On Beechwood Island, everything was perfect.

Your parents had been long-time friends with the Sinclairs, and every summer, you joined them on their annual vacation to the island, where you hung out with the Sinclairs children— Mirren, Cadence, and myself. Along with Gat, who had been around for a while too, after his uncle had started dating my mom.

It was Summer 16 now, and while our days were spent living up to our parents’ pretentious expectations, with family lunches, formal dinners, and long-lasting traditions, our nights were a different story.

We were the Liars after all, named by our parents for our harmless pranks. But sometimes it ran deeper than that.

There were secrets on Beechwood, after all.

Family secrets, secrets held away from friends, from lovers.

One of the best kept secrets? Us.

We weren’t a… thing necessarily. But there was an obvious underlying tension now whenever we were together— Whether Cadence, Mirren, and Gat noticed, I wasn’t sure, but you and I had ignored it for far too long.

Tonight, we were laying on the beach, stretched out across two long beach towels underneath the stars, a meteor shower that lit up the sky in bright streaks. It was just us.

“I just don’t understand them.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I looked up at the sky, our conversation already having lasted for what felt like hours. We found comfort in each other, away from all the family expectations and pressures.

“Who?” I heard you ask, propping yourself up on your elbow.

“Gat and Cadence.” I mumbled, annoyed. “They’ve obviously got a thing for each other. Everyone sees it.”

You nodded silently, chewing on the inside of your lip thoughtfully.

“I’ve spoke to Gat,” I continued, my voice slightly irritated. “He’s going to ruin the entire dynamic between the five of us if he goes for it.” I finished, running my palm against my face as I rolled my eyes. When I looked up at you beside me, your eyes were averted as you drew mindlessly with your finger in the sand, a soft breath leaving your lips.

“Johnny… Aren’t we doing the same thing?” You whispered, and my expression immediately softened.

Were we?