Summer’s getting nearer again.

Another break. Just like last year.

And I’ll have to come up with some lame excuse, because I’m too shy to wear a bikini…

Or not.

And—

“Velvet!”

Oh. Shit. I got lost in my head again

“Hmm?” I tried to play it cool, like I always do.

“You’re spacing out again. Did you even hear what I said?”

This time she caught me.

“Um…” I rarely used fillers. “Something about… what was it again?”

Smack.

“Ow—? That hurt.”

She just stared at me questioningly.

I wasn’t lying. It really did hurt.

“You really need to focus a bit more,” Emily began her usual motherly lecture.

“Hmm.” I hummed, my eyes drifting back to the idiot with the terrible hair who kept staring at me from across the café. Even today, when I’d dressed decently.

“You’ve got a lot of them,” Emily said with a smile, sipping her boba.

She noticed.

“With all those beautiful Chinese features you have, why wouldn’t they stare?” she teased. “You’re basically a walking fantasy.”

I rolled my eyes. She chuckled.

“You know it’s normal. You should’ve gotten used to it by now.”

She wasn’t wrong. I knew I was pretty.

But that didn’t stop the discomfort that crawled up my spine whenever I noticed the way some of them looked at me — like I was something to consume.

Too bad I couldn't just up and leave, this café was good.

Their coffee, milkshakes, boba — everything.

As much as I hated admitting it whenever Emily praised them.

••••

We finished our drinks and left. Good thing we did, or I might’ve walked over to that idiot and given him a piece of my mind.

As we walked quietly down a Brooklyn street, Emily scrolled through her phone, smiling at something that clearly amused her. I wanted to know what it was.

“Velvet,” she called, still looking at her screen.

“Yeah?”

“Summer’s coming up.”

There it was.

The topic I always avoided.

I stayed silent. She continued.

“Don’t travel this year… please.”

She stopped walking and looked at me.

“I’d love for us to actually enjoy summer with you here. Go to the beach, get drunk… Amber’s staying too, you know.”

I sighed internally.

“Amber is always available for summer.”

She laughed.

“Yeah, but still.” She tilted her head. “You’ll stay this year, right?”

I didn’t answer.

“We’ll go to the beach. Parties. We can even get boyfriends,” she grinned.

“Or worse — one-night stands.”

She twirled around a lamp post and walked ahead, leaving me to process what she’d just said.

Go to the beach.

Get a boyfriend.

A one-night stand—

“A one-night WHAT?!”

There was absolutely no way I was losing my virginity in a one-night stand.

I ran after her. She turned, saw my face, and burst out laughing before running further.

I hated that laugh. It meant she’d gotten exactly the reaction she wanted.

Emily is my crazy Italian-Australian best friend.

No, she doesn’t have a British accent.

Green eyes. Wavy blonde hair. Looks like an angel.

Not very tall — definitely not as tall as me.

We met three years ago when I moved to New York after my dad died.

College orientation. My English was a mess, and she volunteered to be my “navigator.”

She stuck to me like a koala ever since.

So did the insults from her annoying brother, who loved reminding me that I was Chinese and my English wasn’t “perfect.”

And tales from Emily says he'll be coming back from his work trip , after ten months. I'll get to see that perfectly annoying face of his .

>> >> >> >> >>

By the time I got home, Emily’s summer suggestions still buzzed in my head.

She was sweet to everyone else.

But I knew her well enough to know she meant every word.

Click.

My thoughts broke when Mom opened my door.

“Velvet?” she called softly.

“I’m here.” I sat up and turned on the light.

“Qīn'ài de, wǒ yǐwéi nǐ shuìzhe le.”

(My love, I thought you were asleep )

“Méiyǒu. Gōngzuò zěnmeyàng?”

(No. How was work)

“It was good. Like every other day. Tell me about yours.”

I walked to the kitchen and plated her food while she sat at the table.

“Nothing much. School… and Emily.” I paused.

