coeurcanelle

[coeurcanelle]

she got that shit on

brooo spiderman-ellie au?? LOVE UR ART

TLOU Ellie in SpiderMan AU 🪐

really enjoyed the process of creating her costume design!!!! now I have to go and wipe the already wet workplace,,

also there were more requests for SpiderMan TLOU AU and I want to thank all of you for requesting me, I see y’all and all the love you give, that means a lot and for my creativity, and for me personally!!!!! 🌿

[coeurcanelle]

𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬˙⋆✮

pairing:cowgirl!ellie x bartender!reader

°~♡~°

°~♡~°

for valentines day, you and the cowgirl you promised never to get attached to,offer each other gifts. suspiciously thoughtful gifts.

tags:fluff,loser ellie

a/n:I'm 4 days late but its cowgirl Ellie so it's fine

It was the 14th of February. You had just finished your shift, the scent of vanilla filling your home as you focused on not burning your homemade cake.

Knock, knock.

Then silence. And another knock.

You didn’t need to open the door to know who was standing on the other side.

It couldn’t be anybody else.

Quickly, you made your way to the front door, turned the knob, and opened it.

Cowboy hat.

Yep, it was your favorite cowgirl in town.

"Sweetheart," she said softly, the nickname slipping past her lips before she could stop it. Her smile reached her emerald eyes, and it would take—well, something serious—to wipe it off her freckled face.

Your own smile widened; it had already been there the moment you recognized her knocking.

She wasn’t empty-handed, not on this day of the year.

Nope. She held a bouquet—lilies, dahlias, and roses, all carefully arranged together in a beautiful display.

"Thought today was a special day," she said, tilting her head slightly. "And that your place could use a little… how do I put this? Less tragic, more aesthetic." She extended the bouquet toward you, fighting the urge to tuck a flower behind your ear.

You chuckled, carefully taking the bouquet. "Not you too."

Earlier at the bar, plenty of cowboys had offered you roses and letters—it wasn’t unusual. You were used to gestures of affection and gratitude for your service. But none of their gifts were the ones you had been looking forward to receiving today.

"What kind of cowgirl would I be if I didn’t spoil the prettiest songbird in town?" she teased, pride swelling in her chest. She mentally congratulated herself for not stammering or—accidentally—letting a 'my girl' slip instead of 'prettiest songbird'.

You raised an eyebrow, playfully. "Thought cowgirls dont get attached."

She looked surprised for a second.

You and Ellie had met at the bar, of course. And quickly, she became your favorite customer—more than you would ever admit.

At first, it started with free drinks. Then, you’d take her song requests, singing her favorites at the bar. Then, fingers grazing while passing her drink. Then, soft kisses on her cheek for goodbyes. Then, tender kisses on the lips.

Still, she kept her cool, as always. "Hey, those folks all got you flowers, but that doesn’t mean they’re wifing you up. Unlike me, who—"

Shit.

What are you doing, Ellie?

"I mean, what? Who said that? Not me."

"No strings attached." That’s what you told each other every time. Ellie wasn’t the type to settle down with her cowgirl lifestyle, and you? You weren’t looking for anything serious either.

"Mmh"you narrowed your eyes, her cheeks burning red like a tomato.

"Don’t 'mmh'me," she nudged your arm playfully. Keeping her hands to herself around you had always been a challenge.

"Where’d you buy them?" you asked.

"Buy?" she scoffed. "I got them myself, ‘bun." Her grin was proud. "I was out riding with Shimmer, and we— listen, we gracefully stumbled upon this cute lil’ meadow near your bar. Guess what? I tripped—which happens, like, once in a lifetime—and the flowers just magically landed in my hands." She watched you bite your lip, trying not to laugh. "Couldn’t just plant ‘em back in."

If she could, she would’ve taken every flower from that meadow.

For you.

"Yeah, spread that story—tell everyone you do magic and watch them show up with torches and pitchforks the next second."

You laughed at your own joke, and Ellie joined in.

"Thanks, though. I’ll make sure they don’t accidentally end up in my trash bin," you teased, making her roll her eyes.

It would sting—no, hurt—if you really threw her gift away. But the way you carefully held the bouquet told her it wouldn’t land in the trash.

Maybe—hopefully—somewhere close to your beating heart.

You opened the door wider, inviting her in. But then, she hesitated.

She reached into her pocket.

Almost forgot.

"I also, uh…" Her fingers brushed against something small. She had spent the entire day before debating if it was too much, if it would scare you off.

Still, the thought that it spoke small volumes of her feelings won.

"You got more? You didn’t—"

And now she was holding out a small red box.

"Open it," she said, watching you carefully. You swore you could see a sparkle or two glinting in her eyes.

You hadn’t expected something so thoughtful from her. Not that she didn’t know how to treat a girl, but…

It made you wonder if all those stolen kisses had ignited something in her heart.

Still, you set the bouquet aside and took the small box,opening it gently.

Your heart warmed at the sight.

A necklace. With a cute heart-shaped pendant.

"Let me guess," you smirked. "You fell off Shimmer again and accidentally bought someone’s necklace, while being just concussed enough to let the vendor pick the cutest one for you?"

You reached for your neck, trying to clasp the necklace on yourself.

Instantly, Ellie stepped behind you, brushing your hair away. Her fingers grazed yours as she worked to fasten it.

"Close," she chuckled. "But still wrong."

You tried to ignore the way your heart raced at the closeness.

The necklace was secured, and Ellie stepped back, turning you around by your hips.

"I don’t fall off Shimmer that much."

Her gaze fell to the necklace.

You didn’t look exactly how she had imagined.

You looked even more beautiful.

Your eyes met hers, almost entranced.

Cute.

"You know this doesn’t mean I’m yours, right?" you teased.

Ellie instantly looked away.

What was wrong with her?

She always thought she never wanted to settle down.

So why was her mind suddenly filled with images of you and her, riding Shimmer together… forever?

She cleared her throat, trying to sound put-together. Ignoring the pang of disappointment in her chest.

"Just a friendly gesture. From your favorite cowgirl." She scratched the back of her neck, nervous again.

It was becoming a familiar feeling around you.

"The only person you get to kiss," she added.

She wasn’t wrong.

"Sometimes," you smirked.

Ellie’s eyes flickered to your lips before darting back up, refusing to let her thoughts wander.

"Feelings can change before you realize," she said, softer this time—like a gentle spring breeze.

You tilted your head. "You hated me before, cowgirl?"

Ellie blinked, her brain short-circuiting.

"What? N-no, that’s not—ugh." She sighed, mentally cursing herself. It’s not like she had been practicing how to confidently respond to your teasing every time before knocking at your place.

"Yeah, I absolutely despised you," she deadpanned.

More like you absolutely despised her

Fuck.

She should have said that.

"Never heard someone say that while grinning like a bunny high on carrots," you teased.

She dropped her smile and threw you a glare.

She wasn’t a fucking bunny. Or high on carrots.

But wait—bunnies were cute.

So that meant…

You thought she was cute?

"Can you quit bullying me already?" she groaned, nudging your arm again.

The smell of vanilla reached her nose and for once it didn't smell like a burnt cake.

Her lips curled into a smirk. "I know you got something for me somewhere."

"Somewhere… how did you know?"

Her smirk turned into a grin. She knew you thought about her—maybe as much as she thought about you.

"I think it’s in my trash bin. Hold on, lemme check."

Maybe she was getting her hopes up too much.

But maybe…

Maybe she wasn’t.

♡°♡°♡

After dashing to your bedroom, you rummaged through your drawer, searching for the gift you had been preparing for this very moment.

Your fingers brushed against cold metal.

The revolver Joel had given Ellie.

She had come into the bar one night, a rare pout on her lips, complaining about how she had broken it and couldn’t fix it because of some missing piece.

You weren’t just good at mixing drinks—you were good with your hands in other ways too. And when you saw the way her eyes lit up at your offer to help, you knew you had to fix it.

Now, it rested in your palm, good as new.

Wrapped in a pink bow.

A rush of excitement coursed through you.

You hoped it wasn’t too much—just enough to make Ellie happy about using her gun again.

Hiding the gun behind your back, you stepped out of your room, closing the door behind you with a soft thud.

She was sitting on the couch, looking comfortable, like she was in her own home.

"Keeping the trash bin in the bedroom? Questionable placement," she chuckled, her mood noticeably lighter than before.

You were sure she had rehearsed teasing you in her head, refining the perfect delivery until her brain and mouth worked in sync.

"Does this look like trash to you?"

Her eyes widened as you brought your hands forward, revealing the gun.

It looked usable.

Like it had never been broken before.

And solid enough not to break so easily again.

Unbelievable.

"No fucking way." She stood up, taking it carefully, her eyes locking onto yours.

She looked at you as if you were a magician capable of bending logic into mind-blowing miracles.

"You're a damn wizard," she murmured, calmer than the storm of surprise raging in her mind.

You chuckled, casually explaining how you fixed it, leaving out the part where you spent hours searching for replacement parts, scouring through every tool and guide you could find.

To you, it was just a simple favor.

To her? It meant everything.

Because this wasn’t just any revolver.

It had belonged to Joel.

She had sworn to herself she’d never get to use it again.

Just when her shoulders were sinking under the weight of her recklessness, you had lifted the burden of an unfair universe off of her.

And no words were big enough to express her immense gratitude.

"Thanks… really. I thought I'd have to—"

"Got you this too." you interrupted, grinning.

Her gaze flickered to your other hand.

And then—

Her eyes widened again.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

She stared at the plushie in disbelief.

A cowboy teddy bear.

Decked out in a blue flannel and jeans, tiny belt included. And of course—holstered with a tiny gun. A real cowboy.

For a long second, she said nothing.

Then—

"How the hell did you know?" she demanded, mind racing.

You shrugged, playing it cool. "I have my ways."

Total bullshit.

You had discovered her secret accidentally.

It had all started with a kiss.

Her lips had been on yours the second you stepped into her house after your shift, her boot kicking the door shut behind her,her hands gripping your hips, holding you close—like even the smallest distance might set her on fire.

She had walked you backward, step by step, toward her bedroom—until suddenly, she broke away.

"Wait a sec," she muttered.

Before you could ask why, she had vanished into her room, slamming the door shut.

Then—

Chaos.

Objects falling. Closet doors slamming. The distinct sound of a bed being shoved against the floor.

And—was she about to start mopping the floor, too?

When she finally emerged again, breathless, hair messier than before, she tried to act so casual—like she hadn’t just gone into full panic mode.

But you had seen them.

A glimpse of soft fur. The small round ears peeking out from under her bed before she violently shoved them further beneath it with her boot.

She thought you hadn’t noticed.

You had.

And now, here she was.

Face flushed.

Busted.

"No plushies were harmed or mistreated, okay?" she said quickly, already on the defense. "I just… hid them. ‘Cause, y’know, they would’ve totally fucked up the mood and stuff."

"You better think nice of Ellie Junior," you teased, "and spare him the terrible living conditions beneath your bed—dust and all."

She froze.

"Ellie what?" she sputtered. "Okay, first of all, I clean under my bed regularly—"

"Like every year," you cut her off.

She silenced you with a finger against your lips.

"Like every week," she corrected, her voice sultry, desperate to sound convincing. "And you're not naming this lil' dude Ellie Junior."

She took the plushie gently, already picturing where she would place him.

First, she had to give him a name. A better name.

Actually—no. First, she had to thank you.

Still, she couldn’t believe you weren’t teasing or mocking her about this whole thing. You had picked this gift with her in mind. A little cowboy. A cute little cowboy. Which meant…

"He kinda looks like you," you mused. "With the clothes, the gun, and—"

You grabbed Ellie’s hat, gently placing it on the teddy bear’s head, its frame nearly disappearing beneath her hat.

"The signature Ellie Junior the First hat."

"Yeah...no"Ellie deadpanned. "Not Ellie Junior. Not Williams. Not anything stupid.

Instead, she reached for her hat and placed it on your head.

You blinked.

Ellie smirked.

"Now that’s a look," she muttered,fighting the urge to tuck a stray strand of your hair behind your ear and let her fingers linger on your cheek

You adjusted the hat, clearing your throat. Then, doing your best impression of her, you dropped your voice lower.

"Hey sweetheart, s-s-till got a bottle of whiskey for m-me?"

Ellie’s jaw dropped.

Then she burst out laughing.

"I do not sound like that," she argued.

You smirked. "Sounded like a cute cowgirl to me."

Ellie blinked.

Did she hear that right?

"Really?"

