Looking Through the Lens
By Ryan Sylander

Online at:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/ryansylander/www/
http://storiesonline.net/auth/Ryan_Sylander
http://www.ewpub.org/scripts2/libraryframes.php?auth=6347


Chapter 24



   I was too excited to sleep.  It was still dark out when my eyes popped open, but 
regardless of the time, I knew I was awake for the day.  A check of the watch showed that 
I still had over an hour before I really needed to be up.  
   Sleep was just time away from Heather at this point.  Heather was coming to pick me 
up after dropping her parents off at work, since they had allowed her the use of the car for 
the day.  I figured I could pack up my stuff now, so that I wouldn’t have to take time out 
later to do it.
   Just when I was about to get out of bed, Lara came into my room.  I made a surprised 
face at her, although she probably couldn’t see it in the dark.  She was never up this early 
unless there was an unavoidable reason.
   “What are you doing up?” I asked her.
   “I went to bed early, right after dinner,” she explained.  “Move over.”
   I moved to the wall, and Lara got in to the bed.  
   “What’s up?”
   “What time did you get home last night?” she asked.
   “I don’t know, after midnight.”
   “I got up to pee around two, and Frej was still here!” Lara whispered excitedly.
   “Damn!  I told them not to stay up too late,” I said with a laugh.
   “Shh.  Maybe they’re not just flirting.”
   “Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on.  It’s kind of strange, since Frej seemed like he 
still missed his wife, when he was talking about her on the boat.  I got the feeling he 
missed her like crazy.  But he seems to like our parents.”
   “But we live so far from each other,” Lara said.  There was a pause, and then she 
spoke again.  “Do you ever wonder if our parents want to find someone else?” Lara 
mused.
   “You mean a man?” I asked.
   “Yeah.”
   I shrugged.  “Maybe.  It’s been a long time since Dad died.”
   “What do you think of Frej?” Lara asked me.
   “Frej?  He’s really cool.  I like him.”
   “Me too,” Lara agreed.
   “And obviously our parents do too,” I added.
   “Well, I guess we’ll see what happens.  What are you doing awake, if you got in after 
midnight?” Lara asked me.
   “Heather’s coming in a little while to get me.  I’m going to pack up my stuff so I’m 
ready.”
   “Oh, cool.  What are you two going to do today?”
   “We’re going to go out to eat tonight; other than that I’m not sure yet.  Heather’s got 
the car, so we’re just going to hang out, have fun.  You want to come along?” I asked.
   “No, Matt, you should spend the day with her.  You’ve already been really nice to let 
me come on the fishing trip and stuff.”
   “What are you going to do?” I asked.
   “I don’t know, go into town, swim, whatever.  Maybe this year I’ll pack the day 
before.”
   “Instead of the ten minutes before we leave?” I said jokingly.
   “Or something like that,” Lara said with a laugh.
   “All right, move out of the way, I’m going to get to work.”
   Lara yawned.  “I might stay here.  Your bed is really comfy.”
   “I have to pack, though!”
   “Go ahead, I’ll just snooze.  Don’t worry about me,” Lara said, already turning 
around and settling into a snuggled position.  I shrugged and then climbed over her and 
stretched out of the bed.  
   Packing took a little longer without light, but fairly soon I had my clothes put away, 
and my walkman and books in the backpack.  Lara was sound asleep again.
   I was going to the kitchen to get a drink when I stopped in my tracks, mouth-open.  
