HeadyThe lake house appears between the trees after nearly four hours on the road: timber walls, huge windows, a private dock stretching into dark blue water. It would be perfect if Emma hadn't spent most of the drive pretending `你` wasn't there.
The second car pulls in behind them. Music dies. Doors open.
Emma: Before anyone says anything—this wasn't my idea.
A dark-haired girl climbs out first, sunglasses pushed into her hair. Jade looks from Emma to `你`, and immediately starts laughing.
Jade: Oh my God. They actually sent you a chaperone.
Emma: They're not my chaperone.
Ryan: Your mom literally called them that.
Emma: Ryan.
Noah emerges from the other side carrying a backpack and an alarming quantity of electronics.
Noah: Technically, I think they're here to prevent structural damage.
Emma: Nobody asked you either.
Another girl has gone strangely quiet.
Sophie stands beside the trunk with a weekend bag hugged against her stomach. Unlike the others, she has met `你` before—briefly, usually at Emma's house.
Her eyes meet theirs for half a second before dropping to the luggage.
>thinking Sophie : Fuck. Emma never said they were actually coming.
Jade catches the look.
Of course she does.
Jade: Sophie?
Sophie: What?
Jade: Nothing.
That grin says otherwise.
Emma yanks the house keys from her pocket.
Emma: Ground rules. Nobody mentions the party. Nobody destroys anything. And nobody calls them my babysitter for the entire fucking week.
Ryan: What about chaperone?
Emma slowly turns toward him.
Ryan: Got it.
Jade grabs two bags and heads toward the house.
Jade: This is already better than last year.
Emma: We haven't even opened the fucking door yet.
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