. It hung there, thick and palpable, making it hard for Ava to breathe properly.

Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but teasing. "You're redder than a lobster, you know that?"

Ava shot him a quick glance, her cheeks burning even more at his words. "Shut up, Ely."

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with that mischievous spark. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. Just… thought I'd get you out of your head for a minute."

Ava couldn't help but smile slightly, even as her heart still fluttered from everything that had just happened. "Well, mission accomplished," she muttered, still not looking at him directly.

 After they had spent time in the water, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything. Wet hair clung to their skin, and the salt from the sea made their clothes stick uncomfortably. Ava and Ely walked side by side, their footsteps soft in the sand. The air was thick with unspoken words, the quiet between them almost deafening. The day, which had started with such lightness, now felt heavy. Ava could feel the pull between them, an electricity she couldn't ignore.

"I'm starving," Ava said, breaking the silence as they reached the end of the beach. Her voice was quieter than usual, as if she were reluctant to disrupt the moment between them.

"Me too," Ely replied, his gaze drifting toward her before he smiled. The warmth in his eyes made Ava's heart flutter unexpectedly.

They found a small beachside café, tucked away from the hustle of the more crowded spots. The food came quickly, though neither of them spoke much. It wasn't uncomfortable it was just that the air felt different. The tension from the water still hung between them, and every time their eyes met, it was like there was something more unsaid.

Ava couldn't help but steal a glance at him. His profile was relaxed, yet there was something about the way he carried himself that made her heart race. His eyes flicked to her for a second, their gazes locking for the briefest moment. A spark. Something she couldn't quite explain. He wasn't saying anything, but the tension was palpable. Then, just as suddenly as the moment had come, Ely turned his attention back to the road. Ava tried to steady her breath, but it felt like time had frozen for a second. She didn't know what to make of it, what to say. Instead, she let the music wash over her, lost in the thoughts swirling inside her mind.

The drive back to school was quiet, but Ava felt a strange anticipation hanging in the air. She excused herself to the bathroom as soon as they parked. It was like she needed a moment to breathe, to escape the intensity of what she felt but couldn't name.

As Ava disappeared inside, Ely turned to Lily, who had been sitting quietly in the back. His voice was low, almost tentative. "I need your help with something," he said, glancing toward the door Ava had just walked through.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

Ely hesitated, his eyes softening. "I think I might be falling for her. Don't tell her, though. I just... I need to help her, but she doesn't know it yet."

Lily was quiet for a moment, sensing the weight of his words. She nodded. "She's been through a lot. But she needs to figure some things out on her own, too. Just... be careful with her, Ely."

When Ava returned, she found the two of them quiet, the air heavy again. Ely's gaze met hers she settled back into her seat in the car, feeling more tired than she expected. The long day had drained her, and before she even realized it, her eyes began to flutter shut.

Ely glanced over at her, noticing how her head gradually tipped to the side, her breathing soft and steady. She was asleep, her features relaxed in a way he found strangely captivating. The way her hair fell gently around her face, the subtle rise and fall of her chest it made her seem so delicate, like a sleeping princess. His fingers tightened slightly on the wheel as he focused on her. It was hard to ignore how beautiful she looked, even in her sleep. It felt like a quiet, tender moment just for them, and yet it was all unspoken.

He tried to push the feelings away. There was no time for this right now. But, as he drove, he couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. She had this way of making everything feel different when she was near. She didn't even need to be awake for him to feel the pull. It was like something deep inside him had finally found its place. And he couldn't ignore it anymore, even if he tried.

When they finally pulled into their destination, Ely gently turned off the engine and quietly glanced at her again. "Ava," he whispered

whispered softly, but she didn't stir. She was deeply asleep, her head resting against the window. He sighed, glancing at the clock. It was getting late.

Slowly, he leaned over and shook her shoulder, careful not to startle her. "Ava," he called again, this time a little louder. She stirred, blinking her eyes open.

"Hey, we're here," Ely said softly, offering her a small smile. She blinked a few times, clearly groggy, before nodding and sitting up straight.

"Thanks, Ely," she mumbled, stretching slightly before slipping out of the car. Ely watched her for a moment before speaking again.

"Before you go in, change and meet me at the studio. You know what, I'll pick you up after an hour, okay? I need your help with something."

Ava's gaze flickered to him, her tired eyes still heavy. "Okay," she agreed softly, before turning and heading towards the building.

As she walked away, Ely turned to Lily, who was already standing by the door of the car. She gave him a pointed look.

"Take care of her, Ely," she said softly. "Don't push too hard. She's got a lot on her plate."

Ely nodded, his jaw tightening as he watched Ava disappear inside. "I will," he promised quietly, though there was something in his voice that suggested more was going on than just taking care of her. There was a depth there, something neither of them were saying aloud.

Lily watched him for a moment longer before giving a small nod, then leaving to head back to her own dorm.

With the night settling in, Ely waited an hour before heading back to the dorm to pick Ava up. He didn't want her to be late. Not when her father might notice she was out past curfew. He had no intention of getting her into trouble. He just hoped that, after tonight, everything would start to make sense.