For a few moments I just stared, and then quietly but quickly crept back to my room.  
   “He’s here!” I whispered urgently to Lara, shaking her shoulder.
   “What?” Lara said groggily.
   “He’s still here!”
   “Huh?  What are you talking about?”
   “Frej’s car is still in the drive!” I said quietly.
   Lara seemed to come out of her sleepy state, and she sat up.  “Really?” she said.
   “Yeah.”
   “No way!” she said.
   “Go look,” I challenged.
   “No, I believe you,” Lara said, slowly.
   There was a long moment of silence as we considered the meaning of this.
   “Maybe they drove him home,” Lara said.  “He was pretty chipper.”
   “So were our Moms, probably even more than he was,” I said.  “But maybe they did 
drive him.  Either that, or he stayed the night.”
   Again there was some silence.  The room seem to glow ever so faintly due to the first 
morning light coming in through the windows.  
   “What does this mean?” I asked Lara.
   “I guess they were horny,” said Lara matter-of-factly.
   “Lara!”
   “What!?  They do have sex, you know.”
   “I know that,” I said emphatically.  “But with Frej?  Right after meeting him?”
   “Why not?”
   “It just seems so... fast.”
   “How long until after you kissed Julie did you start having sex with her?” Lara asked 
simply.
   “What?  I don’t know, a week or something?  But so what, I’ve known her forever.  
Even with Heather, it took a year.”
   “Alright, true,” Lara admitted.  “But they’re adults.  We’re all leaving tomorrow.  
Maybe they were just, you know, having some fun.”
   I sighed.  “It’s weird.”
   “Why?  I thought you liked Frej.”
   “I do,” I said.  “It’s not that.  It’s just so... obvious!  Too obvious.  They’ve never 
done anything close to this.”
   “They don’t need our permission,” Lara said.
   “No, but...  How are they going to explain Frej still being here in the morning?”
   “I don’t know.  It will be interesting, though,” Lara said, sniggering slightly.
   Right at that moment, we heard some footsteps in the house.  Clearly someone was 
trying to be quiet.  Then the front door squeaked, and closed.  The low rumble of Frej’s 
car came to life next, and then it faded away as he drove off.
   “Sneaking out, that’s how,” Lara said.
   “I thought only we did that.”
   “Guess not.”
   “You’re not bothered by this?” I asked.
   “It’s a little out of the blue, but whatever.  I think Frej is cool.”
   I stood for a little while longer, looking around in the gloom, and then shrugged.  
“Back to packing, I guess.”
   “I’m going to sleep in a little more,” Lara said lazily.
   “I thought you went to bed early last night?” I teased.
   “Heh, maybe I wasn’t quite ready to get up after all.”
   “Sleep well then.  I’ll see you later, sometime.”
   “Bye!”
   I got a drink from the fridge, and then went to the porch to collect my guitar and a 
few other items that had gotten strewn around the house over the three week stay.  
   On the couch was a pillow, a couple of blankets, and a note.  The note wasn’t folded, 
so I took the opportunity to read it.
   “Sarah, Melissa, thank you for the wonderful meal last night (and a place to sleep off 
the wine).  Today’s clients are waiting, so I have to slip out early.  Until later, Frej”
   Again I hurried back to my room.
   “Lara, wake up!” I whispered.
   “What!” Lara said, somewhat startled.
   “Frej slept on the porch.”
   “What?”  Lara seemed more asleep now.
   “He slept on the porch, not in our Moms’ room.”
   “Oh, okay.”
   “I think he just stayed because he had too much wine,” I added.
   “Okay,” Lara murmured.
   “Okay, bye.”
   Lara had already drifted off.
   
