That night, the bracelet lay on the nightstand, catching bits of moonlight from the open window. Ava couldn't sleep, Texas air always carried too much silence.
She turned the charm over in her palm. The cool metal pressed against a faint scar on her wrist, one she'd stopped trying to explain. A picture flashed in her mind. Lots of blood on the floor, dark hallway, broken glass, the smell of rain and metal. She shut her eyes fast.
"Not now." Ava said in a deep breath
Texas was supposed to be distance. A border between what happened there and who she had to be now. Only Kira knew how to make her forget for a few minutes at a time.
But even as the crickets hummed outside, Ava felt it again. that weight under her ribs, the memory she'd buried deep enough to make everyone think it was gone.
She clutched the bracelet tighter. "Fresh start," she whispered, almost convincing herself.
The moonlight flickered against the charm, and for a heartbeat, it looked red instead of silver.
🌊 Scene "The Boy by the Lake"
The afternoon heat had started to fade when Ava found herself standing at the edge of the lake. She hadn't meant to come here...she was just walking, thinking, trying not to. But somehow her feet led her down the old path, the one she and Kira used to race through when they were kids.
The water was still. Too still. The surface mirrored the sky perfectly, like it was holding its breath. A part of her wanted to leave. Another part couldn't.
"People don't come here much anymore."
The voice came from behind her…..low, calm, and almost too close. Ava spun around. A boy stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes the color of dusk. His dark hair fell over his forehead in soft waves, and his smile was small but confident.
"I noticed," Ava said carefully.
"You new here?" Ethan asked.
"Something like that."
He nodded, stepping closer. "Then maybe you didn't hear the stories."
Ava frowned. "What stories?"
"About the girl who disappeared here. They say she was last seen by this lake, one summer night."
A chill crawled up her arms. "Sounds like small-town gossip." Ava said feeling a lil bit anxious.
"Maybe," he said, watching her. "But every story starts somewhere."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind moved through the trees, the water rippled once.
and Ava caught a glimpse of something silver beneath the surface.
When she looked again, it was gone.
"I'm Ethan," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Ava."
His smile deepened. "Nice to meet you, Ava."
And for some reason, the way he said her name made it sound like he already knew it.
Kira was sitting on the porch steps when Ava got back, sipping lemonade straight from the jar and scrolling through her phone like she owned the place.
"Where'd you wander off to, explorer?" she asked without looking up.
"Just… walked," Ava said, tossing her bag onto the swing. "You didn't tell me there's a lake near here."
Kira froze for half a second...so quick Ava almost missed it. "Oh. That lake."
"Yeah. Calm, creepy, probably haunted. You'd love it." Ava said
Kira rolled her eyes. "Haunted by what, mosquitoes?"
"Actually," Ava said, grinning, "by the ghost of some girl who disappeared. At least, that's what the cute guy there told me."
"Cute guy?"
Ava flopped down beside her. "Tall, dark hair, mysterious energy. I think he was flirting, but it might've just been his face."
"Mmm," Kira hummed, pretending to text but obviously listening. "And what's his name?"
"Ethan. Said it like it was supposed to mean something."
Kira snorted. "Classic. Guys named Ethan always think they're the plot twist."
Ava laughed, nudging her. "You're just jealous."
"Please. If he's from here, I already know his GPA, his mom's maiden name, and whether or not he owns cowboy boots."
Ava giggled, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"And you," Kira said, leaning closer with a teasing smile, "are u blushing?".
"I'm not!"
"Oh, totally are. Texas is turning you soft already."
Ava threw a cushion at her, missing by a mile. "Shut up."
They laughed, the air between them easy again. but somewhere beneath the laughter, Kira's eyes drifted toward the trees, just beyond where the lake sat hidden.
Her smile faltered for only a second.
Scene "The Unexpected Third Wheel"
The next afternoon, Texas felt like it had turned the sun up just to prove a point. Ava and Kira had escaped to a small café near town square….. all pastel walls, cheap air-conditioning, and the smell of vanilla and coffee syrup.
"I swear this heat is personal," Ava said, fanning herself with a napkin.
"You're just dramatic," Kira replied, sipping her iced latte. "It's not even that hot."
"Easy for you to say, you grew up in it."
"Exactly. You'll adapt. Hwaiting!"
Ava tilted her head. "I know that one. like, 'you got this,' right?"
Kira gasped, then burst into laughter. "Upon all the lessons you took that summer, you still had to think about it? Wah, Ava, jinjja!"
Ava laughed too. "Hey! It's been years! My brain's rusty."
"Clearly," Kira teased, grinning wide.
Ava rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "You're annoying."
"You love me." Kira said blushing.
"Barely."
They were still bickering when the café door swung open and Ethan walked in.
Same dark hair, same casual confidence, same eyes that made her forget how to breathe for a second.
"Oh, look," Kira whispered, noticing. "Plot twist just walked in."
"Don't start," Ava hissed, trying to look busy stirring her drink.
But Ethan had already spotted her. He smiled, walking over.
"Ava, right?"
Kira snickered under her breath. "Ava, right?" she mimicked in a mock-deep voice.
Ava kicked her leg under the table. "Yeah," she said, forcing a smile. "Ethan. Hey."