“She thinks I should stay for summer.”

I set her plate down and sat beside her.

“And what do you think?” she asked, smiling after a bite. “This is tasty.”

“I don’t know. You know… bikinis—”

Her look made me stop.

“You’re not afraid of the bikini itself,” she said gently.

“There are other types. Ones with skirts or wraps.”

She was right.

“You got me.” I sighed. “The truth is…”

She waited.

“Ever since Dad died… we’ve grown distant. Summer is the only time we really spend together. I thought—”

She cut me off, speaking in Chinese.

“Zhèngcháng de. Wǒmen bù huì yǒngyuǎn zài yīqǐ. Nǐ yǐjīng zhǎng dà le. Nǐ yīnggāi duō chūqù wán, gēn péngyou zài yīqǐ. Wǒ juéde nǐ yīnggāi cóng jīnnián xiàtiān kāishǐ.”

(Velvet, we won't always be together. You've grown up.you should go out more, have fun with friends . I think you should start this summer .)

I stared at her.

“So… I’ve been the only one trying to keep this bonding thing alive?”

“No—”

I cut her off this time, smiling.

“You’re right. I’ve grown up.”

I stood and walked upstairs to my room,

slamming the door.

Fuck

What was so wrong about wanting to hold onto what little family we had left?

“you've grown up”

Those three words echoed in my head long after the house went quiet.

Last night was a mess.

Mom got me angry, and sleep refused to come.

I stayed awake thinking about summer until four in the morning.

Now I was late.

I rushed into the bathroom and came out twenty minutes later, barely having time for skincare before digging through my closet. In the end, I grabbed a white tank top and black leather leggings.

I stared at my reflection.

"Ugh."

My eyes dropped to my chest.

Barely noticeable.

Other than that-and my short hair-I was what old Chinese novels would call

A beauty worthy of causing cities downfall

Monolid brown eyes. Calm. Observant.

A symmetrical face. Soft red lips.

A straight nose.

Pretty enough to be noticed.

Not bold enough to be left alone.

I threw on a black leather jacket, grabbed my bag, and rushed out.

Breakfast didn't cross my mind.

Mom didn't call after me either.

That was new.

With a frustrated sigh, I stepped onto the main road and tried to hail a taxi.

Ten minutes passed.

No taxi.

My irritation climbed steadily.

So did the stares.

Men. Women.

Everyone looked.

A group of boys finally approached.

"Hi."

I ignored them, staring at my phone like five idiots weren't standing in front of me.

One stepped closer. Tall. Blue-eyed.

Intimidation tactic?

Cute

They didn't know I spent sixteen years in China with a grandfather who believed girls should know how to fight.

Five seconds passed.

They didn't move.

Persistent

I looked up slowly and smiled.

Then, in Chinese, I said calmly

"Wǒ rènshi nǐ" ma?"

( Do I know you?)

Confusion.

Good.

Still smiling, I added,

"Nǐ yīnggāi zǒu, zài wǒ bù zài kèqì zhīqián."

(You should leave, before I stop being polite)

They froze like I'd spoken alien.

I almost laughed.

Just as my patience thinned to nothing, I heard my name.

"Vel?"

My body went still.

That voice.

Low. Calm. Familiar.

I turned.

And there he was.

Zephyr

Of course.

Today just had to get worse.

• • • • •



Zephyr pov

I wasn't in a hurry to be anywhere.

The car moved smoothly down the road, engine low, steady.

Then I saw her.

Even in a crowd, she was impossible to miss.

Short dark hair.

Pale skin.

All black clothes, like always.

And five boys standing too close around her.

A frown tugged at my face.

Wasn't she supposed to be in class?

So those are the type now.

I should've driven off.

There was no reason to stop.

No reason to care.

But that familiar irritation settled in my chest - the same one that always showed up when it came to her.

I slowed the car.

"vel" I called.

She froze for half a second before turning toward me.

