Wet Needles

1

July. Summer before senior year.

Since freshman year, my closets pals and I have always gone to the lake house together. We swim way too much, fight each other over ping pong battles, and stay up past 2 AM playing Cards Against Humanity. It's always the perfect 4th of July week.

My alarm rings around 7 AM. Since the lake house is about 3 hours from us, we have to leave early. I groan. I am not a morning person nor do I believe that the human brain should have to function so early in the day. After my morning bathroom normalities, I change into Nike shorts and a tank top, slipping on my favorite pair of pink Crocs. I sit at my vanity and look at how horrible my lights make my skin look. I flip my head over and tie it into a high ponytail. I love how the red at the bottom of my hair looks with my natural brown at the roots. I stare at myself in the mirror.

I smile. "It's gonna be a great day."

I grab my duffle bag and quietly sneak into my parent's bedroom. I give them both a kiss on the forehead.
"Bye babygirl, be safe," my mom tells me.
"Call if you need anything at all princess," my dad responds with.
"I will," I reply. "Goodbye, see you soon, I love you," I say while quietly walking back out and closing their door.
"Love you too," they simultaneously say.

I chuckle. I love my parents.

I walk out the back door and open the garage. I pack my car and I head to my friend Ian's house, the place where we'll all meet up and leave.

When I reach Ian's house, him and Kai are already packing the truck with coolers and lake essentials. I grab my duffle bag and greet them both.

"Hey V! I'll take that bag for you," Ian says to me while taking my duffle bag from my shoulder and placing it in the back of the truck.

Kai pulls me into a hug. "Good morning Aviva, excited for this weekend?" he tells me while pulling away and wiggling an eyebrow.

"Kai, I sure as hell am." We laugh in unison.

Finn pops his head out from the inside of the truck.
"I knew it was you Aviva." He crawls out the truck and gives me a small hug. Finn and I don't talk as much as I do with the other boys, he's just quiet that's all. Nothing wrong with that.

"Are Harper and Nova here yet?" I say. I love seeing my girls. They keep me sane whilst with these 3 goofballs.

"Uh Nova's inside, Harper should be here soon," replies Finn.

I nod at his statement and walk through the front door. Nova is sitting on Ian's couch petting Stella, Ian's beloved golden retriever.

"Aviva!!" she says, getting up and pulling me into a tight embrace. I hold her just as tightly. "How are you girl?"

"I'm a little tired but I am so ready for this week," I state.

"Ugh I feel that. My dog woke me up at like 5 this morning because he wanted to go out and pee. He's lucky I love him."

Nova is a kind soul, so sweet and heartfelt. She is extremely smart, highest 5% of her class. She's humble, and it's something I love about her. Her light brown hair and soft pale skin is so refreshing compared to my golden brown skin.

The back door opens and in waltzes Harper.

"V! Nova!" She places her keys on the table and we all group hug. Harper's curly red hair gets in my mouth. I do that little spit thingy to try and get it out.

"Oops sorry, I didn't have time to put it up yet," she says as she bunches up her hair and pulls a rubber band from her wrist making a ponytail.

We laugh and joke about how crazy it is it finally be seniors. Junior year was absolute wack, sophomore year was just there, and freshman year was...
let's stop there.

"Okay girly pops the truck is all nice and ready ya feel," Kai says busting down the back door and walking in.

"Don't ever. And I mean EVER. Say that again," says Ian behind him.

"Fine," says Kai. "Get in the truck bitches we're going to the lake."