"Kat, get your ass out here!" My friend Sammy banged on the door to my bedroom as I checked my phone.
"Patience, bitch."I sighed. My girlfriend of two years, Lynn, wasn't texting me back. It was a well known fact in the group that I was bi, seeing as I wasn't exactly secretive about it, and I had invited Lynn to join me and a couple friends on a road trip during spring break. We'd been going through I rough patch lately and I really wanted to spend time with her and try to reconcile.
I zipped up my backpack and chucked it over my shoulder, throwing open the door at the same time.
"How do I look?" I said, leaning against the door frame playfully.
Sammy eyed my black leggings, gray crop top and black and white converse.
"You slay me everytime, bish."
We scrambled down the stairs hurriedly and popped out the door expectantly.
"Oh, by the way I forgot to mention, my brother's coming,"
I turned around and stared at her, brows furrowed.
"Sammy! Do you not know the meaning if girls only?"
"Sorry!" She said apologetically. "My mom wouldn't let me take the Chevy unless he came. You know she doesn't trust me after the whole Gelato Incident."
I frowned at her and felt my phone buzz. It was Lynn.
Hey, I'm not coming.
My face fell as I texted her back.
Ok how come?
It doesn't matter
Ok. Then do you wanna meet up when I get back?
Lynn didn't respond. Sammy saw my face and rubbed my shoulder with sympathy.
"Hey it's ok. We'll get her next time, yeah?"
I gave her a weak smile and tried to cheer up. Yeah, it was gonna be fun. Just a week with my favourite girl and her brother, who I couldn't recall the name of. A week with good old Whatshisface. I hadn't seen him since 5th grade.
Sammy's mom's Chevrolet pulled into the brick driveway and a tall boy with short, chocolate curls stepped out of the driver's side. He had grown a lot since I'd last seen him, and was much more built. Somethings never change though. He still had adorable dimples and the same mesmerizing dark brown eyes as Sammy.
Me and Sam had just graduated high school, and Whatshisface was in his third year of college, so I hadn't seen him a lot. As well as that, their mom hated me after the whole 'Gelato Incident', so after 5th grade I wasn't really at Sam's a lot.
He stepped out of the car and walked towards us.
"Kat, you remember my brother, Evan," she smiled and gestured towards the towering college student.
"Yeah I do. You pushed me off my tricycle and stole it on the first day of school," I said in a polite tone of voice.
He looked sheepish.
"Sorry about that. It's nice to see you again. Can I take your bags?"
He picked up Sam and my bags and walked towards the boot of the car. The second he faced away I turned to Sam and my jaw dropped in silent awe.
"That's Evan?" I mouthed. She nodded, eyes wide with glee.
"I remember him as a little shithead with poofy hair!"
"He still is, he just got taller is all," she chuckled.
"Damn."I whispered.
***
We all piled into the car and Sam got in shotgun, despite me calling dibs. Evan turned on the radio to a station that played 90s hits only. Sam and I were reluctant until the song 'Gettin' Jiggy Wit It' by Will Smith came on and we all sang along. Eventually, we pulled up to a familiar grey brick house and Evan pulled up to the street corner beside it. I stared at it until a wave of realization washed over me. I groaned.
"Really?"
"Hey, she doesn't have a lot of friends and mom thinks this will be a good learning experience for her. Just try to get along ok?" Sam explained, as Evan got out of the car and jogged up to the door.
This, dear friends, was only the home of the homophobic, selfloathing, narcissistic nightmare generally known as Cameron. Cameron was Sammy's cousin, and needless to say, I hated everything about her. From the way her laugh sounded like a seal throwing up on itself, to the way she always wore clothes one size too small for her, making her look like her skin was too tight to keep all her insides on the inside.
Cameron scurried up the path, her small floral suitcase dragging behind her. She stepped right up to the car and got in the back seat, leaving Evan to put her surprisingly heavy suitcase in the trunk.
"Sammy!" She said excitedly. She turned to me.
"Kat."
I gave her a quick her nod and she rolled her eyes, murmuring not quite under her breath "faggot."
***
We continued down the road for around four hours until we reached a small, outdoor youth hostel just outside the border of Michigan. I swear, during the entire drive, Evan kept staring back at me in the rearview mirror, like I was a little kid and he was afraid I'd get my sticky hands all over the upholstery.
Cameron stared at the hostel in disgust.
"I am not staying here. Look, they make you sleep outside," she complained.
"Hey, might be nice to sleep under the stars," Evan said, glancing quickly at me.
Cameron moving her lips mockingly.
I sighed. "Yeah. I'm sure it will be."
To be continued...
