one summer at the lake house | #Wattys2016 #tbpa2016

II. him

h i s t u e s d a y;

I hadn't planned to do much of anything today besides lounge around. I was on vacation after all, it was the only thing there was to do. Sometimes I envied people who had siblings, it was endless companionship. But I was content by myself, there wasn't constant commotion or someone always wanting to borrow my things.

I reached over grabbing the last slice of toast I had from the small breakfast Mom had made me. Just toast, eggs, and sausage. She planned on making more when Dad got up. I nibbled at the crisp toast that was now cold, it didn't bother me though, it was still good.

The stairs creaked as Mom walked up them. She turned to see me laying on the pull out mattress with my eyes glued to my phone screen, the crust of toast hanging in one hand. Though I didn't get service I could still play games, and I was nearing the end of level three hundred eighty five of candy crush. I vowed I'd beat it before the week ended.

"Edison, go outside. You made me lock my phone in the cabinet," she groaned as she pointed towards the screen door, assuming she meant the lake.

I glanced up at her and she was dressed and ready for the day. A green tank top, beige capris, and her hair loose around her shoulders. "Fine, fine," I told her as I pushed myself to stand.

As she started back down the stairs she stopped a few steps down saying, "Good. That girl is out there on her dock, I think she's tanning."

I nearly choked on air at her words. Mom could always tell what I was thinking. She had probably known I had a thing for Logan before I did. That was the power she had over me and Dad. Though we were both very closed off and reserved people she could always tell when we were lying. Worst of all she knew just what to say or do to embarrass us much like this moment. I fought the feeling but my cheeks burned red and I glared at her. "Get lost!" I told her, throwing a pillow over the railing and missing her.

I could hear her laugh fade as she walked down the stairs and out the screen door, probably going for a walk. I checked the time on my phone and it was eleven. Dad would be getting up by noon so Mom always tried to squeeze in her small pleasantries before then. While on vacation she tried to spend all her time with him since she was out of the house for work most of the week. When I left for university we had to hire him a caregiver, something she never wanted but knew was necessary.

I quickly showered and dressed in a striped tank and salmon shorts. I slipped on some sandals, grabbing my guitar and my prescription sunscreen before heading downstairs. Leaning beside the screen door was my dark green lawn chair and I scooped it up into my free arm.

I tried not to seem too eager as I walked down towards the dock and began crossing it. I glanced over at our speed boat, I needed to uncover it. We had workers who would take it out of the garage for us and put it away but it was my job to clean it out before we would take it on the lake.

I turned back and there she was across the water on her own dock. Logan tugged her shorts down and pulled her shirt over her head, she was facing me but I don't think it even crossed her mind. She wore a pink bikini and laid out on a white towel. I blushed at the sight quickly glancing down at my feet.

The sun was blaring down on me and once I had sat down my guitar and chair I proceeded to coat myself in my lotion. I was naturally pale skinned and it was nearly impossible for me to tan. I had to get prescribed sunscreen just to make sure I wouldn't turn into a pile of ash while outside.