Chapter Two: the trip begins
1097 Words
I lugged my bags downstairs, the excitement practically bubbling out of me. This was it—our first ever siblings-only summer trip. Just me and my two older brothers: Alex, the serious one, and Luke, the fun-but-sometimes-clueless middle one. A beach house, the sound of waves, no parents, just freedom.
I loaded my luggage into the trunk, double-checked if I forgot anything, and then, in a sudden rush of sentiment, sprinted back inside.
“Mom, where are you?” I called out.
“Upstairs, honey!” she replied.
I dashed into her room. She was folding laundry, casual as ever.
“I’m heading out now! You better not call me every single day!” I teased.
She smiled, the kind of smile moms give when they’re holding back tears. “Of course not. I know this is your first trip without us. Enjoy it. I trust you’ll be safe.”
“Tell Dad not to worry too much… and also… tell him I love him.”
“I will. Have a good trip, sweetheart.”
I wrapped her in a tight hug—one of those hugs you don’t realize you’ll miss until later—and ran back downstairs, heart pounding, face grinning.
I slid into the front passenger seat like it was my rightful throne. Luke was already behind the wheel.
Moments later, Alex walked over, opened the door, and froze.
“Why are you sitting here?” he frowned. “Sit in the back.”
“Excuse me?” I blinked innocently. “This is the passenger seat. The passenger princess sits here. Unless you’re claiming to be a princess too?”
Luke laughed. “Oh my God, not again. You’re already pissing him off, and we haven’t even left yet.”
Alex groaned but moved to the back without arguing. Victory.
“Oh, by the way, Luna,” Luke glanced at me as he started the car, “we’ve got something to tell you.”
“What is it?” I asked, instantly suspicious.
“My girlfriend’s joining us,” he said.
“And so is mine,” Alex added from behind.
My eyes widened. “Wait—Shayla and Taylor are coming? That’s awesome! I love them. Finally, some girl energy on this trip.”
Luke smirked. “And that’s not all… there’s another surprise.”
I stared at him. “Okay… what now?”
He chuckled. “Each of them is bringing a friend.”
I blinked. “Friends? As in… more people?”
Alex chimed in. “Yeah. And yes, Mom knows. She just wanted us to tell you.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?!” I half-laughed, half-gasped.
“She probably wanted you to hear it from us. You cool with that?”
I nodded slowly, unsure but optimistic. “Yeah… I mean, the more the merrier, right?”
The ride to the beach house was everything I hoped it’d be—music blasting, windows down, laughter echoing in the car.
When we arrived, I was the first to leap out and sprint into the house. “Dibs on the best room!” I shouted.
Alex yelled something about helping with bags, but I was already halfway up the stairs. The house was a dream—seven bedrooms, a basement with a pool table, an outdoor pool, a BBQ spot, and the ocean just steps away.
And then, I found it. The room.
It had an attached bathroom with a perfect porcelain bathtub, a huge closet, and windows that opened up to a breathtaking view of the beach. The walls? Painted in the softest sky-blue—the exact shade I loved. This room was mine.
I ran downstairs, grabbed all my bags, and dumped them inside to mark my territory. No one else was stealing this room.
Minutes later, I heard honking. I rushed down, already buzzing with excitement. Shayla and Taylor stepped out of the car, looking gorgeous as always, and with them was a girl I hadn’t met before.
“Hi!” I said, smiling brightly. “What’s your name?”
“Millie,” she replied, warm and soft-spoken.
And just like that, four girls on this trip. I could already tell—this summer was going to be unforgettable.
Before we could fully settle in, another honk rang out. Two cars pulled up. Four tall guys jumped out, chatting in loud bro-language.
One of them, Ryan, was familiar. My brother’s best friend, the football team captain—always the protective, big-brother type to me.
But my eyes landed on someone else.
A guy stepped out carrying a huge box of drinks. He was shirtless, in a backwards cap, and oh God—the wind caught his brunette hair just right. His build wasn’t bulky, just… perfectly sculpted. Defined muscles, smooth tan skin, effortlessly handsome.
“Yo, what’s up, Leo!” my brother greeted him.
Leo. What a name. Even that was cute.
The others—Marcus and Asher—seemed cool too. But I had a feeling I wouldn’t forget Leo anytime soon.
We all began to settle in. People picked their rooms, explored the house, unpacked. At some point, everyone left to grab groceries, but I stayed behind to change. I swapped out my travel sweatset for something cuter—a light crop top and shorts. I wanted to look good.
As I came down the stairs, the house was empty except for one person. Leo.
He smiled. “Oh, you’re still here. I thought you left too.”
“They left without me?!” I gasped. “Ugh! I even changed into this cute outfit!”
Leo chuckled. “Want me to drop you off?”
“You didn’t go either?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Wasn’t feeling great. But I’m okay now. I can take you if you want.”
I smiled. “Nah, it’s fine.”
“But you’re gonna waste your cute outfit,” he teased.
I laughed, a bit flustered. “Maybe I’ll just head to the beach.”
“Perfect,” he said. “I was actually thinking of going too. Let’s go together?”
Outside, the beach looked magical. Kids played, the sun glimmered on the waves, people rode by on bikes.
“Want to bike down the beach?” I asked, suddenly inspired.
He lit up. “That’s an amazing idea.”
I pulled out two bikes from the garage, and we started riding.
And as we biked side by side along the shoreline, I swear… my heart was racing faster than my wheels.
- Writer
