We sit in silence, soaking up the scenery until she speaks up first, “I never knew Lake Norman would be the place to watch the sunrise.”
I turn to her, a shy smile gracing my lips. “When my mom died, I used to come here a lot in the mornings.” I face forward again, the memories flooding back.
“Do you still miss her?” Serena’s voice is gentle, filled with empathy.
“Always.” I swallow, suddenly feeling a lump form in my throat. “I struggled a lot after the funeral. Everyone moved on but I felt bad for trying to move on without her. It was like everyone forgot her… but I couldn’t do that to her,” I roll up my sleeve to show her my tattoo, “which is why I got this.”
Serena’s face softens at my words, “Faith.”
“And her birthday,” I say as I roll my sleeve down. “Dad was pissed at first, especially since I forged his signature on the papers.”
Serena shrugs then bursts into laughter, “Desperate times call for desperate measures. I can see the Skyline tweets on the gossip pages now,Tyler Westman lands himself in tattoo jail. But don’t worry, I won’t turn you into the Charlotte PD.”
“It would be my best crime.”
Serena hesitates for a moment before speaking again. “What was she like?”
“You really want to know me?”
“All of you,” Serena whispers.
“I have a few memories,” I reply quietly, a smile creeps up on my lips just talking about my mom. “She was kind, always had this warmth about her. And she had this smile... it lit up any room she ever walked in.”
Serena nods, listening intently. “And life without her, how has it been?”
“I have moments where I think, what would she do? Would she be proud of me? Then there are days when it feels like something’s missing, like a piece of the family is gone.” I shrug and lick my lips. “But then I try to focus on the good times we had.”
“What’s your favorite memory of her?”
“I was probably,” I squint my eyes, as though it’d help me remember, and a nostalgic smile spread across my face, “ten years old. It was a crazy hot summer and we were craving ice cream, but my mom’s car had just died so we were bored in the house, wishing that an ice cream truck would drive by. Cue the ice cream man turning the corner and we bolted out of the house chasing after him house after house.”
The memory replays in my head like it was just yesterday, the pure excitement we both had that our wish came true. My mom held my hand tightly as we sped through the streets and accidentally bumped into a few neighbors, our laughs synching breathlessly, her shuffling my hair… It’s a moment I will never forget. I feel the rush of emotions and my eyes betray me when I can feel them watering.
Serena’s eyes soften and sits closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re making her proud every day, I hope you know that. You makemeproud. I’ve seen you improve on your tests and quizzes. You’re smarter than you make yourself out to be. So, any doubts you might have about yourself, lose them.”
Her gaze meets mine, and for a moment, the world seems to stand still. I can’t shake that feeling. That feeling I’ve been pretending not to get. Serena’s laughter fades into a warm smile, and I find myself mesmerized by the way the sunlight catches in her hair.
Lost in the moment, I lean in, closing the gap between us, but just as our lips are about to meet, Serena pulls back slightly, her eyes bolt towards the ground.
“We should go.” Serena tries to rise from our spot, but I wrap my hand around her wrist to keep her next to me.
“Did I do something?”
“No, it’s just… complicated,” she says with a wavering voice.
Disappointment washes over me at her words. “Complicated how?” I ask softly, trying to keep my tone gentle even though I’m starting to panic.
“Everything. You were only supposed to be a crush and I can’t get you out of my head.” Serena’s eyes soften, and for a moment, it feels like the world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us in this fragile moment.
Her vulnerability is palpable, and I can sense the weight of her emotions hanging heavily in the air between us. I can see the fear and doubt swirling in her eyes.
“I can’t get you out of my head, either,” I confess. “Fuck, this wasn’t how I wanted it to be.”
“I’m not good at relationships,” Serena adds. “Letting people in is a risk for me and I don’t want to risk getting hurt.”
“Hey,” I say softly, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. “I would hate myself if I ever did anything to hurt you.”
“It’s not just that,” Serena says while rubbing her temples, frustration bubbling out of her.