   -----
   
   Heather came shortly after that.  I let her in, and we shared a long, quiet kiss in the 
entryway before we said anything.
   “That’s the way to start the day out,” I said, savoring the remnant of her lips.
   “Mm hmm, definitely.  Are you ready to go?”
   “Yeah.  I packed all my crap this morning so I don’t have to do it tonight.  Except for 
sleeping, I can be with you until I leave tomorrow morning,” I announced proudly.
   “Do you have to sleep?” Heather asked mischievously.
   “Well, I guess not.”
   Heather just smiled and gave me another kiss.  “Let’s go.  Bring your camera.”
   “Oh, all right.  Let me get it.”
   I went to my room and grabbed the camera bag.  Despite trying to be as quiet as 
possible, Lara stirred. 
   “Jeez, last time I ever sleep in your room,” she said, sounding annoyed.
   “Sorry.”
   “I was just kidding.  Are you out of here?” she asked.  She was not annoyed after all.
   “Yeah.  Heather is waiting in the living room.”
   Lara got up out of bed.  “I’ll come out and say hi.  Might not see her before we 
leave,” she explained.
   I followed Lara out into the living room.  
   “Oh hi, Lara,” Heather said happily.
   “Morning,” Lara said.  She inadvertently yawned.  “Sorry!  I came to say goodbye, in 
case I don’t see you later.”  Lara pulled Heather into a hug.
   “Oh, well, I don’t work tomorrow morning, so I’ll come by to see you off,” Heather 
said.
   Lara pulled abruptly out of the hug.  “In that case, no hugs!” she joked, before giving 
Heather a tight squeeze again.
   Sarah appeared behind us, looking like she was still half-asleep.  “Oh hi, Heather, I 
thought it was you.  In case I don’t see you tomorrow– ”
   “She’ll be here tomorrow morning, Mom,” I said.  “You can stay in bed.”
   “Oh, good.  I didn’t know if we’d see you today, since you’ll be out and about.”
   “Yeah, I’ll come by, don’t worry,” Heather said.
   “Can you pass the word, so everyone else doesn’t get up?” I said exaggeratedly.  
“Else we’ll never get out of here!”
   Sarah chuckled.  She glanced at the porch suddenly, and then outside. “Is...?”
   “No, he left,” I said, before realizing I’d let out that I knew Frej had been here.
   “We didn’t feel good about letting Frej drive home last night, so we put him up on the 
couch,” Sarah explained.
   “That’s cool,” Lara and I both said at once.  
   Sarah looked at us for a moment.  “Well, I’m back to bed.  It’s too early to be 
awake,” Sarah said.
   “Yeah, me too,” Lara said.  “Getting up early really isn’t for me,” she added.  “Don’t 
know how you two do it.”
   I rolled my eyes, and followed Heather out the front door so my Mom could lock up.
   “That was quite the greeting party,” Heather said as she pulled out of the drive.
   “Yeah.”
   “So Frej stayed the night, huh?”
   “Apparently,” I replied.
   “On the couch?”
   “Apparently,” I repeated.
   “Sounds like they were partying late.”
   “I think so.”
   “You sound a little bit weirded out.”
   “No.  I actually think it’s kind of neat,” I said slowly.
   “Why?”
   “When we were fishing with Frej, I really enjoyed hanging out with him.”
   “I could tell, you spent more time with him than with me!” Heather said.
   “Hey!” I exclaimed, but then noticed the grin on her face.
   “It’s all right, I didn’t mind.  Plus I got to know Lara a little more,” Heather added 
happily.
   “Mm.  Anyway, I like Frej.  I’m not saying anything is going to happen between my 
parents and him, but maybe.  I wouldn’t mind seeing him more.  And, there’s an added 
benefit.”
   “What’s that?”
   “If he comes to visit my parents...” I said.
   A large smile crossed Heather’s face.  “I like that line of thinking Matt.”
   “Or we may come here more often than once a year.”
   “Ooh, I hadn’t thought of any of that!  Then again I didn’t know he had slept over, 
either,” Heather said.
   “I’m probably just dreaming,” I said, waving my hand vaguely, “but if there is 
something going on, I don’t mind.  Where are we going, anyway?”
   “Let’s go to the lighthouse and get some pictures.”
   