You nodded, your voice softer now. "Yeah."

Damn.

You sounded honest.

Was this a first?

If it was, she hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

"Say it again," she murmured, stepping closer.

Your heart did that thing again.

The warming-up thing.

So, you spoke with your melting heart.

"You’re cute, cowgirl."

Ellie’s eyes lit up again, sparkling with happiness, affection, and excitement.

But mostly…

Hope.

Without any warning,she leaned in, closing the last sliver of distance between you.

Her lips met yours in a soft, tender kiss—the kind that could melt every block of ice in Antarctica with the fire of something so much more than platonic.

She wasn’t afraid to drown you in the waves of her affection.

Not when your lips moved with the same tenderness, whispering a thousand words neither of you had dared to speak.

Maybe you didn’t mind this turning into something serious.

Maybe commitment wasn’t something to be afraid of.

Not with Ellie.

Because in this moment, you knew—

You didn’t want to be anybody else’s.

And neither did she.

[coeurcanelle]

never naming a pet after food ever again ☹️🔫

[coeurcanelle]

CUTIE PIEEEEEEEEEE

[coeurcanelle]

rip buff abby you will always be famous

[coeurcanelle]

it would actually fix me no cap

If I just kissed her for an hour straight, all my problems would be solved.

[coeurcanelle]

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 pt3

pairing: surfer!ellie x reader

✮⋆fluff,angst,sad ending

masterlist

ellie finally tells you why she's been ignoring you for an entire week. You also discover the sad truth behind all the prize money she didnt share with you and understand why surfing was her escape.

"Yeah, my drink is so much better," you said, pushing Ellie's mojito back towards her after taking a quick sip—just enough to taste it and contort your face in disgust, making Ellie chuckle.

It was only 4 pm, but the lack of sleep, stacked up over the days, had caught up with both of you. Too tired to grab your boards again, you chilled at the beachside bar, the soft crashes of the waves long forgotten.

She pushed your pina colada back to you and grabbed her sour drink instead.

Although you and Ellie had a lot in common, you still had opposite tastes—in colors, in music, in fashion style, and even in drinks.

Not in food, though—the classic picnic sandwich was both your favorite meal.

"They both taste good," Ellie disagreed, taking a huge sip and purposefully slurping. "I don't know what you're on."

There wasn't a single sour drink you’d ever learned to like. They just couldn't compare to sweet drinks. But Ellie wasn't complicated when it came to drinks; you could give her the most tasteless one, and her taste buds would just be built different.

"You're the smoker here, not me," you shot back, making Ellie's lips curl into a smirk, clearly amused.

"Guess the weed just made you have bad taste, huh?" she teased.

Ellie had this habit of smoking on the beach once the waves had swallowed all your energy. It wasn’t a habit you shared, but you always told her you didn’t mind the scent of weed drifting through the air while you drifted off, falling asleep on your towel with the sun kissing your skin.

Your gaze shifted to the lipstick stain you’d left on her white straw, your lips curling into a smile. "It doesn’t work like that."

Her eyes followed yours to the straw before meeting yours again, a teasing smirk playing at her lips. "Well, I just put my lips on that straw," she said slowly, leaning in, eyes fixed on yours. "And now you’ve technically put yours over mine, getting a taste of my drink. It’s like... indirect kissing."

She didn’t know if you could hear it—her heart hammering in her chest after letting her boldness push her to a line she'd never crossed with you before.

You blinked, unsure of how to react to her flirting. The air between you thickened, and you were caught somewhere between confusion and amusement.

Ellie took the silence as a sign, leaning back in her chair, her cocky smirk shifting into something more mischievous. "The weed’s in your mouth now."

She watched you bite your bottom lip, trying to hold back your laughter at the absurdity of her words. "Girl, what?"

Ellie rolled her eyes, clearly expecting you to be flustered by her teasing, but instead, you only laughed.

She had been expecting you to react in a way that would make her feel shy, but you didn’t know how to flirt like this—outside of the water, where your teasing came easily, and you could paint her cheeks cherry red.

You dropped your gaze to your drink, focusing on the sweet taste to avoid the weight of Ellie’s eyes on you, waiting for you to say something—anything.

"Now you’re just making things awkward," she murmured, mimicking your movement as she took a sip and lowered her gaze to her drink. Suddenly, she seemed shy.

You stopped drinking and looked at her, trying to think of something to say to fill the silence before it suffocated you both. "You started this."

The straw slipped from Ellie’s lips, and she lifted her eyes to meet yours. "You’re not helping," she sighed.

You stopped drinking, finally meeting her gaze. Her eyes were pleading, almost expectant. "What do you want me to say?"

She shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You should know."

Your heart skipped at the quiet intimacy in her voice.

It was a huge leap for Ellie to flirt with you like this, and you realized it was only fair to flirt back instead of hiding behind your cocktail.

So you grabbed her drink again, locking eyes with hers, which glimmered with surprise—and something more—when you put your lips on the exact spot she had put hers. The sour taste flooded your mouth, but you focused on making her heart skip a few beats.

Ellie wasn’t functioning when you gave her back your drink with a wink.

"Consider this your first then."

She never thought she'd want to be a straw so badly, but she wasn’t going to admit it. Instead, she tried to play it off. "You really think I’m a loser, huh?" she said with a casual shrug, trying to hide the flush creeping up her neck.

Four days ago, that’s how your friendship with Ellie had been. The lines were pretty blurred, and you liked it that way. Back then, you never imagined that it would be the exact reason you’d cry yourself to sleep every night at the thought of her now.

“I think it’s better if we don’t see each other for a while. Sorry.”

That was the last message you got from her. She made it crystal clear that she didn’t want to see your face again.

She didn’t want to hear the sound of your voice.

She didn’t want to feel the warmth of your touch again.

But it didn’t answer the one question you kept asking yourself every day since.

Why?

Why would she choose distance when she couldn’t even keep her hands to herself around you? When her gaze lingered on you like a secret she was dying to tell?

The warmth you once cherished when you thought of her now burned with a darker, sharper flame—a fire fueled by confusion and longing. It consumed you, growing fiercer the longer she stayed away.

The surfers on the beach were probably right. Maybe it would appease you not to be around her for a while, knowing all you'd do would be argue with her and make things even worse than they already were.

But how long was "a while"?

What did “a while” mean? Days? Weeks? Months? Or had she really meant forever but softened the blow with kinder words?

You obsessed over her message, dissecting each letter like it held some hidden truth. You even let paranoia sink in—what if someone else had sent it, someone who wanted to tear you apart? But deep down, you knew. You knew it was her.

So, you stayed away from the beach. The ocean that once brought you peace now felt like a cruel reminder of her absence.

Every time you'd dive into the water, the icy water felt like her cold hands brushing against yours.

Every time you'd rest on your board, drained of energy, the warm sun was like her small, shy smile that melted your heart every time.

Every wave rolling and crashing on the shore unfolded memories of her—Ellie, balancing on her board with effortless ease, laughing at your attempts to imitate her tricks before coaxing you to try again with that proud glimmer in her eyes.

You missed her green eyes. The way they lingered on you when she thought you wouldn’t notice. The way they darted away, embarrassed, when you teased her for it.

Now, all of it was gone.

Memories were all you had, and they were eating you alive.

You missed her.

You missed what you were.

You weren’t even together, but this hurt worse than a breakup. Worse than heartbreak, it was the emptiness of not knowing if she’d ever come back to you.

The silence was unbearable. No texts, no calls, not even a glimpse of her at the places she used to frequent. Even her apartment—windows always closed whenever you passed by—felt like a tomb.

Ellie was born of the ocean. There wasn’t a single day she’d spent away from the sound of waves, the salt air in her lungs. Even on cloudy days, she’d drag you to the beach just to sit and dig a sand pool connected to the water,just doing anything to still stay close to her favorite place.

So if she wasn’t here, at her second home, the heart of what brought her joy, how was she even doing?

With a sliver of hope still clinging to your chest, you returned to the moon pool cave. Maybe she’d be there, you thought. Maybe you’d find her sitting on the rocks, ready to share one of her ridiculous jokes about planets, the kind that would make you laugh until your stomach ached.

But the cave was empty.

Only the moon remained, casting its pale reflection on the still water, and silence was your only companion.

Half of your heart beat in your chest, the other half with her.

You wondered if she was drowning in loneliness like you, unable to find a sliver of sunlight through her closed windows.

What was she even doing, all alone in the dark?

Surfing wasn’t her only hobby—so maybe she was drawing in her journal, but everything she liked was connected to the ocean, and she hadn’t stepped foot in the water since days. So what could she possibly be drawing?

The moon above shone bright, not offering warmth like the summer sun, but casting a silver light throughout the cave.

You had thought all this time that Ellie was like the sun. But after a lot of overthinking,you started to think she was more like the moon—shining brightly, giving her light to the stars in the sky, showing you her best smile, her happiest tears, and her loudest laughs. Yet that was only one side of her. What was on the other side? Was it just as bright?

This distance felt so sudden, and you realized something.

Ellie hadn’t been avoiding you.

She’d been avoiding the beach.

"Surfing makes me forget everything. I try to keep my mind busy at home, but at the beach... surfing just hits different. Like I can let go and focus on the waves, you know?"

That was the only time you got her to open up a little, but you never learned what she was trying to escape,what was she trying to forget.

Then there were the little things—like when you asked her about her fall, and she brushed it off without even pretending to smile, hiding the pain of not finishing her trick.

Or the way her lips curved into something sad when a child asked her to teach him to surf someday, agreeing like it was a promise she didn’t believe she could keep.

The pieces were starting to come together, but you still couldn’t see the whole picture.

Something was wrong.

And Ellie wasn’t the drama queen type.

If she was hiding something from you, it had to be heavy—so heavy that she thought it might crush you, too.

The distance wasn’t meant to hurt you.

It was meant to protect you.

She was sinking beneath the weight of whatever secret she carried, the tides pulling her under. And instead of reaching for your hand, she let herself drift, thinking it was better to drown alone than drag you down with her.

Because she knew you would take her hand every time. That you wouldn’t mind sinking as long as you could help her back to the surface. Or that you might even drown with her, not daring to let go.

And she didn’t want that.

You could see it now. It was all there, written in her green eyes the moment she opened the door to you.

You couldn’t endure more than a week of this.

You didn’t need her to come back to you—you just needed to understand. An answer. Any answer.

If she told you to leave, if she told you never to see her again, you’d do it. But you wouldn’t leave without the truth.

So, when you finally stood before her door, the words fell out of you.

"Are you okay?"

♡°♡°♡

The scent of cleaning products invaded your nose as she let you step into her cozy apartment. Everything was in place, the floor even shining. She didn’t lie when she said she cleaned it up.

But you couldn’t shake the ominous feeling rising in your chest.

Everything looked untouched, as if she hadn’t lived here.

"I wasn’t home for a week," Ellie explained, unable to meet your eyes, afraid that you might see through her and read her mind.

It made sense why the windows were open today.

"Where had you been?"you asked

Never had you seen her look so tired. Her voice was rough, and the dark bags under her eyes betrayed her usually energetic self.

Her face was so pale. As pale as a ghost.

The only answer you got was silence. Ellie was thinking of a smooth excuse to make you leave. But when you walked closer, asking if she had even had lunch, offering to make her something, she grabbed your arm before you could reach the doorknob of the kitchen.

"No. Don’t go inside." She pulled away when you stopped and turned back to her. Her hand was cold against your arm. Colder than usual.

"Okay. You wanna tell me what’s going on with you?" Her dark green eyes met your confused ones. She knew she couldn’t avoid this conversation forever, but it was still hard knowing you had no idea what she’d been going through, and that it could change everything between you.

"Look, I’m sorry about the money, I know—"

"I’m not here to argue about that. It’s fine." You shook your head. Deep down, you knew her desire to create distance wasn’t just about that. And you didn’t want to stir up tension, especially when she looked like... that. "I just wanted to know if you're okay. You haven’t exactly been showing signs of life these days."

Ellie nodded, her thoughts drifting to the ocean. For a week, she had been listening to the sound of crashing waves in her shell, daydreaming about being there. With you.

"I know I’m..." Ellie’s eyes struggled to stay on yours. She looked away "I’m sick."

Another excuse, you thought. "Sick? In the middle of summer?"

But then her eyes met yours again, pure honesty glimmering in them.

"No... not like this." Her lips trembled, afraid of letting the bitter truth slip after she’d drowned you in the ocean of her lies.

Unable to find the right words, she took your hand instead. The lack of reassurance in her grip made your heart tighten.

