They lay back down on the blanket, the sky stretched above them in endless constellations. Avery's hand found Kara's again, their fingers twined loosely, warmth steady between them.
For a while they just breathed, hearts still racing from the kiss. Then Kara turned her head, her voice soft but curious. "What do you dream about, Ave? Like… not just tonight. Your real dreams."
Avery let out a thoughtful hum. "Hmm… someday I want to have my own business in Jakarta. Maybe start with something small but mine... something steady. I'd like an apartment there, nothing too fancy, just enough space to feel like home." She smiled faintly, eyes still fixed on the stars. "And… I see myself married. With a wife. Living slow, simple… full of love. No rush. Just… peace."
Kara's chest tightened at the honesty in her tone. "That sounds… really beautiful."
Avery tilted her head toward her. "What about you? What's your dream?"
Kara hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I want to thrive with my own company. Build something I can be proud of. Be independent." She paused, a smile tugging at her lips. "And maybe… go overseas for holidays. See the world. I've been stuck here too long."
Avery nudged her shoulder gently. "That suits you. Big dreams, big plans."
"Yeah, well," Kara smirked, "someone has to aim high while you're busy rating café chairs."
Avery gasped, pretending to be offended. "Excuse me! That's a very important talent. Someday you'll thank me when your back isn't broken from bad furniture."
Kara laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"But you still like me," Avery teased, her grin mischievous.
"Maybe," Kara said softly, her smile giving her away.
The air grew lighter between them, playful again. Avery rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand. "You know what we should do?"
Kara eyed her suspiciously. "I'm almost afraid to ask."
"A road trip. Just you and me. No plan except finding little places along the way."
Kara chuckled. "And where exactly are we staying? You want me to sleep in the car?"
"Nope." Avery shook her head firmly. "Staycations. Cute little inns, maybe a villa if we're lucky. We'll make it ours."
Kara laughed softly, shaking her head. "You really do dream big."
"Not big," Avery corrected. "Fun."
Kara's smile softened. "Fun, huh?"
"Yeah," Avery said with a grin. "Starting in November, every weekend, you and me, beach hopping at Jimbaran."
Kara froze. "Beach… hopping?"
Avery's grin widened. "Mhm."
"Ave…" Kara's nose scrunched in hesitation. "I'm afraid of the sea. You know… all the creatures. I don't trust what's swimming under me plus I can't swim"
Avery laughed warmly, squeezing her hand. "You'll be fine. I'll be with you. No sea monster's gonna get you on my watch."
Kara tried to look unimpressed, but her lips curved anyway. "That's easy for a swimmer to say."
"Exactly," Avery smirked. "You've got a pro right beside you. You'll not only be fine... you'll have fun. Promise."
Kara glanced at her, the sincerity in her eyes undeniable. Finally, she sighed, a shy smile breaking through. "Okay… but only because it's you."
Avery grinned, leaning closer until their foreheads touched again. "That's all I need to hear."
And under the endless sky, with the future sprawling wide before them, the promise of adventures yet to come stitched itself quietly into their story.
***
The ride back to Kara's guest house was quieter than usual, but not heavy, just filled with that kind of silence that hums after a night too full to put into words. When Avery parked at the front, Kara lingered, her smile wide, reluctant to step away.
"Thank you," Kara said softly, her voice trembling with sincerity. "For… tonight. I don't think I'll ever forget it."
Avery smiled, warm and steady, pulling her helmet off. "Good. Then I did my job."
Kara laughed, cheeks flushing, and waved even as she backed toward the gate. She kept her eyes on Avery, not wanting the moment to end, until finally Avery started her bike again. The sound faded as Avery rode off, leaving Kara standing under the dim porch light with her heart thrumming faster than it should.
Inside, she set her bag down, slipped off her shoes, and headed straight for her vanity. She began removing her makeup with slow, distracted hands, the mirror reflecting a girl who looked far softer than she felt.
Her phone buzzed suddenly against the table, breaking the quiet. Kara glanced at the screen, expecting Avery maybe but froze.
Willow.
The name alone made her chest tighten in a way she wasn't ready for. She blinked, staring, remembering too late that Willow had been reaching out earlier, the notifications piling up during the ride down from Jimbaran. In Avery's laughter, Avery's kiss, Avery's presence, she had forgotten entirely.
The phone buzzed again. A call this time. Kara's thumb hovered, but she couldn't answer. She didn't know how.
Her mind flashed to Avery's words from earlier, spoken so easily yet hitting her harder now:
"Kind of like the people who matter. Just because they're out of sight doesn't mean they're gone."
Her chest ached.
The screen went dark, then lit up once more, this time with a message.
Willow:Where are you? I need to hear your voice. I miss you. Just got a wifi access.
Kara inhaled shakily, fingers trembling as she typed back:
Just got home.
