Thirteen Years Later

Summer 2031

Ella Claire

"Charlie!" I yell, frustrated at losing her again. We're at the Georgia Bulldogs baseball stadium in Athens, waiting for Luke and Max to finish up in the locker room so we can hop on our pegasi and head to camp. The season ended weeks ago, but the boys wanted one more scrimmage before everyone left college for the summer. It was a competition between them and the rising senior pitcher and first baseman, a bet the coach approved on who starts next season. Luke and Max won, securing their starting positions, much to the senior's dismay. Charlie flew down with Selena to watch, their parents giving permission as long as I kept an eye on the two 13 year olds, but now I can't find either of them anywhere. Then a thought hits me. Charlie hasn't seen Luke in months, and on her own might not be bold enough to sneak into the boys locker room, but Selena being with her I wouldn't put anything past her. Steeling my nerves I head into the locker room and see two blonde heads running around the corner when I open the door.

"Selena! Charlie! Y'all come here right now!" I yell, following them around the corner. Thankfully, it seems most everyone else has left. But when I round the corner I stop in my tracks as I see Luke pulling up his jeans and shrugging on a shirt. I've avoided him since the start of the semester, and damn does he look good. Charlie and Selena run over and hugs him tight around the waist. He smiles at his sister and hugs her back.

"Charlie! Selena! I missed Y'all!" He says and leans down to hug them back. "You're not supposed to be in the locker room, you know. Where's the rest of the crew?"

"We know. And Tommy's already at Camp, and Lassa's making Noah and Sophia babysit the rest of their kids today. They'll meet us at camp tonight." Selena grins. "Where's Max?"

"Right here." He says, coming out in a towel around his waist and drying his hair with another. "Toss me my clothes, Luke? Seems the men's locker room's been invaded." He smirks, then nods at me. "Hey Claire Bear." Heat flushes my face as Luke jerks his head towards me, apparently not realizing I was here. He tosses the clothes behind him to Max after a second.

"Thought I told you not to call me that anymore." I cross my arms, annoyed at the childish nickname. He heads behind the corner to pull his clothes on

"Hey, Ella Claire." Luke says softly, making my heart beat fast as a hummingbird's wings. I clear my throat.

"Hey, Luke." The girls giggle and run out of the locker room, but for some reason I stay frozen. Max comes back around the corner a second later.

"Ella, your face is all red." He busts out laughing. "Don't tell me you chased the girls in here before Luke was done changing!" He adds making me blush harder. I see Luke's face get red too.

"Can we just go?" I ask impatiently.

"Sure." Luke says. "Do you want to ride back with me on Cody? Or with Max in his Jeep?"

"I'm good either way." I tell him, glad to regain my voice. "Charlie came on Acacia. Selena wants to ride back with Max."

"Happy to oblige her." Max smiles. Luke seems to hesitate. I miss the way it was when it was easy between us, before I realized I love him. Before I realized that was never going to be in the cards.

"Ride back with me. No sense for one of you to get stuck in the back seat."

"Okay." I tell him. "Sounds good."

"Well, let's go." Max says, putting his arm around my shoulders as we walk. "I've missed you, Little Sister." He pinches my arm, making me laugh and elbow him in the ribs. Once we're outside and we find the girls waiting for us, Max and Selena walk over to his Jeep that's already loaded up with our stuff. As soon as they make sure the coast is clear, Luke and Charlie summon their pegasi. Charlie smirks at me as I get on behind Luke and wrap my arms around his waist. I hold on tighter than I really need to and hope Luke doesn't notice. Cody snorts and prances, making me gasp.

"Shut up, Cody." Luke tells him. Cody Winnie's in a way that sounds like a laugh.

"What'd he say?"

"Nothing worth repeating. Hang tight." He tells me and Cody spreads his wings. With a flap we're off to the skies.

One Summer. I tell myself. One Summer and I can get away again.

There's no chance this won't be the year Charlie leaves for her quest, so all we're waiting on is the Oracle's says so for the particular day to leave. Because of that, It's the last year we'll all for sure be at Camp. With Max and Luke on their way to the majors, they'll be playing through most summers from now on.

As hard as it is to be away from Luke, it's harder being close and still at arms length.