"Okay..." she exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. "Come with me."

Each step you took didn’t lessen the overwhelming grip—if anything, it tightened with Ellie’s cold fingers wrapped around yours, leading you to her kitchen.

And you didn’t know what you expected, but it wasn’t this: a large pile of medicine bottles and boxes scattered across her table, still in their bags.

Your heart sank deeper than you thought it could, but it still didn’t compare to how deep Ellie had sunk.

“Why?” You covered your mouth with your hand in shock, trying your best to keep your voice steady. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ellie knew she should have shut the door in your face, told you to fuck off and never come back. It would have hurt less than seeing you like this, the light fading from your eyes, just like it had from hers. “I didn’t want to worry you, or have you see me like this.”

The puzzle was complete now.

You searched her eyes desperately, your voice trembling with a question you prayed wasn’t true.

“Do you have cancer or something?”

Ellie let out a soft chuckle, trying to ease the thick tension in the air. “I still have all my hair, don’t I?”

But you didn’t laugh.

The silence that followed was deafening, pressing down on you like a weight too heavy to bear. She shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of her neck as the facade crumbled. Her voice softened, almost apologetic.

“It’s ALS… neuromuscular stuff.”

Your heart dropped.

It all made sense.

Her fall at the competition—it wasn’t just a mistake. It was her body starting to give up on her.

The prize money—you’d foolishly dreamed of spending the summer together, carefree and happy, while she’d been planning for treatments, trying to buy more time against a sickness that was already taking everything from her.

And that sad smile she gave the little boy who asked her to teach him to surf one day—it wasn’t just disappointment. It was the quiet grief of knowing she’d promised him a future she would never live to see.

"How bad is it?" you asked, though the piles of medicine already answered for you.

The silence hung between you like a storm on the verge of breaking. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely audible.

"I don’t have much time left."

The world stopped spinning. It had to. Time itself felt like it fractured, splintering into shards that pierced through your chest.

You swore you felt your heart break, warmth spilling from the cracks, leaving you hollow and aching. Your chest tightened, your breath caught, and all you could do was stand there as your mind reeled against the truth.

She had pushed you away for a week, kept you at arm’s length—not because she didn’t care, but because she cared too much.

She saw how hard and fast you’d fallen for her. How behind your eyes, you imagined her lips on yours, and how behind your small smile, you wanted to make her heart melt.

And she had fallen too—harder than any wave had ever thrown her.

And she didn’t want you to anchor yourself to someone with no tomorrow, someone who would make you cling to the past, to the shadows of memories.

She didn’t want her fading touch to take away your warmth.

She didn’t want you to love someone who was already slipping away.

Pulling you under with her would be a fall that wouldn’t leave bruises on your skin like the waves did, but would instead carve wounds into your heart—wounds that no time or tenderness could ever mend.

"I know you're upset because I didn't tell you, but... I didn't want to," she said, fighting back her tears just like you now.

In the past, she had made peace with this. She had imagined the ocean taking her back one day, the moon shining bright above her as she gave herself to the waves. But then she met you, and suddenly, she was afraid.

Afraid of the life she’d never get to have.

Afraid of the love she’d leave behind.

Afraid of never seeing you again.

Silence filled the space between you as you tried to gather the shattered pieces of yourself. When you finally spoke, your voice was soft, but heavy with pain.

"Why? I would’ve been here for you, Ellie. I would’ve helped with treatments. I would’ve done something. Anything." If you'd known she needed all the prize money for the competition, you would’ve let her take it in a heartbeat—maybe even given some of your own if it wasn't enough.

Just anything to buy some time, even if it was just for a second.

"That's exactly why I kept my mouth shut."

Your heart—or perhaps what was left of it—clenched at her firm voice.

"You're gonna start seeing me as..." she continued, pointing to the bags of medicine on the table, her hands trembling. "As a zombie," her voice cracked with frustration. "Someone who's already dying."

Each word, each syllable, raw and heavy with pain, hurt. You wished you could take all of her burdens away and bear them for her.

“Bullshit,” you said, your voice rising, trembling with anger and desperation. “You’re not going to die.”

You wouldn't let her drown.

And if you had to sink to help her stay afloat, you’d do it in a heartbeat.

Because all you wanted was for her to live, to pursue her passion, gliding over the roaring waves like a true daughter of the sea. In your eyes, no one else ever shone above the waters quite like she did.

Your eyes drifted to the mountain of pill bottles. Ellie had spent an entire week in the hospital, under the care of doctors, managing to afford enough medicine to keep her going.

Each bottle wasn't just a symbol of her fragility or a silent witness to her suffering. They were here because she was still holding on. Because there was still hope.

"You're gonna be just fine. I'm going to make sure of that." Your soft words made Ellie's eyes soften too, and her heart feeling a little less heavy.

But the weight that lifted from Ellie’s heart found itself in yours.

You would share this burden with her.

Slowly, you stepped closer, hoping to see the reflection of hope in your eyes mirrored in hers.

"If you don't have that much time left, and the doctors are unsure, that doesn’t mean you're going to die tomorrow. You might have months or even years. I’m not going to give up on you just because you think there's no hope. Think about it this way—every single moment we spend will be precious, timeless, and you won't ever be alone." Closing the distance, you reached for her hand, transferring your warmth to her cold skin with soothing touches.

"I’m here, no matter what. Always." You promised.

Becausze above the low tides and the violent roar of the waves, Ellie had never stopped helping you back up on your board.

Even beneath the blazing sun, she never hid that small, beaming smile that warmed you more than the light itself.

Under the cold gaze of the moon, her arms never faltered, holding you steady as you trembled against the chill.

By day, when tears fell from the weight of failed tricks, she never stopped turning them into laughter, chasing away the frustration.

And even in the quiet of the night, when the waves pulled you under, she never ceased soothing your bruises, staying until the last wave of pain finally ebbed away.

Because Ellie had always been there for you.

And now, it was your turn to be there for her.

Tears threatened to spill from your eyes, but you held them in, fighting the urge to fall apart when she needed you most.

You had to be the steady hand that would piece her back together, no matter how fragile she felt.

Wiping your eyes, you took a steady breath and offered her a gentle smile, silently urging her to return it.

"Do you want me to make lunch?" Your hand was still caressing hers, the warmth beginning to fade. "Anything?"

And in that moment, as you watched her fragile smile form, the broken pieces of your heart began to pull themselves back together, like shards of glass fitting into place.

Ellie nodded, her heart beating with excitement. "Yeah, sure," she missed your sandwiches.

She let go of your hand and walked around the kitchen, opening the cabinets to grab the plates.

On the other side of the room, you were stacking the medicines in a secluded cupboard, your mind drifting to her treatments.

Then the sound of glass hitting the floor startled you.

You rushed to Ellie’s side, scanning her hands for any cuts. They were trembling uncontrollably.

"Shit, sorry," Ellie murmured, crouching down to pick up the scattered pieces. But you stopped her.

"Hey, don’t worry, I got it," you reassured her, and she nodded.

She sat down on the floor, away from the glass, as you went to grab a broom and dustpan to clean it up.

It wasn’t the first time you had used the broom in her apartment, so you quickly reappeared in the kitchen.

As you swept the shards into the dustpan, the sound of stifled sobs reached your ears.

Immediately, you turned, your heart breaking at the sight of Ellie crying.

You dropped the broom and dustpan, pulling her into your arms.

Her body shook like a leaf as her tears soaked your shoulder.

She had been holding back her tears since she fell. Every day at the hospital, she was drowning in your absence, wishing for things to be different—a different world where she wasn’t sick.

But she never wished for you to change.

She had pushed you away, thinking it was the only way to protect you. But you hadn’t stepped back.

Instead, you pulled her closer—closer into your arms, closer into your heart.

Soon, you found your own tears falling onto her shoulder.

Water and salt mixed in each other’s tears—water from the cherished past and salt from the bitter future. Yet, you stood there, trying to piece together what had slipped through your fingers, reshaping it into something that could be a better present.

Even if her world was ending and the stars in the sky were falling, you would try to hang them back up just for her.

And if they couldn’t remain, and the world fell into darkness, you would be her last glimmer of light.

♡°♡°♡

You found yourself counting days again. Days since Ellie told you the truth behind her sudden disappearance. Days since she apologized for pushing you away. You always told her it was okay—that what mattered was that you were back together. She promised she would never do it again, and you believed her.

Despite the heartbreak, each piece of your heart was still, and would always be, full of her.

You could have never guessed she was ill, not with her infectious, playful, and energetic spirit.

But it wasn’t a facade at all. Even after telling you she was sick, she was still the same girl you met on the waves at the beginning of summer.

Or maybe it was because she’d gotten better.

A few days after learning the truth, you packed some of your clothes from your closet and moved them into Ellie’s—practically living with her.

The apartment felt peaceful, the days filled with harmony as you helped her with chores. From preparing meals—not just sandwiches—to doing the laundry or vacuuming the floor.

Every time she’d catch you with a broom or something, she would grab it back, saying, “Is it me or are you letting the cookies burn again? Go to the kitchen quick!!!” Just an excuse to do the chores herself, though your acts of service always warmed her heart.

Ellie was still pretty independent, and accidents like her dropping things only happened once.

And because she got better, it didn’t take long before you dove into the water again.

“Did you feel that?” Ellie asked, her legs floating underwater as she sat on her board, looking at you to see if you felt something graze your feet too.

“Yeah, I hope it’s just a fish.”

After putting on your swimsuits, you and Ellie rubbed sunscreen on each other’s backs, her fingers lingering longer than necessary on yours before you both stretched and caught low and high tides effortlessly.

Even after a week, Ellie was still amazing, never slipping once. You copied her tricks, earning her proud smile every time you didn’t slip.

And once the adrenaline wore off, you just sat there talking under the sun, above the gleaming water. The crashing waves from the shore echoed far away, feeling less playful than Ellie.

“I mean, we’re pretty far from the shore. Water’s cold. Could be anything.”

You shifted your gaze from Ellie’s playful smirk to the shimmering water. The sun’s golden reflection rippled across the surface, concealing anything beneath it, teasing your curiosity.

“Only one way to find out,” you said, a grin tugging at your lips before vanishing underwater.

The sound of the sea enveloped you as you dove deeper. Hesitantly, you opened your eyes, the saltwater stinging briefly before your vision adjusted. Searching for the mysterious fish that had brushed against you, you were greeted with an unexpected sight: a line of identical cods swimming in perfect formation, their silvery bodies glinting like tiny mirrors in the dappled sunlight.

Carefully, you extended your arms forward, moving slowly to avoid startling them. Then, with a quick motion, you grabbed one of the fish and shot back up to the surface.

Ellie’s eyes widened as you emerged, triumphant, the fish flailing in your grip. “No way! You actually caught it,” she said, her tone a mix of awe and disbelief.

Grinning, you held it up proudly before gently releasing it back into the water. “Piece of cake,” you bragged, earning a playful scoff from Ellie.

Ellie raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning as she pushed herself off her board and into the water. The cold didn’t seem to faze her. "Okay, show-off. I’m going to catch two. Just you wait.”

Before you could respond, she disappeared beneath the waves. You rested your hands on your board, watching her green shorts and top fading into the blue depths.

Moments later, Ellie resurfaced, empty-handed, her playful smirk replaced by a slightly embarrassed pout.

“Need help?” you teased, unable to hide your amusement.

“Shut up,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes as she climbed back onto her board. You really made it look so easy to fish with bare hands—she’d probably be better as bait.

“I had it, I swear. I caught it, but then it slipped. Freaked out and everything.”

You couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Who wouldn’t?”

Without warning, she brought her legs up and kicked them against the water, sending a cascade of icy splashes your way.

You retaliated, splashing water back at her, but before you could gain the upper hand, Ellie leaned in closer. Her mischievous grin was the last thing you saw before she shoved you both underwater.

Beneath the waves, your laughter erupted into streams of shimmering bubbles, tangling in the currents around you. For a fleeting moment, her sickness seemed to dissolve into the water, carried away with the tide.

The ache in her stomach wasn’t from pain this time; it was from laughing too hard, from joy that felt as infinite as the sea.

The same joy spread through your body as you and Ellie now lay exhausted on the shore. Your eyes lingered on the magical scenery unfolding on the horizon, where the orange sun dipped low, gently kissing the endless blue sea. Ellie had suggested watching the sunset from the shore, not giving you a specific reason, but you agreed anyway. You lazily paddled here, not without a huge wall of water crashing over your bodies along the way. Now, you were like stranded whales, letting the last rays of warmth from the sun evaporate the small droplets on your skin.

