Chasing Sunrise: A Sweet YA Enemies-to Lovers Romance (Inn for the Summer)

by Sara Jane Woodley

  But my heart isn’t in it. All I can think about is Kiara. Especially here, at the gazebo, where I caught her and her camera on our first day.

  This week has been an absolute nightmare. And not only because the life-size cutout of Kade Monroe scares the pants off me every time I go in my cabin.

  Sadness and self-doubt gnaw at me. I never got the impression that Kiara was holding me to a standard or that she had these high expectations of me. I never truly believed that she thought I was unfit to be a photographer.

  But I was wrong.

  I disappointed her in the end. When she mentioned that Isabella and I are perfect for each other, it became very clear that nothing has changed. She still sees me as the Edendale golden boy. Thought I was free from that label, but apparently not.

  I have to return to Edendale in just over a week. I know that there’s a ticking clock on Isabella keeping my secret. I need to tell everyone before she does. I can picture my parents’ faces when they find out I came to the Inn instead of going to Momentum this summer.

  And, even worse, that coming here was fruitless. The only thing I learned was that photography is not in my future. It’s heartbreaking, and even more devastating to think of the mess I’ll need to clean up in the aftermath.

  “Thanks, Jacob!”

  The girls flutter towards the Inn as the rain returns. I put my camera into its bag and stand in the gazebo, staring out over the lake.

  What if I’m tired of trying to please everyone?

  I suddenly feel angry, wondering why they’re all dictating the path I follow in my life. Coming to the Inn was perhaps the only true decision that I, myself, made — in the memory of my grandpa who saw the best in me.

  Ironically, the only person I can think of who makes decisions for herself is the very one who broke my heart.

  Kiara made me stronger. She saw me for who I am, or who I thought I was. I miss her headstrong presence and her intelligence. Her stubborn, sometimes annoyingly so, confidence inspired me.

  She told me to leave her alone, and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve stayed far away from her at work and I’ve avoided her in the kitchen and staff room.

  I’ve gotten closer with Noah and Bree over the last few days, choosing to spend my time with them instead. But I see the expressions on their faces when they think I’m not looking. They worry about me and they ask me, in turns, if I’m okay.

  As a seasoned “fake smiler”, I think I’m getting away with it. But I feel a hole in my chest.

  50

  Kiara

  The bright sun shines through my window like an insult.

  I put my pillow over my head, not ready to get up.

  But the world is not accommodating to my moodiness. Birds chirp happily outside and some student workers are laughing. It’s the first sun we’ve seen all week. At this moment, I actually prefer the rain.

  I lay on my back, exasperated. My sleep has been fitful and restless for the past few days. I’m only functioning thanks to the fresh coffee Fernando makes every morning and afternoon.

  Coffee. The thought revives me long enough to get out of bed and into fresh clothes.

  I wander down the gravel path, squinting behind my sunglasses. A flash of color appears in the midst of the grey and I spot the little flower from my first day here, popping stubbornly through the gravel. It’s bent over from the force of the rain and I lift it so it stands straight, adding a few rocks around it as a barrier.

  “Morning Fernando!” I call out when I enter the staff room.

  “Buongiorno, mi bella.” He hands me a fresh cup of coffee.

  “You’re the only thing keeping me going these days.”

  I don’t want to make Ava jealous, but Fernando and I are pretty much best friends.

  I take a seat at the far end of the staff room, clicking open the photos on my camera. I scroll through my recent shots, wanting to see if I captured the moodiness of the weather over the last week. I practiced some black and white photos, and they turned out nice. Not all the photos are winners, but there are a few real, emotional gems.

  I wonder if this is ‘alive’ enough for the Glacier Journal? I’m staring at an emotional photo of the peaks behind the lake appearing over a layer of fog. The white fog implies a lack of something, there’s an air of mystery.

