My Last Summer

Morning Chaos

Alina was deep in a dream, the kind where everything felt warm and light. She was floating on a cloud, drifting through endless skies of cotton candy-colored sunsets when suddenly—

Boom! Music exploded through the house like a thunderclap. 

Alina's heart leapt into her throat, and before she could process what was happening, she screamed, flailing in her bed before tumbling onto the floor with a loud thud. For a moment, she just lay there in a heap of blankets, blinking at the ceiling, her heart racing.

"Morning, sunshine!" Holly's voice rang out over the blasting music. Alina looked up, groaning as she saw Holly standing in the doorway, grinning mischievously with a Bluetooth speaker in her hand.

"Holly!" Alina gasped, rubbing her eyes as she tried to gather herself. "What the hell was that for?"

"Time to get up and get ready!" Holly announced with a laugh, completely unbothered by Alina's grogginess. "We have activities to participate in!" She spun on her heel and bolted out of the room, the music still echoing through the halls.

Alina groaned and pushed herself up from the floor. "I'm going to kill her," she muttered, rubbing her sore side where she'd landed. Still, she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Holly's energy was contagious—even if it was a little too much for the early morning.

Alina took a deep breath, stretching out her tired limbs as she slowly made her way to the closet. Holly had promised her an unforgettable summer, and with the way things were starting, it seemed like she wasn't going to waste a single minute.

She rummaged through her suitcase, pulling out a pair of shorts and a light crop top. It was already warm, the California sun filtering in through the open windows, and the air was filled with the scent of saltwater. She quickly chucked on her socks and trainers, tying the laces in a hurry. With a last look in the mirror to make sure she looked at least somewhat presentable, she ran out of the room, ready to chase after Holly.

By the time Alina made it down the stairs and out the door, the sound of laughter and cheering floated up from the beach. She jogged down the wooden path that led to the sand, her eyes squinting against the bright sunlight. When she reached the beach, she could see Holly, Daniel, and Jamie already playing volleyball, their laughter carrying across the shore.

Holly caught sight of her and immediately shouted, "Alina! Come on, lazybones! You've missed out on all the fun!"

Alina jogged up to the group, breathing heavily as she reached them. She placed her hands on her hips, panting lightly from the run. "Fun?" she asked, half-smirking. "You mean torment, right?"

Holly stuck her tongue out before pointing to Jamie, who was standing on the opposite side of the makeshift volleyball net, grinning at her. "You're with Jamie," she declared, her voice full of mischief. "It's the twins against him, so you need to even the playing field."

Alina glanced at Jamie, then back at Holly. "So basically, you need me because you're losing?" she teased.

Holly laughed. "Exactly!"

Daniel rolled his eyes from across the net. "Hey, no cheating!" he called out, his voice playful but competitive. "Alina joining doesn't count unless she knows how to play."

"I can play!" Alina shot back, more determined than certain.

Jamie gave her a friendly smile as she made her way over to his side of the net. "Don't worry, Alina," he said, tossing the ball into the air and catching it again. "I've got your back."

"Thanks," Alina said, returning his smile with a nervous one of her own. She never really spent much time with Jamie before. He was Daniel's best friend, and although Holly often brought her along to group hangouts, she had always been more of a bystander, watching from the sidelines.

 Holly was popular, effortlessly so, and she had always been surrounded by people. But Alina had preferred quieter moments—spent in the library with her romance novels.

Now, here she was, on the beach in California, playing volleyball with Holly, Daniel, and Jamie. It was a little surreal.

"Ready?" Daniel called out, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Ready!" Alina said, her voice stronger than she felt.

The game kicked into gear. Alina found herself running back and forth across the sand, trying her best to keep up with Jamie, who seemed to move with effortless ease. The twins were relentless on the other side of the net, sending the ball back and forth with precision and strength.

Jamie bumped the ball toward Alina, sending it sailing her way. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on the ball as it came closer, her heart pounding with anticipation. She had it—she was going to hit it, send it soaring back over the net—But as she swung her arms up, she completely missed, her feet slipping in the soft sand. She let out a yelp, her balance faltering as she tipped forward, just barely catching herself before she hit the ground.

Before she could fall completely, though, Jamie's arm shot out and caught her around the waist, steadying her. "Whoa!" he said with a chuckle, his grip gentle but firm. "Careful there.

"Alina felt a rush of embarrassment heat her cheeks as she looked up at him, her breath still coming in quick bursts from the adrenaline. "Thanks," she muttered, trying to laugh it off. "Guess I'm not as coordinated as I thought.

"Jamie smiled down at her, his hand still lightly resting on her waist. "No worries," he said. "We'll get there. You're doing great.

"Alina smiled back, feeling a little more at ease. Jamie was nice—nicer than she'd realized before. She'd always been too caught up in her own little world to notice, but now, with the sun shining down on them and the ocean waves crashing in the background, she found herself wondering what it would be like to know him better.

"Alina!" Holly's voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality. "Stop daydreaming and help Jamie out!"

Alina blinked, realizing she had been staring at Jamie a little too long. She quickly pulled away from him, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Right, right!" she called back to Holly, positioning herself back on the court.

The game continued, but Alina couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Even if she wasn't the best at volleyball, even if she still had a long way to go to be as carefree as Holly, this was still fun. It was the kind of fun she hadn't allowed herself to have in a long time.

After the game, Holly ran over, grabbing Alina's arm and dragging her toward the water. "Come on, let's cool off!" she said with a laugh.

Alina didn't resist. She let Holly lead her to the shore, the cold water splashing against their legs as they ran through the waves. Holly's laughter was loud and wild, filling the air with joy. Alina found herself laughing too, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months.

They spent the rest of the day running around the beach, playing more games, and trying out different activities. They built sandcastles, raced through the water, and even attempted to fly kites, though none of them were particularly good at it. Holly was right—it was the kind of day filled with nothing but fun, and for the first time since her diagnosis, Alina let herself forget, even if just for a little while.

As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting a golden glow over the beach, Alina felt a sense of peace settle over her. Maybe this summer really could be everything she wanted it to be.

And maybe, just maybe, she could live a little longer in the light.