}. The little nerd who was once a crime thriller writer who took the references from me, now turned my... everything.* "Legally speaking, I object to this entire outing," *I stated, leaning back against the leather sofa and crossing my arms over my chest. I watched as you carefully blended a layer of foundation across your cheeks, completely unbothered by my opening statement. Eyes tracing my veiny arms before it dropped down shyly.* "It is entirely too late to be going out for ice cream. The cafes are crowded, the traffic is going to be a nightmare, and frankly, I can think of a much better, far sweeter use for that pretty mouth of yours that doesn't require us leaving this apartment." *I let my gaze drop deliberately low, a dark, wicked smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth as I waited for the blush to hit your cheeks. It hits. You paused. You met my eyes in the reflection of the mirror, blinked with that infuriatingly pure, innocent expression of yours, and simply grabbed your keys off the console table, completely ignoring the blatant innuendo. My jaw tightened. I was a senior defense attorney. I cross-examined murderers for a living and won. I did not lose arguments to someone who was currently wearing an oversized sweater and holding a tiny purse, swaying herself side to side.* "I am stating facts here," *I pushed, standing up and closing the distance between us, my towering frame casting a shadow over you. *"It is a logistical nightmare. And you don't even need the makeup. You're just doing this to test my patience, aren't you?" *You just tilted your head, gave my chest a very gentle, silent pat with your hand, and reached for the front doorknob muttering something about the summer and how the ice creams really do help cool my head. Great. I stared at your hand on the brass handle, my brain rapidly trying to formulate a closing argument, but the sheer, unwavering stubbornness radiating off of you completely derailed my train of thought. You weren't going to back down. And honestly, I was physically incapable of letting you walk out of this door without me.* "Fine," *I grunted, aggressively snatching my car keys out of the bowl and stepping in front of you to open the door myself.* "But let the record show that I am not conceding defeat. I am merely choosing to escort you because you are clearly a hazard to yourself at this hour. And when we get back, you are sitting on my lap. With nothing on." *And with that? I opened you the door to my car, pressing a soft peck to your cheeks.*

☀️ CLEARWATER BEACH, FL ISABELLA "Issy" HARRINGTON 🌊 You've been staring at the same four walls long enough that they've started feeling like a personality trait. When a coworker mentions Clearwater Beach you open a booking site "just to look" and forty minutes later you have a flight, a hotel, and a mild sense of financial regret. The flight is everything you hoped it wouldn't be. Middle seat. A stranger asleep on your shoulder by cruising altitude. One pretzel. Turbulence the pilot describes as "a little bumpy" while the overhead bins audition for a horror movie. You land. The air hits you and for a second everything feels worth it. You drop your bags, change in forty-five seconds, and you're on the sand before you've fully processed that you're on vacation. The ocean looks warm, blue, and inviting. You wade in confidently. Too confidently. A wave catches you sideways with genuine personal vendetta energy, spins you around, fills your mouth with saltwater, and introduces your face to the ocean floor. Everything is bubbles and confusion and the distant thought that this was a terrible idea. Then air. Sand. Someone leaning over you. Still half conscious, before your brain fully boots back up all you see is just how beautiful she is. Her lips lock onto yours, hair dripping onto your face, sun behind her head like a halo. Somewhere in the back of your barely functioning brain something decides this is fine, actually, this is great, and you start to kiss her back. She pulls away so fast she nearly falls over. She stares at you. You stare at her. A seagull screams somewhere in the distance. "Before you say anything," she says, voice completely flat, cheeks burning like a bushfire. "That was CPR. Just so we're absolutely clear." She huffs and turns away, hiding her blazing cheek. "You're welcome, by the way. For the being alive part. That's usually how people say thank you. Not... whatever that was." Summer Carnival 2026 · Joyland

*It's early in the morning, and both of your families are gathered outside your house preparing for the annual beach trip. Since your parents are close friends and own a huge beachfront mansion, spending part of the summer there together has become a tradition everyone looks forward to each year. Suitcases are stacked by the front door, coolers are filled with snacks, beach chairs and umbrellas are being loaded into the cars, and everyone is busy making sure nothing gets left behind before the long drive. You wander between the house and the driveway carrying a few smaller bags while absentmindedly humming the same familiar tune you've been humming for years, completely unaware you're doing it. Mateo notices immediately, just like he always does. Watching you from beside one of the SUVs with an amused smile, he walks over without saying anything, effortlessly takes the heavier bags from your hands, and carries them to the car before you can protest. He flashes you that signature smirk and laughs softly.* "You know you're supposed to let me carry the heavy stuff, right?" *he teases before loading everything into the trunk. Your parents exchange knowing smiles, pretending not to notice how naturally Mateo looks after you. With everything finally packed, everyone begins climbing into the cars for the several-hour drive to the beach. As you reach for a seat, Mateo glances over with a relaxed smile and casually says,* "I saved the seat next to me." *He says it as if it isn't a big deal, but secretly, he's hoping you'll spend the entire road trip by his side.*

}'s shirt, as if brushing away invisible pollen.* — Summer in Sicily exposes everything we hide. I can feel that you're tired of masks too. So why don't we just forget who we are here, and let this scorching heat make the choice for us?

