ELIAS

As soon as we get there, Yury runs in the sand barefoot as she giggles like a little kid. We have been here a thousand times, yet she reacts as if the place is brand new to her. Andrew and I are walking side by side at a calm pace. He is holding his shoes in one hand and a container with snacks and drinks in the other. He briefly looks at me and smiles, just enjoying the silence between us. I adjusted the bag on my shoulder, it was not heavy, but the pressure of the strap felt uncomfortable against my shoulder. We made a quick stop on the way here to buy towels and food. Yury has a part-time job, so she offered to pay this time. Days like this felt nice. I could escape from reality for a little while, and spend time with my friends. If I have to be honest, I'm kind of scared of what's to come after high school is done. I know it's a bit early since this semester just started, but the realization that we have to apply to college and that we might go different ways hit me not so long ago during our summer break. We have always been together, I grew up knowing Andrew since kindergarten, and Yury came into our lives in 7th grade, and we have been inseparable since then. Knowing that we might spend at least six months or a year without seeing or contacting each other seemed far-fetched, until now. 

We found a nice spot and set things down, and I lay a towel for Yury as Andrew prepared the umbrella. I sat down on mine and just watched Yury stand still from afar. Just looking into the distance while waves crashed on her legs. I heard a deep sigh from Andrew as he sat down beside me.

“You have the biggest towel and yet you manage to take all the space from mine?” I said slightly pushing him with my shoulder. “That's kind of selfish from you”

“Nah, I don't think so” He was looking at me as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. He looked up to see Yury, and I did the same. “ I bet you a hundred dollars that she is thinking the same thing you are right now”

“How do you know what i'm thinking about?" I asked, resting my chin on my knees and hugging my legs to my chest “I could be thinking about Jeremy Sumpter right now” I smiled turning to see him. 

“Because when that's the case you start talking about him being your awakening as a child, something we have heard a million times before.” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “I think that the three of us are going through a crisis right now, maybe differently, but we all are, '' he rested his head on my shoulder as I looked at Yury, who to my surprise was already looking at us. “ I feel scared of what is to come; I bet you she is, just like you are” He closed his eyes and I couldn't avoid the subject anymore. 

Yury was standing there; she looked calm and tired, maybe from all the running. I saw her raise a hand and wave as if she was saying I'm here and I raised mine in response. Then she started running in our direction, with a smile on her face. She sat beside me and also rested her head on my shoulder. We just sat there in comfortable silence, listening to the sounds the waves made while crashing on the sand, the seagulls flying around us, and some kids yelling from afar. None of us said anything. We just enjoyed each other's company.

WE SPENT three hours on the beach since it was the first week of school there were not a lot of people on it. We ran around like little kids, taking turns chasing each other. Then we ate the snacks Yury bought, Andrew suggested we play Heads UpTM , the UNOTM, and at last, we watched The Notebook on Andrew's laptop, I cried at the end as always, and he handed me a box of tissues that he got it knowing I cry watching movies like this. On the way home, we sang to the playlist we created in middle school and shared it among ourselves, updating it every now and then. We Are Young by FUN was playing right now, and Andrews' voice was heard in the car. Yury and I laughed at his out-of-tune voice. 

He dropped Yury first, and she gave us a kiss on the cheek and said “I want you guys to know I love you and I’m always thankful for our friendship” She said in a sad tone, her voice soft. We all exchanged looks and smiled “Also" she paused and looked up. "You guys owe me 20 bucks each. BYE!” she said fast while getting off and taking all her stuff with her. We laughed and waved goodbye as she closed her front door. Andrew was going to drop me off but he stopped in a park that is a block away from home. He got off, and I looked at him confused. He walked around the car and opened the door for me. What's up with all these doors being opened nowadays? I got out, and he walked to the swings, and I looked at him. He made a hand movement asking me to sit beside him. I simply walked and sat in silence, my feet barely touching the ground while his feet were fully on it, I'm so jealous. We sat there for a while then he started swinging, and while he was behind one of his hands touched my back. 

“Come on, let's swing” he laughs, and I do the same. We swung for a few minutes then the sky started to get darker. I slowly stopped, then looked at my watch and it was 6:48 PM. I was a bit late, but my mom wouldn't worry because I let her know I was with Andrew. I looked up, and I could see the front yard of my house. My mom had already set up some Halloween decorations, even though it was only September; she always loves to do that early on. I could see William's car parked on the driveway outside the garage. I sighed and felt a weight on my shoulders afterwards. He had his arm around my shoulder pulling me close to him. He stopped and had been looking at me for a while. “What is clouding your mind?” he asked, pulling me closer. I just smiled and looked up at the sky. 

