Chapter 2The Missing Sixth

I hadn't grown up with them.

The five of them had been together since kindergarten.

I only met Brielle in college, and she was the one who brought me into their circle.

For the first few years, I tried hard to fit in. They'd talk about sneaking peaches from a teacher's tree when they were kids. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I'd laugh along anyway.

They had nicknames for each other that only they understood, and I'd secretly jot them down in my notes app.

I remembered everyone's birthdays, food preferences, and little habits.

Whenever we went out to eat, I was always the first one there.

Whenever we traveled, I was the one who booked the transportation, reserved the hotels, and planned the itinerary.

But no matter what I did, whenever they talked about the past, they always said the same thing: "You didn't know us back then. You wouldn't understand."

Eventually, "you wouldn't understand" became "there's no need to tell him."

If they changed restaurants at the last minute, no one told me.

If they all changed their profile pictures, no one sent me the new one.

Even this trip.

I only found out from Brielle's messages with Anders that they'd been planning it for six months.

When I asked why no one had told me, Brielle had smiled and acted sweet. "We were waiting for you to plan everything."

So I handled the flights, the hotels, and the entire itinerary. I paid for everything upfront too.

In the end, the five of them got to enjoy the vacation.

I arranged everything for them, and now, even the room that was supposed to be mine had to be given up.

I released my grip on the key card. "You guys take the room. I'll go downstairs to the lobby."

I didn't argue anymore.

The next morning, when I woke up, the living room was already empty. There was a photo in the group chat of the five of them having breakfast. Five meals were spread across the table.

Anders had sent me a message: [Clark, we didn't want to wake you, so we came down first. Just grab something when you wake up.]

After washing up, I went to the restaurant.

A server told me breakfast service had already ended.

Right then, Brielle called. "Where are you?"

"The restaurant."

"Why are you still at the restaurant?" She sounded impatient. "We've been waiting at the marina for twenty minutes."

I checked the group chat. Not one of them had told me what time we were leaving. "You never woke me up."

"Didn't Anders message you?"

"He only said you guys went down for breakfast."

Brielle fell silent for a second before turning it back on me. "Wouldn't any normal person see that everyone was gone and think to ask? You're making everyone wait for you."

In the end, I never got breakfast.

By the time I reached the marina, the yacht's engine was already running.

The five of them were standing on deck. No one had saved me a spot.

Brielle was wearing Anders's white shirt. The hem barely covered her thighs. When she saw me, she tugged at the collar.

"Clark, don't get the wrong idea. The zipper on my dress broke, so Anders lent me a shirt."

Brielle was obsessive about cleanliness. She'd never even touched the clothes that I'd worn against my skin.

Once, while doing her laundry, I accidentally washed one of her clothes with something dark and stained it a faint gray. She didn't speak to me for an entire week.

She'd told me she hated other people touching her personal clothes, and she hated wearing anyone else's, but now she was wearing Anders's shirt.

Anders was gently reminding her, "Put on some pants. You'll get cold."

Brielle stuck her tongue out at me. "See? He's always telling people what to do."

I held the railing as I climbed aboard.

Preston immediately shoved a pile of things into my arms. "Perfect. The sunscreen, camera, and water are all here. Keep an eye on them for us."

Holding all their stuff, I sat in the seat closest to the engine.

The sea breeze swept over me. With nothing in my stomach, cramps twisted through my abdomen.

For today's diving trip, I had started learning to swim six months ago.

Brielle loved the ocean while I was afraid of water, but I'd still secretly signed up for scuba lessons without telling her.

I'd planned to surprise her on this trip.

When we reached the dive site, though, the instructor said only five people could go down at a time.

Duncan looked at me with a grin. "Isn't Clark afraid of water? You can stay on the boat and watch our stuff."

I opened my mouth. I wanted to tell them I'd already gotten my scuba certification.

However, Brielle suddenly wrapped both hands around Anders's arm. "Anders, I'm kind of nervous. Hold on to me once we're underwater, okay?"

Anders checked her air tank for her. "Don't worry. I'll be right beside you."

I swallowed the words.

The five of them jumped into the ocean. I sat alone on deck, watching their clothes and phones for them.

After a while, the instructor asked me, "Don't you want to go down?"

I pulled the brand-new scuba certification card from my bag. I stared at it for a long time. Then I shook my head.

"Not anymore."