"Why are we packing so much damn clothing?" I asked, my voice tinged with exasperation. It was New Year's Eve, and I was thrilled about the vacation we'd agreed on, but I hadn't expected to basically empty my entire closet into suitcases.
"You'll see," Bella and Elara replied in perfect unison, their mischievous grins mirroring each other. I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Whatever they had planned, I had a gut feeling it was going to be unforgettable.
Just then, Elara's phone buzzed on the nearby table, the sharp sound cutting through the room. She walked over with a casual stride, picked it up, and answered.
"Yep, perfect. Yeah, we won't be here. Alright, sounds good." Her tone was clipped, businesslike, as she ended the call and slid the phone into the back pocket of her jeans. My nerves were starting to kick in, a tight knot forming in my stomach. What the hell were they scheming?
"So, is this gonna be like a cruise ship kind of vacation? Or are we flying somewhere tropical?" I pressed, folding a tiny black crop top with deliberate care before placing it into one of my overflowing suitcases.
My closet was ridiculously massive, so I'd had to drag out multiple bags just to fit everything. The zippers were already straining, and I wasn't even halfway done.
"You'll see," Elara teased again, her voice dripping with playful secrecy as she leaned against the doorframe, watching me struggle with my packing.
I rolled my eyes, frustration bubbling up. Why were they keeping me in the dark about this? I bit my lip to keep from snapping, letting out a long, dramatic sigh instead as I shoved another pair of jeans into the bag.
Whatever this trip was, they were hell-bent on making it a mystery, and I was stuck playing along.
Liz suddenly marched into the room with two suitcases, dragging them behind her like she was late for a flight.
"Ready!" she announced, slightly out of breath, clearly having rushed.
I blinked, staring at the bags. She's coming too?
"Whoa, mom, we still have like thirty minutes before we even leave," Bella said, barely looking up as she folded a pair of jeans and dropped them neatly into her suitcase. "Done!" she added proudly. She packed fast—Bella always did. She didn't have nearly as much stuff as I did anyway.
"I'll be waiting in the living room," Liz said, already turning around. "It's still way too early, and I'm exhausted from waking up at the crack of dawn."
She marched off, suitcase wheels clacking softly down the hall.
I sighed. Being yanked out of bed at five in the morning had been terrifying. I remembered squinting at the clock, groggy and irritated, wondering what emergency justified that hour.
"Done as well," Elara said calmly, zipping up her bag with practiced ease.
She and Bella both moved toward me, clearly deciding I was taking too long.
"Let me help with your underwear," Elara said casually, lifting a pair of briefs and folding them with neat precision.
"Hehehe," Bella chimed in, suddenly popping back into view with one of my pairs stretched over her head like a hat. "Look, Elara! I'm the underwear monster!"
I groaned, covering my face. "Bella..."
She just laughed, completely unbothered, while Elara shook her head with an amused smile, continuing to organize my things like this was the most normal morning ever.
Despite the nerves and confusion, I couldn't help but smile. Whatever was happening... at least I wasn't facing it alone.
We packed the rest of my stuff pretty quickly—having three pairs of hands made everything go by a lot faster than I expected. Elara and Bella helped me haul my three suitcases outside, loading two into Elara's Bentley and the last one into Bella's Charger.
That's when I noticed it.
A massive U-Haul truck sat parked in the driveway, its white side looming way taller than either car. Not one of the small ones either—the huge kind. The kind you rent when you're moving an entire house, not going on a vacation.
I stopped walking.
"Uh... Elara?" My brows knit together as I stared at the truck. "Why is there a U-Haul?"
"You'll see," she replied smoothly, not even slowing down.
That answer again.
I felt irritation prickle under my skin. My stomach twisted with confusion, but I bit my tongue. Whatever this was, clearly they were committed to keeping it a secret.
Liz, Bella, and Elara loaded their own bags next. Space ran out fast in the cars, so the rest of the luggage went into the U-Haul instead. That alone felt wrong—vacations didn't require box trucks.
Then two workers showed up and walked straight into the house once we were done loading.
I watched them go, unease settling deeper in my chest.
We weren't moving... were we?
I stood there for a moment, staring at the open front door and the oversized truck humming quietly in the driveway, my mind racing with questions that no one seemed willing to answer. Whatever this was, it was definitely more than just a trip.
Elara leaned off to the side with Liz and Bella, their heads close together, voices low. Whatever they were talking about, I definitely wasn't invited into it.
I tried to brush it off, telling myself it wasn't a big deal—but it still stung a little. Being left out always did.
Eventually, Bella and Liz climbed into Bella's Charger, while Elara and I slid into the Bentley. The engines came to life almost in sync, and we pulled out together, the house shrinking in the mirrors behind us.
We didn't get far before stopping at a gas station, which only confirmed what I'd already been suspecting—the drive was going to be long.
I stepped out and stretched, arms lifting over my head as the crisp morning air hit me. Mornings always made me feel a little more awake, a little more human.
Inside the store, I grabbed a hot coffee and a honey bun, something sweet to go with the caffeine. Bella, unsurprisingly, loaded her arms with junk food. Elara stuck to her usual—plain black coffee—while Liz settled for a single donut.
We regrouped inside near the windows while Bella disappeared into the bathroom. I sipped my coffee slowly, letting the warmth spread through me as the cold winter air seeped in every time the door opened. The store felt too bright for how early it was, fluorescent lights buzzing faintly overhead.
That's when I noticed a homeless woman wanderingbnear the front of the store, her clothes layered and worn, moving slowly like she didn't want to draw attention.
She paused near the window, staring outside. My gaze followed hers—and landed on Elara's Bentley.
She seemed transfixed by it, eyes lingering on the polished exterior, the sleek shape. It felt strange seeing someone like her here; this part of the city usually didn't have many people like that drifting around.
I swallowed another sip of coffee, a quiet unease settling in my chest, as the morning continued on—calm on the surface, but heavy with things I still didn't understand.
"Alright, I'm done," Bella announced, arms weighed down with two bags stuffed to the brim with junk food.
We stepped outside together, and the cold bit immediately, sharp and unforgiving against my skin. The morning air felt heavier out here, quieter too.
The homeless woman was still there, lingering near the Bentley, even as Elara unlocked it and slid into the driver's seat with me following after.
As soon as the door shut, the woman leaned closer to the window.
"You got money? I need some meth..." she said bluntly.
I let out a short, awkward laugh—half surprise, half discomfort. It was sad more than anything.
Elara glanced at her, expression unreadable. "If I give you money, can you use it for food?" she asked calmly.
The woman hesitated. "Uh... yeah. For sure. I think," she replied, not sounding very convincing.
Elara didn't comment. She simply pulled out a bill and handed the woman a hundred. The woman's face lit up instantly, gratitude—or excitement—hard to tell which.
"Bye, lady! And cute guy!" she called as we pulled away, Bella's Charger falling in behind us a moment later.
I sank deeper into the seat, the leather cool and smooth beneath me. My phone connected automatically to the car's Bluetooth, soft jazz music filling the cabin and muting the outside world. The steady hum of the engine was comforting, almost hypnotic.
"Rest, baby," Elara murmured, her hand settling warmly on my thigh. "I'll wake you when we're close."
I nodded, eyes already heavy. The music, the motion, her touch—it all blended together, and before I knew it, sleep took me.