Chalet
The morning light slipped through the curtains, waking me before my alarm had the chance. Today was the day. I stared up at the ceiling, my stomach already knotted with nerves. Two whole weeks with my family—all of them. Aunts, uncles, cousins... it was going to be noisy, chaotic, and non-stop. I could already hear the kids screaming in my head, and I wasn’t even out of bed yet.
The only upside was that my sister would be there, and we’d finally have some time together—just us. At least, that’s how it used to be. Lately, she’d been pulling away, getting more distant, like she was in a world I couldn’t reach. I didn’t understand it. We were always close, but now… it felt like something had changed.
I sighed, pulling the covers off and sitting up. Maybe this trip would be different. Maybe I’d get her back, and things would feel normal again. Or maybe... I was kidding myself.
The car ride was long, and like always, I couldn’t use my phone for more than a few minutes before the queasiness set in. Car sickness was my constant companion, so I kept my eyes glued to the window, watching the scenery blur by. Every now and then, I’d catch bits of my parents' conversation.
“I can’t believe we got the place for $50000 less than market price,” my mom said, pride evident in her voice. “It fits everyone, and we still saved a ton.”
My dad chuckled, “Yeah, it’s going to be a squeeze, but hey, we did it.”
Between their self-congratulations, they slipped into gossiping about the rest of the family. They always did that on long trips—who wasn’t talking to whom, who was showing up late, or whose kids were a handful. I tuned it out after a while, though part of me wished I could chime in. Instead, I glanced at my sister. She was lost in her music, headphones in, eyes closed, completely shut off from the world around her.
Just like she’s been with me lately.
I sighed again, wondering how much longer the trip would be and if it would feel like this the entire time.
Arriving at the chalet, I was stunned by how awful the place looked. It was nothing like the pictures. I guess my parents really were scammed, but who wouldn’t trust a friend of a friend of a friend when they give you an amazing deal on a chalet? The moment we stepped inside, the floors were sticky, like no one had cleaned for months. The air reeked of humidity, and cobwebs draped every corner, with dust coating every surface. Bad news for my sister and dad, both of whom are super sensitive to dust. The moment we walked in, they started sneezing like a dog barking at a another dog.
But there was one truth in the owner’s claims: the house had direct access to a stunning lake. It was full of life and energy, with the sounds of children laughing, water splashing, and barbecues sizzling in the distance. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to a group of rowdy young men playing volleyball on the other side of the lake. Their cheers of victory and shouts of insults echoed across the water—it was hilarious to watch.
But there was this one guy who stood out. He kept making eye contact with me, and for a moment, it felt like time stopped. Normally, I’d feel embarrassed getting caught checking someone out, but not this time. I stared right back, and just as I was getting comfortable with the attention, the volleyball smacked him in the head. I laughed so loud it echoed over the lake.
Then my dad called out, telling me to come inside and help clean up. “You’ll have plenty of time this week to enjoy the outdoors,” he said. And boy, was he right.
Cleaning the house turned into a game with my little cousins. They’ve always been so adorable, looking up to me and my sister since we’re the oldest in the family. I remember how I only had my sister to look up to when I was younger. She’s just a year older than me, and she’s the whole reason we’re heading north. Her birthday’s in a few days, and of course, my parents wanted to shower her with love, just like they always have. It’s been that way her whole life.
I’ve always been the black sheep. The outcast who’s obsessed with reading mangas, watching animes—what my parents still call "kids' shows"—and bingeing K-dramas because I can’t sleep unless I finish an entire series. I preferred staying home, tucked away in my little world. That’s where my sister came in. She’s always been the one to pull me out of my shell. We were like Serena and Venus, doing everything together. She was the extrovert, and I was the introvert. Sure, we had our ups and downs—what sisters don’t? But she was my rock.
I’m even going to her university this year. I am studying software engineering, and she promised to help me get settled in, so I wouldn’t feel lonely. I could use the support, especially since I like to joke that I’m “socially distant.” It’s not that I didn’t try to make friends, but it’s tough being the curvy Black girl in a sea of thin, blonde Barbies in high school. I always felt out of place, being the only Black person in my year. So, no friends—except for Kylie, my bestie. She’s my whole life. We’ve known each other since before we were even born. Our moms are best friends, so she’s practically family. Unfortunately, she lives in another city now, pursuing her real estate degree. These days, we rarely see each other.
Once the whole family finished cleaning, the chalet finally started looking like an actual chalet. The wooden floors, the smell of trees, and the kitchen led into a cozy living room. There were these fake dead animals mounted on the walls—or at least, I hoped they were fake—and a fake bear rug under the coffee table. Me and my little cousins were playing Uno there, and let’s just say, I wasn’t holding back. No mercy, even for my cute cousins. I hate losing, even if it’s to them. My reward to them for beating them? Ice cream, of course—because I’m not that heartless.
