It's May 21st, 2023. We just got off of school, and I couldn't wait to go to the lake house because that means getting away from my parents, and that is just amazing. It's one of my favorite things to do. My older brother, Trenton, picked up Oily(me), along with my sister, Luna.
Trenton was the oldest. He is going to Duke University for pre-law, and it is something that my parents planned out for him. He is passionate about other things. Like film and arts. He found that a couple of summers ago. He was just outside painting.
I was in the back middle seat, while my sister was in the passenger seat.
"I wonder if Jamie, Amber, and even Christopher, Vanessa are going to be there because the last time we saw them, their parents said they wouldn't be able to make it to next summer," I said not sure why they are not coming.
Both of my siblings just looked at each other. Luna sighed, and I moved across to the end of the seat, looking at the window. We lived in Maine in the city called Jamestown. It was a small town, with a tiny population, and my family has lived here their entire lives. They met the Livingstons while in college, and they have stuck by each other ever since, like twins.
The last time I saw the Livingstons was last year at the lake house; they moved out of Jamestown. Both the Livingstons and Richardson were close, and I couldn't figure out why they decided to move. They left in the middle of the night. My siblings and I had to watch from the window.
My brother Trenton had been crying since he and Vanessa started dating, and that was something both parents knew about and had allowed. Luna and I had to comfort each other and Trenton while my parents were arguing over what to do with them.
I found it very strange the way my parents acted with Trenton and Vanessa. No one knew if they were in love or just putting on an act for both parents. They didn't talk about it—not even in front of us.
My thoughts came to a stop when the car stopped. Our parents were waiting for us. They were both standing in front of the car. My mom was an African American born here in the United States. She came from a very uptight family and had to attend the best college, which was Duke University. She majored in Economics and minored in Political Science. She was at the top of her class. Her family was from old money; they came from South Carolina and owned ample land.
My dad didn't come from much. His family is from Afghanistan. He was born there and moved here when he was a baby. There isn't much to say about my dad. He met my mom at Duke. I believe he majored in Art and became a famous artist. He doesn't talk about himself.
My mom had her fake smile, and my dad was on the phone talking with his clients. He was always on the phone.
"Damn, you guys are four minutes late!" My mom said she was short, probably like 5 '7, my dad was 6' 4 she looked like an ant compared to him; she always had her hair up in a bun and my dad always wore his hair down. It showed who was the boss in the relationship.
My brother parked the car, and we all looked at each other. We got out. We didn't say anything; we've been hearing this twenty-four-seven, and it's very infuriating.
"Mom, relax we're going to—" Trenton said, trying to reason
"Son, don't try to argue with your mother. Everyone in the car," Dad said, with a strict tone.
You would think that, since he was an art major, he would be a free-spirited person. That was a lie. All of us got quiet. I didn't want to argue with my parents and get grounded for the entire summer, and when I say grounded, I mean I couldn't even go outside, having to stay inside a room doing nothing.
That happened to Luna last summer. That was one of her reasons to kill our parents. All of my siblings, including myself, had so many reasons to kill our parents; it was only a matter of time before it happened.
We were all standing there with our parents just in front of us.
"Get in the car." Mom said.
I hopped in the car in the back, and then my brother and sister sat in the middle seat. Our parents got in last. I put my headphones on while looking out the window.
The drive to the lake house is probably a 4-hour drive. The lake is called Moosehead Lake. It's on the biggest lake in Maine. My parents stayed there before they got married. They would go there whenever they got the chance. My siblings and I would have to hear about it every time. Our parents sometimes gave us a history test, and the person who got the lowest score would be grounded; that was me for four summers straight. That was the reason why I wanted my parents killed.
They didn't do it this summer. I'm so happy they didn't do it.
"So, Trenton, have you talked to Vanessa?" Mom said curious. Looking back at him. My dad was looking in the rearview mirror.
Trenton shifted in his seat, not wanting to answer this. Luna and I are looking at him.
Say the correct answer . I thought
"Umm..Yeah..me and her decided that—" Trenton said, but Luna cut him off.
"Yeah, remember Trenton, she got her phone taken away for the summer. So, you don't really know, right?" Luna said. None of the parents knew that they broke off four summers ago. Best thing to ever happen to them.
Trenton looked at her, about to cry, and Luna just comforted him. We were all close to each other.
"Oh, that sucks because us and her parents have a surprise for you guys." Mom said, with a happy tone.
Trenton was in love with this girl back at home. She was going to New York to pursue a career in film and art. Nothing like our Dad. That was something that he was passionate about. My dad said that's not a real job, and I spoke against saying that art is not a real job. I got grounded for 2 months.
So if my parents found out, they would have an issue with him.
Four hours passed, and we finally arrived at Moosehead Lake—a tiny town with only 1,000 people. We were driving through town, about to stop at a grocery store to get some food. When my dad pulled into the grocery store. We parked in the front.
All of us are getting out and once my siblings are out of the car, I climb over the seat to meet them. Once I was outside it was freezing, I looked at my watch and it was only 3:00pm. When I turned around the store was huge. Me and my siblings were about to go inside, when our dad stopped us.
"Get a cart and only grab healthy things" He said with a rigorous voice.
We grabbed a cart and speed walked inside towards the healthy section.
"Do you think they are already there?" Luna said, grabbing fruit and putting it in the basket.
