Across the Lake

Chapter 2: New Connections

My alarm went off, and I jumped out of bed, eager to start the day. After grabbing a quick breakfast, I was ready to dive back into the outdoors. The peacefulness of this place was already settling into my soul. As I stepped outside, I noticed neighbors lounging in their chairs with refreshing drinks. My gaze landed on Paige, who was sitting quietly by the lake. I walked over and sat beside her, hoping to strike up a conversation.

"Hey!" I said, catching her attention.

Paige quickly turned to face me. "Oh, hey! Nice seeing you here."

"The lake sure looks amazing," I said, admiring the gentle ripples on the surface.

Paige nodded, her eyes fixed on the water. "It brings me joy. Not that I get much of that elsewhere," she murmured.

Her words left me a bit confused, but I decided not to push. "Well, I'm glad it makes you happy. It's refreshing for me too."

She gave a small shrug, and the conversation fell into an awkward silence. I glanced around and spotted my twin sister, Claire, stepping out of the cabin.

Claire was dressed in her swimsuit, carrying a chair, her book, and her glasses. She looked completely at ease. I jumped to my feet and ran over to her.

"Hey! Cute swimsuit!" I said, laughing.

"Thanks! You should come join me," she replied with a grin, heading toward the water.

"Sounds like fun!" I called back, rushing inside to grab my swimsuit.

On my way to change, Mom called out, "Honey, where are you off to?"

"Going to hang out with Claire!" I replied, smiling.

"Have fun!" she said, and I hurried to get ready.

When I came back outside, I found Claire setting up her chair by the lake. I joined her, setting mine up beside hers. She looked over at me, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"I've been meaning to tell you something," she said.

"What is it?" I asked, intrigued.

"I think I want to be an author someday. I've been feeling really confident about it lately," she said, her voice filled with determination.

I beamed at her. "Do it! Whatever makes you happy, I'll support you all the way."

She laughed. "Thanks, Blaire. That means a lot."

"And you know what?" she added, "You're like a master guitarist. I can totally see you playing on big stages someday."

Her words caught me off guard, but they warmed my heart. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely! You've got talent, and people would love to hear you play."

"Thanks, Claire. That really means a lot," I said, my passion reignited.

Claire stood up and gestured to the lake. "Wanna swim?"

"Of course!" I said, following her into the water.

We splashed and swam for a while, laughing like we used to when we were kids. Spending time with Claire always felt special, like no one else could understand me the way she did.

After we dried off and settled back into our chairs, Mom approached us.

"Looks like you two are having fun!" she said with a smile, though her expression seemed slightly off.

"Where's Dad?" I asked, noticing his absence.

She hesitated for a moment before replying, "He's... alright, dear." Her tone was unconvincing, and she quickly walked away.

"That was weird," Claire muttered, voicing what we were both thinking.

"Yeah. I wonder what's going on," I said.

Claire shrugged. "Maybe she's just joking around like she does sometimes."

I nodded, though I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

"I'm gonna try to meet more people," I said, standing up.

"Have fun," Claire replied, returning to her book.

I wandered around the lake, taking in the serene beauty of the water. As I walked, I heard someone singing. The voice was soft and melodic, carrying a hint of sadness. I followed the sound and found a girl sitting under a tree, her eyes closed as she sang.

"Hello!" I called out, startling her.

She jumped and looked at me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Blaire. And you are?" I asked, offering her a reassuring smile.

"Maya," she said hesitantly. "I'm... an aspiring singer. I come here to practice since my parents don't think I'll get anywhere with it."

Her words tugged at my heart. "Are you kidding? You're amazing! Have you heard your voice?"

Maya looked away, unsure. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely! I'm a guitarist. We should totally jam sometime."

A small smile broke through her hesitation. "That's super cool."

"Trust me, people would love to hear you sing," I said earnestly.

"Thanks," she said softly. "Maybe we can hang out sometime."

"Definitely," I replied, waving as I walked away.

I made my way back to the cabin, but something felt off. "Mom? Dad?" I called out, stepping inside. The house was eerily quiet. I checked their room, but it was empty.

I ran outside to Claire. "Have you seen Mom or Dad?"

She looked up from her book, startled. "No, I thought they were inside."

"They're not. I don't know where they went," I said, my worry growing.

Claire quickly got up and went to change. When she returned, we headed out together to search for them.

"I hope everything's alright," she said, her voice filled with concern.

"Me too," I replied as we walked on, the peacefulness of the lake suddenly feeling distant.