  Thinking of the Glacier Journal fills me with unease. I haven’t checked my emails since I last heard from my mom — I haven’t felt brave enough. And now that Jonathan and I are no longer together, it seems pointless to check my email for the eventual rejection. I can only hope that they’re not as harsh as they were with the last rejection.

  I chug the rest of my coffee and walk into the event room, stationing myself by the windows.

  As I gaze out over the lake, I think back to when I first entered this grand room. Back then, I followed Delia across the space and almost lost my breath trying to keep up. Since being at the Inn, I’m pleasantly surprised to see that my fitness level has increased. I still get horribly out of breath climbing to the Legacy summit, but it’s not as bad as it used to be. All the explorations around the grounds have done more for my cardio than an entire year at the gym.

  Well, I hope that’s still the case. When was the last time I did a sunrise hike? A few weeks ago? It was before everything fell apart. I need to make it back to the Legacy summit before I go home next week.

  “Good morning, dear!” Delia chortles, snapping me out of my thoughts. She’s wearing her trademark black cowboy hat.

  “Morning to you!”

  “You’re still cooped in the event room? It’s not raining anymore. You should be outside! Why don’t you head down to the gazebo and take some photos? Take advantage of the last of summer.”

  “I… I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be down there.”

  Delia puts her hands on her hips. She’s not used to being brushed off. “And why not?”

  I fiddle with my camera and shift from foot to foot. I really don’t want to get Delia involved in our drama, but I also don’t want to work near Jonathan. I’m so embarrassed by what I said to him and how I treated him, but I also can’t bear to hear about his relationship with Isabella. Telling Delia is probably the lesser of two evils.

  “Jonathan and I aren’t really working well together.”

  “So that’s what you think, is it?”

  What?

  Delia takes off her cowboy hat and plucks a piece of lint from the brim. “Love and hate are two sides of the same coin, my dear. I’d suggest you two try flipping it again. Maybe it’ll land on a different side.”

  Different side? My coffee hasn’t hit, so I’m too tired to decipher what she means.

  Delia stalks off without giving me an answer, exasperated.

  “She’s right, you know.” Nath appears behind me, carrying a crazy-looking flowerpot towards the garden.

  “About?” I’m still confused. It feels like everyone is talking around me this morning.

  “Jonathan cares a lot about you. And you care a lot about him. You started out as rivals, became something more than friends, and now you’re back to rivals. Who’s to say another conversation won’t change things? Who’s to say you can’t flip the coin again? Feelings don’t just disappear.”

  My heart races and my mouth is dry. “But what about Isabella?”

  “Pretty girl from the wedding? Smile like a shark that smells blood?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Nath bursts into laughter. “Your poor Jonathan made a deal with her. He gave her a dance in exchange for keeping a secret for him. Apparently, he’s not supposed to be here.”

  “But she’s his ex-girlfriend. And to use Delia’s words, couldn’t they just ‘flip that coin’ again?”

  Nath places the flowerpot on the table. Her voice drops to her idle-gossip-about-movie-stars tone. “I don’t think he’s too interested in picking up that coin again. With you, on the other hand, it’s a different story.”

  Nath
gives me a friendly pat on the back, then picks up the flowerpot and disappears downstairs.

  Meanwhile, I’m trying to process the whirlwind of emotions tossing me around. Could Nath be right — does he actually care about me? Did I pursue my passion for photography at the expense of someone I love?

  As if on cue, Jonathan appears in the garden below. I watch as he helps Nath move a big table from one end of the garden to the other.

  Did I make a mistake? My breath leaves me as he smiles at Nath and I’m hit by a profound sense of clarity.

  Over the past summer, I’ve doubted my future, my photography, my dreams. But with Jonathan, everything felt clear. Everything felt alive. He’s the perfect part of my day when everything feels softer and brighter. With him, darkness isn’t so harsh.

  He’s my golden hour.

  My heart races in my chest, and my eyes are wide open. He looks up towards the event room and I abruptly turn away.