Almost immediately, Willow called again. The vibration filled the room. This time, Kara swiped to answer.
"Hello?" Her voice cracked, soft, uncertain.
"Kara?" Willow's voice burst through, breathless, desperate, like relief itself. "God, finally. I've been trying to reach you for hours. I miss you so much."
Kara closed her eyes, leaning back against the chair. The sound of Willow's voice hit her deep, stirring memories she thought had dulled. But now… there was something else inside her too. A warmth that wasn't Willow's. A steady presence that had walked her to her door tonight, that had kissed her under the stars. Avery.
Kara's chest felt like it was tearing in two. She whispered something back to Willow, words she didn't even register, because all she could think of was the truth she was too afraid to admit aloud.
Maybe… just maybe… she was falling for Avery.
***
Kara pressed her hand against her forehead, shutting her eyes. "Willow…" Her voice was soft, caught between longing and weariness.
"I thought maybe you forgot me," Willow rushed on, her words tumbling over themselves. "But I couldn't stop thinking about you. About us."
The words cut deep. Kara's heart clenched, but the ache felt different now, not as sharp as before... like something already beginning to loosen. She glanced toward the empty space on the sofa, remembering Avery's warmth there, the safety of her arms, the peace she'd felt for the first time in months.
Her silence stretched, and Willow's tone sharpened with worry. "Kara? Say something. Please."
Kara swallowed hard. Her throat burned. "I… I miss you too, Willow."
Her silence stretched, and Willow's tone softened with hesitation. "You sound… different. I don't know, maybe you're tired with classes?" She laughed nervously, trying to brush it off.
Kara forced a small smile no one could see. "Maybe." She cleared her throat, redirecting. "How's work? Are they still running you nonstop?"
Willow sighed on the other end, tired but willing to follow her lead. "Yeah. Long hours, little breaks. You know how it is. But at least I'm doing something, right?"
Kara nodded faintly. "And meals? Please tell me you're actually eating proper food and not living off bread and coffee."
A quiet laugh came through. "Caught me."
Kara's voice firmed, though tender. "Don't do that, Willow. Don't try something stupid just because you're pushing yourself too hard. Promise me?"
"I promise," Willow murmured.
For a few minutes, they lingered in that softer space, trading updates that danced around everything heavier. But beneath it, Kara's chest still ached with every word.
Willow whispering "I love you Kara and being overseas make me realize how much you mean for me, I miss you"
Finally, she drew in a long breath. "I… I miss you too, Willow. But I don't think this is healthy for us anymore. You're overseas, and… you were the one who broke up with me. We can't pretend that didn't happen."
The other end went silent for a heartbeat before Willow's voice returned, raw and breaking. "How can you say that? After everything we promised each other? After you told me we'd always try?"
Tears threatened to spill, but Kara forced herself to breathe through it. "Maybe the best way to try now is by letting go. Let's find ourselves first… in our new places."
Willow's breath hitched, then her voice snapped, sharp with hurt. "You've met someone, haven't you? That's it. That's why you sound so different. You've got someone new in Bali, don't you?"
Kara froze, Willow's accusation slamming into her chest. She thought of Avery, the stars, the kiss, the laughter that felt like sunlight. Her lips parted, but no words came.
"Unbelievable," Willow whispered, voice trembling between anger and despair. "So that's it? You move on while I'm stuck here, still fighting for us?"
Kara's chest tightened until it hurt to breathe. She whispered back, steady though her heart cracked in two, "I'm sorry, Willow."
The line went quiet except for the sound of Willow's uneven breathing. Then, without another word, the call disconnected.
Kara sat there in the silence, phone still pressed to her ear, tears burning but refusing to fall. She lowered it slowly, staring at the blank screen. Her heart was heavy, split open... but beneath it, small and stubborn, something new flickered.
The memory of Avery's smile. Avery's words. Avery's kiss under the stars.
Kara sat there in the silence, phone still pressed to her ear, tears burning but refusing to fall. She lowered it slowly, staring at the blank screen. Her heart was heavy, split open—but beneath it, small and stubborn, something new flickered.
The memory of Avery's smile. Avery's words. Avery's kiss under the stars.
She exhaled shakily and dragged herself to the sofa, collapsing into the cushions. The same spot where Avery had held her the night before still carried a ghost of warmth, and she curled into it instinctively, pulling her knees to her chest.
The quiet pressed in, too loud and too empty. Kara unlocked her phone and scrolled through her chats with Avery, rereading each line like it could anchor her. The teasing words, the soft goodnights, the little fragments of care, they steadied her in a way nothing else could.
Her thumbs hovered for a moment before she typed, fingers slow but sure.
Hey… did you get home safe?
She stared at the message, biting her lip. Then, with a small nod to herself, she hit send and tucked the phone against her chest.
For the first time since the call ended, Kara let herself breathe.