   -----
   
   “You, know, I’ve never actually been here,” I said, as Heather drove up the short lane 
which led to the hilltop on which the lighthouse stood.
   “Really?”
   “Never really had reason to come out here.”
   “It’s cool.  We are on the very tip of the island, now,” Heather said. 
   She parked and we walked around the side of the tower.  No other cars were present, 
and the surroundings were empty of people.  It felt like we were the only two people on 
earth.
   Despite the early hour and a slight breeze, it was quite warm.  The sun was just 
beginning to touch upon the grounds.  
   “It’s taller than I thought,” I remarked, looking up the side of the red-banded white 
tower.  Perhaps ten stories high, the tower was surrounded by a few other smaller 
buildings.
   “They built this almost 200 years ago,” Heather said.
   “Damn.  Do they still use it?”
   “Oh yeah, for sure.”
   “I didn’t know if nowadays the boats all use radio or whatever.”
   Heather shrugged.  “I’ve seen it on at night.”
   “Ever seen it in a fog?” I asked.
   “I have, a few times.  The beam cuts right through, and swings through the night.”
   “Neat.  It must be a relief to see that light if you’re out on the ocean at night,” I said, 
imagining myself standing on Frej’s boat in the pitch black, unaware of my location.
   “I’d say.  Frej has seen this from twenty miles out.”
   “Serious?”
   “Yeah.  The lens is like three feet wide,” Heather said.  “Come on, let’s take some 
pictures while the light is soft.  I want some good pictures of you to look at while you’re 
gone.”
   “Same here,” I agreed.
   We setup our cameras and Heather took some photos of me.  I much preferred being 
behind the camera, since I felt a little self-conscious about posing.  As soon as the 
moment came to stand casually, my limbs felt like awkward props and my face could not 
find a relaxed position!  But Heather seemed satisfied with how I looked.  
   I took some pictures of Heather, taking my time and trying to remember the things I 
had wanted to correct after looking at my last batch. 
   “Being methodical is the trick,” I said, as I snapped a well-composed picture of 
Heather smiling at me.  “I think that was a good shot of you.”
   “Cool.  Set up your tripod, let’s get some of us,” she suggested.
   I realized we only had a few shots of us together, including the ghostly one at the 
swings.  “Good idea.”
   Setting up the timed shots was a bit more challenging, but we managed to frame what 
looked to be good shots of us.  For the last one, Heather kissed me just as the shutter 
clicked.  
   “I think I’m going to have a surprised look on my face for that one!” I said.
   Heather grinned.  “Let’s go closer to the water.”
   We gathered our things and made our way down the grassy slope to the top of the 
rocky seawall, against which the waves pounded.  
   “What did you ever do with that roll?” Heather asked.
   “Which roll?”
   Heather raised a brow.
   “Oh, that roll,” I said.  “I still have it, here in the camera bag.”  I patted the side of the 
bag.
   “Are you going to develop it?” Heather asked innocently.
   “How?”
   She shrugged.  “You need to find a darkroom.”
   “We’ll see.  There’s a darkroom at my school, but I don’t think I can use it,” I said.
   “Now you have a reason to, though.”
   I laughed.  “Maybe.”
   “Come on, I know you’re dying to see what the picture looks like.”
   I shrugged, smiling slightly.  “Maybe, maybe not.”
   “Whatever!” Heather exclaimed.  “I want to see it too.  You have to get it developed.”
   “Why do you want to see it?”
   “It’s my first nude shot, I want to see how it looks,” she said simply.
   “You make it sound like it’s not your last,” I observed.
   Heather giggled.  “That depends.”
   “On what?”
   “On you,” she said.
   “Me?” I said, arching a brow.
   “Yeah.”
   I watched her carefully for a moment.  “How’s that?” I asked.
   “If you want to take more,” she said coyly.
   “Now?”  I took a look around instinctively, before catching myself.  “That’s a little 
risky, isn’t it?” I asked, realizing how obvious my words were the moment they left my 
lips.  “And that’s why you want to do it,” I added, in response to her mischievous nod.
   I sighed, trying to calm the arousal that was threatening to take over from reason.
   But why listen to reason, really?  We were both willing.  We’d seen each other naked.  
At worst the pictures would sit on an undeveloped roll for years in a suitable hiding 
place.  At best...
   “Right now?” I asked.
   “Sure.”
   I looked around again.  There was no one around.
   “What about the lighthouse?   The operator could be watching us.”
   “Nah.  They automated the lamp a few years ago.  I don’t think anyone is here.  
Besides, I’m not going to strip totally nude.”  With that she proceeded to take her shirt 
off, leaving her pink bikini top in place.  She walked to a rock and sat, stretching her legs 
out before her.
   “Well?”
   I broke out of my stare and snatched at my camera, fumbling with the lens cap.  “But 
the pictures I already took on here...” I stammered.  The pictures I had just taken of her 
clothed would be locked away as well, if I didn’t change rolls.
   “How many left?” she asked.
   “Four.”
   “Take them,” she said.
   It was hard to be ‘methodical’ for those four shots.  I wasn’t sure if I even had the 
aperture set right.
   Changing rolls took forever.  I started pulling out a color roll from the case, losing the 
grey cap to a gap in the rocks beneath my feet.  Then Heather reminded me to use black 
and white.  Then I couldn’t get the tongue of the film to engage the cylinder in the 
camera.  Then....
   Meanwhile, Heather took a last look around, and then removed her bikini top, draping 
it neatly on the rock next to her.  She hummed contentedly, wearing a little grin, while I 
hurried to advance the blank frames.  Her arms were folded across her front, holding her 
breasts hidden from view.  
   For a moment, I forgot about the camera, and just looked at her.  I took a deep breath, 
trying to etch this moment into my head.  She looked beautiful:  her soft, smooth skin 
was set off against the dark, jagged rocks of the seawall, and supported by the blue 
background of the ocean.  
   I didn’t really need a camera to capture this moment.
   “You look amazing,” I said.
   Heather smiled a little more.  “Thanks.”
   The soft light and the privacy were not going to last forever, so I readied the camera.  
Heather leaned forward a little, putting her arms to her sides.  I told her to put them in 
front of her again.
   “Some things are better imagined,” I said.  “Give me your sweetest smile...”
   She did.
   
