Chapter 5 – When Summer Ends

The last days of August always came too fast.

One minute, the days felt endless—sun-drenched afternoons and porch swings and stories that never seemed to run out. Then suddenly the air changed. Crisper. Quieter. Like the town was holding its breath for fall.

Maya packed slowly.

Her dorm bags sat half-zipped on the floor, filled with fresh notebooks, folded jeans, and the tiny cactus plant her roommate insisted was good luck. Every time she dropped something inside, it felt like she was leaving a little more of this summer behind.

There was a knock at her bedroom window.

She didn't need to look to know who it was.

Sliding it open, she leaned on the sill. "You're lucky this screen is already busted."

Liam grinned up at her from the front lawn, hands shoved in his hoodie pockets. "I bring charm and late-night snacks. That earns me at least three window visits a week."

"Only if the snacks aren't orange juice and pretzels again."

He held up a brown bag. "Salted caramel cookies. Redemption snacks."

Maya laughed and grabbed her jacket. "Give me five."

They sat on the bleachers at Maplewood High, the field lights off, the world wrapped in dark velvet and stars. It was their old spot—where they used to sneak to watch football games, or just lie back and guess constellations until the night felt like forever.

She broke a cookie in half and passed it to him. "Not bad. Still not as good as Harris' fudge brownies, though."

"I aim to please but never compete with legends."

They fell quiet.

The kind of quiet that didn't beg to be filled. But tonight… there was weight in it. Like they both knew time was ticking down.

Maya exhaled. "I leave tomorrow."

"I know."

"You okay?"

Liam shrugged. "I want to say yeah. But that'd be a lie."

She glanced at him. "You could come visit. Campus isn't that far."

"I will. I mean, I want to. I just…" He trailed off, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

"What?"

He looked at her, raw and real. "I'm scared we'll drift again. That this summer was just… a bubble."

Maya bit her lip. "You think it wasn't real?"

"No," he said quickly. "I think it's the realest thing I've felt in a long time. That's what scares me."

She took his hand, threading her fingers through his. "Then let's not let it burst."

He stared at their hands. "I'm not perfect, Maya. I still have a lot to figure out. Sometimes I don't even know who I'm supposed to be yet."

She smiled gently. "Same. But maybe we can figure it out together."

He looked at her then, like he was memorizing her face.

"You know," he said softly, "I used to think about this moment. Us. Saying goodbye again. I imagined it a hundred different ways. And none of them felt like this."

"Good or bad?"

"Hopeful."

The silence that followed wasn't heavy this time. It was full of possibility.

Liam leaned in, slow and certain, and kissed her.

It wasn't a firework kiss. It wasn't rushed or desperate. It was soft. Steady. The kind of kiss that said we'll be okay.

When they pulled apart, Maya rested her forehead against his.

"I'm scared too," she whispered. "But I want to try."

He nodded. "Me too."

The next morning, Maya's car was packed. Her mom was teary, her younger cousin had drawn a glittery "Good Luck!" sign, and her playlist was already queued for the drive.

Liam stood by the driver's door, hands in his jacket pockets.

"You have your snacks?" he asked.

"Trail mix and your cookies."

"Emergency playlist?"

"Four of them."

He stepped closer. "One more thing."

From his back pocket, he pulled a folded sheet of notebook paper.

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Is this a dramatic goodbye letter?"

"No. It's your first hello from me. In writing, at least." He handed it to her. "One for the box."

She took it, her throat tightening. "I'll read it on the way."

They hugged. Tight. Long. The kind that left echoes in your chest long after it ends.

Then, with a wave and a whispered promise—soon—Maya pulled out of Maplewood.

And as she turned onto the highway, windows down and heart wide open, she didn't feel like she was leaving something behind.

She felt like she was carrying it with her.

Love. Forgiveness. Home.

Because when summer ends, something new begins.

And sometimes, you don't lose people. You just find them again—right where you left them.