𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 - 𝘁𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰

𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝟣

         "Can you turn on the radio," I asked while laying my legs across the back seat. Victoria looked back and me and said, "Yeah sure." She pressed the button and switched the stations. I heard her stop on California Girls by Katy Perry.

She turned back to me again and smiled because we knew. It has been the song we've listened to every summer drive since we were 12. I screamed at the top of my lungs to the song. Victoria also was yelling the lyrics with all the windows rolled down.

My mom was driving and Victoria was in the front seat with her feet on the dash board. I was in the back with my favorite blanket and pillow. I tried to stick my head out of the window to smell the sea air.

It felt the same. It was almost like this place never changed. The waves pounded the rocks and the shore down below the road we were driving on. I kept singing and leaned back on to the seat. My mom started laughing. She always loved the drive as much as we did.

It was only us this year because Dad is visiting our family in Italy. I don't mind though. I love dad a lot, but it's always going to be the women and the children.

Just the way we like it.

"We are getting close," Mom said with a smile on her face. I saw her eyes gleam in the rear view mirror of our car. She had been friends with Susannah and Laurel ever since they were in Highschool.

I saw the restaurants and the shops as we drove through the town. I loved this place. The feeling I get when I'm finally in Cousins is amazing. It feels like I never left.

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     We drove for about 5 more minutes and finally we were here. My mom's tires squeaked as we pulled into the drive way. I smiled while pushing my heavy blanket off of me. It was as perfect as I had imagined it.

The car stopped and I opened the door. Victoria ran out of the car and jumped on to Jeremiah. He  spun her around while pulling her even closer. "I missed you Vic," Jeremiah said while putting her down with his hand still rested on her waist.

I turned to see Belly running up to me. I screamed, "Bells!" She put her arms around me and I was so happy. Belly is my best friend. I have friends at home, but they are nothing like her. She is like my second sister. She let go and went to go say hi to Victoria.

My eyes moved over to behind the trees where Conrad came out wearing his grey jacket and white t-shirt. He stopped and looked up at me. His blue eyes met mine. It has always been Jeremiah and Victoria. They are best friends. And I have always been very close to Conrad.

The corners of his mouth turned up and he went up to me. "I see you got your braces off," he said. I replied, "And you aren't wearing your glasses." Conrad's smile grew and he pulled me into a hug. His shirt smelled like cologne and the ocean.

He let go and looked over to see Steven coming over to us. He said, "Hey Jules." I looked at him and he gave me a side hug. Steven let go and asked, "Are you still wearing your training bra?" My face got red and I replied, "Shut up Steven!" Conrad grinned while looking down at the ground.

Jeremiah waved over at me. I waved back and heard Susannah say, "Let's go inside and drink some strawberry lemonade. I made it this morning." We all followed her into the house. The air conditioning was strong and it smelled like fresh flowers. The kitchen was the same with its shiny counter tops and white cabinets.

I sat down next to my sister while watching Susannah pour lemonade in a cup. She handed me the glass and I said, "Thank you!" Then, she poured my sister some too.

"I'm glad you both are here. I heard you could have gone to Italy with your father," Susannah said while handing her the cup. Victoria nodded and said, "Yeah, we wouldn't want to miss this summer though." My mom came up behind Susannah and squeezed her shoulders. "The twins and I love coming here," she said.

Victoria and I are fraternal twins. It is nice because our birthday is 2 days after Belly's birthday. I love having a summer birthday. It just makes everything better. I always have cinnamon pancakes on my birthday with maple syrup. Then, my sister and I put on our bathing suits and go swimming. But, ever since we were little Victoria, Belly, and I on our birthdays would run outside at 6 in the morning. We would scream at the top of our lungs while splashing in the water as the sun came up. It is kind of a tradition.

I was sipping my drink through a straw. Jere chimed in and said, "We should all go swimming right now." Victoria replied, "Yeah that sounds awesome." Steven nodded and said, "Count me in."
I looked over and said, "Sure! How about you Belly?" She said while putting her glass into the sink, "I'll come too." The only one who hadn't answered yet was Conrad. I turned to him. He was sitting on the couch.

Steven asked, "You coming too Connie?" He looked up from his phone and said, "No thanks." He then stood up and walked over to the stairs. I stood up too and walked behind him. "Are you sure you don't want to come," I asked. He spun around to look at me. Conrad said, "Yes, I'm just kind of tired."

"Please," I put my hand on his arm. He looked down and back up at me. "Fine," He said reluctantly. I smiled and went up the stairs to my room so I could get changed. When we were little my sister and I shared a room when there were other guests in the house. But, now we have our own separate rooms.

I opened my door to see everything just the way I had left it. My white bed sheet was spread out neatly. I had a fluffy pink throw blank sprawled at the end of my bed. My fairy lights were wrapped around the walls and my bed frame.

My painting area was still messy though and I had left some bottles open from last summer. My window was open and Susannah had left fresh flowers on my vanity. I set my stuff down and opened my suitcase. I chose my blue floral bathing suit. It clips in the back and it's one of my favorites.

I got changed and headed back down stairs to the door that lead outside. Victoria was already sitting outside with her red bathing suit on that ties in the back. Belly was out too with her blue one piece that was really cute.

I sat down and rubbed sunscreen on my legs. Jeremiah came out with his aqua swim trunks. "Are you guys ready?" He set his towel down on the chair. I gave him a thumbs up and finished rubbing sunscreen on my arms. Steven grabbed me and slung me over his shoulder.

I was kicking and screaming. I could hear Conrad laughing as Steven threw me into the pool. I came up out of the water soaking wet. I heard Victoria scream as Jeremiah carried her wedding style over to the deep end. He let go and after she came up cursing him. Jeremiah just laughed and did a cannon ball into the water.

Belly dove in and swam over to Victoria. Conrad came over in his dark swim trunks and bent over at the side of the pool. "You okay," he asked. I said frustrated, "No I hurt my leg. It hit the bottom of the pool." He grabbed my arm and started to pull me out of the pool. But, I had lied. I pulled him back in with me. I felt his arms under the water.

We came up at the same time laughing. He said, "You're a jerk." I spat some of the water out and replied, "Right back at you."

It was the same. Just like every summer.