  It’s the first time I’ve felt at peace since hearing about the competition for the headlining campaign. This competition now feels like an insignificant blip, a minor factor distracting from an even bigger truth.

  I love Jonathan Wright. And I hope he can forgive me.

  51

  Kiara

  I take the final step onto the Legacy summit, staring at my feet intently. Just as I used to do with Jonathan, I raise my head to take in the view in one panoramic glance. And just as I had done on many, many mornings this summer, I exhale in a whoosh. The sunrise this morning is breathtaking.

  Laying down my rain jacket and taking a seat on the damp ground, I relish the view as the sun rises over the peaks behind the lake. Vibrant reds and yellows streak the sky, signaling a change of season. The horizon has a crispness to it, a brisk clarity. It felt like fall as I marched up the mountain. The cool breeze penetrated my light jacket, making me wish I brought a sweater.

  For once, I’m up here alone.

  I considered inviting Bree, or Stefi and Anaya, but it felt oddly intrusive to be up here with anyone other than Jonathan.

  I tried to catch Jonathan. I wanted to invite him to the Legacy summit to chase sunrise for the last time. I couldn’t, though, and if I’m honest, even if I got the chance to speak with him, I’m not sure what I would say.

  The end is here. Tonight is our last night at Legacy Inn and we all head home tomorrow.

  I take a sip of coffee from my to-go mug, the only accessory I have with me this morning. Climbing to the Legacy Summit by myself and without my camera was the perfect way to end a summer that had taught me so much.

  “Wait til Ava hears about this.” I gaze out over the horizon.

  I’ll admit that, despite my sadness, I’m beaming with pride at the fact that I did this alone. This was a feat that seemed impossible just three months ago.

  But a lot of things seemed impossible three months ago.

  Thinking back over the summer, I can’t believe how much has changed. I came to the Legacy Inn afraid of bugs and taking “dull” photos. Now? Those fears have faded and my photos are alive.

  I learned that photography can be fun. I learned that work doesn’t always have to come ahead of play. And I learned that love can come first, even if — especially if — it feels scary.

  All that being said, I wouldn’t know where to begin explaining this to the person who most needs to hear it.

  How do I put together the words to apologize to Jonathan? I abandoned him after Delia announced the competition, thinking only of myself when he had wanted to partner up. I accused him of not working hard for what he wants when I know that isn’t the case. His being here this summer instead of at Momentum is a testament to that. Not to mention the fact that I assumed he and Isabella were back together without giving him the chance to explain.

  The Van Nispens would be so disappointed.

  The sun is rising quickly over the peaks and the clouds are moving in, creating an even more dramatic skyline. As the peaks glow under the light, I think about the moments that changed my life the most this past summer.

  I suddenly know what I need to do. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also the thing I want to do most.

  52

  Jonathan

  “Cheeseburger tacos or an avocado bagel?” Fernando booms as I approach him in the staff room.

  He’s wearing a tall chef’s hat with massive blue sunglasses perched on the rim and a pink apron with flowers. He’s really playing up the “last days of summer” theme.

  “The usual, please!”

  Fernando smirks and piles the bagel onto my plate. I walk over to a table with Stefi, Cooper, Bree and Noah. Anaya and Wes are nowhere to be found. It’s a bittersweet moment as I remember how much Kiara loved these avocado bagels. It was her recipe that inspired Fernando to add the bagel to the menu.

  “You look like my grandpa when he’s on vacation,” Bree says.

  “You can thank Vin for that,” I say, laughing.

  When he heard I was planning on wearing my regular hoodie and shorts, Vin lent me a bright yellow Hawaiian shirt. In true Legacy Inn fashion, our dinner theme is ‘Last Days of Summer’ so the outfit is basically mandatory. Our final guests left today and the staff leave tomorrow.

  “Very… tropical.” Bree grins, then digs into her cheeseburger taco.

