Fallingwater

Leighton had been looking forward to the summer break, counting down the days until she could escape all the stress in Essex and clear her mind. She loved the Hamptons and just wanted to let loose. The winding roads were adorned with vibrant hydrangeas and charming white picket fences, leading her to her family's beach house. She wanted to spend her days relaxing on the beach with a good book (or mostly just solving competitive maths problems) and a cold drink in hand. Everywhere she turned, the warmth of the sun enveloped her, making her feel alive and carefree.

Bella: "Oh my god, Leighton! This place is incredible! You've been coming here every summer?" Bella's jaw dropped in amazement.

Leighton: "Yeah, my family has had this beach house for years now. It's our little escape from the city."

Bella: "I can't believe you've been holding out on me all this time. I've never seen anything like this! Can I move in?"

Leighton laughed.

Bella: "I'm just kidding. But seriously, this place is amazing. You must have had some wild summers here."

Leighton smiled: "Oh, you have no idea." She couldn't help but think about last summer, when she was still in the closet and secretly hooking up with a girl in the Hamptons. At the time, she had been scared of coming out and what it might mean for her family and her image. Now that she was out, she thought things would be better. But they really didn’t feel any better at all, she had just ended a failed relationship and was feeling overwhelmed with regret. Was it worth all the heartache and pain that came with it?

Her recent breakup with Alicia had left her feeling unsure about the upcoming months, so she just wanted to enjoy the summer and not think ahead of what the next year at college would bring. Leighton knew she had rushed back into the relationship with Alicia after their previous breakup, hoping to rekindle their love. But after just two months, she realized that they had moved too quickly and that her feelings for Alicia had changed. It was a tough decision to make, but she knew it was for the best.

Leighton had invited Whitney and Bella to stay with her for a couple of weeks. It was a hot Thursday afternoon when the girls arrived at the Hamptons. As they pulled up to the house, Leighton could see her dad standing on the porch with a big smile on his face.

"Welcome girls! I'm so glad you could make it," he said as he hugged each of them in turn.

Henry led them inside the house. The house was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light.

Henry: "Girls, I have some exciting news. We're having a BBQ this weekend, and Whitney's mother will be joining us!"

Whitney: "Oh my god, really? She hadn’t told me!"

Leighton's dad grinned. “Your mother and your brother are coming as well, Leighton. We'll make sure it's a weekend to remember! I’m really excited to have everyone here."

Leighton smiled as she listened to her dad's excitement. She had always loved how he embraced every moment of summer with enthusiasm and joy.

As the girls settled into their respective rooms, Leighton decided to head out towards the beach, wanting to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin. As she walked along the sandy shore, her thoughts began to wander towards her recent breakup with Alicia again. She wondered if she had made the right decision, even though she knew that it was better to end things now rather than drag it out. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the sound of the waves and the sea breeze soothe her mind. It was hard not to second guess herself.

As the sun started to set, Leighton decided to head back to the beach house. Bella texted her, insisting that they all go to the nearby bar. Initially she hesitated, but eventually agreed to go. She looked at the clock and saw that she didn't have time to go back to the house to change, so she decided to go directly to the bar.

As she started walking, Leighton couldn't help but glance over her shoulder at a nearby volleyball game. Her eyes fixated on a tall, blonde, athletic-looking girl with a mischievous grin.

Leighton's heart started racing as she walked closer to the volleyball game, trying to get a better look at the girl she was pretty sure was… Tatum. Her mind was racing with questions. “What was Tatum doing here in the Hamptons?”

As she got closer, Leighton's suspicions were confirmed. It was Tatum, and she was here with a group of friends, all of them laughing and enjoying the game. Leighton's heart sank a little. She had been so focused on Alicia and their relationship that she had forgotten about Tatum and the connection they had shared.

Leighton watched as Tatum spiked the ball over the net with ease, her muscles rippling under the sun. She felt a strange feeling of nostalgia and guilt. She had broken up with Tatum to get back with Alicia, and now she regretted it. She wanted to apologize for the abrupt breakup, but she felt guilty and ashamed. What was Tatum doing here? Leighton remembered their first conversation when she joked about Tatum being from Long Island, and here they were, in the same place. Leighton quickly looked away and walked towards the bar, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters.

At the bar, Leighton ordered a drink and sat down with Whitney and Bella. She tried to focus on the conversation with her friends as they discussed their summer plans. Whitney talked about her internship in the city, and Bella shared her excitement about her family trip to Hawaii. But Leighton's mind kept drifting back to Tatum, and she found herself distracted.

Whitney noticed Leighton's distant expression and asked, "Are you okay? You seem a little out of it."

Leighton tried to avoid the topic and the three of them continued chatting, enjoying their time together. But Leighton couldn't shake the feeling that seeing Tatum again had brought up some unresolved feelings. She knew she needed to figure things out before they consumed her thoughts for the rest of the summer.

As the bar was about to close, Leighton went outside for some fresh air as Whitney and Bella were chatting to some new people they just met.

The outside area of the bar was still buzzing. Leighton felt a bit lightheaded from the alcohol so she leaned against the brick wall and took a deep breath taking in the warm air.

"Hey, Leighton. It's been a while," A familiar voice sent shivers down her spine.

She turned around to see Tatum standing there, a small smile on her face. Leighton couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by her striking presence. Tatum had always been athletic and confident, and tonight was no exception. Her toned arms and blonde hair were complemented by her mischievous grin, which Leighton found both alluring and unsettling.

Leighton's heart raced as she looked into Tatum's eyes. She felt a mixture of emotions - guilt, regret, and longing.

"Yeah, it has," Leighton replied, trying to keep her composure. She couldn't believe that she was standing right in front of her. Maybe she’s had a bit too much to drink.

She felt like she needed to say something, anything. But before she could, Whitney and Bella came out of the bar, effectively ending the moment.

Tatum looked at her for a moment before speaking again.

"Well, hope you girls have fun. See you," Tatum said quickly before excusing herself, walking back to a group of people. Leighton recognized some of them from the volleyball game earlier.

Leighton watched as Tatum walked away, feeling a sudden pang of regret. She had liked Tatum a lot, and had only ended things because she thought she had stronger feelings for Alicia. But now, seeing Tatum again, Leighton couldn't help but question her decision.

She couldn't believe how much it stung when she saw Tatum put an arm around the waist of a beautiful brunette.

Whitney and Bella noticed the change in Leighton's demeanor and asked if everything was okay. Leighton didn't want to burden them with her thoughts, so she just smiled and assured them that she was fine.

As they walked back to the beach house, Leighton couldn't stop thinking about Tatum. She wanted to say something to her, to apologize for what happened in the past, but she didn't know what to say. She was lost in her thoughts, before Whitney and Bella interrupted her.

"Hey, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost," Whitney said, putting a hand on Leighton's shoulder.

Leighton shook her head, trying to snap out of her thoughts. "Nothing. Let's just hurry and get back to the house," she said, continuing to walk.

Whitney and Bella followed her, and they walked in silence for a few minutes before Bella spoke up.

"So, what's the deal with you and Tatum? Did you know she was in the Hamptons as well?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow.

Leighton's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Tatum's name.

“Can we please talk about this another time? I am drunk and really want to go to be bed” Leighton said.

Once they arrived at the house, Leighton quickly said goodnight to her friends and went to her room. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake off the feeling of regret and longing that had taken hold of her. She wondered if she would see her again, and if they could ever make amends for what happened in the past. But Tatum did say hi to her. So maybe she didn’t hate her for the way she left their relationship.

As she drifted off to sleep, Leighton made a silent promise to herself. She would face her past mistakes head-on and try to make amends where she could.