Suddenly, you felt her eyes on you. It was funny how you could always tell when Ellie was looking at you, even without glancing back.

A droplet of water slid from your waist, down your side, before disappearing into the sand.

Then her eyes turned to yours.

This time, she didn't look away.

"If you were that fish underwater," she turned to look at the sea. Images of her failing to catch the small cod earlier flashed in your mind. "Would you have freaked out?"

You smiled at her.

"Depends. If you mind your own business, I’d be cool. But if you’re some zoophile or planning to eat me raw and alive..."

"What?" Ellie turned to you, her eyes flashing with fake shock, expecting you to say no, or something that would make her heart flutter. "Can't believe you think of me like that, a heartless freak with primal,neolithic needs."

Then her eyes softened when a laugh escaped your lips, your soft, kissable lips.

All she wanted to do was feel your joy against her lips.

"What did you even do to that fish?" you asked, and she knew you were just joking.

You were teasing her, but she couldn't fight the warmth creeping up on her neck.

"Nothing, I swear!" she exclaimed, trying to keep eye contact.

"Sure"

But your eyes followed the redness now coloring her cheeks, and it only intensified when she caught your smirk.

You liked it a little too much, teasing her until all she could do was look away, trying to calm her racing heart. She’d never admit it, but she liked it. And loved it even more when you were the one being flustered by her.

"I really just... leaned in. Like this," she says, her voice quieter now as she inches closer to you, her eyes locked on yours.

The sun had finally disappeared beneath the water, ready to let the moon shine through the night.

But it was in Ellie's eyes that shone the prettiest stars.

"And then it freaked out?" you asked, your voice softer now.

"Yeah," Ellie whispers, her voice almost trembling as her gaze flickers down to your lips and back to your eyes.

Your breath fanned over her lips, and she was aching to steal it all away from your lungs, which was funny considering she promised she would be the air filling your lungs if you drowned.

You were truly driving her crazy.

"What if it was me, and you were the fish..." you tilted your head, your voice gentle. "Would you freak out?"

The few inches distancing you felt so far, like you were on the other side of the planet.

She didn’t solely need the sweetness of your smile, she yearned to feel your heart beating next to hers.

Desperately, she replied, “No.”

The same desperation echoed in your heart.

Before Ellie could add another word, you closed the distance, an explosion of warmth and pure affection bursting from her heart, spreading through her chest as she tasted the sweetness of your smile.

Your lips moved desperately against hers as you emptied your heart, full of her.

The saltwater lingered on your connecting lips.

Ellie was right.

Daydreaming about this moment for so long, her heart always told her you'd taste like her favorite place in the world, like the ocean.

Your trembling hands cupped her rosy cheeks as you lost yourself in this pull, stronger than the sea, drawing her closer and crashing the waves of everything into her: the love you've felt for her since day one, the joy of having her reciprocate your feelings, but also fear.

Fear of losing her.

Fear that this might be an ending rather than a beginning.

Ellie's fingers brushed yours before she pulled them off her cheeks, gently guiding your hands down into the sand, intertwining your fingers as she moved her lips softly against your desperate ones.

You kissed her like there was no tomorrow, and she kissed you as though each second held the eternity of a memory.

Each flicker of her tongue told you she wasn't going anywhere.

Her hands grounded you as she calmed the storm raging in your heart, her heart melting when you responded with equal tenderness, yours melting as you felt her hand now on your hip.

Deepening the kiss, she let all of her love travel through your chest, reaching your heart, and pulled you closer so you could feel her heartbeat next to yours.

Each single beat thudding in her chest for you.

The first stars began to appear, witnessing what the sun never could, as you pulled away.

The chill of the night didn’t faze you. Your heart was warmed by the sight of Ellie’s blissful,breathless smile.

The shoreline whispered as small waves crashed around you, promising a love as deep as the ocean and as endless as the sky.

From that night on, you stopped counting the days she had left. Instead, you started making every day count.

---

☆taglist: @vahnilla

a/n:last part coming soon <3

[coeurcanelle]

manifesting 🪽🪄

the life i deserve with ellie

[coeurcanelle]

Hold my heart even if it's cold masterlist

pt1☆ellie teaches you how to surf. You come back everyday not just for the lessons.

pt2☆you fall even more for ellie but things take a turn when you get really good at surfing.

pt3☆you discover why surfing wasn't just ellie's passion but her escape

pt4☆you spend the last days of summer with ellie

tags:fluff,angst,strangers to lovers,kinda loser ellie,sad ending

[coeurcanelle]

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 pt2

pairing:surfer!ellie x reader

✮⋆fluff,sad ending

masterlist

You cant help but fall deeper for Ellie,you're even ready to confess. However things take a turn after the both of you team up for a competition

"what's that"

"my surf journal"

The journal was open across her knees, and she held a stubby grey crayon in one hand. Her fingers moved with ease, sketching waves, horizons, and faint outlines of surfers mid-flight on the ocean.

You and Ellie had started hanging out beyond the beach lately—beyond the wild, crashing waves that had first brought you together. Ellie wanted to show you her favorite secret spot and,as always,you followed.

So now you found yourself in a cave.

Not a creepy one—though you had started to second-guess that when she had suddenly dove under the water, motioning for you to follow. The rocks around you had seemed to close in, narrowing into an underwater passage that twisted into shadows.

Before panic could take hold at the thought of no exit, Ellie had glanced back, her eyes sparkling even in the dim, underwater light. Her hand had reached out, a silent encouragement, and something in the steadiness of her gaze had calmed you.

Then, she had disappeared around a bend.

You pushed forward, your lungs burning slightly, until the narrow tunnel opened up into something breathtaking. When you and Ellie resurfaced, your gasp wasn’t just for air—it was for the view.

It was like a secret world, carved into the edge of the coastline and hidden behind jagged rocks and foamy waves. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the salty tang of the ocean. Overhead, a large circular opening framed the night sky, the moon perfectly positioned above, spilling silver light into the space below.

The glow touched everything—the rocky walls, the rippling water in the center of the cave, and the two of you now sitting near its edge.

The water in the middle of the cave was like a natural pool, still and glassy, reflecting the moonlight with an almost magical glow. It lapped gently against the rocks, making soft, rhythmic sounds that seemed to echo in the quiet space.

You sat close to her, close enough to see how her brow furrowed slightly in concentration, close enough to notice the faint streak of moonlight catching the curve of her cheek. Occasionally, you leaned forward, trying to get a better look at her journal without disturbing her.

She was truly an artist, whether she was carving through the waves like she was born under the ocean or sitting here with a crayon, capturing the sea’s beauty on paper. The soft, precise lines seemed to breathe life into her sketches, as though you could feel the weight of the water and the warmth of the sun through them.

At this point, you started to wonder if there was anything Ellie couldnt do.

Suddenly,she flipped over a page. You noticed her quick glance at you before returning her eyes on her blank page. With a smirk that didn't betray the mischief in her green eyes.

"I should add your amazing wipeout from earlier that was epic"she added with a chuckle before sketching again.

It wasn't even an hour ago. A big wave was forming further away and ellie encouraged you to take it,biting back her mischevious smile.

You had taken the bait, of course, paddling hard and catching the wave just as it began to curl. For a brief, thrilling moment, you were inside the wave, surrounded by walls of rushing blue and white. It was perfect,until Ellie’s board appeared out of nowhere.

She surfed alongside you like it was nothing, her movements fluid and controlled, before she deliberately angled her board just close enough to nudge yours. The contact was subtle but effective. Your balance wavered, and then the wave claimed you.

For a brief second, you saw the shimmering wall of water surrounding you, an emerald dome illuminated by sunlight. Then came the chaos—saltwater crashing against your body, spinning you in a disorienting dance before the wave spat you out mercilessly.

Your board shot out one side of the water, while you were ejected the other way before falling back into the water. When you resurfaced,she was in front of you unable to hold back her laugh after watching the whole thing.

"Are you gonna add the other rest of my top 5 most embarassing moments too"you asked rolling your eyes,her laugh from earlier echoing from her lips again.

"Relax"she said her eyes not leaving her journal,"you just didnt see it from my pov." She began sketching, her pencil moving deftly across the page, and you leaned over to catch a glimpse. It was you, ejected out of the ocean mid-wipeout, flying through the air like an electrified cat.An unnecessary, over-the-top rendering that you didn’t need to see to remind yourself how humiliating it was.

"It was legendary. If it was me i'd probably be in a wheelchair right now" she added with a light chuckle knowing damn well you could have ended up like this after she pushed you.

You were lucky you didn't break your spine after that. Hospital bills weren’t exactly in your summer plans, and giving up surfing just when you’d started to get the hang of it wasn’t an option either.

Her pencil stopped, and she turned to you with a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes"but what's your top 5 ?"

Not only was she talented at drawing, but she also had an uncanny ability to make situations worse

"theres no way im telling you"you replied crossing your arms arms firmly.

"Is it that bad?"she smirked,the hint of curiosity in her eyes now shining with mischief. "Was it waving at the wrong person? Peeing in your pants?"

"Worse"

Images of you doing the world's stupidest things flashed in her mind. "Oh, no. Did you-wait-did you shit your pants?"

Your face twisted in disgust, and she burst out laughing, clearly enjoying how much she was getting under your skin.

You decided to tell her anyway."Fine, I’ll tell you. I was crossing the road-"

"you got hit by a car?"Ellie cut you off looking at you with wide eyes.

"You just spoiled it. Thanks"

Her cold hand found warmth on your arm as she gently shook you, as if trying to make the details of your story bubble out of your mouth. Just another excuse to have her hands on you.

"What? Tell me! And why the hell weren’t you looking for cars?"

"It wasn’t my fault!" you defended, the images of your small accident replaying in your mind. Even if you tried to forget it, the embarrassment still lingered, clinging to you without peace.

"The green light was for me," you continued now that she was all ears. "So I was crossing the road, and this car hit the brakes too late. It wasn’t going that fast—city traffic—but next thing I know, I’m kissing the pavement."

The ghost of her cold hand grazed your arm as her mind replaced the scene of you ejected by the ocean with this new spectacle of you on the ground instead. Skill issue.

"I got up and kept walking," you said casually.

She furrowed her brows in disbelief, "You just walked off? Like nothing happened? Were you even hurt?"

"Of course I was, but everyone was staring—I just wanted to get out of there. I didn’t break a leg, but I was limping, and some kids were even laughing at me." In that moment, all you wanted was to disappear, to act as if it never happened. Yet here you were, telling Ellie, who found the whole thing anything but serious. "Bet you would’ve laughed too."

"Me?" she pointed at herself, fake surprise lacing her voice. "Never! I’d feel bad for you!" she said, biting her lip to suppress the laughter that was already bubbling up.

She would have been worse than those kids.

"Right. You’d come running over with your stupid journal, sketching me like, ‘Whoa, that was legendary! Can you do it again?’ while the doctors put me on a wheelchair."

That was it. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her laughter erupted, loud and shameless, tears streaming from her eyes as she doubled over.

Between gasps for air, she grabbed her journal and flipped to a blank page. "There’s no way I’m not adding this." In seconds, the page transformed into a dramatic sketch of you face-planting after being hit by a car.

Her laughter continued, filling the space around you, and despite yourself, you couldn’t help but smile. Even as she laughed at you, there was something undeniably endearing about being the reason for her joy.

"I can't tell you anything, can I?"

You still ended up telling her the rest of your top 5 most embarrassing moments, not getting any justice in the way she represented you. Soon, her surf journal was a collection of doodles of you doing the stupidest things known to mankind. Even if it wasn’t all about surfing, she still wanted to have a piece of you in it.

But she promised she’d never show anyone.

It was a secret between her and you.

♡°♡°♡

As days passed, when you were away from the rhythmic sound of the waves, you were never truly far from Ellie. Even in her home, where the scent of salt and water didn’t linger in the air, there was still this tide. It was much different from the ones she had encountered,much bigger and tighter.

This pull between you and her.

"Why the surf?" you asked, turning to her. You were both lying on her bed, staring at the fluorescent stars on her ceiling. They had been there since she was a kid, left to gaze at when she wasn’t at the beach stargazing at far-off planets.

Her body wasn’t cold next to yours, having just stepped out of a warm shower. Your arms brushed, and if you dared to move away, even that simple gesture would surely tear her heart in pieces.

A moment of silence followed your question before she replied honestly, "Makes me forget about everything. I always try to keep my mind busy at home, but surfing at the beach just hits different. Like I can let go of everything and just focus on the waves, you know?"

