That Summer Feeling: SUMMER 4EVER [H.S.]

6. Cruel Summer

Somewhere in Inyo National Forest, California laid a massive residential home with a warm glow amongst the tall bushy trees and tall hills of fluffy snow. Each of us stare at it in awe as we slowly pull into the driveway, remaining silent with our jaws dropped. It's like a magical cabin in the middle of a winter wonderland.

"Welcome to our home for the summer," Gigi says with glee once the car comes to a halt.

"No fucking way," Liam utters out with impressive speed.

"I thought you said we were staying at a cozy cabin," Zoey says as her wide eyes gaze at the property.

"We are." Gigi chuckles as she unbuckles her seatbelt.

"This is a fucking mansion." Liam laughs in disbelief. "Not some dingy cabin in the woods that's centuries-old enough to have mold growing in the wood. Not that I'm complaining, though."

"Can we go in already?!" Bella grabs onto the headrest in front of her impatiently. "We're going to freeze to death out here."

"Speaking of which, I barely brought any winter coats. I will actually freeze to death if you guys don't let me borrow some."

"Liam, you knew we were coming to the snow." Zoey shakes her head at him.

"I didn't think it'd snowed this much in California during the summer!"

"This National Forest does," Gigi informs.

"Open the door," Adam demands, "I need to pee."

We walk up the muted gray brick steps huddled up as a group, allowing Gigi to lead us into the house. It was way chillier than expected out here. The sun was barely peeking through the dark clouds.

Like Liam, I had no clue we'd stay somewhere cold and snowy so I barely brought any real coats with me. The thickest, weather-proof I have is just one raincoat my mom forced me to bring so I fully expect to freeze my ass off every time we step out of the house.

"Ready?" Gigi grins, flipping through her keys until grabbing a bronze one and inserting it through the hole.

Collective small gasps are heard around the group as the wooden door reveals the inside of the enormous cabin. We walk inside the entryway and notice a coat and shoe rack with a few pairs of boots and snow gear left on them.

"Shoes off, please," Gigi tells us, "Don't want to track in dirt, my parents will kill me."

After we leave our shoes to the side where the snow boots lay, we exchange a similar look, one that silently translated to our next moves. With just that glance, we knew what we needed to do next: run around aimlessly to explore the house like we were in an episode of Home Makeover.

I dash off to the first area of the house I laid my eyes on, one that I can already envision the late nights and mornings we'd spent in. The living room and kitchen.