eight, a day at the lake
twilight

The sun was out in full force, which was rare enough for Forks that everyone was talking about it. The morning had started cool, but by lunchtime, the sky was a cloudless blue, the kind of weather that made sitting inside feel like a crime.

The kind of weather that made Clover itch to be outside, the kind of weather that made her beg her father to teach class outside.

The kind of weather that made Wyatt want to say yes, but he couldn't look and in front of the school. He opted to say inside, and Clover had glared at him like there was no tomorrow. An action he just laughed off.

Clover sat with Juno and Bella at one of the picnic tables outside, a half-eaten granola bar in front of her. Jessica was flipping through her phone, barely paying attention, while Eric was enthusiastically discussing weekend plans, until...

"We should totally go to the lake," Eric announced, leaning forward like he was making an important deal. "It's an hour out, but it's got the clearest water, actual green grass, and a rope swing."

"A real rope swing?" Juno asked, suddenly interested. She was a sucker for the outdoors, and so was her sister, but something fun like that made everything better.

"Yes. A real one," Eric said dramatically. "And there's a dock with a slide."

Bella smiled slightly. "That does sound nice."

Clover was already imagining it, the cool water, the smell of pine trees, the way everything would feel easy for a few hours. No school, no worrying about grades, just sun and open space.

But then she remembered Paul. She was supposed to tutor him later. She couldn't say no, it was their first session, that wouldn't be fair to him, even if he probably didn't want to go.

"You in, Clover?" Mike asked, smiling with his teeth flashing. He was waiting for her to answer, patient yet still fidgeting.

"I'm tutoring today," she admitted, though her voice held some enthusiasm for the upcoming task. She loved what she did.

Juno raised an eyebrow, though her cheeks turned a darker shade. "So? Bring Paul."

Clover blinked. "I can't just bring him."

"Why not?" Juno shrugged. "If he's gonna be in your life for math, might as well get to know him outside of equations, right?"

Clover thought about it. Why not? She hadn't asked if Paul would be interested in hanging out, but maybe he could be. And she could see how much more interested her sister was in having him there. She could feel the slight attraction that Juno had with Paul, though she wouldn't say anything just yet.

She pulled out her phone, hesitated as she stared at his contact, then shot him a quick text.

Hey, do you wanna do tutoring at the lake today? Everyone's going. You can say no, and I can go there after our session? Whatever works for you. — Clover.

The reply came fast. Simple. 

Sure. I'll meet you there. — Paul.

Clover looked up to her sister first. "He's in."

"Perfect." Juno grinned. "You get math and fun."

Clover wasn't sure if that was how it worked, but she didn't mind. Deep down she had a feeling her sister would have more fun than she would. She didn't mind, she would never mind. 

🌲

The lake was just as Eric had promised; crystal-clear water, thick green grass, and a wooden dock stretching out over the lake with a slide attached. A rope swing hung from one of the taller trees, anyone brave enough to try it screamed loudly, happily, as they went into the water.

Clover and Paul sat near the edge of the grass with a notebook between them, the sunlight warming their backs as they worked through a few problems.

"I swear to God, if I have to solve for x one more time, I'm gonna lose it," Paul muttered, tapping his pencil against his knee.

Clover could tell how frustrated he was getting, how hard it was for him to concentrate with everyone else around — she was starting to feel bad. Everyone glanced over towards them, waiting for them to finish their task and waiting for them to stop the math work that Paul was obviously hating. 

Clover winced. "That's kind of the whole point of math."

"Then math sucks."

"I'm not arguing that."

Paul glanced up at Juno, who had just spoken to him, a smirk pulling at his lips. "At least you admit it." 

She was standing in front of the two, waiting for them to be done so they could have enough players for volleyball. They needed two more people to lay a five against five. 

Clover rolled her eyes but smiled, flipping to the next question. "Alright, last one, then we're done."

Paul groaned, but didn't argue. He wouldn't argue, that wasn't right. And he for sure was not going to do that to Charlie's niece, he wouldn't live to see another day. 

The others were already in the water, splashing and shouting near the dock. Bella sat on the grass with Jessica, soaking up the sun. She seemed much happier now than she has in a while. 

By the time Paul finished the last equation, he let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "That's it, right? I can officially stop thinking about math now?"

Clover grinned, shutting the notebook and stuffing it into her backpack. "Yep. You're free."

Paul stood, stretching his arms above his head before glancing at the water. "You gonna get in? Play volleyball?"

Clover looked toward Juno, who had left the two a few minutes into the last math question, she was finally launching herself off the rope swing. "Yeah, I think so.. Despite not being very good."

"Haha, can't be that bad." Paul shrugged before he stuck his hand out, helping pull Clover off the grass. "Guess I'll stick around then, beat you at volleyball."

As Clover stood, dusting off her hands, she realized Forks wasn't so bad when it had moments like this. And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to feel okay about being here. She was finding her place, even if it was taking some time to do so.