  Her end of summer outfit is a massive beige sweater over a colorful sundress, with flip-flop earrings. It’s quirky — perfect for her.

  I hope we’ll be friends once we all get back to school. It was fun to hang out with the kids from Edendale High without having labels attached.

  Kiara enters the room and I nearly choke on my bagel.

  She wears a white blouse and red capri pants. Her hair falls in soft waves, and she’s practically glowing. She walks to Fernando — completely unaware of the effect she’s having on me — and laughs with him. She almost does the little half-smile that I love so much, and I briefly wonder if I’ll be lucky enough to see it again.

  She turns, her eyes meeting mine. There’s something there, an invisible spark, and then she looks away.

  I’m no longer hungry. All I want is to see her smile.

  Anything to make her happy.

  And I know of one thing that will make her happy — winning the competition to work as the Inn’s official photographer.

  The last few days have been eye-opening. I’ve realized that I don’t need to live by other people’s expectations. Photography is my dream, but I know I need the extra education. Photography school is my future, and winning the competition would guarantee entry, but I won’t do it if it means hurting Kiara. She’s spent her life building her portfolio, I’ve only worked through the summer.

  Tonight, after our dinner, I plan to tell Delia that Kiara will headline the campaign. It’s the least I can do for her, regardless of if she ever wants to speak to me again.

  “Hi, everyone, hello.” Kiara stands on a chair at the front of the room.

  The room goes silent and everyone turns towards her.

  What is she doing?

  “Thanks.” There’s a nervous wobble in her voice. “I’ve just got a few things to say, then we can all go back to stuffing our faces.”

  Bree, mid-bite, chuckles and almost chokes. She pats herself on the chest, then motions for Kiara to continue. This gives Kiara courage, and her trademark half-smile returns.

  My heart wants to burst.

  “This has been the best summer of my life,” Kiara says. “I want to say a special thanks to Vin and Nath for showing me the ropes, and to Delia for her never-ending guidance and happy spirit. I’ll never forget the time we all spent together.”

  A chorus of “aww”s are heard throughout the room.

  “There is one person, in particular, that I want to thank,” Kiara says. She takes a deep breath. “Jonathan Wright. When I saw you here on our first day, I was… devastated.”

  Everyone laughs, and I snort despite my confusion. Yes, I remember that clearly.

>   “But you showed me so much this summer. I learned a lot thanks to you. Not only in terms of photography but also in terms of life. You have to be one of the most fun, most irresponsible, most carefree people I know. And I love that about you.”

  Did she just—

  “And because of that — because you’ve already taught me so much — I want to return the favor.”

  Kiara turns towards Delia, who’s standing at the back of the room.

  It’s difficult to breathe.

  “Delia, Jonathan should headline the Inn’s ad campaign in the coming months. He’s done some phenomenal work and I couldn’t be happier to see what he’s achieved. I want to give up my spot in the competition.”

  53

  Kiara

  The entire room stares at me, but I feel confident. Normally, I don’t do well speaking in front of crowds. But I’ve thought about this moment so many times that the words come easily.

  When I realized I needed to give up my spot, a weight lifted. Jonathan deserves this opportunity, and I’m tired of competing with him for it. I’ve done what I can with my portfolio and, in all honesty, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished this summer.

  Because of Jonathan, my photos are alive. There’s movement, there’s excitement, there’s a genuine sense of liveliness. Whether or not Glacier Journal agrees, I know my photos are miles ahead of where they once were.

  Now, it’s his turn to build a portfolio he’s proud of, so he can pursue what he truly wants to do.

  My eyes meet Delia’s. Instead of nodding or acknowledging my speech, she’s simply beaming at me, for some bizarre reason.

  Before either of us can say anything, Jonathan stands and leaves the room.

  Silence echoes throughout the space and devastation fills me. My hands fall to my side and the room hesitantly breaks out into a low chatter.