   -----
   
   For dinner, I took Heather out to the restaurant at one of the hotels where Hans gave 
lessons.  He suggested the place, it being where many of the rich city people ate when 
they were staying in Montauk.
   After a brief stop at my house to put on some long pants and drop off my camera, we 
went to Heather’s so she could change.  While she was up in her room, I chatted with 
Mairead, who had just returned from work.
   “That was great fun, last night,” she said.  “Your parents are wonderful, and Melissa 
is such a cook!”
   “Yeah, she does pretty good,” I said modestly.
   “Pretty good?” she echoed, with a twinkle in her eye.
   “Were you there very late?” I asked.
   “No, we left shortly after you and Heather did.  Frej stayed a little longer, I think.”
   I suppressed a grin and simply nodded.
   “He was really enjoying himself,” Mairead continued.  “I haven’t seen him that merry 
in a long time.”
   “Good, I’m glad everyone had fun.  You always hear about stories when parents meet 
each other and...”  Where was I going with this, I suddenly wondered, feeling my face 
heating up.  It’s not like we’re getting married!
   Mairead’s bit her lower lip to keep from smiling, but fortunately rescued me.  “Yes, 
but your parents are a barrel of fun.  We look forward to coming to visit this winter.”
   “Oh, really?”  My heart leapt at hearing that.
   “Oh, I guess you had left already, but your parents formally invited us to stay with 
them when we come up for skiing,” Mairead said.
   I nodded wholeheartedly, and then was distracted by footsteps behind me.  
   Heather was ready.  She had put on a sundress.  I stared, open-mouthed.  It was the 
one she had changed into that night on the porch.  
   She knew what I was thinking.  “Do you like this dress?” she asked.  “I just got it, and 
I’ve only worn it one other time.”
   “Yeah, I like it,” I said as evenly as I could manage.
   “Okay, let’s go then!” she said cheerily.  “Bye Mom!”
   Mairead gave us each a kiss and a “Be safe!” and then we were on our way to the 
resort.
   The photo shoot had been exceptionally arousing, but only after I took the last frame 
on the roll.  During the pictures, I had been trying as hard as possible to keep my mind on  
my work, and make Heather look as good as possible in the shots.  Afterwards, though, 
the excitement of the event flooded through me, and when we returned to the car, we 
kissed long and hard.  
   Over the course of the day, Heather had been teasing me, and the car ride to dinner 
was no exception.  
   “Do you remember this dress?” she asked.
   “Of course!  Are you kidding?”
   “Just checking.”  She pulled on it a little, letting it ride up her thigh some.  She drove 
in silence, eyes on the road.
   “What are you looking at?” she suddenly asked.
   “What?”
   “You’re staring.”
   “How do you know, you can’t see my eyes,” I said.
   “I can too.”
   “So what am I looking at then?” I asked.
   A smile spread across her face.  “My legs.”
   “Why do you say that?”
   “Because you like them.”
   I reached a hand over, but she glanced at me sidelong with raised brow.
   “No touching,” she said.
   I pouted but withdrew my hand, instead caressing her skin with my look.  
   “You’re mean,” I said jokingly.
   “Mean?”
   “Teasing me, and getting me worked up all day.”
   Heather laughed.  “Aw, poor baby!”
   “Hey, you don’t know how hard it is not to jump you right now!”
   “I’m driving.”
   “Yeah, that’s about the only thing keeping me from it,” I said with a grin.
   “So you think when I’m teasing you, I’m not getting excited myself?” she asked.
   I frowned.  “Hadn’t thought of it,” I admitted.
   “I’m about to burst, I’m so excited right now,” she said quietly. 
   My body lurched in response.  “Really?”
   “But it will feel so good, later, when I’m alone with you.”
   “We’re alone now,” I said, hope in my voice.
   “No, let’s wait until tonight.  But just don’t think I’m not suffering too.  Here,” she 
said, taking my hand.   She drew it up between her legs, pushing the fabric to her waist.  
She pressed my fingers against her panties, and I felt a dampness there.  She moved my 
hand slowly, rubbing herself with my fingertips.  
   “That’s...”  Heather shuddered slightly.  “That’s what I’m dealing with over here,” 
she said huskily, before withdrawing my hand.  
   “Why do we wait and suffer, then?” I asked, adjusting my pants to accommodate my 
arousal.
   Heather looked at me with a special smile.  “Because waiting will make it even 
better.”
   I nodded.  “Can you imagine how we’re going to feel after being apart for three 
months?”
   “You just better have somewhere to be alone.”
   “I think I can manage that,” I said.
   “For a long time,” she added suggestively.
   
