Part Three

On a bright summer day in Evergreen Woods, a young girl named Sara Rose ran across her grandparents’s ranch as her eyes searched for the next masterpiece to sketch in the new sketchbook gifted to her by her grandmother last year. However, she stopped running upon hearing footsteps and turned to see a figure that made her heart flutter. The figure belonged to a boy, slightly older, with messy brown hair and green eyes and Sara recognized him immediately from the house next door that had been bought recently.

"Hi," The boy called out "I'm Mason."

"I'm Sara," Sara replied as she clutched her sketchbook to her chest. She had heard her parents and grandparents talking of the new family moving in, but she had never heard about anyone her age there before.

"You live here?" Mason asked, gesturing to the ranch in the distance.

"My grandparents' house," Sara said softly. "I come here every summer."

"Cool. My grandparents moved here too." Mason smiled.

"Really? That's so... Amazing." Sara said happily, the thought of having another friend around sounding really appealing.

"Yeah, it's pretty neat. So, what do you do around here for fun?" Mason nodded.

Well, I like to draw," Sara said, her voice gaining a bit of confidence. "The woods are full of inspiration."

"Can I see?" Mason said curiously as he noticed the sketchbook in her hand.

Sara hesitated, her thumb tracing the edge of her notebook since she had never shared her drawings with anyone outside her family before but there was something about Mason that made her want to and so she handed the book to the boy she had just met and Mason took the notebook, his eyes scanning the page with genuine interest.

"Wow," Mason said in surprise. "These are amazing," Mason said as he flicked through the pages, stopping upon seeing a sketch of a boy that looked to be their age. "Whose this?"

“That's... That's my friend, Peter," Sara stuttered, trying to snatch the book back.

"He looks like he's up to something," Mason said with a chuckle, pointing at the sketch that showed the boy with a mischievous grin.

"He usually is," Sara admitted

"So, how about we hang out, you can show me around this place and maybe we can find some inspiration for your next drawing?" Mason suggested.

"Okay," Sara replied as her heart skipped a beat and as they began to walk, the sound of giggling grew louder and they turned to see two figures emerging from the woods.

"Look at the lovebirds," A familiar voice said in a sing-song and Sara's eyes looked in surprise as her younger sister, Anneliese stood with a smug smile on her face with another girl beside her.

"You know her?" Mason asked, nodding towards Anneliese.

"That's my little sister," Sars answered with a roll of her eyes. "Anneliese."

"I see she met my sister, Molly," Mason laughed as he noticed the second girl.

"What are you doing Masy?" Molly said teasingly.

"Nothing," Mason replied. "Just making friends."

"Friends, huh?" Molly said with a knowing smile, nudging Anneliese and the two girls giggled.

"Let's go," Sara said, eager to escape her sister’s teasing and Mason nodded in agreement and together they set off, leaving Anneliese and Molly to their giggles.

At thirteen years old, Mason sat in the car, waiting impatiently for what felt like an eternity as his parents drove them to Evergreen Woods. The school year had dragged on, each day a blur of textbooks and homework but now as the warm sun peeked through the car window, the dullness of the last months was finally fading away. As the car turned onto the dusty road leading to his grandparents' cabin, Mason’s heart fluttered in anticipation since he hadn't seen Sara in a year, not since the last time he'd been here, the previous summer.

Stepping out of the car, Mason took in the familiar landscape while his grandparents, Benny and Marge, greeted him with tight hugs and after helping to unload the car, he heard laughter coming from the direction of the neighbouring ranch. Mason found himself looking over and there she was, Sara, only she had changed, grown and filled out in all the right places.

Mason couldn't help but let his eyes wander over her body, taking in the fact that she had blossomed into a young woman, her figure now curving in ways that made his heart race. She was taller too, her legs seemingly endless in a pair of denim shorts that hugged her ass. A simple white tank top clung to her in a way that highlighted her newfound curves. From the smile she gave him, Mason knew she was the same Sara he knew but yet she seemed entirely different.

"Hey, stranger," Sara called out as she made her way over and Mason noticed her voice had matured and sounded much sweeter, and it sent a thrill down his spine.

"Hey, Sara," Mason responded, trying to sound nonchalant despite the sudden dryness in his throat and he **** a casual lean against the car, hoping to appear cooler than he felt.

“You've grown," Sara said as she took him however Mason felt like she could see right through his attempt at pretending to be normal.

"You too," Mason awkwardly said as he tried to avoid eyeing her up again and Sara rolled her eyes playfully and leaned against the car as well. "What have you been up to?"

"The usual. Helping out with the horses, swimming in the river, you know, the Evergreen Woods summer routine." Sara shrugged. "Mostly waiting for you to get here."

"Waiting for me?" Mason said in surprise.

"Yeah, you're my summer best friend, after all," Sara said with a warm smile.

“Well, I'm here now," Mason said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

"And not a moment too soon," Sara replied, excitedly. "I've got a whole list of adventures planned for us."

However before Mason could respond, the sound of footsteps and giggling grew louder and not surprised at all he turned to see Molly and Sara, Anneliese walking towards them, grinning. "Oh, look who it is," Molly teasingly spoke. "The summer lovebirds reunited at last."

"I bet you two have missed each other," Anneliese added, nudging Molly playfully.

"Shut up," Mason mumbled, his eyes darting between Sara and the ground as he spoke to his sister while Sara just laughed.

"It's okay," Sara said, reaching out to take his hand. "They're just being annoying like usual."

"Yeah," Mason agreed as Sara’s hand in his felt slightly comforting.

