Buddy Holly by Weezer
The sky was painted in deep hues of purple and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. The waves of the ocean crashed softly against the docks, the scent of salt and sea lingering in the air. Estella stood at the edge of the pier, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared out at the ship anchored before her. The Lost Revengeâher home for as long as she could rememberânow felt like a bittersweet memory.
Behind her, she heard the familiar sound of boots against the wooden planks. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Harry.
"Ye really gonna do this, lass?" His voice was quiet, hesitant in a way she had never heard before.
Estella swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah." Her voice barely carried over the wind. "It's time."
A week had passed since the barrier had fallen, since they had been given the choice of where they wanted to be. For some, the decision had been easyâUma had chosen to go stay, leading a new generation of pirates in Auradon, Gil had found a strange happiness in working at a bakery of all places, and Harry had settled in, finding her place among the VK students at Auradon and Fencing. But for Estella, the choice hadn't been so simple.
For the first time in her life, she had the freedom to decide who she wanted to be. And she had made her choice.
She was leaving Auradon.
Harry came to stand beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat. His gaze wasn't on the ship, but on her. "So where to, then?"
Estella inhaled deeply, tasting the salty air. "Neverland."
Harry tensed beside her. She knew what he was thinking. That she was going back to the one place he had never wanted to return to. The place where their fathers' legacies still loomed over them like ghosts.
But she wasn't going back for them. She was going back for herself.
"I need to figure out who I am, Harry," she said softly, finally turning to face him. "Away from Auradon, away from the Isle, away from... all of this." She gestured to the world around them. "I need to do this for me."
His jaw clenched, his usual cocky expression nowhere in sight. "And what about us?" His voice was rough, raw with emotion. "What happens to us, Stella?"
Her heart ached at the desperation in his voice. She reached up, her fingers grazing his cheek. "We'll always be us."
Harry shook his head, gripping her wrist before she could pull away. "That's not enough."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I love you, Harry."
Harry exhaled sharply, pressing his forehead against hers. His grip on her wrist tightened, as if letting go would make her disappear. His voice was barely above a whisper when he finally spoke.
"Then let me come with ye."
Estella's breath caught in her throat. She pulled back slightly, searching his ocean-blue eyes for any hesitation, any trace of doubtâbut there was none. Just the same unwavering determination she had seen in him a thousand times before.
A watery smile spread across her lips. "It's up to you, Harry," she murmured. "But I'd love it if you did."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The waves continued their gentle assault on the shore, the wind tousling their hair, the world around them fading into nothing. It was just them. As it had always been. As it would always be.
Then, Harry let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yer a bloody menace, ye know that?"
Estella laughed through the tears brimming in her eyes. "Took you long enough to figure that out."
Harry smirked before pulling her into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "Aye, but I love ye anyway."
Estella clung to him, fingers curling into the fabric of his coat. "I love you too."
They stayed like that for what felt like forever, holding onto each other as if the world wasn't changing around them. But it was. And for the first time, they weren't afraid of it.
A voice from the ship called out, breaking their moment. "Oi, Estella! Ye comin' or what?"
She pulled back just enough to glance at the ship, then back at Harry. "So?" She tilted her head, a teasing smile playing at her lips. "You coming with me or not, pirate?"
Harry didn't hesitate. He grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers. "Wherever ye go, I go."
And with that, they boarded the ship together, sailing toward the unknown.
Toward their future.
this book was insanely fun to write, i enjoyed every chapter!!! ur support has kept me going every time i feel unmotivated or just tired, and i thank you all for that!!! the support and love is just incredible and unbelievable tbf, i love u all sm ð¤ i hope you enjoyed Estella and Harry, and just the book in general. Please keep an eye out for new upcoming books, like a JJ Maybank one and i have a Ben book published!! Hey Tink has been a pleasure, goodbye x