505, sapnap!

SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
i

n real life

BREE WAS SOUND asleep, her body cocooned in blankets as she snuggled into the soft pillows. The room was silent, except for the soft hum of the air conditioning unit and the faint rustle of palm trees outside her window. She was lost in a peaceful dreamland, her mind free of worries and stress.

But suddenly, a voice cut through the stillness, pulling her back to reality.

"Bree," the voice whispered, gentle but urgent. "Bree, wake up."

It took her a moment to register that the voice belonged to Nick. He was standing by her bed, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight streaming in through the window.

"What's going on?" she asked groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Come on," he said, his voice low and insistent. "We're going to the beach."

Bree blinked, still half-asleep, but the idea of going to the beach in the middle of the night sent a jolt of excitement through her. She sat up in bed, the covers falling away from her shoulders.

Nick was already dressed, his hair tousled and his eyes bright with anticipation. Bree could feel her heart racing in her chest, and she knew that this was going to be a moment that she would never forget.

They drove to the beach in silence, the only sound coming from the radio playing softly in the background. The streets were empty, the buildings dark and silent. It was as if they were the only two people in the world.

As they stepped out of the car and onto the sand, Bree could feel the cool night air against her skin, the sand soft and warm beneath her feet. She could see the outline of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance, the sound of the water a soothing rhythm in her ears.

Nick spread out a blanket on the sand, and they sat down together, their legs stretched out in front of them. They talked about everything and nothing, their conversation ebbing and flowing like the tide.

Bree could feel Nick's warmth next to her, his arm brushing against hers. She could smell the salt in the air, feel the breeze ruffling her hair. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, to freeze time and stay here on the beach with Nick.

But she knew that this couldn't last. Tomorrow, she would be on a plane back to New York, leaving Nick and this idyllic night behind. The thought made her chest ache with longing, with a feeling of something precious slipping through her fingers.

For now, though, she pushed that thought aside, focusing on the present. She leaned her head on Nick's shoulder, feeling the solid strength of him next to her. In this moment, with the sound of the ocean in her ears and the feel of Nick's warmth, she felt content.

"It's so peaceful here," Bree murmured, her eyes tracing the line of the horizon.

Nick hummed in agreement. "Yeah, it's my favorite place to be at night. It's like the world slows down and everything gets quieter."

Bree snuggled closer to him, her head still on his shoulder. "I'm going to miss this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know," Nick replied softly. "I'm going to miss you too."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound the lapping of the waves against the shore. Bree felt a sense of calm wash over her, a feeling of peace and contentment that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

But as the night wore on, she could feel the melancholy seeping back in. She didn't want to leave Nick, didn't want to say goodbye to this magical night.

"I wish we could stay here forever," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Nick turned to her, his hand reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "Me too," he said softly. "But we'll always have tonight. And who knows? Maybe someday we'll be back here again, under the stars and the moon."

Bree smiled, her heart swelling with love for this man who understood her so well. "I'd like that," she said.

Nick stood up suddenly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, Bree," he said, reaching out his hand. "Let's go for a swim."

Bree's eyes widened with surprise. "Now?" she asked, looking down at her clothes.

Nick grinned at her. "Why not?" he said, tugging on her hand. "Live a little."

With a laugh, Bree let herself be pulled up and towards the water. The waves were cool and refreshing against her skin, and she felt a sense of freedom and joy as she splashed around with Nick.

Her braids swirled around her face like strands of seaweed, and she felt wild and alive as she let herself be carried by the current. Nick's laughter echoed around her, and she knew that she would never forget this moment.

Bree couldn't stop giggling as she and Nick waded in the water, their clothes soaked and clinging to their skin. Her heart was racing with excitement and something else - something deeper and more complex that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

As Bree brushed the wet hair away from Nick's face, her fingers grazing against his cheek, she felt the world slow down around her. His eyes were locked on hers, and for a moment, she forgot everything else - the distance, the impending goodbye, the reasons why they couldn't be more than friends.

Then suddenly, Nick leaned in, and his lips were on hers, soft and gentle, like the fluttering of butterfly wings. Bree's mind went blank. She felt a surge of warmth and tenderness wash over her, as if all her worries had melted away. The kiss was slow and sweet, filled with a gentle passion that Bree had never experienced before. His hand came up to cup her cheek, and she couldn't help but lean into his touch, savoring the feel of his calloused fingers against her skin.

But all too soon, Bree pulled away, her heart racing with conflicting emotions. She knew she had to stop this before it went any further, before they both got hurt. She could see the hurt and confusion in Nick's eyes, and it broke her heart.

"I can't do this," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to hurt you."

Nick was silent for a moment, his eyes searching hers. "What do you mean?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I mean...I can't let this go any further," Bree said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Nick. I'm going back to New York, and we'll be miles apart. It's not fair to either of us."

Nick looked as if he was about to say something, but then he just nodded, a look of resignation on his face. "Okay," he said softly, before turning and walking away, leaving Bree alone in the water with tears streaming down her face.

She stood there for what felt like an eternity, the waves crashing around her as she tried to process everything that had just happened. She knew that her feelings for Nick were real, that she cared for him deeply, but she also knew that the timing wasn't right.

As she made her way back to the shore, Bree couldn't shake the feeling of regret and sadness that settled in her chest. She knew that she had made the right decision, but that didn't make it any easier.

Clay's words echoed in her mind - telling her to not let those feelings go to waste. But what could she do? The distance between them was too great, the future too uncertain.

All she could do was savor the memory of that fleeting kiss, and the bittersweet knowledge that she would always love Nick, even if they could never be more than friends in her mind.