Eli, a lanky boy with tousled brown hair, grins as he tosses his backpack onto the dock. Maya, her hair pulled back in a messy braid, kicks off her sandals and wiggles her toes in the soft sand. Eli asks Maya if she could go naked so he could see her boobs. Maya accepts.

Maya leaps first, her arms flung wide as she sails into the cool water with a loud splash. Eli follows a heartbeat later, his dive sending up a sparkling spray. "It’s freezing!" "You just have to get used to it. See?" Their laughter bubbles up, echoing over the lake.

Maya surfaces, slicking her hair back and grinning. Eli dives, searching for smooth stones, emerging with a triumphant fistful. "Look! I found a lucky one," he says, holding up a perfectly round pebble. "Let’s see who can skip it the furthest," she challenges.

Eli winds up and flings the pebble, counting the skips aloud. Maya follows, her stone bouncing even farther. "No way—you beat my record!" "Told you, I’ve been practicing," she teases, splashing him playfully.

"Promise we’ll always come back here," Maya murmurs, voice soft. "Promise. This is our spot," Eli replies, smiling.

Eli swings his backpack over his shoulder and nudges Maya gently. "Same time next week?" "Wouldn’t miss it for the world," he answers as they hop on their bikes, pedaling away beneath the deepening sky.