Hey guys, here's a story I've been working on, it's only Chapter 1, so the rest is still coming. But let me know what you think, and if I should continue the story. Thanks!
The family trips up to the lake had been legendary back when I was little. Two weeks of doing nothing but fishing, swimming, boating, and laying around in the warm sun. But we hadn't been here since I'd been 14. Everything else had taken importance: work, summer activities, that kind of stuff. But now that I was 18 and getting ready to go off to college, we decided to go one more time as a last family trip before I left home. Mostly it was just my mom being dramatic, I was going to school only about an hour away from my house, but to her it felt like another planet. And she made that quite clear with every subtle hint that with my grades I could go to community college for free and live at home. My younger brother acted like he couldn't care less, after all he would be getting the bigger room. And my Dad, well he didn't want to talk about it much. I loved my family, but I couldn't wait to get out of there and have some actual experiences.
The hunting lodge on the lake was a great memory. It was a large house, meant for two families that we always stayed in when we came up. Which brought back more memories of the other huge part of this experience, the Stratfords. Bob and Sue had been friends with my parents since before I was even born, so of course they were like family. Them and their son Jack had been coming up here with us for as long as I could remember. Jack was three years older then me, and had always been a funny combination of an older brother to pick on me when I was younger, and as I started to like boys, a crush. But we'd been close. Of course, we were stuck with each other for a few weeks of the summer; we didn't have much of a choice. Our families had been like one that is until they moved away. My parents and them still talked and tried to stay connected, but it just wasn't the same to them living only a few minutes away at home. The next summer, we decided not to come up without them, it would have been weird. So the tradition kind of stopped. But this year, my parents had decided on one last hurrah for our family, and thought they'd invite them along for a reunion. When they said yes, my parents had been overjoyed. They really were best friends after all. So fast forward a few months, and here we are, unpacking for the trip.
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I swung my legs out of the minivan and onto the gravel path as I climbed out after a long car ride. I stretched my limbs in the warm sun as I looked around at the familiar spot. It was just like I remembered I thought with a smile. This may have started out as my parents spot, but it had become mine over the years as well. I went to the trunk and started pulling out my bags, lugging them into the house. From the looks of things, we were the first ones here. I head inside as my brother runs past me up the stairs to pick out the best room. I follow him up, passing by the master bedrooms, which of course belonged to the parents, picking a smaller bedroom with a balcony that looked out on the lake. Perfect I thought dropping my bags. I stepped outside looking around. This was going to be a great trip, I could tell already. I really needed a few weeks break. Everything had been moving so fast lately. I looked down at the honk of a horn as a jeep pulled up besides our car outside. I smiled. They're here! I headed downstairs to say hi, coming outside just as my mom and Aunt Sue came together for a big hug. I leaned against the doorway with a smile. Now it was really home. My dad and uncle bob exchanged a manly handshake looking on at the wives. I walked over as Aunt Sue almost jumped on me hugging me so tight.
"Peyton—oh my goodness is that you sweetheart? You've gotten so beautiful baby!!"
I giggle hugging her back.
"Thanks Aunt Sue, it's been a while."
She pulls back reluctantly to say hi to my little brother as I go over to give Uncle Bob a hug, who gives me a big smile.
After all the pleasantries are exchanged, everyone starts unloading the cars, I look around for a second.
"Uh, Aunt Sue, where's Jack?"
"Oh he's right behind us dear. He had to stop for gas or something right before we got here."
"Oh alright" I answered going back over to my car and helping with some more of the numerous bags we had stuffed into our trunk. As I went inside to drop off another trip, I heard another car pull up outside. After dropping my stuff off, I came back out to see someone getting out of a Honda. He had shaggy brown hair and bright blue eyes. It took me a second before I realized it was Jack. He'd... changed. Of course it'd been over 5 years, but-wow. I stared for a second as my mom ran up for a hug. He looked all grown up, muscled and chiseled in all the right places. I tried to compare him to the skinnier 16 year old I remembered. But there really was no comparison. I walked up slowly as my mom pulled out of his hug. He looked up and looked me up and down for a second before realization set in for him.
"Brooke?' He said with definite shock in his voice.
