Chapter 2

That night, I posted the photos I'd taken that day on social media.

A comment I hadn't seen in ages appeared underneath.

[Wow, Lucas took so many beautiful pictures of you again. Mel, you're so lucky!]

I stared at the screen, momentarily lost in thought.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen a comment like that.

Lucas used to take pictures of me all the time, even when we weren't traveling. He'd photograph me going about my everyday life around our housing complex and at school.

I'd post on social media every few days, and everyone knew Lucas was the one behind all those beautiful photos of me.

But everything changed after Zoey transferred to our school during senior year.

I scrolled through my old posts and realized I hadn't posted anything in more than six months.

I replied to my classmate's comment.

[It wasn't Lucas. A stranger took them for me. He's actually really good.]

A few minutes later, Lucas posted a collage of photos. Every single one was of Zoey.

Our posts appeared one above the other, with nearly identical ocean views, as if they were competing with each other.

Lucas: [Thanks to our class beauty for being my model. Had a blast taking these today.]

Zoey quickly commented.

Zoey: [Hehe, I'll let you have fun again tomorrow.]

I stared at the screen for a long time, a wave of nausea rising in my stomach.

Finally, just before my phone screen went dark, I liked Lucas' post.

"Let it be. From now on, I won't be part of his life anymore."

…

The next morning, I ran into Lucas in the stairwell on my way downstairs.

He was looking down at his phone, but the moment he caught sight of me from the corner of his eye, his brows drew together.

"Don't you know how badly you got sunburned yesterday?"

Before I could react, he jogged out through the hotel entrance.

Ten minutes later, he returned with a bag from the pharmacy. He pulled out a tube of aloe vera gel and shoved it into my hand.

"Didn't you say that photographer was so good? Then why did he keep taking you out under the blazing sun? Even your neck is peeling." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

I looked into his eyes. His words were harsh, but the familiar concern in his gaze was exactly the same as it had always been.

My heart ached, and I didn't want to argue with him right then.

The next second, Zoey walked over with her bag. "Oh my gosh, what happened to you? Thank goodness Lucas carefully applied sunscreen all over me yesterday. I didn't get sunburned at all."

My hand froze as I squeezed out some aloe vera gel.

When Lucas noticed my reaction, he quickly explained, "There were some spots on Zoey's back she couldn't reach. I was just helping her out."

I remained silent for a few seconds before taking out my phone and my e-banking app. "How much was the aloe vera gel? I'll transfer you the money."

Lucas's expression darkened. "Melissa, what are you doing?"

I said nothing. We'd grown up together and had never kept track of little expenses between us. Buying things for each other had always been completely normal. But things were different now.

I held the aloe vera gel out to him. "If you won't take the money, then I can't accept this either."

Zoey spoke cautiously. "Mel, I'm sorry. Are you upset because of what I said? But I really couldn't reach my back, so I had to ask Lucas to help me."

Lucas looked at me with disappointment. "Why do you always throw a fit over nothing? You've already scared Zoey several times.

"Melissa, you're about to start college. Can you grow up a little? I can't spend the rest of my life following you around and comforting you."

I threw the aloe vera gel at him and fought back my tears as I let out a cold laugh. "Easy. We just won't have anything to do with each other anymore."

Lucas frowned. "Melissa! Do you really have to say something like that?"

I shot back, "Then do you really have to rub sunscreen on another girl's back?"

Lucas stood there speechless.

I grabbed my bag and walked away.