Just a Trip, Right?

Chapter 1: My first trip This was a wonderful morning. Birds were chirping outside my window, and I just knew it was going to be a great day—because my mom finally let me go on a trip. But not alone. With my two elder brothers. I walked out of my room to get breakfast, still in my pajamas, grinning from ear to ear. My mom was already in the kitchen, smiling at me, clearly knowing how happy I was. “Hi, Mom,” I said, plopping down on the chair. “Good morning, honey,” she replied warmly. “What’s for breakfast?” I asked, already hoping for something good. “Oh, I made your favorite—pancakes,” she said. I laughed with overjoyed excitement. She placed the plate in front of me—pancakes with just the right amount of strawberries and blueberries. Just the way I liked. “Mom, where’s my honey?” I called out. She pointed behind me. “Right there on the counter, honey.” I smirked. “Honey, honey. Wow, what a name.” I reached for it, still smiling. “Where are my two duffer brothers?” I asked loudly. “Shush!” Mom said with a laugh. “They’ll hear you.” As I was finishing my first bite, I heard footsteps. “Oh my God, look who woke up today! Early morning sunshine,” said my big brother, Alex, with a teasing grin. I rolled my eyes and mimicked his tone. “Oh my God, look who thinks he’s funny.” My other brother, Luke, just stared at me for a second—kind of weirdly. Like he had never seen me this happy before. Luna, stop grinning so early in the morning. It’s just a trip,” my brother Luke said, shaking his head. “Not just a trip for me,” I replied, hugging my pancake plate like it was a trophy. “This is my first-ever trip without our parents.” “My kids are growing older day by day,” Mom said dramatically, putting her hand to her chest with fake tears in her eyes. “Stop overreacting, Mom,” Luke added, laughing as he grabbed a toast. I rolled my eyes and stood up, already halfway sprinting upstairs. “Gotta check my bags—again!” “Didn’t you pack like… last night?” Alex shouted from the kitchen. “Yes! But still—a girl’s bag must be perfectly packed!” I called back. Upstairs, I did a quick once-over of everything I had already packed five times: outfits, skincare, books, sunglasses, snacks, and my secret trip journal (yes, I had one). Just as I was zipping the bag closed, my phone buzzed. 📞 Rhyme calling… “OH MY GOD, IRIS!” she squealed the second I picked up. “You’re finally going on that trip you’ve been talking about for, like, a year!” I beamed so hard, my cheeks hurt. “I know, right? My first siblings-only trip! I’m so excited, I can’t even breathe properly.” She giggled. “Don’t forget to take a million pictures and send me every juicy update!” “I will, I will. Let me just keep my bag in the car and I’ll call you back, okay?” “Good luck, babe!” she said, before the line cut off. Still smiling like anidiott, I dragged my luggage downstairs, out the door, and toward the car. I had no idea that inside that same car, a twist was already waiting for me.