New York

chapter 1

The day had finally come, the day I had been so eagerly waiting for. It was the start of summer which meant no more homework, no more going to sleep early and no more lectures by the teachers. If you don't know me, my name is Cassie Howard, I'm 17 years old and I have a really annoying brother called Cayden Howard who's also 17 (were both twins) . Every summer we go to visit my mothers best friend Susannah, she's so sweet and I love her so, so much she always treats me like her very own special daughter.

The drive to New York was quiet. My window was rolled down and I was just breathing in the fresh air blowing on to my face, it was peaceful until Cayden decided to rudely interrupt.

"Mum, Chase just told me that there's going to be a summer party tomorrow for seniors, can I please go? there's no alcohol there I swear"

"Are you sure about that Cayden, the last time you went to a party you also said there was no alcohol and what do I found out? you come home drunk at 3am"

"Mum, that was one time." Cayden says casually

"I'll let you go because Chase is going and I know he's a very responsible and mature, lovely boy."

"Yeah right." I mumble

"What was that dear?"

"Oh nothing mum" I say with a big smile spread across my face

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We entered New York and drove through the city slowly due to the heavy traffic. As we got closer and closer to the house, I could feel that familiar flutter in my chest. We were almost there. I rolled down the window and took it all in. The air tasted just the same, smelled just the same. The wind making my hair feel sticky, the salty sea breeze, all of it felt just right. Like it had been waiting for me to get there. Cayden elbowed me "Are you thinking about Chase?" he asked mockingly. "No!" I snapped. "Just because two people are friends doesn't mean there's something going on"

"You and Chase friends? he's always teasing you."

"Well I guess were friends who joke around a lot." I say with a frown

My mum and Susannah had known each other since they were nine- blood sisters, they called each other and they had the scars to prove it-- identical marks on their wrists that looked like hearts. Susannah told me that when I was born, she knew I was destined for one of her boys. She said it was fate. My mother, who didn't normally go in for that kind of thing, said it would be perfect, as long as I'd had at least a few loves before I settled down. Actually, she said "lovers," but that word made me cringe. Susannah put her hands on my cheeks and said, "Cassie, you have my unequivocal blessing. I'd hate to lose my boys to anyone else."

We'd been going to Susannah's beach house in New York every summer since I was a baby, since before I was born even. For me, New York was less about the town and more about the house. The house was my world. We had our own stretch of beach, all to ourselves. The summer house was made up of lots of things. The wraparound porch we used to run around on, jugs of sun tea, the swimming pool at night--but the boys, the boys most of all. I always wondered what the boys looked like in December. I tried to picture them in cranberry-coloured scarves and turtleneck sweaters, rosy-cheeked and standing beside a Christmas tree, but the image always seemed false. I did not know the winter Chase or the winter Cody, and I was jealous of everyone who did. I got flip-flops and sunburned noses and swim trunks and sand. But what about those New England girls who had snowball fights with them in the woods? The ones who snuggled up to them while they waited for the car to heat up, the ones they gave their coats to when it was chilly outside. Well, Cody, maybe. Not Chase. Chase would never; it wasn't his style. Either way, it didn't seem fair.