And there it was.

Relief.

It flashed through her eyes so quickly most people would've missed it.

I didn't.

I stepped out of the car.

"What are you doing here this early?" I asked casually.

"Don't you have classes?"

My gaze shifted to the boys, flat and uninterested.

"Standing around talking to random men now?"

I didn't wait for an answer.

I grabbed her wrist lightly and pulled her along.

The boys didn't move.

They just stared.

Good. Let them.

We got into the car. I started the engine.

"You couldn't find anyone," I said lazily, "so you decided to advertise in public?"

She turned to me slowly, lips curling.

"And you've got nothing better to do than interrupt my good time?"

Goodtime?

I let out a quiet scoff.

"From what I saw, that looked more like a cry for help."

Her jaw tightened.

"Stop that," she snapped.

"You bitch."

Her accent thickened when she was angry.

It always had.

I almost smiled.

"Still hate me?" I asked, staring into the rearview mirror, my eyes fixed on her reflection.

"I never stopped," she said, clearly annoyed.

"Good," I muttered.

As I kept driving, my eyes drifted back to her for a second - just long enough to notice she still did that same thing she used to do. A small gesture: pinching the side of her hand whenever she was angry or frustrated. Tiny. Barely noticeable.

But I noticed. I always noticed.

I'd spent years watching her, waiting for the best opportunity to tease her.

We were already close to the school gate, maybe ten steps away. I stopped the car. She got out, muttering something in Chinese.

No doubt it was an insult.

When she turned to get her bag

I paused, letting my eyes flick over her. "You seem to have grown a little on the chest side."

She froze mid-step, then turned slowly and raised her middle finger at me.

I grinned and returned the gesture with absolute joy before driving off.

VELVET POV

Mr. Tillman’s voice droned on about coding patterns and simple program structures, his marker squeaking against the board in a rhythm that made my eyelids heavier by the second.

I had my phone propped up, recording the lecture like a responsible student.

Then I fell asleep.

Soft giggles pulled me back to consciousness. Millie’s giggles. And another voice — loud, dramatic, impossible to ignore.

Amber.

I opened my eyes slowly, their blurred faces sharpening into view. Amber was already mid-story, acting something out with wild hand gestures while Millie looked like she was physically fighting for her life not to laugh.

“And when he walked up to me acting all cool,” Amber whispered loudly, “I dumped the glass of water on his head and walked out with a hair flip.”

Millie choked.

Actually choked.

Her cheeks puffed out like a dying fish trying not to explode.

“I’d rather you scream than look like you’re having an allergic reaction,” I muttered, my voice dry.

Both of them snapped their attention to me.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” Millie said, grinning. “But Amber is too funny.”

“Hey, you,” Amber added, pointing at me. “You slept through class. While recording the lesson. That’s pro-level smartness.”

I rolled my eyes but still smiled as I packed my things.

We left the lecture hall and headed off campus to the open-air café near the lake. The one with the metal railing and the constant breeze. My favorite spot.

Millie and Amber rushed for the two table chairs. I didn’t bother competing — I walked straight to the bench near the railing and stretched out.

Perfect.

The waiter came.

“Double cheeseburger. Cola. Fries,” I said.

Amber ordered the same — minus the double.

Millie ordered… a Diet Coke and a salad.

Amber and I spoke at the exact same time.

“Salad?”

Millie stared at us like we were the problem.

“At least don’t give flies free entrance,” she said coolly to Amber, who's mouth hung open.

The waiter escaped before we could escalate.

The second he left, Amber leaned forward like a detective.

“So. Who’s the boy?”

I rolled my eyes.

But honestly? I wanted to know too.

I leaned my chin into my palm and stared at Millie.

“It’s no one,” she said. “Have you seen me hang out with a boy?.

“The messages,” Amber said.

“The calls,” I added.

“The random smiling at your phone,” Amber continued.

“The smiling even after the phone is off,” I finished.