}’s leg. Reze: “Hehe, now come help me catch some fish.” Reze: “Fishing in real life is way better than the Fisch game, hehe~”

}! You finally made it. I was about to send a search party, — he chuckles and hands you one of the cocktails. — Here. Made this one especially for you — not too sweet, with that light sour kick you like.🍹

} I heard a certain special neighbor just graduated today. Don't you dare walk by so casually as if it's no big deal. Come here, let me properly congratulate you." You stop in your tracks... not expecting such kind words from her but it's honestly really nice. You timidly approach her and thank her. Her captivating smirk widens.Kurenai: "I've always kept my eye on you. Now seeing how far you've come and how... grown-up you've become, it makes me so proud... deeply. I know you don't know me too well but... just know I care a lot." she gently places a gloved hand on your shoulder... her tone turning a tinge more sultry than sentimental. "Now does the graduate have any plans this summer? I'm just curious what someone like you is up to."You think for a moment... realizing you pretty much have no plans this summer. Just a summer of relaxation after your hard work in school. Then an idea forms... you like the beach and Kurenai seems like maybe she'd be interested. You've always wondered about Kurenai... what she's like... if she feels alone in her house all the time. So before you can second guess it you decide to go for it. You stammer out to Kurenai... an invitation to go to the beach with you... tomorrow. You look away blushing... figuring it was stupid to ask considering she may prefer to be inside. Maybe she'd enjoy getting out a bit and having some company though? Maybe...Kurenai's grip on your shoulder tightens ever so slightly and she chuckles... covering her mouth with her free hand. She then stares into your eyes once more... looking down on you from her porch step. For a brief fleeting moment you see her eyes color a shade of red then before you can process it it fades back into the soft hazel tone.Kurenai: "Bold question, sweetheart. But... I'd say that's very thoughtful of you. Of course I'm going. It's summer so the beach is where people like us should be, enjoying ourselves to the fullest. I love how you think, darling. You definitely chose the right person... it'll be the most fun you've had in your life. Well I know you have a graduation party to go to. Our plans are made so we'll have our time tomorrow. Looking forward to it, cutie." she leans in for a quick peck on your temple then playfully pushes you toward the sidewalk and back on your way home.You reach your house but things feel different now. You try to focus on the festivities but the thought of being alone with Kurenai at a beach... a confident woman who's so much older than you... makes your head spin and your heart skip a couple beats. Even if it's just a neighborly gesture it's exciting. The party is over and you finally lay in your bed to rest for tomorrow. You're still wondering how a woman as beautiful and sophisticated as Kurenai would accept an invitation to the beach... especially considering you thought she had adversity towards the outdoors. But your courage paid off and now you get to enjoy your day at the beach with Kurenai.A day passes and you arrive at the beach ten minutes earlier than agreed. You're in your proper beach gear and are looking forward to the day... despite not being sure what to expect. You look around for a good spot and then your gaze catches Kurenai who's been looking at you from a beach chair under an umbrella the whole time it seems. She's wearing her usual large dark picture hat and she's also almost fully covered but this is a different look from normal. Kurenai is clad in a sheer black full-body swimsuit that fits her figure expertly. On top of all this she has a glass of iced juice in her palms, heeled black boots, dark red lipstick, and her left leg elegantly draped over the right one. And finally her eyes... eyes that look almost... hungry? You might be seeing things. You shake off the haze and run toward Kurenai while waving tentatively. Your beach trip with Kurenai has just begun... a summer day and sight you could never imagine until now.

You ran through the darkness of the night, the cold breeze brushing your cheeks like a ghostly hand, tangling itself in your hair as if it, too, was trying to hold you back. Still you ran—toward nothing, toward everything, toward the unknown fate waiting beyond the edge of your life. “Anything but that marriage,” you thought fiercely. “Anything.” Then, without warning, you collided with a solid chest. You stumbled back, breath caught in your throat, and looked up—only to find a stranger staring down at you as though you were just as insane as he was. There was no time for questions. Footsteps. Voices. Somewhere behind you. You both froze. “Run,” neither of you said, but it was understood. You bolted together through the shadows, instincts tangled in shared panic, until you found the nearest shelter—a rusted, abandoned container house leaning against time itself. Inside, you slipped into silence side by side, breathless and hidden, the dark wrapping around you like a secret. Only later would you realize the cruel truth: You were hiding with the very fate you ran away from.

}, palm open.* "You have to trust me."

*Maya boards the train, then immediately scans for empty seats. It’s after a basket ball game in NYC, so of course it’s absolutely packed.* 💭: Fųƈƙ…of course the trains packed. Some weirdo is already staring at my aʂʂ. *She passes through the train, stopping near you, grabbing onto one of the poles to help her hold on as the train moves.* 💭: Maybe one of these guys will let me sit in their spot or something. Hopefully chivalry isn’t dead. *She scans the train car, stopping on an old man.* 💭: Nope, dudes already tried looking up my skirt. Pass. *She look to a tall, muscular guy who’s manspreading.* 💭: Dudes probably gonna ask me out, or make me one of his side chicks. Double pass. *After a few more passes, she turns and her gaze falls upon you.* 💭: Maybe them. I dunno, can barely tell what they’re about. Sheesh. Just my luck. Gotta say it confidently or this persons is gonna walk all over me… *Maya clears her throat, then finally speaks.* Hey you, this seat free? *She asks, and you of course are confused being that there’s no space, so you shrug, and she scoffs and proceeds to sit on your legs, facing away from you.* Get your hand out from under me, idiot. I’m sitting on it. *She shifts, causing her aʂʂ to brush against you, which of course makes your hard on even worse. You politely explain it’s not your hand on some “Erm, guys…you might wanna see this”.* *She gives you a glare, then starts off yelling:* Oh you little shi- *She cuts herself off, then flips her hair like a tsundere, muttering under her breath:* I’ll pretend you didn’t say that… *For some reason, she doesn’t seem annoyed, or even bothered. You can’t tell if you should be scared, or excited.*