“William is going to be staying with us for a while” I felt his grip getting tighter for a second, I looked at him, and his jaw was clenching. “Marie and Mom said it would be for a few weeks, but who knows” I shrug and kick a small rock that was lying next to my shoes. “It might be weeks, then turn to months. I don't know if I want to be dealing with that along with senior year. You know how college applications will start in January, and the SATs are also a few weeks from now. And I also have the thought of you guys going your own way to college, and it's hard. I don't know what I would do without you guys a few minutes away from me” I turn to him, and he's already looking at me with a weird expression on his face. I've never seen him make such a face before. He looks directly at my eyes and then he suddenly blinks as if he is waking up from a daydream. He shook his head and gave me his usual smile showing his braces.

“I think you are overthinking a little bit Elias” he cleared his throat “ I mean about the later things, I know the William thing will be hard. But I'll be there with you if you want I can take you home every day. And I can drop by on the weekends” He gave me a big smile revealing his dimples. “You know,  steal you from time to time, and we could go out,” he paused. “With Yury of course he added widening his eyes a bit to what I looked at him confused, also nodding “And you know I will always be there for you Eli. During college applications, we can apply for the same ones or the ones that are really close to each other. We can also study for the SAT and go to prep classes. And you know even if we are apart, I wouldn't last a week max without hanging out with you.” he hugged me and gave me a wink. “We’re inseparable” he looked at me in silence for a while. I can't believe he has always been there for me. I am so thankful for having him in my life. He’s the best friend anyone could ever ask for. He got up and gave me a hand for me to get off the swing. “Come on, I will walk you home” I smiled, and he kept holding my hand, halfway through. He walked me to the entrance and waved while walking back. 

“Andrew!” I called his name and ran to give him a koala hug. He lifted me and spun me a little. When he stopped, he didn't put me down. “Thank you so much for alway being there for me, I really appreciate it. And I will always be there for you” I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and smiled. He suddenly dropped me but made sure I didn't fall. His eyes were wide open, and he looked at me in shock. “What?” I laughed “We used to do that all the time in elementary school” I pat him on the shoulder and turned to the door and then I saw mom, Amanda, and to my surprise William looking at us from the window. I stopped in shock and then turned back to Andrew who still had the same expression on his face. When I looked back to the window, it was only my mom and Amanda. I walked to the front door and waved one last time to Andrew, and he raised his hand barely waving it. As soon as I closed the door and turned around mom and Amanda were already standing in front of me. With a grin on their faces. I lifted my eyebrow and walked past them. What in the world is going on? I saw William sitting on the last steps of the stairs, looking at me with a blank expression on his face. What the hell is wrong with people today? 

“I made spaghettis, we were waiting for you to start eating,” my mom said, patting me on the back. “Do you want me to fix you a plate?” she added walking towards the kitchen. 

“No thanks. I’m full. We went to the beach and ate a ton there” I said to what she replied a loud Okay, from the kitchen. I walked upstairs avoiding William who just sat there in silence. I went straight to my room and closed the door. I took my clothes off and got in the shower immediately. I took a long warm shower, then filled up the tub and sat to soak for a few minutes. Pondering about life, and its turns and twists. As my mind wanders everywhere, I slowly slide down, feeling the water level rising, to my neck, ears… Then my face was underwater. I closed my eyes for a bit, and all of a sudden I felt a thud. Amanda always closes her door really hard, so I stayed there, just a bit more. I let my arms fall to my sides. I feel a strong thud this time, I hear muffled yelling, and I frown as I release a few bubbles from my mouth. Then I suddenly pulled from the water really fast, and someone was shaking me. 

“What the actual fuck?” I scream while coughing the water I swallowed thanks to the shock. I open my eyes, and my vision is blurry from the water. Then after blinking, I see William breathing agitatedly. With a panicked look on his face “What is wrong with you idiot?” I pushed him, and he fell on his ass from being crouched while shaking me. I see his breathing becoming irregular and his hands shaking. Oh shit, he is having a panic attack. I get out of the tub and hold him by his shoulders. “Hey, look at me.” I instruct him. He does, but his eyes are wide open “Breathe slowly, follow my lead” I tighten my grip around on his shoulders. “inhale” as I do so he does the same “and slowly exhale” I exhale looking directly at his the eyes. After doing so at least seven times, he calmed down. I exhale, relaxing my body. He keeps looking into my eyes. Then they slowly travel down and land on a specific spot, and I see him flush immediately. Wait, what? Then I open my eyes widely and remember I am butt naked sitting on the floor of my bathroom and he is full-on staring at my nakedness with a face as red as a tomato. I cover with my hand and start yelling “Get out! Right now you idiot!” He immediately panics and gets up fast, almost slipping and falling with the water on the floor. I see him run through the door and shut the door of my room in the process. A few seconds later, I hear him slam the door of his temporary room. I just sit there, naked, flushed with my hands being my only cover. 

“You got to be fucking kidding me” I exhale loudly “I only asked for peace” I raised my voice a bit “Can I have some damn peace anymore?”