There was something in the way that Nicholas acted the next morning on the beach that worried Minnie. Not for him but for her sake. He was wide awake.

“You ready for the lesson?” He asked as she put her bag down. He had his signature smile and his eyes bright once again. It pulled at her to share it as well, but she kept her own smile hidden.

“Yeah.” She rolled out her towel, studying him as best as she could. “You’re in a good mood.”

“My head slowed down.” He told her,

She didn’t know how to answer that, but it didn’t matter. He was looking at her, eyes flicking around but their glint was begging to come out and play. Temptation was the name of the game and she hated that it still attracted her.

She rode the waves just as he had taught her, graceful and effortless. They sat on their towels for a packed lunch, eating in silence.

“You look beautiful today.” He said, his eyes flickered between her eyes and her mouth. She got his intention clear enough, the idea lingered in her head. She hated the fact that she was even considering it.

“Thanks.” Her face heated up. The feeling of his proximity once again, the thought of his lips on hers again sparking all that electricity just like the first time was something she didn’t want to like.

But she did. Of course, she liked it a lot.

“Don’t look so shocked, princess.” Nic smirked at her, leaning back on his arms. “I can be nice.”

“Nic-” Minnie started.

“Now, I know what you’re going to say.” He kept his gaze focused on her, smiling. “I thought you broke up with me and I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I was hoping, that I could make it up to you.”

There it was again, his care and that dangerous glint. That warm smirk.

Her heart leaped and speed up at his words, but her mind stood firm. She wasn’t bitter with him, she couldn’t find it in her to do so but she couldn’t just move on from his words. How could she know he wouldn’t play with her emotions like that?

And besides, he was right. She was going to leave, she was going to go home and marry some guy that she didn’t want to marry. She didn’t want to even think about the idea of being with him even after she finally figured out her plan fully.

She looked at him, studying him. His eye bags had settled a little and his skin looked alive, he looked if anything more alive than she had seen him before that point.

When she didn’t say anything for a few moments, his face fell. The glint in his eyes seemed to fizzle away and he was left, a wavering smile on his face.

“Nic- I…” She stuttered.

“Don’t try to sugar coat it, princess.” His smile was falling, and she forced herself to not look away from him.

“I can’t do this.” Her words were slow and soft, as if it were a secret. His smile fell away completely.

Silence stilled between the two. The sound of the world carrying on around them was background as they looked each other in the eye. Questioning each other. His eyes looked for reassurance and hers tried to fight against the urge to give way to him. She was the first to look away.

“You’re really good at surfing.” He said, eyes looking over the ocean.

“Thanks.” She had gotten up off her towel. She wasn’t going anywhere, just trying to escape the betrayal she had dealt herself.

“I guess my job is here is done.” He said, a small sad smile spread across his face.

“I’ll miss being your captive.” She looked him again in his eyes, sharing a small smile. It was sad and clinging to the hope of not feeling as if an era had ended. As if they had got something and it was slipping like sand through their fingers.

“I’ll miss being your pirate.” She slung the bag over her shoulder as the once bright spark in his eyes flashed for a second. She didn’t want to go, she didn’t want it to be the end. She wanted to sit back down and let this summer fling playout. To let it be the subject of heartbreak.

“Bye, Nicholas.” Minnie pulled herself away from their spot on the beach, there was nothing left to say. There was nothing left to do.

“Bye, Minenhle.”

And just like that, she was alone. Walking away from the beach, up to her empty hotel room.

****