Millie looked personally attacked.

“You two are insane.”

“Even if you don’t tell us now,” Amber said sweetly, “we’ll find out eventually.”

I wasn’t about to investigate Millie’s secret lover.

But Amber was right. We always found out eventually.

Millie suddenly turned to me.

“Forget me. Velvet… about yesterday. What’s your answer?”

My gut told me she was deflecting.

But I still paused. Studied her face. The hopeful look in her green eyes.

I sighed.

“You win,” I said. “I’m staying. For summer.”

Her face lit up like fireworks.

Amber blinked. “What bet? Who’s leaving? Don’t tell me someone’s relocating.

I didn’t bother explaining. Millie did.

Amber’s scream nearly got us kicked out of the café.

“OUR GIRL IS STAYING?!”

People stared.

“Sorry!” she whispered loudly. “Continue.”

Then she grinned at me.

“Our girl is finally ready to show that ass this summer.”

I smacked her arm.

“Who said anything about showing ass?”

My accent thickened automatically when I was annoyed.

“Come on,” Amber said. “Parties. Beach. Chaos. Fun. Bad decisions.”

“Sex,” she added casually.

I cursed in Chinese.

She blinked. “No idea what that means but I accept it.”

“There’s no going back now,” she continued dramatically. “I can’t wait to have my pants taken off.”

Millie laughed.

I laughed.

Amber laughed the loudest.

....

The food arrived.

No straw in my drink.

I stared at the waiter.

“Does the straw come with a special presentation?”

He stared back.

Then slowly walked away to get one.

For a second I thought we were about to fight.

I was ready.

He returned with the straw.

I took a long sip and immediately attacked my burger.

“Slow down,” Millie said. “You’re going to choke.”

“It’s 1:15,” I replied. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

They laughed while I demolished the meal.

When I finished, I leaned back against the

railing.

“Indigestion is real,” I muttered, pulling off my jacket so the breeze hit my skin.

Amber leaned forward again.

“So. Summer plans. Real ones.”

“I’m getting a tattoo,” she said proudly.

“And I’m getting Millie’s brother.”

Millie choked this time.

“A tattoo?” she asked slowly. “Isn’t that a bit—”

“Much?” Amber finished. “We're  adults. I’m 20. Millie’s 20. Velvet’s 19. We’ve  grown up.”

We've grown up.

The words hit me harder than they should have.

Mom said the same thing last night.

“You’re right,” I said quietly, leaning back and staring at the sky.

Amber kept talking about tattoos and bad decisions and Millie’s brother.

But my thoughts drifted.

Grown up .

Funny.

Because for some reason…

my mind went straight to him.

That annoying, insufferable—

Why am I even thinking about him now?

Millie and Amber kept circling the same argument like it was a sport.

Amber wanted Millie’s brother.

Millie wanted her to stop wanting  him.

And somehow, by the end of every back-and-forth, Amber looked even more convinced.

“So where are we getting the tattoo done?” I asked, mostly to change the subject.

“There’s this place,” Amber said immediately. “I used to go there alot”

Mille blinked. “You used to get tattoos?”

“No.” Amber scoffed. "I followed people who got tattoos."

“I don’t want my first tattoo looking messy. I hope the place is professional.”

“It’s dope professional,” Amber said, grinning like she already saw the future.

“Once I get this tattoo, I’m flaunting it right in front of your brother.”

Emily laughed.

Amber kept talking.

I stopped listening.

My gaze drifted past them, past the sidewalk, to the parking lot.

And there—

like the universe had a sense of humor—

he was standing there.

Zephyr

Just… there. Leaning slightly, scanning the lot like he owned the air. And next to him, someone else.

Dean

Talking. Existing. Breathing in the same space.

My jaw tightened before I could stop it.

“ugh,” I muttered under my breath"how do they know each other " I thought

It hadn't even clocked twenty four hours and I'm seeing him two times in a  fucking row.

How annoying.