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My Mountains, His Sea
My Mountains, His Sea
Author: Hazel Lake

Chapter 1

Author: Hazel Lake
I had always been a little slower than everyone else, no matter what I did.

By the time I submitted my college application, there was only one minute left before the deadline. After that, my decision would be final.

The thought of spending the next four years nearly 1,900 miles away from Ryan Walker made my heart ache.

Before I could shake off the sadness, my phone rang.

"Wendy Hayes, do you have any idea what time it is? You're still not ready?

"Jack set the get-together for six. Everyone's waiting on us. Can you hurry up?"

Ryan's voice was edged with impatience.

I jumped to my feet and ran for the door. In my haste, I scraped my leg against the chair, but I did not even stop to look.

Even after hurrying as fast as I could, all I saw when I reached the school entrance was their car disappearing down the road.

I stood there, stunned, until my phone rang again.

The call came from Ryan's number, but Claire Morgan was on the other end.

"Sorry, Wendy. Our ride got here, and the driver said he'd charge us extra if we kept him waiting. So Ryan and I went on ahead. Just call another ride, okay?"

My heart sank.

Again.

They always promised to wait, yet somehow they would leave a minute or two before I got there.

It had happened at the amusement park, and again when we went hiking.

Did a minute or two really matter that much?

I had no answer. Everything I wanted to say died in my throat, leaving behind a bitterness that refused to fade.

"Excuse me. Are you friends with that couple who just left?"

Still dazed, I turned as the security guard approached me.

He held out a photo booth print with nine shots on it.

The photos had been taken that very day. Ryan and Claire were in every one, posing close together and looking every bit like a couple.

As I stared at them, Ryan's words from the day before came rushing back.

"Wendy, haven't you always wanted to take photo booth pictures? I'll take some with you tomorrow after we submit our college applications."

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  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 12

    Ryan looked heartbroken when I cut him off."Wendy, why did you apply to Southridge University? Weren't we supposed to apply to Eastbridge University together?"Why didn't you tell me?"Despite everything that had happened between us, seeing him like this still made me sigh, even though I no longer liked him."Ryan, I only ever wanted to apply to Eastbridge University because you wanted to go there. Southridge University was always the school I really wanted."I didn't apply to Eastbridge University because I was done trying to keep up with you. It was exhausting."I tried to tell you the day we submitted our college applications, but you never gave me the chance."After that, I didn't think there was any point. And I was still upset that you stood me up, so I didn't tell you."But we're even now. Classes start tomorrow. You should go back to Eastbridge."The more I said, the paler Ryan became. By the time I finished, he looked ready to collapse."Why? There's nothing between Claire an

  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 11

    Although Ryan's family had already moved, he left early that morning and went out of his way to stop by Wendy's house so they could make the trip to college together.But Wendy's mother, Elsie Hayes, was the one who answered the door.The moment she saw him, she hurriedly held out the suitcase he had brought over the day before."Ryan, perfect timing. Wendy asked me to give this back to you."Ryan's blood ran cold. He stood there frozen, completely at a loss.Elsie knew what had happened between them all through high school. Still, she couldn't bring herself to hold it against him, especially when he looked so devastated.She sighed. "Wendy's going to Southridge University."Wendy's father and I have always been close friends with your parents, and you two grew up together. None of us ever imagined things would end like this."But this is where things stand now. It's best if you two go your separate ways."Ryan's ears rang.He didn't take the suitcase from her. He even left his own beh

  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 10

    At first, Ryan's plan worked exactly as he had hoped.When he arrived at school with Claire riding behind him on his bike, Wendy's smile faded by the tiniest fraction.No one else would have noticed, but Ryan could tell she was upset.They had grown up together. He knew her too well to miss it.Part of him was pleased to see her looking so down, though another part ached for her.So when Claire asked for his number that day, he did not give it to her right away. Instead, he turned to Wendy."Wendy, we've known each other forever. This girl wants my number. Do you think I should give it to her?"Wendy's face turned bright red, and Ryan felt a rush of satisfaction."Do whatever you want!"But instead of getting jealous and telling him not to, as he'd hoped, she turned and walked away in a huff.Ryan froze.Then he decided she was simply too shy to admit she cared. He would just have to keep making her jealous.So he exchanged numbers with Claire.As it turned out, Claire was in their cla

  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 9

    I had no idea what I'd said to set Ryan off.His face flushed as he shot to his feet. "At least you know your place!"With that, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him, leaving the suitcase of gifts behind.I looked at the remaining space in the suitcase and thought for a moment.Then I gathered every gift Ryan had given me over the years, including the rabbit charm I carried everywhere for comfort, and stuffed them all into the suitcase.It was so full that I could barely zip it shut.I told Mom to wait until Ryan called her the next day, then take the suitcase back to his house.Then I grabbed the luggage I'd already packed and left.I headed to the airport for my flight to Southridge.Once again, I made it just in time.But this time, no one was there urging me to hurry.The only message waiting for me was from Ethan.Ethan: [No need to rush. Just be careful. If you miss this flight, there's always another one. The university isn't going anywhere. Besides, Maya isn't even aw

  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 8

    Heat rushed to my face.Luckily, the boarding call came over the speakers just then. I managed a quick "Okay" and hurried away.Behind me, I heard Maya start playfully smacking Ethan again.By the time I got home, there was only one week left before college started.I spent the week buying everything I needed and catching up over meals with a few classmates who would be attending college in Eastbridge.When they heard I was going to Southridge University without Ryan and Claire, they were skeptical at first. Then they nodded emphatically."Wendy, I think keeping your distance from those two is a good idea."Ryan gives every girl the wrong idea, and Claire acts sweet and innocent while playing games. Being around them will only wear you down."I thought of how their constant disapproval had made me feel completely worthless.Smiling, I raised my glass. "Yeah. Things will only get better from here."After I said goodbye to my friends, the rest of the week flew by. Before I knew it, it wa

  • My Mountains, His Sea   Chapter 7

    With Maya and Ethan by my side, I had a wonderful time climbing the remaining four mountains.Just as they had promised, neither of them rushed me once throughout all five climbs that summer.The moment I started to feel tired on the trail, they would immediately call for a break. "We're exhausted. Let's rest for a while."When it was time to order food, they were in no hurry either. They would study the menu, look up reviews of the dishes, and then discuss the options with me before deciding what to order.Once they noticed the eczema on my hands, neither of them mentioned it. They simply made sure none of the foods I needed to avoid ever appeared on our table.They were so thoughtful that even when photos of Ryan and Claire occasionally appeared on my Instagram feed, I no longer felt lonely.Whenever Claire sent me one of her usual bragging messages, I could simply ignore it.Even when Ryan occasionally posted little things he knew I would like, I felt nothing.Ryan: [One more gift f

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