   -----
   
   Dinner was delicious.  The meal was on the level of quality that Melissa had cooked 
for us the evening before.  We were easily the youngest couple in the restaurant, and I felt 
older than fifteen as we ate our food.  
   I wished I could stop the clock, or at least slow it enough to spent the next twelve 
years with Heather, instead of having to leave in less than twelve hours.  Eventually, 
though, we were finished with dessert, and despite wanting to linger and look out over 
the water, holding hands across the candlelit table, we knew there were other things to do 
before sleeping.  
   I was slightly anxious as we rode back to Heather’s house, in silence.  Last year, I had 
blown my evening with Julie by getting overly excited about it.  And last year’s 
excitement paled in comparison to how I felt now!  Was I just going to get to Heather’s 
house and tense up?  Feel awkward and pressured?  I had only brought two condoms, was 
that enough?  What if one, or both were broken?
   I felt my heart rushing a little.  What if I messed everything up tonight?  Then 
Heather would not be as excited to be with me.  Might she drift off over the next few 
months like Julie did?  What if...?
   I felt Heather’s hand find mine in the darkness of the car.  
   “I’m a little nervous,” she said as she approached her house.  “Last night together, 
you know.”
   I opened my mouth, but didn’t know what to say for a moment.  Heather was 
nervous?!
   That statement changed my world.  The anxiety was swept away, and the voice that 
had been speaking softly (and until now unheeded) in the corner of my head came to the 
forefront.
   “Don’t be nervous,” I said, saying aloud what my thoughts told me.  “Everything I 
could possibly want in a friend, I have in you, Heather.  You’re beautiful, exciting, sweet, 
and kind, and so smart.  And even a tease!  Yeah, I’ll admit I like it.  And I have so much 
fun with you.  I was feeling a little nervous too, but I don’t know why.  I just want to be 
with you, and not worry about anything.  It’s our last night, but just our last night for 
today.  We’ll still be the same friends tomorrow, still have shared everything we’ve 
shared these last weeks, and still...”
   I left the next few words unsaid, hoping she understood.  Heather squeezed my hand 
in response.  She turned off the engine, and took a deep breath.  The motion sensing light 
in her driveway came on.
   I looked over to her, and a few shiny streaks had wet her cheeks.  She turned to gaze 
at me, an emotional smile on her face.  
   We hugged for a time, feeling each other’s tensions relax away.  
   “...and still love each other,” Heather whispered into my ear.
   
