Chapter 3 : An unexpected meeting

Eli stopped dead in her tracks as she reached the new cove. From a distance, she spotted a young man swimming in the water. He looked about her age, about 18. He wasn't very tall, barely 1.70 m, but his muscular, athletic figure stood out clearly beneath the lake's crystal-clear surface. His wet brown hair stuck to his forehead, framing a face with harmonious features and dark brown eyes that shone with vitality.Eli also noticed the numerous tattoos adorning her skin, adding a touch of mystery and rebellion to her allure. Every movement revealed a little more of his sculpted body, and even from a distance, his dazzling smile seemed to light up everything around him.Transfixed by this unexpected sight, Eli stood still for a moment, captivated by the young man's grace and beauty. She wondered who he might be and where he might have come from, secretly hoping that she'd get the chance to meet him up close.The phone vibrated in the small pocket of her skirt. Eli hesitated to look at it, but it vibrated a second time. She glanced at it quickly: it was LJ, asking where she was. Hesitating between going inside or approaching the young man, she chose to go inside, too shy to make the first move.LJ saw her sister arrive, still lost in thought. Knowing Eli, she'd surely seen something captivating. Laughing, he asked, "Did you see a pretty boy on your walk?"Eli's face turned red, confirming LJ's suspicions, and he burst out laughing. "Did you ask him for his number?"Red with shame, Eli shook his head. "He was bathing."Curious, LJ gathered their things and gave his sister a mischievous look. Eli began to worry; that little smirk didn't bode well.LJ headed for the path his sister had come from. "Why are you going that way? The trail back is in the other direction.""I want to see the guy who managed to get my little sister all worked up.""No, LJ, you can't do that. You'll embarrass me!""But no, you'll see, I'll fix you up."Worried, Eli followed her brother. They arrived at the spot where she'd spotted the boy, but he'd disappeared. LJ, visibly disappointed, turned back. Eli felt a mixture of relief and disappointment at not seeing the boy again and chatting with him.The two quietly returned to the car where they'd left it. It was mid-afternoon. LJ asked his sister what she wanted to do. Eli replied that she wanted to go home, shower and get ready for the party.All the way home, LJ whistled as Eli drifted off to sleep.