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CHAPTER 1:

“Would you like to drive then Rosalyn?” I woke up to the sound of my parents arguing over the directions. Something they’ve been doing on road trips for as long as I can remember. I look over at my sister Lilli who is still sound asleep, despite all of the action going on around her. The sun peeks in between the clouds, and shines on her bleached blonde hair. I wish she could stay this innocent forever. I’ve always envied that about her. She always says she wants to be just like me, but I want so much better for her. My thoughts of Lilli drift away as I'm interrupted by my mother calling my name.

“Lennon Jade Wolfe!” “Hello Earth to Lennon.” “You rang?” I reply sarcastically. “I need you to call your brothers and see where they are. We’ve lost them.” “Anything for you Rosalyn.” I reply. I grab my phone from my bag that’s laying on the floorboard. I begin scrolling through my contacts to find the name “Rowan” and press call.

My brother answers in his normal energetic tone. “Why hello my sweet sister.” “Where are you?” I get straight to the point. “Well Haven stopped to take a piss, and I needed a new pack of stoges.” “Don’t let mom catch you.” I whisper into the phone softly so she doesn’t hear. “As long as you don’t tell her.” Rowan replies. “Your secret is safe with me.” I say sweetly. “Tell mom not to wait on us. We’ll meet you there.” “I’ll let her know.”

I hang up the phone, and glance across my home screen to find three missed calls and two text messages. I roll my eyes and put my phone back into my bag. “Well, what did they say?” My mom asks. “They stopped for pee breaks, and said not to wait up.” I report to her. “Good I don’t feel like slowing down.” My dad exclaims.

I’m ecstatic that my parents picked New Mexico as our vacation spot this year. Everyone in the south seems to migrate to the beach during the summer. There is something so peaceful about being in the mountains. Listening to complete stillness except for a distant stream flowing, or having coffee on the fronch porch of your cabin in the early morning. I can feel my ears start to pop as we get higher in elevation.

“They’re there!” My mom yells while staring down at her phone. I seemed to forget that we would be staying with the Parish family at their vacation home in Ruidoso. Maybe it was because I wanted to forget. My dad met Alexander Parish in College. They both attended UT in Austin, and majored in business. During their college years, they decided to form a folk band with my dad being the lead singer, and Mr. Parish on the acoustic guitar.

My dad met my mom at the coffeehouse they played at on the weekends. She would sit right at the front and listen to him sing. He swears it felt like they were the only two people in the room. Mom introduced Alexander to his wife Josette at a party they all attended. When they started to get serious he followed her back home to Angel Fire. They bought a house in the mountains, and eventually opened up a brewery. Mom and dad stayed in Austin. Mom became an art professor, and dad opened up a coffee shop downtown.

We always vacationed with the Parish’s growing up. They had children close to our age so it all just seemed to work out. There is Shae Parish who is the same age as Haven, Kai Parish, who is a year older than Rowan, and last but not least Laken Parish.

The last time I saw Laken Parish was five years ago. I remember telling him I never wanted to see him again after he snipped off a chunk of my hair. Ofcourse, my brothers put him up to it, but I was forced to cut it short after years of trying to grow it out. Horrid memories of my missing hair disappear as I look over at Lilli who has now awoken from her slumber.

“Ughh.” Lilli sighs, as she stretches her arms above her head. “Well good morning sunshine. It’s nice of you to finally join us.” my mom replies. “Where are we?” Lilli asks. “We’re about an hour away.” “Whoo!” Lilli shouts. She grabs her phone from her lap and puts her headphones in. “Good idea.” I think to myself.

I get my phone out of my bag, along with my headphones. I see 3 missed calls and 2 text messages once again on my home screen, and decide to dismiss them for now. I go to my music and tap on “Leon Bridges.” His bluesy tune makes me miss Austin already. I have to remind myself that it’s only for a month.

I could see the reflection of my tired face in my phone. I remember telling myself earlier that I wanted to try to look semi-decent whenever we arrived at The Parish’s Summer home. I grab my makeup bag and pick up a primer and concealer. I put the primer on with an old makeup brush, then dab a bit of the concealer under my eyes. I put a pink shimmery shadow on my eyelids and finish off my makeup with a pinkish red lip. I let my long caramel colored hair down out of it’s braid, and brush out the waves.

The closer we get to the cabin, the more nervous I become about our arrival. I didn’t understand why I would be feeling this way. I’ve known these people my entire life. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I've seen The Parish’s. I try not to think about it too much.