Ellie knew a lot about you, but no matter how much she talked, she was still like a closed shell. And when she opened up even a little, you feared that if you got too close, she might shut again. Since she wouldn’t tell you everything, your mind wandered through her mysteries.

Was her smile just naturally that bright, or was it a mask?

Had her eyes always been this light shade of green, even in the shadow of the sun?

Did she love the sea because it was everything to her, or because it was all she had?

Before your thoughts spiraled too deep, she pulled you out of them. "You?"

Surfing had only recently become your passion, but you knew it wasn’t anything comparable to Ellie’s. "I like water," you shrugged.

A light chuckle escaped her lips. "Deep."

"No, I mean, like, water’s nice. I always end up with bruises when I try land sports. Never when I’m swimming," you explained, trying to imagine yourself practicing another sport. If it wasn’t near the sea, then Ellie wouldn’t be with you. That was something you wouldn’t have minded a few weeks ago, but now, it felt inconceivable.

"Well, you can drown," Ellie pointed out. She wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t a fear of yours. Not anymore.

"Drowning’s not that bad," you replied.

Ellie’s curiosity piqued. She turned to you, her eyes narrowing as she picked up on the seriousness in your tone. "You’ve drowned before? I thought you were a good swimmer."

Your lips formed a smile instinctively,ready for another storytime "That was before I even learned how to swim."

Her green eyes locked onto yours as you transported her to your past with just your words.

"I was in the water, like a dumbass, and an asshole pushed me into a spot where I couldn’t touch the bottom. I don’t remember anything as I sank, but when I woke up, I didn’t feel like I had just woken up from a good night’s sleep. I felt like I had just woken up from pure void."

Drowning had never been an experience for Ellie. When she didn’t know how to swim, she simply avoided the water. So, she couldn’t fully understand how you felt, but she tried to imagine it.

"It’s weird and peaceful at the same time," you added.

Drowning underwater didn’t seem peaceful to her. But something else did—something she was afraid was real.

Ellie’s eyes shifted back to the stars on the ceiling. "Or maybe your brain just... kinda erased the traumatic part. Before drowning."

"I’m sure it did. I wouldn’t want to remember that." The thought of being helplessly swallowed by the water, despite your best efforts to fight back, seemed too painful for your heart, too damaging to your mind. It was easier to pretend like nothing happened.

Ellie noticed your unfocused gaze at the shiny stars above, their light not reaching your eyes. "Guess you could say you got watered down by the situation, huh?"

Your lips pressed into a thin line. Unimpressed. But at least she brought you back to the present.

"Come on, it wasn’t that bad, was it?" she grinned.

You shook your head. "No, it was totally awful."

Ellie didn’t tell you, but she made a promise. A promise to herself that she would be your shore when the ocean threatened to pull you under, the breath of air that filled your lungs and brought you back to life, and the sun that chased away the clouds, painting your summer days with light.

Because as long as she was here, she wouldn’t let anything happen to you.

♡°♡°♡

Days? Weeks? You didn’t count how much time you spent with Ellie. You just knew she was becoming more and more a part of your summer. The more you found yourself in her arms after a long day of surfing or simply holding her hand, the more you started to picture the two of you forever.

That night, as you sat together on the sand watching the fireworks, you couldn't stop thinking about telling her.

How you could barely call your heart your own, how every beat seemed to echo her name. Not to mention, the two of you had never argued, never been on bad terms, which made the fear of rejection and distance feel even heavier. But you couldn't stop the warm swell in your heart, the feeling that was about to explode.

You had to tell her.

"Ellie, I—"

You turned, tearing your gaze from the explosions of color to look at her, only to find her ghost.

Your heart skipped a beat, panic blooming briefly in your chest, until you spotted a figure sprinting toward the water. The familiar green surfboard in her hands glinted under the scattered light of the fireworks.

Excitement rushed over you like a wave, washing away your unease, your heart racing for a new reason. Without hesitation, you followed, your feet sinking into the cool sand before the icy waves greeted your legs. The water was cold, but you didn’t care—not when Ellie was smiling at you, inviting you to join her for a better view of the fireworks as she sat on her board.

Her board wobbled above the water as both of you balanced on it.

"Comfortable?" Ellie asked, her voice softer than the seafoam she drew with the same board.

"Yeah," you assured, shooting her a small smile that betrayed the huge affection swelling in your heart. With that, Ellie turned her gaze to the sky, where a dance of colors shone in her eyes.

That same explosion of light and color burst in her heart, igniting every time you returned her smile, sparking brighter whenever you reached for her hand or rested in her arms.

So when you moved closer now, resting your head gently on her shoulder, she didn’t hesitate.

Her arm slipped around you instinctively, pulling you in with a warmth that felt more comforting than the summer sun.

Neither of you said a word. The rhythm of your hearts beating in sync as one said it all.

Your confession could wait. For now, you wanted to keep melting in her arms until the magic of this night ended.

♡°♡°♡

The next day, the ocean gleamed under the early morning sun, the waves rolling in with perfect rhythm, each one an open invitation.

Your time at the beach had seamlessly expanded from afternoons to entire days; at this rate, it felt like you practically lived there. Mornings began with Ellie at the beachside café, sharing breakfast and trading sleepy smiles over warm coffee. Afterward, you’d stretch together on the sand before diving headfirst into the waves.

By midday, with the sun hanging high above, you’d both sit on your boards, taking a break to enjoy the sandwiches you’d packed that morning. Ellie never failed to praise your cooking, even though it was always the same simple meal.

“ellie, it’s just a sandwich. Anyone can make it,” you’d tease.

“Still, it’s the best sandwich I’ve ever had. The way the cheese just melts in my mouth. Epic ,” she’d reply, her mouth full, grinning like you’d handed her a gourmet feast.

You’d laugh and return each day with the same lunch and receive the same praises, the small moments between waves growing into something you treasured.

When the moon replaced the sun, you’d either follow Ellie to the moon pool cave to gaze at the stars or retreat to her cozy apartment if she was too tired for a nighttime swim.

Surfing lessons had long since stopped being your reason for coming to the beach. Ellie rarely instructed you anymore, instead offering small tricks or tips, leaving you to practice and perfect them yourself.

Her eyes shone with admiration whenever you were on a wave, and the way her voice laced with praise left you grounded.

You only came because of this invisible thread pulling you toward her.

Much like the wave forming before your eyes.

Ellie sat on her board, floating near the shore. She took in the view—you. Lately, you'd been practicing her tricks, and her eyes glimmered with curiosity, wondering how well you'd execute them today.

This morning, the ocean invited you to try something bold.

A towering wave began to form in the distance, its crest foaming as it gathered strength. You positioned yourself perfectly, your body instinctively moving in harmony with the swell. As the wave rose higher, you paddled hard and caught it, the rush of momentum pulling you to your feet in one smooth motion.

Ellie’s gaze followed you, her smile fading into something more serious as she realized what you were attempting.

This was your chance to impress her more than ever.

You glided effortlessly along the curve of the wave, your body leaning into the motion like you were born to ride it. Then, with a calculated shift of weight, you turned sharply and disappeared into the barrel, swallowed by the cascading tunnel of water.

For a heartbeat, you were gone, completely hidden from view.

Ellie sat frozen, her eyes fixed on the spot where you’d vanished. The wave’s roar seemed to stretch time, the moment suspended in a breathless hush.

Then, as if summoned by the ocean itself, you emerged from the other side of the wave, your silhouette cutting cleanly through the spray.

But you didn’t stop there. You had more tricks under your sleeve.

With precision, you launched into a series of spins,one, two,three. The sight of your board slicing through the air like a knife through silk was caught not only by ellie but all the surfers in disbelief around the beach.

You landed back on the water with a controlled grace, your board skimming the surface as if the wave itself had bent to your will.

Ellie’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened.

She had briefly instructed you on spins, expecting you to try other, simpler tricks more often. But not only had you just successfully nailed them—without demonstration—you did three in a row without falling!

"Watch out for the flies," you teased, seeing how agape her mouth was.

Quickly, she snapped her mouth shut, pressing her lips into a thin line, and her praising words got caught in her throat. "My mouth wasn’t that wide open," she defended.

"Just watch out," you chuckled.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes, the images of earlier still replaying in her mind, unable to forget your impressive moves.

You casually walked along the shore, planting your board down. Surfers around you watched your every move, taking note of your board.

That’s how people would recognize you from now on.

Your eyes caught a quick glance at them before falling back on Ellie. "Okay, but you gotta tell me why were you practically drooling over me"

Her cheeks flushed red, the color deepening as she kept her eyes on yours. "I wasn’t—I was just... ugh."

She had to tear her gaze away from how good you looked out of the water to form words. "You were really cool. Amazing. On that wave."

Your heart screamed at how adorable she was. It took every ounce of self-control not to squish her red cheeks. "Really?"

"Yeah... there’s a competition coming up soon," she said, scratching the back of her neck. "With teams of two. So if you want—"

A competition? And she wanted you to team up with her? Ellie, the best surfer on the beach?

"I don’t know. I’m still nowhere near your level," you cut her off, your confidence fading with the last remnants of adrenaline.

Ellie blinked in surprise. "No need to be on my level."

You shook your head. "But you're so good at everything. Balance. Flow. Precision." You pointed at her board, catching the sunlight by her feet. "Bet you could even do triple backflips without slipping a beat."

She stared at you, blinking twice.

Have you seen yourself on the waves?

"Okay, don’t get carried away. I do fall..." she revealed, but she knew it never happened when you were watching. She made sure of that. "Sometimes. Just not when you’re watching."

The words lingered in the cool air before dissipating, leaving you silent.

Ellie approached you, wanting to dispel the uncertainty clouding your eyes. Confidence looked good on you, and she didn’t want to be the one to watch it disappear.

"There’s no one else I want on my team," her voice softened as she locked eyes with you. She meant every word. "Seriously, have you seen you? You’ve come so far in such a short time. You can do stuff I would have killed to be able to do when I was at your level."

Her gaze quickly fell to your lips, which curved into a small smile.

But she didn’t mirror it.

Your envy smile.

"Yeah, but I still want to be like you," you admitted. Because to you, your skills were never good enough. You’d try countless times to execute them, but the shadows of self-doubt still clawed at your board. You weren’t sure what it was, but every time you watched Ellie on the waves, you were reminded you could never be as good as her.

As perfect as Ellie.

"Don’t," Ellie’s eyes darkened with seriousness. She didn’t want you thinking that.

She didn’t want you to compare yourself to her.

"I watched you do three spins in a row. I didn’t even show you how to place yourself, how to shift your weight on the board in the air, or how to prepare for the landing. And you landed without even losing your balance. Do you have any idea how impressive that was?"

If you were honest—no, you didn’t. You just did it, remembering how Ellie executed it in the air and trusting the feeling. You weren’t thinking much about all the technicalities.

Ellie hesitated before placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. No matter how close you were, the hesitation still lingered in her mind. But you accepted her touch with your heart.

"And the ocean doesn’t need two of me. It needs you," her gaze softened again. She wanted her words to reach your heart and carve themselves there instead of your doubts"Your style, your flow—it’s all your own. You’re unique in your own way. Even better than most surfers here."

Your eyes shifted from her to the figures dancing on the waves ahead. This might be the first time you paid attention to them, as the world around you always blurred when you surfed beside Ellie.

"So don’t make that rookie mistake, trying to match me. You shine differently when you’re being yourself." Her cold fingers found their way around your warm ones, lifting the heavy weight in your chest. Her sincere look, when your eyes met hers, chased it all away.

"You don’t need to change anything."

Because that’s how the ocean carried your name through the waves.

Because that’s how the sun kissed your skin when you floated above the waters.

Because that’s how her heart found space for you.

Only you could make it melt with overwhelming warmth when you took her into your arms.

"You’re not just saying that so I don’t break down in front of you?" you asked, as she hugged you back, her cold arms wrapping around your waist. She held you like you were the most precious treasure in the world, unwilling to let go.

"I mean, we already have a whole ocean here. I don’t need you to cry me a river," she chuckled, until you pulled away. Her body started to warm up next to yours.

"Seriously, you’re amazing," she whined, desperate to feel the warmth of your body embracing hers again.

But she quickly played it off, leaning on her surfboard, which couldn’t wait to meet the water. "I wouldn’t ask you to be on my team if you weren’t. Getting humiliated in public isn’t really my thing," she said casually, glancing at the surfers on the waves, before turning back to you with a smirk.