"I think so, I think they are getting ready for us to come," I said, grabbing cookies. Luna took it out the cart and put it back on the shelf. I rolled my eyes, sometimes Luna would act like my mom rather, then my real mom.
Trenton was about to say something when we heard arguing and those voices were familiar, we all looked at each other and started running to the other side.
There she was Jamie and Amber fighting over a bag of candy. Jamie had short black hair and she was wearing beige khakis and a button up shirt. She was taller than her, like 5'7. She had these brown eyes that look at the trees, when you look into them. Amber had the beauty like a goddess. She had long black hair and always wore a dress, she had the same eyes like Jamie. She was shorter than her though.
Then there was Vanessa. She had the same beauty as Luna and they are like best friends. She had short hair not like Jamie, it was like a bob. She had freckles all around her face and had the same eyes. She was wearing her lucky shorts and a tube top.
Then there was Christopher standing there laughing, he was my crush since four summers ago. He had black hair and was taller than me. He had blue eyes that were like the ocean. He always wore a crewneck and oversized jeans.
Me and my sibling started laughing and that is when everyone stopped what they were doing and ran towards us.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Jamie said hugging me, she paused and hugged me again.
"What are you talking about?" Trenton said hugging Christopher and Amber at the same time.
"Our parents said you weren't coming." Chris said.
My siblings and I were in shock. Why would they say that?
"What...Why would they say that?" Luna said holding hands with Vanessa and Jamie.
She was the mom in our entire group.
"Because our parents thought you guys were leaving Maine." Vanessa said, confused.
We all looked at each other confused about what was going on.
I was about to say something, when my parents came around the corner. When Vanessa saw our parents she dropped Luna's head and moved towards Trenton. Everyone saw it and everyone put on a fake smile.
"Oh my what are you guys doing here at the store?" Mom said she wasn't excited to see them nor did my dad.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Richardson we are just getting a couple of things for our parents and ourselves and taking it back to the lake house." Christopher said because no one else was going to say something.
"Oh okay. It was good to see you, Vanessa." Mom said, ignoring Jamie, Amber, and Christopher.
Vanessa just smiled.
It was my turn to say something.
"Hey Mom, we're driving back with them". I said. My siblings looked at me and followed suit.
"No, you're driving back with us. So, let's go. We'll see you guys back at the house" Mom said in her tone there was no room for discussion.
I smiled at Amber, Jamie, Christopher and Vanessa. This was another reason why I wanted my parents killed.
My sibling gave me the exact same look. Once we were walking I looked back and they were still looking. When I looked at Chris he was staring at me with a sorrowful look.
I hated my parents and this just sucks.
Once my siblings were in the car, my parents were still in the store paying for the groceries. All of us were quiet and we didn't want to say anything.
"I can't believe they did that." Luna said, turning to me and Trenton. Me and him just looked at her.
"I know it sucks but those are lovely parents." Trenton said with a sarcastic tone.
I looked at both of them.
"We should run them over. Make it look like an accident." I said with a serious tone. Trenton and Luna just looked at me like that plan might actually work. But when Luna was about to say something, our parents came back.
"I can't believe you guys try to embarrass us like that!" Mom yelled at us.
We didn't embarrass you guys, you embarrass us. I thought. I didn't want to roll my eyes because that means I'm grounded.
No one said anything, we just looked at our parents and when Mom looked back at us expecting an answer.
"Mom we didn't." Luna said with a low tone. I think Luna didn't expect Mom to hear it but she did.
Once Luna said that me and Trenton knew it was going to be over for her. She was about to be grounded for the entire summer.
My mother looked at her with the most disgusting look. She reached to the back seat and grabbed a handful of Luna's hair and yanked it. Luna started crying and me and Trenton were in full shock because our mother never held her hands on us.
"You ungrateful child. You're grounding for the entire summer. I'm tired of that mouth." Mom said with a deadly tone, my dad was watching. When Mom let go of Luna's hair, Trenton and I were comforting her.
Luna was crying badly. I couldn't believe that happened. Both of my parents hopped in the car acting like nothing had happened. Me and Trenton just looked at each other in pure shock. When the car started we didn't let go of Luna and she was holding on to us very tight.
Once our parents pulled out of the grocery store, we were driving towards the lake house. When getting there there were a lot of tall trees. There were brown, black, trees and the leaves were green and orange, brown different kinds of colors.
But once you saw the lake house it was the most gorgeous house.
We pulled into the driveway and the lake house looks different from last year. It was tall and had big glass windows on each side of the house. This lake house has eight rooms with two primary suits and the rest guest suits.
Me and my siblings decided this year would be different . We will all sleep in one room because this is going to be Trenton last summer here in this lake house and we would like to make this count.
Once the car was in park me and my siblings got out of the car so fast. Luna speed walk all the way inside the house and probably in the room. Me and Trenton followed her. All of the Livingstons were looking at the house like we were crazy.
Trenton follows Luna inside the house trying to catch up with her. I stopped and looked at the Livingstons kids. "Meeting now. We have a code red!" I said in a panic tone. All of them look at me in pure shock because this hasn't happened in a long time.
Everyone started following me inside the house and once I walked up the stairs and stopped right in front of the door and looked back at my parents and the Livingstons. I knew this summer was different and fucked.