Azalea Rose Willow loves three things above everything else:
summer, the only season that mattered in her mind.
singing, alongside the comforting embrace of her guitar.
but above all, the easy camaraderie with the boy who lives next door to her, and...
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The sun beat down on the pristine sand of the secret beach, transforming it into a shimmering expanse of gold. Azalea, sprawled out on a towel with her friends, kicked her feet in the air, the warm breeze carrying her laughter away. Yesterday had been the last day of classes.
It was officially summer.
"Oh how I've missed this!"
"We were here last week, Trishia," Azalea chuckled, teasing her friend. "And yesterday."
Trishia, undeterred, rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, but today there are no responsibilities, no school!" she declared, throwing her arms wide.
"You still have your siblings to take care of." Lukka pointed out.
Trishia scoffed. "Oh, please. My children will be fine. Blake is practically a man himself now, ten years old and growing faster than a weed. He can handle himself for a few hours."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Lukka countered with a smirk. "Your mother might have a different opinion, after Blake broke your front door by kicking it open last week, just because he felt like it."
Trishia's face contorted in a mock grimace. "She has no say. She just married that ugly man without ever consulting with us! She can get a new babysitter if she needs."
"He is one of the wealthiest men in District Four, though," Lukka offered, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Richer than Victors, even."
"Well it seems money can't buy happiness, or hair!" Trishia huffed, gesturing dramatically at the man's bald head in the distance. "He could use some of that wealth to not look like a walking egg."
"Stop it with bullying people with no hair. You already upset my dad." Lukka laughed.
"I already said I was sorry for calling him a 'Bronzed Baldy'." Trishia sighed.
"But you aren't."
"Well duh, it's the truth."
"Karma is going to hit you when you're older and you'll end up losing all your hair." Lukka teased her.
"Yea but I have a good head shape if I ever go bald."
"No you wouldn't."
"I'd be better than yours. Remember your buzz cut era?"
Lukka covered his face with his hands, "It's a time in my life I would like to forget."
"Stop arguing about bald heads. I want to enjoy this summer and wouldn't like it to start talking about bald heads," Azalea laughed, her voice gaining a wistful edge. "Plus, It's our last summer before we graduate!"
"Oh my, it just hit me." Trishia's eyes widened in realisation. "It's our last summer before adulthood." she exclaimed, a touch of panic creeping into her voice.
"Wasn't every teacher mentioning it throughout last week enough?" Lukka teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
Trishia threw him a mock glare. "You know Ive never listened to what any of them have ever said," she defended with a smirk.