Her casual smirk that secretly begged for a reaction.

"Unless you do want to eat your surfboard in front of everyone and make us lose. I’m personally not into it," she shrugged.

You weren’t much into competition. Like Ellie, surfing had become your passion, something personal. The only person you felt like you’d been competing against this whole time was yourself, with Ellie always helping you surpass your limits. Proving your skills to others never particularly appealed to you.

But the way Ellie was looking at you, with that burning determination in her eyes, made you not want to let a stupid refusal extinguish it. She wanted to show the world how good you were—and how amazing the two of you were.

"Okay. Count me in. Looks like you don’t give me a choice anyway," you said.

Ellie’s heart jumped with excitement, already imagining you and her floating above the ocean, effortlessly winning against the others, just like in her dreams.

"I do," she chuckled, trying to seem casual. "You can choose me, or those other dudes over there." She pointed to the surfers, each doing a mediocre job at recreating your spins from earlier.

Wow,the impact you had.

You mirrored Ellie’s smirk, grabbing your surfboard, your eyes shining with the same determination. "Nah, I wanna beat them."

Ellie grabbed hers and began walking toward the water, lying flat on her board before paddling. Her heart burned with more than just excitement.

"Now we’re talking."

♡°♡°♡

"Watch out, everyone! The queen of the waves is back on the beach. Will she conquer them or let them swallow her whole?" Ellie declared with exaggerated flair, balancing on your board. Her dramatic tone earned an easy laugh from you.

The competition was tomorrow, and it wasn’t just you and Ellie who couldn’t stop talking about it—every surfer on the beach buzzed with anticipation. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Not just for the bragging rights or the chance to show off, but because the prize money was enough to fund the rest of the summer in style.

It wouldn’t make you and Ellie millionaires, but it was more than enough to guarantee endless fun.

Still, nothing could compare to the moments you shared with Ellie, moments that felt absolutely priceless.

One second you were lounging on your couch, and the next she was standing on your board. All because you casually mentioned she couldn’t perfectly capture the way you moved on the waves.

You hadn’t meant it as a challenge, but there she was pulling a series of acrobatics like a clown whose sole purpose was to entertain a king.

"Will she do a handstand? Can she do a handstand?" she asked with over-the-top enthusiasm. Before you could respond, she kicked up into a wobbly handstand, her legs shaking but holding steady.

Your laughter filled the room, and she couldn’t hold back her own grin as she tumbled down.

She was just warming up.

Next, she stood on one foot, arms stretched out like a tightrope walker. "And for my next act!" she announced with mock gravitas, her voice dripping with theatrics.

You raised an eyebrow, silently wondering how far she’d go just to make you laugh.

And then she crouched low, launching herself into an attempted backflip. A loud smack echoed as she landed awkwardly on your board, sending both of you into hysterics.

It wasn’t about imitating you—she just wanted to impress you.

And it worked.

Slow clapping, you shook your head with a wide grin. "Okay, show-off. I’m not doing all that."

"Come on," she teased, placing the surfboard back against the wall before plopping down beside you. "Think of the crowd going wild when you pull off moves like these!"

You rolled your eyes. "I can’t even do backflips on solid ground. Imagine me trying that on a wave."

Ellie laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Fine, but I still think the crowd would love it. Even if you wiped out."

"Yeah, they'd go wild watching me eat it right after," you said, your own laughter joining hers.

In that moment, the looming pressure of the competition melted away. All that mattered was the sound of her laugh mingling with yours, and you wished you could stretch this moment into forever.

The next morning arrived in the blink of an eye. The sun blazed high in a bright blue sky, and the ocean roared its waves, promising both challenges and surprises.

You tried to focus on the two boys ahead of you, weaving tricks on the waves, but the weight in your chest grew heavier with each passing second.

Your turn was next.

"Hey." Ellie’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts. She’d noticed the far-off look in your eyes.

You turned to her, offering a nervous smile.

"Don’t overthink it," she said, her voice unusually soft, searching for the right words. "Just pretend it’s like any other time. Like we’re training. Just… having fun together."

Her attempt at reassurance didn’t erase all your anxiety, but it chipped away at the edges, making the weight in your chest a little more bearable.

"I don’t have to pretend," you replied, your voice steadier now. "We’ll be having fun together anyway."

Your words brought a smile to Ellie’s face, one that seemed to lighten something heavy she’d been carrying deep inside.

The commentator’s voice boomed across the beach, announcing your names, and the crowd erupted with cheers louder than the waves crashing behind you.

With one hand holding your surfboard and one hand holding ellie's you were more than ready to face whatever the ocean had to offer.

You stepped forward with Ellie, the sand cool beneath your feet and the salty breeze brushing against your face.

Ellie gave your hand a reassuring squeeze,"Ready?"

"Always"you nodded before she let go of your hand, lifting her surfboard with ease.

The roar of the ocean sounded less intimidating now and more like an invitation.

Both of you paddled out into the water, finding your rhythm as you navigated the swells. The ocean churned beneath you, each wave growing taller, sharper, and more powerful.

'Dont overthink too much'

Ellie caught the first wave, her movements fluid and confident as she carved through the water. She rode the crest with precision, her board gliding over the shimmering surface as if it were an extension of her. Then, with a burst of speed, she launched herself into the air, twisting her body into a corkscrew before landing gracefully.

The crowd erupted into cheers as she paddled back out to join you.

Your turn came quickly.

The wave rose high behind you, its power vibrating through the water. You pushed forward, feeling the surge of adrenaline as you stood on your board. The wind rushed past your face as you leaned into the wave, your body moving instinctively.

Then, you saw your opportunity.

The wave curled into a perfect barrel, and you disappeared inside, the world narrowing to nothing but the wall of water around you. Time seemed to slow as you emerged from the tube, launching into the air. You spun—once, twice, three times—before landing smoothly, the ocean steady beneath your feet.

Ellie had told you to do this trick again,it easily impressed her so it would surely leave the same effect on the jury.

The competition continued, with both of you pushing yourselves above limits you would have thought were impossible to reach a few weeks ago,each performance feeding off the energy of the other.

Ellie executed a flawless 360 flip, followed by a graceful descent back onto the wave. You responded with a series of rapid cuts, spraying water high into the air as you sliced through the wave’s face.

But toward the end, Ellie caught a towering wave that swelled higher and faster than expected. You watched from a distance as she launched into the air for a daring trick, her body twisting perfectly.

For a moment, it looked like she’d nailed it,but the landing came too fast.

Her board slipped out from under her, and she hit the water with a splash, disappearing beneath the surface.

“Ellie!” you shouted, fear gripping your chest as you paddled toward her.

She resurfaced quickly, coughing,“I’m fine. Go finish it"

You teared your gaze away from Ellie ,focusing on finishing what you started instead.

The pressure was on, but you took a deep breath and refocused. The ocean offered you one last wave, and you seized it. Riding its crest, you leaned into a sharp turn, letting the power of the water propel you forward. As the wave began to close, you leapt into the air for one final spin, landing cleanly to the sound of the crowd roaring in approval.

When you paddled back to shore, Ellie was there waiting, the crowd erupted once more, cheering for your performance.

Despite Ellie’s fall, the energy was undeniable,you had both given the audience a show to remember.

"Are you okay?" you asked, concern evident in your voice as you looked at her, her wet auburn hair plastered to her face.

It was the first time you'd ever seen her fall.

"Yeah, it’s nothing," she replied, her gaze refusing to meet yours.

Maybe she was upset—falling at such a decisive moment, especially when she never struggled with those same tricks in practice, away from the watchful eyes of others.

You decided not to press further, not wanting to make it seem like a bigger deal than it was. Truly, it wasn’t. You knew Ellie’s strengths, her skills, and how she was better than all the surfers here combined.

After what felt like an eternity, the judges finally delivered their verdict, the commentator’s voice ringing out loud and clear.

You had won first place.

A warmth of pride and joy spread through your chest. Your first victory in surfing—and you won it alongside the person you loved most in this world.

"You did it," Ellie said, her eyes finally meeting yours, glowing with pride.

To her, your tricks had saved the team. If not for you, her wipeout would have surely dragged her rank lower.

But you disagreed. "We did it."

Ellie had done more than just fall. Her tricks were far more advanced than any of the others here. Her fall wasn’t from a lack of competence—it was a reminder that she was human.

She was just like you.

And in that moment, you realized she wasn’t the perfect image you’d painted in your head. You didn’t have to envy her skills anymore.

Without thinking, you leaned in, planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

In the span of a few seconds, her face turned as red as a tomato, her eyes wide in surprise. But it didn’t take long for that shy smile of hers to return.

Before either of you could say much, the two of you were surrounded by the second and third-place teams, posing with your golden medals for local photographers and fumbling through unprepared answers for eager journalists.

"Ellie! Ellie, over here!"

Both of you turned toward the high-pitched voice.

A little boy came running across the sand, his eyes shining with excitement as he approached Ellie.

"Can you sign my shirt, please?" he asked, tugging at his blank white shirt impatiently.

"Sure, where’s your pen?" Ellie asked, noticing he hadn’t brought one.

The boy dashed back to his parents and returned quickly, nearly stumbling on the sand. He handed Ellie a black marker.

Crouching down to his level, Ellie quickly sketched a moth before signing her initials beneath it.

"You’re so cool! My mom says I can’t surf because it’s too dangerous, but when I grow up, you’ll teach me, right?" he asked, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

Ellie straightened, returning the marker to him with a soft smile. But this time, the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Of course," she said, ruffling the boy’s hair. His face lit up with pure joy.

You watched the scene unfold, your heart warming at the sight. For the boy, it was undoubtedly the best day of his summer.

As Ellie stepped back, the boy turned to you, holding out the pen hesitantly.

You crouched down, ready to sign something for him as well.

"Who are you?"

Your smile faltered.

"I won the prize with her. You didn’t see me? I was right beside her on the wave," you said, trying to mask your disappointment.

He shook his head. "Uh, no."

Ellie, failing to suppress her laughter, quickly looked away, her shoulders shaking with amusement.

You really thought you’d leave a lasting impression with your moves, but maybe your expectations were too high for certain people.

“See you next time!” the boy waved as he ran off.

But you knew he only meant it for one person.

A few minutes later, your prize was ready. The bald commentator approached, holding a massive check in his hands, the flashes of cameras nearly blinding you if you dared to keep your eyes open for more than a few seconds.

You’d never received a check this large before—and neither had Ellie. When the sun began dipping below the horizon, you decided to do something special to celebrate your first win with her.

Your initial thoughts included hosting a small party with her and the other surfers or simply spending time together at your apartment. But every plan sank before it could fully form.

“Yeah, uh, maybe next time? I’m just really tired right now,” she admitted, struggling to meet your disappointed gaze.

You didn’t press her further. She’d been training alongside you for this competition, pushing herself hard and taking on the punishing waves. These daily surf sessions must have drained her—not just physically.

So, you nodded and handed her the check, trusting you’d see her again tomorrow, just as you had every day this summer.

But the next day, she didn’t even answer your texts.

10:03 AM: “Wanna meet up to cash the check together ?”

10:10 AM: “Ellie?”

Normally, she would’ve replied almost instantly—telling you she was on her way to the beach or asking if you planned to surf all day so she could tidy up her room before you came over, half-exhausted from the waves.

But today, you weren’t even left on read.

10:11 AM: “You awake?"

Still hopeful, you drove to the beach with your surfboard, heading to your usual spot on the sand.

The sun moved lazily across the sky, but Ellie never appeared. Hours later, when you checked your phone, you finally saw a reply.

5:46 PM:“Spent the whole day cleaning up. Maybe tomorrow"

Cleaning? Ellie, who always said surfing was her escape, choosing chores over the ocean?

You guys had just won something together—something that might not seem huge to her, given the collection of gold medals and trophies on her shelves. But it was monumental to you. It was proof that every single roll of the wave, every fall, and every hour of effort had been worth it. Proof that, for once, you didn’t suck at sports.

With a heavy heart, you still replied that tomorrow worked, still holding out for an explanation for her unusual behavior.

The next day, the sun still shone with the same brightness as yesterday, and the beach was alive with cheerful vacationers and competitive surfers. Life around you continued as if everything were normal—as if Ellie hadn’t stood you up for the second time in a row.

The waves ahead of you, no matter how huge or threatening, couldn’t drown out your thoughts about Ellie’s strange behavior.

Everyday when you checked your phone, you were met with more excuses and apologies, followed by hours of silence.