"You guys are so cute," Anneliese said as she and Molly giggled.

"Come on," Sara said, tugging on Mason's hand. "Let's get out of here before they start planning our wedding."

"We already have, I can tell you what dress Mason will have," Molly smiled.

"Ha ha, very funny," Mason sarcastically said while the girls just laughed harder.

Sara meanwhile tugged harder on his hand, pulling him towards her family’s stables. "Let's go, I want to catch up with you.”

On the hottest day of the summer, the water of Evergreen Lake shimmered as a fifteen-year-old Mason sat on the worn wooden dock, his eyes following Sara as she glided through the water. She had changed over the years, her body now a canvas of curves and the light blue bikini she wore today hugged her figure in a way that sent his pulse racing.

Looking at his summer best friend as she swam in the lake, Mason took in her long legs as she kicked in a rhythmic pattern, sending ripples across the lake's surface while the water droplets that clung to her skin gleamed like diamonds. Mason knew he shouldn't be looking at her like that but he couldn't tear his eyes away especially as Sara climbed out of the lake, the fabric of her bikini clinging to her and revealing the soft curves of her body and Mason's eyes couldn’t help but linger on her large breasts that bounced slightly with her movement.

Molly and Anneliese who were sitting not to far away from them however couldn't help but notice Mason staring at Sara and they giggled and whispered to each other with Molly even piping up. "Looks like someone's enjoying the view,"

However before Mason could respond, their mother, Meredith called Molly over allowing Mason to look back at Sara who seemed oblivious to what had occurred as she wrapped a towel around her waist and sauntered over to where Mason sat. The towel was knotted loosely, and the damp fabric of her bikini top clung to her generous breasts, leaving little to the imagination.

"Hey, it’s a shame you didn’t join me for a swim," Sara said.

“That’s always been your thing, Sara,” Mason responded.

“I know but now that’s out of the way, we can catch up,” Sara told him as she sat down beside him, her towel brushing against his leg. "How's Iron Falls treating you?"

"It's okay, I guess. High school's a bit of a drag." Mason responded.

"What about your friends? You still hanging out with Drew and Alex?" Sara wondered.

"Yeah, mostly." Mason nodded. "How about you? What's going on with you?"

"Oh, you know, the usual," Sara said with a shrug. "Cheerleading, school, friends... I've dated a few guys but nothing serious."

"So, who are you seeing now?" Mason found himself asking as he an unexpected pang of jealousy.

"No one," Sara said with a smile.

"Really?" Mason said in surprise.

"Why do you ask?" Sara said as she leaned closer.

"No reason," Mason mumbled, trying to play it cool like his friends Drew and Alex had tried to teach him and instead focusing on their family at the lake, his eyes focusing on a twenty-one-year-old woman who he recognised as Sara’s older sister, Blythe who was walking to the lake.

Blythe Rose was a vision of beauty that shared Sara’s long silky black hair and piercing blue eyes and she wore a crop top and a very short denim skirt that highlighted her large breasts and a curvy ass. And Mason couldn't help but gawk as she peeled off her top, revealing the skimpy bikini that had been hidden beneath. It was very different to Sara's modest swimsuit, the strings of the bikini top holding precariously to her ample chest and the bottoms barely there.

Blythe however seemingly caught his gaze and smirked at him before strutting down to the water's edge. Mason knew Blythe had always been the wild one, the Rose sister who didn't care what anyone thought and clearly her outfit was a declaration of her freedom, a declaration that she was not to be ignored.

Meanwhile, Sara's eyes narrowed slightly as she caught Mason ogling her sister. She knew that Blythe had a way of commanding attention but it stung to see it directed at Mason and she felt a twinge of jealousy, a feeling she hadn't anticipated. Sara was glad however when it looked like her mother was walking over to Blythe unhappy about her sister's bikini.

"Blythe, sweetheart," Sara heard her mother say to her sister. "I think that outfit might be a bit much for the family picnic."

"Mom, it's just a bikini. Everyone's wearing one." Blythe rolled her eyes.

"Yes, but not one quite so... Revealing." Monica Rose sighed.

Mason meanwhile felt Sara's eyes on him and he quickly averted his gaze, focusing back on Sara just as Blythe just shrugged off her mother's admonishment before going for a swim in the lake.

"Mason," Sara said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Can we go for a walk?"

"Sure," Mason nodded in agreement and together they got up and walked towards the woods.

Walking into the woods and hearing the laughter of the picnic growing distant as they went deeper into the woods, Sara's hand found his as they walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound of their footsteps and the occasional sound of animals. The tension between them grew thick, a palpable **** that seemed to pulse with every beat of their hearts. Mason's eyes darted to Sara, her wet bikini still clinging to her body, revealing every curve and contour and he felt a tightness in his chest that made it difficult to breathe.

"You know, I've missed you, Mason. Really, I did. School and life are always hectic but I love it when I get to come out here each summer and spend time with you." Sara admitted.

“Yeah, me too,” Mason said in agreement as he looked over Sara.

"I mean it," Sara said. "You're like one of the best parts of my life."

“Sara," Mason softly said, staring into her blue eyes and Sara staring back into his green ones.

It was then, Sara leaned in, her eyes never leaving his and Mason felt the heat of her body pressing against his and without thinking, he closed the distance between them. Their lips met, slowly at first but grew firmer as their kiss grew deeper. Mason's hand found the small of her back, pulling her closer and Sara's hand slid up to tangle in his hair and it was in that moment they both realised that they didn't want the moment to end.