   -----
   
   Darkness turned into golden shadows, as a single candle flame flickered in the breeze 
from the open window.  The perfect night air circled through the room, and filled my 
body as I took deep breaths of it.  It was so quiet, I could hear the wick burning.
   Heather turned to face me.  Without taking her eyes off of mine, she grabbed at the 
hem of her dress, and smoothly pulled it over her head.  She then reached behind her 
back and unclasped her bra.  The tension slackened, and the cups fell away.  Then the 
black straps slipped off the shoulders and down her arms.  The bra fell to the floor.  
Heather hooked thumbs under the waist of her panties, and wiggled out of them.  One leg 
slipped out, and then the other.  
   Now she was nude.  
   I wasted no time in removing my clothes, though I made sure to keep my movements 
quiet.  I watched her eyes roam over my body as I exposed it.
   Heather guided me to her bed.  Her eyes shined in the glow, and her hand was soft 
and warm.  In one smooth movement, she lay back on the sheet and pulled me down over 
her.  My chest pressed against hers, and my legs went between hers.  
   A delicate kiss let me explore the softness of her lips.  Her tongue glided against 
mine, pushing and pulling me into her.
   The passion from our kissing began to spread downwards, as hands and then legs 
began rubbing slowly across bare flesh.  Both our bodies writhed against each other in an 
inexorably slow dance.  The desire to ravish her was checked only by the need to be 
quiet.  In turn, this made every movement all the more sensuous.  Each stretch of her leg 
against mine sent shivers through me.  Each touch of my lips on her nipple sent a quiver 
down her body.
   Inevitably, I entered her.  It was part of the dance: slowly I had moved up and down 
her body, and eventually I was in just the right place to meet her rising hips with mine.  
   Heather gasped as I slid into her as slowly as I could.  The first stroke took forever, 
and I stayed at depth when I arrived.  Our kissing became heated, and more abandoned.  
As I began to move, I remembered I hadn’t put on protection.
   Reluctantly, I slipped out and took care of it.  It was an interference, but a necessary 
one.  Heather waited, a sultry look on her face.  Her hand softly stroked my lower back as 
I unrolled the condom.
   It took no time to return to the moment.  I pushed into her again, and this time we 
didn’t pause.  Her breathing was quickly increasing in rhythm.  I buried my face in her 
neck, as I tried to find the pace that felt best yet didn’t move the bed too much.  Long 
strokes were the answer.  She liked it too, hanging onto me like I was all she had in the 
world.
   In those moments, as I hung on to the plateau, I realized how much I did love 
Heather.  I was going to miss her wholly.  The year was going to be difficult, being away 
from her for long stretches.  She was so much fun, in so many ways.  Over the past two 
weeks I had gotten to know so much about her, and still she surprised me at every 
opportunity.  Sometimes I felt so amazed by her, I wondered why she even was with me.  
   She was perfect.
   I returned my lips to hers as I felt her tighten up.  She welcomed my kiss heatedly.  
We shared the passion of feeling each other climax, her first, and then me.
   As we lay together in her bed, we were very aware of each other.  The breeze had 
succeeded in burning out the candle.  The moon had yet to rise, and only summer 
starlight and a few distant ships lent their faint illumination to our window on the world.  
We were only silhouettes.
   My hand stayed clasped around hers, and our legs were still intertwined.  Our breaths 
were taken in unison.  
   “Do you have to go?” Heather whispered.
   “No.”
   “Stay, then.”
   Heather turned and cuddled against me, murmuring contentedly.
   Time passed so slowly, and yet so quickly.
   
