CLANDESTINE | HS |

TEN

Harry

Fresh air.

It's the first thing I notice when my feet crunch against the gravel of the drive to the lake house.

Oak trees and pine trees climb towards the blue sky spotted with clouds, racing to see who can get to the sun the fastest. A smile pulls at the corners of my lips at the way they create the most relaxing getaway I've ever known.

Reaching into the back of my truck and pulling out my bag, my feet carry me towards the front door and the familiar creak of the front steps reminds me of all the memories centered around the house.

"Lauren? Anybody?" Calling out to the open house, I let the door shut behind me as I look around. "Is anyone here yet?"

When I don't hear any sound, my shoulders shrug as I turn and make my way up the stairs and down the hallway for the room I've always claimed as my own.

With a queen sized bed and a full bathroom, the view out towards the dock that juts out into the water has to be one of my favorites.

Placing my bag at the end of the bed and walking towards the window, I let myself take it all in.

It's been a little while since I've been here.

From here I can see Lauren and a couple of her friends as well as Andrew and Shelby who made the trip after I asked them to come out. All of them are out on the dock, towels spread out as they jump in the water warmed by the afternoon sun.

No wonder nobody answered me.

One weekend away from the city before having to spend a week buried in paperwork and meetings in Milwaukee.

One weekend free to relax.

Making my way down to join everyone else, I pull my phone out and smile at the picture from my cousin— the one who stays with Toto for me. The picture is of my temperamental cat setting up camp on top of the refrigerator, no doubt planning my death as she always does.

Sending off a quick text message, I leave it on the counter before pushing out of the back door and down the steps. With the plush grass beneath my feet as I take in the feeling of being in a place that brings me comfort.

"How was traffic?" Lauren looks up at me from her spot on a lemon printed towel.

Reaching for the hem of my shirt, I pull it up and off my head before stepping closer to the edge of the wood. "Not bad. What about for you guys?"

"It was fine." Her friend Riley lifts her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, not to hide the way they travel across my torso down to where my green shorts rest across the tops of my thighs. "Peachy, actually."

I turn to Andrew and Shelby. "Glad you guys could make it."

"You mean miss a weekend out here?" Shelby looks at me like I'm crazy. "Absolutely not."

Andrew lays out on the floating pink water mat, one big enough for at least six people, his arms crossed behind his head. "As soon as you mentioned coming out here I knew you wouldn't have to ask twice."

Without thinking twice, I jump off the dock.

I love the way it feels when my body plunges under the surface of the water— the quiet.

The calm.

When I come back up to the surface and shake my head side to side, I shake the water from my curls as my hands run over my face.

Letting myself lean back, I float in the water.

Sunshine on my skin.

Worries out of my mind.