Wyatt and Stacy were going to break up tonight, but not for the reasons they thought they would. 

2 hours earlier, Stacy was talking to her mom about what to bring on the date. Her mom suggested a salad and maybe some punch but Stacy thought that wouldn’t be enough, especially since Wyatt knew how to cook and would probably bring some fancy pasta or sandwich. This was their last ditch effort at making this relationship work and despite them drifting apart while he was abroad, she really didn’t want to try it all over again with someone new. With little time left, she decided to quickly put a salad together and fill two bottles with punch. She put everything into a nice picnic basket with a blanket, knowing Wyatt would forget one.

Wyatt was arguing with his friend on how much effort to put into this date. He enjoyed cooking so purposely putting in less effort seemed ridiculous but his friend didn’t agree. He thought that the relationship was pretty much dead after everything that happened with Teddy. Wyatt still loved Stacy but he knew that if this date didn’t work, whatever that meant, it might be time to call it quits. He decided to make a fancy sandwich and put it into a tote bag with some utensils and napkins, knowing Stacy would forget.

The two drove to Maple Lake, the same place where they shared their first kiss, and greeted each other with a hug. They walked together to a secluded spot next to the water, layed out the blanket, and sat down. Talking to your partner is hard when they feel like a stranger. And that “feeling” is hard to avoid when you’re afraid to acknowledge it. So it just sits there. Waiting. Because if you feel like strangers for long enough, it’s hard to work your way back. But they tried. They talked about all of the things they used to and for a while, it felt like everything was going to be okay. Until they noticed another couple emerge from the trees and sit down next to the water on the opposite side of the lake. They looked like they loved each other, they were close, and for the first time, Wyatt and Stacy realized that they were sitting on opposite sides of the blanket. They both watched the couple, almost in awe. Or jealousy of a relationship that “worked”. 

A few minutes later, a third person walked out of the trees where the couple came from and walked towards where they were sitting. Wyatt and Stacy continued watching.

As the woman got closer, the couple turned around and waved at her. She began talking and as she did, the man nodded his head and then turned to his partner who also nodded. The man then stood up and walked with the woman into the woods while his partner sat still.

“Is that a throuple?”

Stacy’s eyes were focused on the woman left sitting there. 

“No?”

“I wonder if they know her.”

“Seems like she needed help.”

“Do you think she got a flat tire?”

“Maybe.”

The two went back to talking and enjoying their food. Their conversation bounced from one topic to the next even if it was something they talked about before. It just felt natural. They slowly moved closer and closer together until Stacy laid her head in Wyatt’s lap and they looked up at the stars that were starting to become visible. All of the feelings they felt the first time they met had rushed back and it finally felt like they had a chance at making this work. 

Stacy turned her head to face the lake which brought back old memories from when they were 18 and just starting to fall in love. But further away, she noticed the woman was still sitting there. Alone.

“The man isn’t back yet.”

“Who?”

“The man who went with the woman…he isn’t back yet.”

“Oh, I don’t know, they probably had to do something. How long has it been?”

“It’s been over an hour. Do you think we should check in on her?”

“She’s across the lake, it would take another hour just to get there. I’m sure it’s fine.”

Stacy’s eyes looked past the woman and into the woods and noticed movement to the right of where the man had first gone in with the woman.

“Wyatt, I see something.” She pointed towards the figure as it moved just along the edge of the woods until it stopped. It was the woman. She stood still and stepped out onto the beach, about 50 feet behind the woman.

“Babe it’s her…and the man isn’t there.”

Wyatt looked over and began sharing the same sense of uneasiness that Stacy felt in her stomach.

“This doesn’t feel right.”

“There’s a chance she could be with them, if anything happens we’ll just call for help.” 

The woman slowly walked towards the partner, then began moving faster until she was in a full sprint. 

“Oh my god, Wyatt, call 9-1-1.” Wyatt hesitated but began dialling as Stacy started yelling to get the partner’s attention. Before she had a chance to turn around, the woman grabbed the girlfriend by the hair and started dragging her towards the water. She was kicking and screaming to get free but couldn’t in time. The woman started pushing her head beneath the surface of the water as she kicked and splashed to get free.

Wyatt stayed on the phone as he and Stacy waved their arms in the air and continued to yell until the woman looked up to see where the noise was coming from. Her eyes locked onto Stacy’s and she froze, holding the woman’s head below the water. She paused for a few seconds, staring across the water and directly at Wyatt, and then all of a sudden, she got up and ran back into the woods while the woman laid there, lifeless. The man returned, his face and t-shirt covered in blood, and quickly rushed to pull her back to where they sat and placed her on her side. 

Wyatt and Stacy looked on, hoping for any signs of life. The woman then began gasping for air and both of them let out a sigh of relief. 

Wyatt turned to Stacy and said, “Damn…where was she when you cheated?”

Wyatt and Stacy rode back in silence. They broke up 2 days later.