   -----
   
   The sun was barely cracking the eastern horizon when I arrived at the empty pier.  I 
set my stuff down and leaned against the railing.  It was the last opportunity to take in the 
ocean, the sea air, and the red sunrise before leaving for the mountains of home.
   The time had gone so fast.  Three weeks ago, I had come to Montauk full of hope and 
of love.  After a considerably difficult year, I had planned to make things better.  And 
despite having taken an unexpected turn with Julie, things had worked out in the end.
   “Any luck?”
   I turned slowly, unable to keep a smile from spreading across my face.  Heather was 
standing before me, in the same overalls she had worn the first day I had met her, over a 
year ago.  She was radiant, even in the early morning light.
   “Yeah,” I said.  “Definitely.”
   We eyed each other a moment longer, and then Heather dropped her stuff to the pier 
deck and rushed into my arms.  
   “Oh, I’m going to miss you so much!” she said, voice full of emotion.  “I’ve had the 
best time with you.”
   “Me too, Heather, me too.”
   “Fishing just won’t be the same any more.”
   “I know.”
   “I still will come here, and remember our times on the pier, though.  You’ll still be 
with me.”
   “And we’ll see each other soon, I promise.”
   “Where did the summer go?” she asked, eyes brimming with tears.
   “Wasn’t it just yesterday I had you over for dinner?  And now...”  I couldn’t say the 
words.
   “I know the time won’t go as fast after you leave, but I hope it does.”
   “Me too.”
   Heather took a long, deep breath, and then kissed me gently.  Her eyes were so soft 
and beautiful.  The life I had always seen in them was deeper and more complex than 
ever.  
   “Do you still have time to fish?” she asked.
   “Yeah, we’re leaving in an hour or so.”
   There was no keeping score, that morning.  We each had one hand on the same pole, 
and the other arm wrapped around each other.  There were no words to say, except for 
those we shared through our eyes as we looked deep within each other.  The grey-red 
morning faded away, and the serenade of the waves washed out.  Tethered through our 
hearts and our gaze, we passed the hour nurturing and growing that connection so that it 
would hold fast over the coming distance and long days apart.
    I love you...
   
   -----
   
   The car ride home was as quiet as the previous year’s, though for completely different 
reasons.  I missed Heather as soon as we turned around the first curve on the winding 
beach road that took us away from Montauk.  The difficult mix of sadness and optimism 
was unexpectedly overwhelming, and Lara hugged me more than once when she saw the 
tears in my eyes.
   Where the soft sands turned into hard concrete, the endless ocean turned into human 
harbors.  Where the concrete turned into verdant trees, the harbors became majestic 
rivers.  And where the trees became round-topped mountains, the rivers became cool 
streams.
   When we pulled up to our house, the exhaustion of having slept only minimally the 
night before was suddenly weighing heavily on my body, and it threatened to overwhelm 
me.  I simply walked to our creek, leaving the banality of unpacking the car for later, or 
to those who were more up to the task.  
   I could tell Lara was with me, but I didn’t have the strength to look at her.  Already 
my eyes were tearing.  
   The deep pool was the same as ever, cool and inviting.  The silvery water was still 
there, playfully falling over the little ledge.  The round boulders off of which we had 
jumped for so many years still stood in place, and the fallen log that traversed the stream 
still offered tenuous passage to the dark wilds on the other side.
   Lara took my hand as we stood at the edge of the bank, watching the flow of time as 
nature wound her way around and through us.  Each little splash measured away one less 
instant that I had to wait until I could see Heather again.
   This very water was on its way to her now, taking in reverse the same path we had 
just traveled.  I sent a little wish of love to Heather, attaching it to a splash of water and 
watching as it lightly swam through the pool, and then over the next lip.  Soon it would 
be in the Hudson River, and then in the Atlantic.  And then Heather would dip her line 
into the water at the pier one morning and catch my wish, instead of a fish.
   “Are you all right?” Lara whispered.
   “Yeah,” I managed to get out through a tight throat.
   She put an arm around me, and we hugged for a long time.  
   There was so much to look forward to.  And even though waiting for Heather to visit 
was going to be difficult, I had my sister with me.
   “Thanks,” I said.  “For everything.”
   Lara just squeezed me a little tighter.  
   It was going to be a good year, I decided.  I was going to make it a good year.
   
   THE END
   
Author's Endnote:

Thanks for reading.  This is my first long story.  I'm always looking to improve my writing, so please let me know what worked and what didn't.  I welcome all feedback and critique, and if you leave your email, I'll write back.  It only takes a minute or two to tell me what you thought of the story!  My email is: ryansylander at yahoo dot com.

I do plan to write a second book in this series, after I do a few other stories.  Stay tuned...

Thanks!

Cheers,
Ryan Sylander