Outside, the grown-ups were grilling, chatting, and sipping their beers while watching the sunset. I found myself peeking out the window, hoping to spot that cute guy from earlier. He had a smirk that could melt hearts, and a build that wasn’t too imposing—just perfect for picking me up. But all I could see were flashing lights and loud music. Looked like they were having a party over there. I guess no parents.
In the morning, everything blew up. I’d spent the entire morning cooking and wrangling my little cousins, trying to keep them entertained so they wouldn’t wake up the entire house. My sister? She stayed glued to her phone, ignoring everything while I ran around, exhausted. The adults had stayed up late, drinking and chatting, and I knew they’d have raging hangovers when they woke up to screaming kids. I didn’t want to argue with her, but frustration had been bubbling up inside me since last night.
“I’m tired of always being the one to take care of the kids,” I finally said, my voice tight with frustration. “Since yesterday, I’ve been handling everything, and my sister can’t even bother to get off the couch. It’s not fair.” I looked at my parents, pleading for them to understand where I was coming from.
My sister barely glanced up from her phone. “It’s going to be my birthday. I shouldn’t have to do anything. I’m allowed to do what I want,” she said, throwing me a side-eye like I was the one being unreasonable.
What made it worse was that my parents agreed with her.
“Just let her be, Yemisi,” my dad said, his voice softer than I wanted it to be. “It’s her birthday soon, just give her a break.” He looked at me with that begging expression, like I should just roll over and accept it.
My mom, on the other hand, wasn’t as gentle. “Stop complaining. We’ve always taken care of you, even your sister. It’s time you start handling the younger ones by yourself,” she snapped, her tone harsh.
I ran to my room, the one I shared with my sister, and threw myself onto the bed, tears already stinging my eyes. Why did my family always treat me this way? What had I done to deserve so much animosity? I sobbed into the pillow, frustration and loneliness weighing heavy on my chest.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. It was my dad. He stepped inside, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently said, “Everything’s going to be fine, Yemisi. Let’s try to make this summer special before everything changes for you.” His voice had that calming tone, but I could sense he wasn’t really hearing me.
“If you need time to yourself, then this afternoon’s your chance. Us adults are taking the kids grocery shopping, so you’ll have the place to yourself.” He said it like he was doing me a favor, but it felt like I was being pushed aside. Everyone in the family was going out, except me.
I’d be alone. Again.
When they left, I made my way straight to the lakeside. The warm sand beneath my toes and the gentle sounds of the lake helped ease the anger still simmering from the fight with my parents. The water has always been my favorite place in the world. When you’re in the water, all your troubles seem to exist in another realm, far away. In here, it’s just you, the waves, and peace.
Dressed in my cute bikini, I grabbed a paddleboard, ready to explore the beautiful, quiet lake. It seemed like everyone else had partied too hard last night and was still asleep. It was perfect. The quiet, the calm water under me, the tall trees surrounding the lake—it all felt so serene. I sat down on my board, closing my eyes, letting the warmth of the sun wash over me, and listening to the sounds of nature.
For a moment, everything was perfect.
“BOO!” A loud voice startled me, and before I knew it, I was splashing into the water. As I surfaced, coughing and wiping my face, I heard laughter coming from behind. It was the same group of boys I’d seen yesterday.
They waved apologetically, one of them calling out, “Sorry! We didn’t mean for you to fall. We just saw you sitting there all peaceful, and we couldn’t resist!”
I wanted to crawl into a hole. Struggling to get back onto my paddleboard—because let’s be real, I wasn’t exactly an expert—I could feel the heat of embarrassment rising in me. If I could blush, I’d be beet red. To their credit, they weren’t laughing at me. A few of them even waded over to help me back on, which only made things worse. I felt so awkward, but they were genuinely kind, and we started chatting.
And then I noticed him—the guy I’d been practically undressing with my eyes yesterday. Today, he wasn’t holding back. His hazelnut eyes were locked on me, and it felt like he was seeing right through me. The intensity made me feel... flustered, to say the least.
I wasn’t used to this kind of attention. I’d never even had a conversation with a guy that lasted more than a minute, and here I was, surrounded by five of them, all talking over each other. Then, the one with those beautiful eyes—Lucas—leaned in with a smirk and said, “We’re throwing a party tonight. You should come.”
I tried to keep it cool, joking, “Wasn’t yesterday’s noise enough for you guys?”
He chuckled. “We have a stalker, huh?”
“Well, if the whole neighborhood is stalking, then yeah,” I laughed. “You could hear your music from outer space.”
One of the other guys grinned and said, “Then you definitely can’t miss the best party in the galaxy.”
I laughed and, before I could think it through, found myself saying, “Why not?”
As they paddled away to get ready for the party, Lucas kept glancing back at me, his gaze lingering just a bit too long. My heart raced, and when they were finally out of sight, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.
What did I just agree to? There’s no way my parents would ever let me go to a party. I’d never even been to one! Did I even pack anything remotely party-appropriate? And I don’t drink… Oh no. What am I going to do?