6:13 PM :"Jesse wanted to hang out. How about tomorrow morning?"

4:44 PM:"Sorry I overslept"

9:55 AM :"I’m tired, sorry."

Was it you? Had you done something to upset her? Maybe kissing her cheek had crossed a line? Maybe you’d made a sarcastic comment she took to heart? Or was it her fall during the competition? She knew this ocean better than anyone, yet she stumbled while you didn’t.

The absence gnawed at your mind. Each day apart stretched the distance between you painfully further.

Then, one day, the sun didn’t make its usual bright appearance, hidden behind gray clouds. That was when you learned the truth.

Ellie had used all the prize money.

It wasn’t something you’d explicitly agreed to split, but you thought it was obvious—you were partners, weren’t you? You’d imagined using that money to explore different seas together, creating memories beyond the beach. Fairs, aquariums, movies—anything to make her smile and deepen the bond you believed was also precious to her.

But it wasn’t just the money that churned the storm in your heart.

It was the fact that she wasn’t sharing anything with you anymore.

Ignoring you for days, as if you had never carved each other’s names on your boards.

As if you had never spent hours talking under the stars until the sun rose.

As if she didn’t have to buy a new journal because pages of you filled her other one.

Was she just pretending all this time?

“Hey, what’s up?” a random surfer asked, sliding unsteadily on the wet sand to catch up with you.

You’d noticed more people recognized you after the competition, finally learning your name now that Ellie hadn’t been on the beach for days. But still, you were known only as her partner.

“You seen Ellie around?” he asked again, a smirk tugging at his lips.

He knew.

Everyone knew Ellie didn’t share the prize with you, leaving you alone on the beach.

And you knew what everyone thought of her now.

“No,” you replied sharply, hoping to end the conversation.

But he pressed on, his friends trailing behind him like a pack of seagulls circling a stranded fish.

“Is it true?” he asked, stepping in front of you to block your path. “The rumors? That she didn’t give you a single cent?”

His friends burst into laughter, as if being used was the punchline of the century.

It took every ounce of restraint not to slam your surfboard into his face and wipe that grin away.

“What do you want?” you asked coldly, your piercing gaze silencing their mocking snickers.

You were already upset enough about Ellie. You didn’t need random surfers adding fuel to the fire burning in your heart.

“I’m just asking, bro. Chill out.” He stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. Then, with a smug grin, he added, “But I gotta say...”

You didn’t want to listen, but his words forced their way into your mind like uninvited guests.

“...That was a really asshole move.”

An asshole move?

Definitely.

But was Ellie an asshole?

"I wouldn’t stick with her if I were you," his words lingered in the air as he slid away with his group.

Ellie wasn’t an asshole, right?

She was a smoker, but were you really just a stash of cigarettes?Something she burned through, inhaling every last bit of you to appease her cravings, only to toss you away once you were used up?

But if you were a cigarette, wouldn’t that make you her addiction? Something she couldn’t live without for the rest of her life?

You needed to know.

You had to.

You didn’t want those random dudes, who knew nothing about you or Ellie, to be right.

Since the texts and calls hadn’t worked, you decided to show up at her apartment. Taking a deep breath to calm your racing heart, you raised your hand, ready to knock on her door.

But the sound of paper rustling at your feet made you pause.

You bent down, picked it up, and unfolded it to reveal her handwriting:

“I think it’s better if we don’t see each other for a while. Sorry.”

Maybe she was right.

Maybe she’d be better off without the warmth of your hand.

And you,without the cold of hers.

[coeurcanelle]

����𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 pt1

pairing: surfer!ellie x reader

✮⋆fluff,sad ending

masterlist

you want to try a new sport to fight boredom this summer. You meet Ellie who's a surfer. She teaches you how to ride the waves but not how to fight their embrace

The waves rose and fell, their rhythm steady like the beating of a heart. The sun kissed the horizon, spilling liquid gold across the ocean’s surface. Among the endless blue, she stood, a silhouette against the shimmering expanse, balanced gracefully on her board. Every movement was poetry in motion — the curve of her body as she leaned into a wave, the spray of water cascading like diamonds when she turned.

You watched from the shore, your toes buried in the cool sand.

The wind tugged at her auburn hair, and you squinted against the sun’s brilliance to follow the surfer’s form. There was something hypnotic about her, something magnetic. She wasn’t just riding the waves; she was part of them, as though the ocean itself had chosen her.

You gathered all the courage you could muster, determined not to let another boring summer slip by. Not when the sun above promised brighter days, and certainly not when the chance to meet someone as talented as her had just appeared before you.

She emerged from the water, shaking her hair free of droplets. A few specks splashed onto your swimsuit.

With your heart pounding, you finally asked, "Teach you? I've never taught anyone before. Are you a beginner? Never ridden a wave at all?"

Her emerald eyes locked with yours, searching for the reason behind your request.

"I know how to swim."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, her smile both warm and knowing. Not only was she amazing, but her voice had a melody all its own.

"I mean, we all start somewhere," she said, setting her surfboard down beside her, then scratching behind her neck.

Surfing was her passion, but she’d never shared it with anyone. Too precious, too personal.

"Please, I can pay you if you want. 10 per hour?"

She caught the hint of desperation in your voice, and you winced inwardly, realizing the first impression you were giving this cool surfer.

"10?" she laughed. "That’s all I get?"

"That’s all I have..." you lied. Of course, you had more, but you hadn’t expected to spend so much of your money on surfing lessons when you woke up this morning.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

"15?" you suggested, but she crossed her arms, unimpressed.

Was she really that thirsty for money?

"20?" you sighed, mentally counting how much would vanish from your wallet by the end of the afternoon.

"Deal."

A weight lifted from your chest in relief as she extended her hand. You shook it firmly.

It wasnt a waste of money. It was the promise of good times and new timeless memories.

You waded in together, the waves curling around you like curious whispers.

She told you her name was Ellie. She talked you through the basics, her voice a soothing cadence against the crash of the surf. You wobbled on the board, your balance shaky, but Ellie was always there, steadying you with a hand on your arm or an encouraging smile.

A wave was forming a bit further out ,Ellie's eyes sparkled with excitement. The adrenaline rushing through her veins and her heart plumping with anticipation. She never got enough of this feeling.

"Ready to do this one ?" She turned to you with a smirk.

The wave wasn’t going to get too big—perfect for a beginner like you to put the theories she’d taught you into practice.

You nodded and shot back a smirk,matching her energy.

"Remember,just relax and dont think about it too much."she laid flat on her board and began paddling toward the wave,you mirrored her,your heart beating with anticipation and a tiny bit of nervousness. "And if you don't succeed now you can....succeed later than originally planned"

You could tell she wasn’t sure how to ease the weight pressing on your chest, but the intention behind her words made your heart feel lighter, warm against the chill of the water.

"It’s just a small wave, not a tsunami."

She chuckled, her smile growing wider. "I know, I’m just saying."

You paddled harder, the rhythm of your strokes matching the beat of your pulse. As the wave came closer, you could feel the swell beneath you, a force of nature that was both thrilling and intimidating. Ellie surged ahead, her body leaning into the wave with confidence. She was a perfect blend of grace and power, carving through the water like it was second nature.

You followed suit, catching the wave, your board gliding smoothly as it picked up speed. The water rushed beneath you, the world narrowing into just you and the wave. For a split second, you felt the magic of it—like you were one with the ocean, the wave supporting you as you moved with it.

But then, as the wave began to crest, you lost your balance, your feet shifting too late. The board wobbled beneath you, and before you knew it, you were tumbling into the water.

You resurfaced, breathless but okay, your arms floating back to the board as you admired Ellie. She was still on the wave, her movements fluid and effortless, carving her way down the line like she owned the ocean.

It felt so natural for her, feeling the force of the waves beneath her feet propulsing her forwards. No matter how much she's lost in her life,she still believed in the unbreakable bond she had with the ocean.

She finished her ride, then paddled back toward you, her grin wide. "Just a small wave, huh?"

The hours slipped by effortlessly, and you wouldn’t mind if they stretched into days. Ellie gave you more tips, sharing everything she wished she had known as a beginner.

Watching you struggle to stay steady on the board reminded her of her early days surfing, when each fall made her swear she’d quit. But seeing you laugh, your unwavering determination to learn, made her want to teach you everything she knew about the ocean.

One day, she'd take you to her favorite spots on the beach, but for now, it was time for you to go. Every great moment had its bittersweet end.

"That's gonna make 60 for you. For three hours," she said, grinning.

You stopped in your tracks, turning toward her. "What?"

"Twenty bucks an hour, you said." You thought she was joking about that earlier.

"Oh, right—the money." You walked back out of the water, sitting down on the beach before reaching for your bag and pulling out your wallet.

It was filled with an unnecessary amount of coins, but the bills were another story.

"Are you sure that’s 60?" you asked, looking up at her with an apologetic smile, hoping for a discount.

"Well, two times three equals six, and if you add a zero, that makes sixty." You rolled your eyes at her teasing tone.

"Five-year-old math," she shrugged, her smirk returning.

You didn't know she could be such a tease.

"Isn’t that too much money for you?"

Her smirk widened into a smile as she laughed.

"Too much?"

It was short, but it sounded so good—light and soothing, like wind chimes in a summer breeze.

Her eyes dropped to your hand, still holding your wallet. "Just say you wanted to steal from me."

Your eyes widened. That wasn’t your intention at all. All you wanted was to have fun and learn something new. And Ellie had been so kind in teaching you. Getting into trouble now, when you’d just met her, was the last thing you wanted.

"Noo, I just don’t have that much right now. I promise I’ll pay you back," you said, hoping she wouldn’t press the issue or, worse, tell you to never come back to learn surfing again.

She looked at you, and this time, you couldn’t read her expression.

Did you mess up that badly?

Then the silence broke, and she laughed again.

"What’s so funny?" you asked, your confusion only making her laugh harder.

"I don’t care about money," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "I was just messing with you."

She finally stopped laughing, and you met her gaze, searching for any trace of sarcasm or mischief.

"You weren’t laughing at my misery?"

Ellie blinked in surprise. Her? Laughing at you being broke?

"What? No—I'm not like that. Really, I was just messing with you. It’s free. You don’t owe me anything," she reassured you, noticing the way you were studying her. It seemed you were falling harder than she had expected.

"For real?" you asked, still unsure.

"Yeah, you don’t need to pay me." Ellie shrugged. Usually, people would get her jokes easily but if you were that easy to fool, she won't stop with you.

You sighed in relief and put your wallet back in your purse. You couldn’t remember the last time you had this much fun for free. But now, the sun was dipping low, making way for the moon and a fresh night.

Ellie stood there, waiting until you were ready to leave. She didn’t want this moment to fade too quickly into a memory. She wanted to see you again.

"Tomorrow? Same time?" she suggested, a hopeful smile tugging at her lips.

You smiled, realizing you’d get to spend time with her again.

"Only for free."

You winked at her as you said goodbye, leaving her standing there.

To Ellie, this wasn’t really free. Your charm, the way you made her heart flutter, cost more than anything.

And that was enough for her.

♧°♧°♧

It quickly became a habit—the thrill of riding the waves and the quiet joy of spending time with the freckled-face girl.

Afternoon after afternoon, Ellie would offer little tips to help you improve your balance, and once you had the basics down, she'd teach you how not to let the waves carry you away.

Each day, you learned more—not only about mastering the surf but about the ocean itself. She showed you how to listen to the whispers of the water beneath you, how to sense the ebb and flow of the tides before they even began to form.

“See that?” she asked, her voice calm but excited. “The waves are forming closer together, and the water’s pulling back faster than usual. That’s a sign of a high tide coming in.”

You furrowed your brow, trying to see what she saw. She smiled happy to freely share her passions knowing you wouldnt judge her in return. Seeing the pure interest shining in your eyes filled an empty spot she didnt know existed in her heart.

“Feel this?” she said dipping her hand in the water. “It’s cooler here, near the surface. That means the tide’s pushing deeper currents upward. And see how the waves get steeper, almost like they’re rushing to the shore? That’s because the water level’s rising. It’s like the ocean’s inhaling.”

You tilted your head, amazed by her ability to read the water like a book. “How do you know all this?”

She chuckled softly, her freckles catching the golden light. “I’ve been watching the ocean my whole life. It talks to you if you’re willing to listen. The way it moves, the way it feels—it’s like it’s letting you in on a secret. You just have to pay attention.”

From then on, every wave, every pull of the current, felt like a story waiting to be told. And with Ellie as your guide, you began to understand that the ocean wasn’t just a force to conquer—it was something to connect with, to respect, to love.