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"Texas is small," she blurted. "I mean—uh—it's big, but… you know."
Kira snorted into her straw. "Wow. Smooth."
Ethan chuckled. "You two mind if I sit?"
Ava hesitated, but Kira flashed a polite smile. "Sure. We were just talking about how Ava definitely wasn't waiting for you to show up."
"Kira!"
"What?" she said innocently. "진짜 귀엽다 (jinjja gwiyeopda) you're really cute when you're flustered."
Ethan blinked. "What did she say?"
"Nothing," Ava mumbled, cheeks pink.
"Mm, didn't sound like nothing," he said, smiling.
Kira leaned back with a grin. "Welcome to Texas, Ava. Where the weather's hot and the drama's hotter."
Ava groaned. "Remind me why I'm friends with you again?"
"Because," Kira said, winking, "I'm the only one who still remembers your terrible Korean accent."
When they left the café, the sun had already softened into gold. Ethan walked them halfway home, casually mentioning his birthday party like it was nothing.
"It's tomorrow night," he said, hands in his pockets. "Nothing big—just people, music, maybe a bonfire."
"A bonfire?" Kira perked up. "Ooo, very American movie of you."
"You should both come," Ethan said, glancing at Ava. "You know, if you're not busy."
Ava tried not to smile too obviously. "We'll see."
"We'll see means yes," Kira said instantly.
Ethan grinned. "Then I'll see you girls there."
⸻
When they got home, Yuri was in the kitchen, her hair tied up and an apron on like she was about to declare war on dinner.
"Finally," she said. "You two disappeared like thieves."
"Café," Ava said. "Needed sugar to survive the heat."
Yuri smiled, switching to Korean without missing a beat. "덥지? (Deopji?) Hot day, huh?"
"Eommaaa, you and your random Korean drops," Ava whined, collapsing on a stool.
"Hey," Yuri said proudly. "My parents were Korean, remember? I can't lose it now."
"She's flexing," Kira teased. "Her accent is better than mine sometimes."
"That's because Miyeong and I used to compete in school," Yuri said with a playful smirk. "I always won."
"Pfft," Kira laughed. "You wish."
"Anyway," Yuri said, going back to her mom voice, "no going out at night, okay? Texas feels safe until it isn't."
"Mom, seriously," Ava said. "We're not kids anymore."
"And yet," Yuri said, raising an eyebrow, "you still can't remember to text me when you go out."
"Touché," Ava muttered.
Kira giggled. "Auntie Yuri, we'll be fine. Promise. Hwaiting!"
"Oh, don't start that," Yuri said, laughing. "You girls and your K-drama slang."
"We'll be careful," Ava said. Then under her breath, "If we even go anywhere…"
"Go where?" Yuri asked quickly.
"Nowhere!" Ava and Kira said in sync, then immediately burst out laughing.
"So suspicious," Yuri said, shaking her head. "I raised detectives, not liars."
⸻
The next night.
Ethan's backyard glowed with fairy lights and the smell of barbecue. Music floated through the air, mixing with laughter and the crackle of the bonfire.
"Okay, this is actually kinda cute," Kira said, eyes sparkling. "Ten points for aesthetic. Daebak!"
"Don't start," Ava said, grinning. "You'll make everyone think you're teaching a class."
"They should thank me for the free lesson," Kira replied proudly.
Ethan spotted them and walked over, smiling. "You came."
"We said maybe," Ava said, pretending to sound chill.
"Which means yes," Kira added, bumping her shoulder.
He laughed. "Then I'm glad. Come on, there's food inside."
⸻
Hours passed in a blur of laughter, games, and music. Ava hadn't felt this light in forever.
Later that night, she and Ethan wandered toward the fire, the glow painting his face in warm amber.
"You seem… different," he said softly. "Like you're finally breathing again."
Ava smiled faintly. "Maybe Texas air's just doing its thing."
"Or maybe it's the company."
She turned to look at him. The world felt smaller. Softer. His eyes met hers, and for a second, everything else fell away.
He leaned closer and Ava didn't move.
"Yahhh!"
Both of them jumped as Kira's voice rang out behind them. She was holding two sodas, eyes wide. "Did I just walk in on a K-drama kiss scene?"
"Kira!" Ava groaned, covering her face.
Ethan laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I'll have to work on my timing."
"You'll need more than timing, oppa," Kira teased, grinning.
"What does that mean?" Ethan asked, confused but smiling.
"Nothing," Ava said quickly. "Ignore her, she's broken."
"I'm bilingual, not broken," Kira shot back. "Also, Auntie Yuri texted. Curfew alert."
"Oh, come on," Ava groaned. "We're not twelve!"
"Tell that to your mom," Kira said. "She literally sent me the 😤 emoji."
"Of course she did," Ava muttered. "She probably texted Miyeong too."
"She did," Kira confirmed. "And Miyeong said, bring my daughter home before the coyotes do."
Ethan grinned. "Want me to walk you guys out?"
"You better," Kira said. "Or Auntie Yuri's mom-sense will detect your crimes."
As they walked past the gate, Ava glanced back once more… and for a brief second, past the flickering firelight, she saw a shadow. Still. Watching.