DOWNWARD SPIRAL- C.F

01

∞

My family's been going to Susannah's beach house in cousins every summer since I was a little kid. All year long, I count the days until I'm in that house. The summer house is made up of lots of things. The beach. Late-night surfing. Movie nights with the moms and Belly. But the boys...the boys most of all. It's the same every summer, I've always loved that about it. But this year is going to be different, I could just feel it.

My suitcase is packed, my backpack is packed, and I'm ready to go to my favorite place in the world. Cousins. Although I may not be as social as my other siblings, I just love it there, at the beach house. The weather, the beach, the sunsets, all of it.

"Girls, we're leaving in ten minutes," my mom yells from the living room.

I sigh as I grab my suitcase, bag, and book and head downstairs yelling l, "Coming."

On the way down the hallway, I knock on Belly's door and tell her to hurry up.

I make it to the car and put all my stuff in the car first as everyone starts to come outside. Steven is driving and Belly is called shotgun, so I'm left in the backseat with my mom. As soon as we start driving, I pull out my headphones and zone out, not really in the mood to talk. Not even ten minutes into the drive I fall asleep.

I am calmly sleeping while listening to Taylor Swift, I'm abruptly woken up to Belly singing, "Can't do better" by Kim Petras.

"Belly can you please turn that shit down," I yell with annoyance wrapped around my voice. As I rub my eyes waking up, taking in the surroundings I know we are getting close to cousins. I could just smell it, the salt from the ocean.

"Hey no cussing," my mom says slapping me in the arm, then turning to Steven" and yes can you please turn that down."

Steven reaches for the volume knob and lowers it.

"I want you all to be better about helping out this summer. Like, don't just leave your dishes in the skin. Load them into the dishwasher, and not just your own dishes either, Steven. I want you to be a better house guest."

"Alright, but doesn't Savannah have people who clean" Steven answers quickly.

As soon as that leaves his mouth my mom smacks him in the back of the head, " Steven!" she scolds him.

"Ow! All right. Sorry."

I stifle a laugh at the conversation.

My mom is weird about money. The fact that Susannah has a lot and we don't.

" Just be considerate and act like I raised you right. Steven that means don't stay out too late."

"Mom," Steven complains, " I'm too old for a curfew."

"What about me and Sophia? We don't have a curfew either, right," Belly asks an excited look on her face. Although I'm happy she included me, I just look at her with a weird look on my face. Why is she asking that when she knows damn well we never go out.

"What do you two need a curfew for" Steven laughs loudly, " You two don't go anywhere."

" Shut the fuck up Steven," I yell as I reach over and hit him on the side of his head for his rude remark.

" Hey" my mom points at me, scolding me for cussing again, then turning back to Steven, " Don't be a jackass, Steven."

"We'll talk about it when something comes up," she says to Belly and me.

Belly smiles and turns to me, "and don't forget you promised to take me driving."

I just nod wanting out of the conversation already and then my mom says, " Belly, I thought I told you I'd take you."

Belly just sinks into her seat and says, " yeah, but you're too judgy."

My mom sits there slightly offended, as Steven and I start laughing. Once the laughter dies down, I put on my headphones zoning out again. I think about this summer already knowing what it will consist of; the beach, the pool, and the beach house. That was it for me, I didn't have any friends to hang out with, I had the moms, Belly, and the Boys. And I was content but sometimes I wish I had more. 

∞