Soon, your laughter shifted into sighs of exasperation. Normally, you would have packed up your things and left the beach, thanking her for the private lessons before heading home.

But when she saw you pulling your clothes over your swimsuit, gathering your towel and bag, ready to go, she felt the sting of missing you already.

So, she offered to buy you a drink at the beachside bar—anything to keep you there just a little longer before the day slipped away into memory.

You didn’t even notice when the moon began taking the sun’s place as you sat with her, listening to stories of her early days as a surfer—the shadows of her struggles and the light of her triumphs. You forgot the soft, rhythmic crash of the waves, their sound melting into the melody of her laughter, or the way her voice would rise with excitement and pure delight.

You never imagined someone could be as beautiful as the ocean, as radiant as the sun, and that this same person would take an interest in someone like you.

Ellie was both a talker and a listener.

She’d rest her head on her hand, listening intently as you spoke about life beyond summer, the weight of your studies, and the dull rhythm of university days. Then, she’d watch your eyes light up when you talked about the hobbies that kept you going.

She’d lift her head, her smile reaching from ear to ear, as she shared that she loved the same things.

It wasn’t hard to make her smile.

But it was almost impossible not to let your heart melt when you saw it.

And soon, you found yourself lost in it—lost in her words as she wandered off into stories about her collection of PS4 games and the list of new ones she still wanted to play.

You could listen to her talk for hours. You weren’t exaggerating. She had that rare ability to talk about anything and somehow make it sound fascinating. But soon, Ellie ran out of things to say, and she didn’t want the silence to settle between you like an awkward wave.

Then, out of nowhere, a joke she had heard long ago popped into her head.

You raised an eyebrow as you watched her suddenly turn away, her body shaking as if she was trying to hold back a laugh.

"Are you okay?" you asked, your hand instinctively finding its way to her back.

She turned back to you, meeting your concerned and confused gaze. She bit her lip, struggling to keep her voice steady. "Yeah, I just thought of something. Sorry."

You pulled your hand away, crossing your arms instead. "Are you going to spill the tea or keep laughing like a psycho who forgot to take their meds?"

And then you heard it again. Her melodic laugh, this time louder and a bit goofier. You couldn’t help but wonder if she was thinking about your ridiculous falls earlier, every time you wiped out on the smallest wave.

"It’s really stupid," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I don’t even remember where I heard it."

Your lips curved into a mischievous smile,wanting to hear the stupidest sentence slipping through her lips.

"Okay..." she said, finally calming herself down, clearing her throat as if gathering every ounce of willpower to keep her words from turning into gibberish.

"Why did uranus start a diet?"Her smile was widening by the second.

You heard something else.

"My what?"you asked.

She couldn't hold it back any longer, and the genuine confusion on your face only made it worse.

"The planet ! Oh my god" she corrected, and this time, you joined in the laughter. You really should head home and get some sleep—tomorrow’s instructions would be hard to understand if you kept this up.

"The planet," she repeated, still chuckling, determined to finish the joke. "Uranus. Why did it start a diet?"

You wiped a tear from your eye. "I don’t know..."

"Because it was tired of its gas-tronomic problem!" The pitch of her voice rose, and the effect was immediate.

You both couldn’t stop laughing. Her laughter was so contagious, and the whole scene played back in your mind like a loop. You weren’t sure if it was the exhaustion, the alcohol, or just her, but your laughter blended together, unstoppable.

This caught the attention of the bartender and other random people, who were quietly enjoying their drinks. You stopped, feeling their eyes on you, whispers rising as you disturbed the quiet atmosphere.

Ellie gradually calmed herself, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Why, of all things, were you thinking about this now?" you asked, earning a final chuckle from her.

"At least I’m keeping the conversation going," she said, finishing the last of her drink. You couldn’t help but notice the graceful movement of her neck as she swallowed.

"You have terrible jokes," you teased.

"It only gets worse," she replied, reaching for another bottle. She poured both your glasses, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Wanna hear another one?"

This was going to be a long night.

♧°♧°♧

You were a fast learner—Ellie herself had told you so. With each day, you grew more confident on the board. Your falls became rarer, and the number of waves you rode successfully increased steadily. You might not be as skilled as Ellie yet, but it was enough to convince you to take surfing seriously.

So, instead of renting surfboards by the beach, you decided to buy one for yourself.

"Does green go better with blue or pink?" you asked, eyeing the display of surfboards before you. Ellie’s board was green, and you wanted to match with hers.

"I don’t know… blue?" she replied, standing beside you. She hadn’t been so picky when she bought her own board. To her, it was all about durability and the ability to flow with the water.

But she noticed you were considering more than just practicality. The boards now seemed to carry a higher standard in your eyes.

"I'll get pink, then," you decided, grabbing the pink surfboard in front of you, already imagining the rush of riding high with her by your side.

Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Why’d you ask me if you already made your choice?"

"Just wanted to see if you had good taste," you smirked, turning toward the cashier.

"Green goes with blue. I’ll die with that on my grave," she said, shaking her head.

You paid and left the shop with Ellie, mentally noting not to rely on her color advice in the future.

With a teacher like Ellie, there was no room for regression—your skills grew steadily, carving a flawless path of progress.

You finally understood why she loved it so much.

In just a few weeks,surfing had become your own kind of addiction, a rush you couldn’t imagine leaving behind when summer ended. The roar of the waves, the electric pull of their power, and the art of dancing in their embrace—no matter how often you did it, it never lost its magic.

As excitement rushed through your veins,you grabbed your handbag and your towel,parking your car near the beach and walking to your usual spot with your surfboard in hand.

There she was,right where she belonged.

Ellie floated above the water as though she were part of it, her auburn hair catching the breeze and glowing under the sunlight.

She’d just conquered a high tide, her board slicing through the foam with precision, and now the ocean was building something bigger, something grander.

Her eyes swept over the beach, briefly searching. She didn’t need long to find you. You were always there, never late, planted firmly on the sand, captivated by the freckled-face girl who seemed born for the waves.

Spotting you, Ellie flashed her trademark smirk, the one she knew kept your gaze locked on her. With practiced ease, she stretched out on her board, her movements deliberate and smooth as she began paddling toward the rising wall of water.

As the wave loomed behind her, its crest curling into a powerful arc, Ellie positioned herself perfectly. The water surged forward, and she caught it effortlessly, standing in a smooth motion. Her balance was flawless as the wave seemed to rise around her, towering and mighty.

Ellie moved with it as if she were one with the tide.

She carved sharp turns into the water, each motion sending sprays of foam into the air, the sunlight catching every droplet.

For a breathtaking moment, she disappeared into the wave’s barrel, only to emerge flying out the other side, her board skimming the surface like it had wings.

She rode it all the way to the shore, coming to a slow stop just in front of you, careful not to splash your swimsuit. Water glistened on her skin as she shot you a playful grin.

"are you gonna join me or what?"she asked the thrill of her ride subsiding with the soft crushes of the waves behind her. Her eyes trailed down your body,before landing on your hand.

She took it, fingers intertwining with yours, pulling you toward the water, but you stopped her. "C’mon."

"The water's cold. Gotta wait"you protested

"Seriously?"She groaned rolling her eyes her impatience growing by the second.

The small waves reached your ankles, their cold touch sending a shiver through you.

But Ellie didn’t let go of your hand. Instead, she pointed behind you with her free hand. "Seagulls!"

You turned around, but there were no seagulls. By the time you realized, she had scooped you up in her arms and was running toward the cold water.

"Ellie! Wait, plea-"

Bubbled came out of your mouth as she threw you into the water.

It was cold,enveloping you instantly, stealing the warmth from your skin in a shocking embrace. For a moment, everything was muffled—your gasp, the roar of the waves—but as you resurfaced, the sound of Ellie’s laughter broke through, loud and unapologetic.

She was doubled over, clutching her stomach as she pointed at you.

“What the fuck, Ellie?!” you sputtered, water streaming down your face.

“You said you had to wait,” she teased, barely able to speak through her laughter. “Figured you’d wait less if you were already in!” With that, she sent a playful splash of water your way.

Cold water.

"I'm gonna kill you"

"Woah im so so sca-"

Before she could react, you lunged, grabbing at her arm. She shrieked and laughed as you pulled her into the water with you, the two of you tumbling into the waves in a chaotic splash.

Ellie broke free, scrambling and half-swimming away as you burst into laughter.

The chase brought you deeper into the waves, where your feet could no longer touch the sandy bottom. The cool water tugged at your legs, a mix of resistance and freedom, as you propelled yourself toward Ellie. She glanced back, her grin widening as she realized you were closing in.

“got you !" you exclaimed, wrapping your arms around her waist.

Ellie let out a startled laugh, struggling to stay upright as your combined weight threatened to pull you both under.

Your laughter bubbled up uncontrollably as you both wrestled, a tangle of arms and legs, splashing and twisting to stay afloat. Every time you tried to find balance, another wave would crash over you, dragging you apart for a moment before you reconnected with a grip on her arm or shoulder.

“Ellie, I swear—” you sputtered between breaths, fighting to keep your head above water.

“I’m trying to breathe!” she choked out, laughing so hard she had to tread water just to stay up. “This is your fault!”

“My fault? You threw me in!”

The banter dissolved into giggles that turned frantic as your legs began to protest the effort. The ocean wasn’t forgiving to tired muscles, and the playful thrashing became slower, less coordinated.

“Okay, okay, truce,” Ellie said, her voice tinged with exhaustion but still light.

“Agreed,” you replied, feeling your legs give out beneath you.

Ellie grabbed your hand, and together you turned toward the shore, letting the waves push you gently forward. It wasn’t far, but each stroke felt heavier, the promise of solid ground pulling you on.

Finally, your feet brushed against the sand. Relief washed over you as you staggered out of the water, Ellie following close behind. The two of you collapsed onto the shore, the cool breeze contrasting with the warmth returning to your bodies.

For a moment, neither of you said anything, just staring up at the clear sky, catching your breath. Then Ellie turned her head to look at you, her freckles standing out against her sun-kissed skin.

"Can't believe I almost died today because of you," you muttered, not tearing your eyes away from the vast sky above you.

"Dude, I just saved you. Would it kill you to say thanks?"

You didn’t respond—just to annoy her.

"Come on," Ellie whined, nudging your shoulder. You turned to her, her emerald eyes burning into yours, a challenge in them.

"Fine. Thank you. Just don't push me in the water when I’m not ready okay?" you said slowly, sitting up and brushing the sand from your body.

Her gaze lingered over you, taking in the soaked swimsuit, the wet strands of your hair, and the way your skin caught the light, glistening like something out of a dream. Only the tail was missing, but in that moment, she believed in mermaids.

She had to force herself to look away before she realized just how much you enchanted her. "Okay, okay. I won’t anymore. Promise."

She almost sealed it with a touch, reaching for your hand, but the moment she saw the soft smile tugging at your lips, a sudden shyness swept over her.

You didn’t need to be a mermaid to have her heart. And even if she lived in a world full of magic and fantasy, no alchemist’s strongest elixir could undo the way her heart raced for you.

Clearing her throat, she glanced away, trying to mask the spark dancing in her eyes. "Wouldn’t want you to drown and make me do mouth-to-mouth or anything."

A soft laugh escaped you, and she joined in, the sound blending with the rhythmic roll of the waves. The water, now gently lapping at your feet, wasn’t cold anymore—it was warm, almost comforting.

"Still cold?" she asked, standing and brushing the sand from her legs. Her eyes shone with impatience, a flicker of excitement dancing in them.

The waves weren’t going to ride themselves, after all.

"Nope," you replied, grabbing your surfboard and wading deeper into the water, following her as she paddled away from the shore.

You wouldn’t mind at all. If she had to do mouth-to-mouth to save you, you’d let the water pull you under willingly—just to feel the softness of her lips against yours.

But did she feel the pull too?

Maybe it was too soon to know.

Holding her heart felt like diving into the unknown, so for now, holding her hand as you both sailed through the waves was enough.

[coeurcanelle]

proud to say that i am ellie williams’ type (i’m a poc)

[coeurcanelle]

she's just a beautiful sunshine chicken nugget 💔

yes she went on a murderous rampage but look at her cute little smile tho?

[coeurcanelle]

my favorite lesbians

[coeurcanelle]

this isn't a safe place for dudes named jeffrey btw go look somewhere else

[coeurcanelle]

where did all the gay girlies who used to write aot fics go 😞

[coeurcanelle]

ellie as knight.