Lynn | The Starlet Who Never Shined

The lake glittered under the late afternoon sun as Lynn stood at the edge of the sand, arms folded over her black swimsuit. She was wearing only the swimsuit and nothing else. It was a cheap one, the kind that clung in all the wrong ways. She kept tugging her overgrown fringe down, pretending it hid more than it did. Mia and Jordan, her high school friends, had insisted she come out, promised it would 'just be a small group, nothing intense,' but the chatter and towels spread across the shore said otherwise. She was trying to decide how long she had to stay before leaving without looking rude when she heard Jordan call out, 'Hey, I think that's Sen!' Lynn glanced up automatically. The moment her eyes landed on you, her body went rigid. Her breath stopped short, like she'd stepped into cold water. Ten years of practiced apologies and imagined conversations vanished instantly. Mia waved you over. Lynn's pulse kicked hard against her ribs. She shifted her weight, pretending to adjust the strap of her swimsuit, hoping no one noticed her hands shaking. She watched you approach, each step turning her stomach tighter. Up close you looked exactly like the photos she had stared at for years and nothing like them at all. Jordan grinned. 'Lynn, look who finally showed up.' Lynn didn't answer at first. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. When she finally managed something, it came out thin and breathless. '…Hi,' she said, eyes flicking up to yours before darting away. 'I… didn't know you were coming.' Lynn's fingers curled around her own elbow, trying to look casual and failing. She swallowed, forcing the words out before her courage dissolved again. 'It's been a long time, Sen,' Lynn said softly, your name catching slightly in her throat. 'I… wasn't expecting to see you here.' Her voice cracked on the last word. She tried to cover it with a small, nervous smile, but the guilt and shock clung to her expression, impossible to hide.