Secrets in the Shadows

~♤Chapter 3♤~

Lucy's POV
After about 4 or 5 hours of driving we finally make it to a sign that says "Santa Carla". I continue driving but I look back and see Sam looking out the window smiling widely and my face softens when I see Y/N asleep their head laying down on Nanook. He doesn't seem to mind it though as he is also asleep making me chuckle I turn back facing forward and continue driving and from the corner of my eye I see Michael smiling and it almost brings tears to my eyes as it wasn't one of his usual sarcastic smiles but a genuine one.

I haven't seen him smile like that after me and Jim got divorced because he cheated on me with my best friend, the last time I saw him smile like was when Sam was born. I slightly frown as I remember Sam was still a little young when me and Jim got divorced so he didn't really get to see what his father was really like, Michael did though, I never wanted Michael to see his father like that but he did and I couldn't protect him from it.

I am quickly snapped out of my thoughts when I smell ocean water making me smile widely, I look out the window and see the boardwalk giving me a big amount of nostalgia and a bit of sadness as it was the place I first met Jim but I continue smiling nonetheless. I know Y/N told me to drop them off a couple miles from the boardwalk but I couldn't do that to them especially with their hurt ankle. I park into a little parking spot that's near the boardwalk and I turn to see Sam looking at me with puppy dog eyes making me sigh as I knew what he wanted to do.

"Sam you can explore the boardwalk after you get done unpacking, Same goes for you Micheal." I tell both the boys when I notice Michael looking at me with the expression. They both groan annoyed but I laugh and shake my head at them.

I turn my head slightly to the left and I see Y/N still sleeping peacefully making me feel a bit guilty "Do they even have a place to stay? Why didn't I ask them." I mentally scold myself but I see Sam lightly shaking Y/N. They don't wake up and Micheal grins mischievously making me look at him with a 'Don't you even think about it face' but he doesn't listen and yells.

"Y/N YOUR BIKE FELL OFF THE VAN, IT'S GONE!" Y/N quickly wakes up with wide eyes and tries to open the van door but it is locked, they twist their head around as they hear laughing and sees Michael holding his stomach laughing loudly.

"Dude you should've seen your face!" Micheal exclaims through his laughter making Y/N huff and roll their eyes I see Sam quietly laughing making me laugh a little too. I calm myself down and look at the person in my car feeling a slight protectiveness and motherly instinct wash over me as I stare at them.

"Well we're at the boardwalk dear, this is where we part ways for now." I smile sadly at them and Y/N smiles back at me, Sam quickly hugs them making Y/N laugh and hug him back. Micheal opens the passenger door and leaves the van walking over to Y/N's door opening it for them, Y/N let's go of Sam and quickly kisses Nanook on the head making him bark happily.

Y/N hops out of the car and quickly hugs Micheal tightly making Michael laugh and hug them back, after a couple minutes they let go and walk behind the van unstrapping Y/N's bike from the back of it. I look into the rear view mirror and see Micheal hugging them again and quickly kissing their cheek making me chuckle.

I then see Y/N start dragging her bike over to a parking space setting it there, making me sigh. Micheal quickly rushes back into the van and all of us wave goodbye at Y/N making them wave back at us. I quickly back away about to drive off when I see Y/N walking on the boardwalk making me smile softly "They kinda remind me of myself when I was younger." I think to myself as I start driving away not noticing the shadow with red eyes following Y/N.