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The ocean. Deep, endless, and beautiful.
Mack found herself on a board, sitting comfortably as she watched Lela carefully paddling to her. She helped the biker up, teaching her how to keep her balance.
/
The bedroom. Pink, soft, and cozy.
Mack could barely even fit on Lela’s bed as the comically large amount of pillows and stuffed animals took up most of it. This was where Lela had shared her deepest, darkest secret about wanting to surf, and where Mack agreed to take her on that offer, followed by a big hug.
Now, after another session of Lela gently brushing through Mack’s hair, they found themselves laying side by side for the night.
A nightlight helped illuminate the area just the slightest bit, and a sleepless Mack gazed as Lela rested peacefully, a warm light over her.
/
Her bright blue eyes. Her soft, porcelain skin.
She looked so fragile, but she was anything but that.
/
She had the voice of an angel, yearning to sing a different song.
/
For some reason, she wanted to be just like Mack.
/
School. Stressful, big, and exhausting.
As if Mack didn’t have enough on her plate– from classes, to extracurriculars, to college, to the Brady of it all, Lela showed up.
Lela, and her (seemingly) newly single thirst for life in the real world. Mack’s world.
Despite any hardship, Lela always ended up as a ray of sunshine in every situation. Truly, she was running circles around Mack in her own world. Part of Mack was jealous, sure, but most of her was just… glad.
Glad Lela was there. Glad to see her thriving. Glad for them growing closer.
Sad for them growing closer.
/
Goodbyes.
Lela couldn’t stay, Tanner couldn’t stay. They weren’t built for the real world.
They wanted to. They were adjusting.
Mack and Lela. Tanner and Brady. It was all starting to fit into place, feel like the new normal. More so than Mack and Brady , as a duo, ever did.
But by powers outside of their control,
–it wasn’t meant to be.
/
Age 9.
Thanks to her grandpa, Mack discovered a movie called Lela: Queen of the Beach.
/
Mack woke up.
Her face damp, expected for the typical weather. It took her a moment to realize she was gripping, clutching her bedsheets, just stopping a tremble as she sniffled and felt tears roll down her face.
She was in her bed. Awake in the middle of the night. She met a cute boy the other day. She had school tomorrow. Her favorite movie was…
She glanced at one of the posters.
She knew that this was a photo taken decades ago. That was an actress playing a character, doing a promotional image.
And yet, Mack couldn’t help but think that Lela– the fictional character– was looking at her , specifically.
Those dreams…
It was all too real.