1

WORST SUMMER OF MY LIFE

My mom was watching us, well, me. She knew my little sister wouldn't argue, she was to angelic and pure, I on the other hand, well; I wasn't going until I put up a fight.

"Mom, are you really going to singlehandedly destroy the summer of my dreams?" I noticed her fingers grip the wheel tighter than before.

"Charlotte," I could almost see her hair graying before me, "this shouldn't be such a big deal. You're spending the summer with your aunt in Arizona. Otherwise, what? You'd be spending your summer sleeping around the house."

I narrowed my eyes and through the rearview mirror Mom's browns met my blues. I cannot believe she is doing this to me!

"This is going to be the worst summer of my life." I grumbled, leaning back further into the back seat.

"Calm down Charlie." My sister, Liz, gave me a small smile, "I bet it's going to be lots of fun!"

I bit my lip, but to no avail, I caved. If there was a single person in the world who I loved to the moon, it was my twelve year old sister Liz. Were it not for the four year age difference and the glasses she wore, we could have been twins. Both obviously small for their age, me being only 5'4" and she being 5 flat, both with mousy blonde hair, oval shaped faces, and big blues for eyes. But like any "twins" we had our obvious differences. Liz was the quiet, soft spoken one, content curled up on the sofa with a Meyer or Rowling book in hand. I, on the other hand, was loud, rambunctious, and people starved. And I liked to argue…a lot. Mom blames it on teenage angst and being fatherless, I personally believe I'm a debate team star and training for my moment in court.

"Well," Mom's face was tight with concentration, something I normally would have laughed at, "We should be here soon…I think."

I looked out through the window, the last moderately large town had passed fifteen miles ago and now we were traveling through a dusty and lifeless outback.

"Where's the river Aunt Jenna talked about?" My sister questioned anxiously.

"It's a bit farther out, but I'm sure you'll love it." Mom smiled down at Liz, "She lives right on the river."

I rolled my eyes.

"Technically, she doesn't Mom." I smirked, "Jenna lives in Colorado, but has a vacation home ON the Colorado river." I laughed half heartedly, "Talk about ironic."

"Why aren't we going to the real Colorado then?" Liz asked cautiously.

Mom sighed. To be honest, I don't think Liz realized half of the things going on around her in the "real" world. She still thought the world could be solved through a bit of teamwork and compassion, which was another reason I loved her so much.

"Money problems honey." Mom's eyes never left the road, "I'm a single working mom and it's been hard for me, for us." She opened her window slightly, and a wave of hot air hit me directly in the face, but she didn't notice. "Aunt Jenna, God bless, is doing well, and she agreed to fly down and meet you girls here." Her eyes finally left the road, and sheepishly she added, "It'll be a great deal cheaper."

I didn't care less, whether it be Colorado or the Colorado River; I was still away from my friends and "the summer of my life." This was supposed to be the summer where my ex and I got back together, where I humiliated Kelsey Sherman, and I took the junior trip to the Oregon caves with all my closest friends. But no, instead my summer would consist of an overly chlorinated pool, some muggy river water, and sixty-seven days in over hundred degree weather.

"Next turn Mom." Liz's voice interrupted my train of thought and I peered past the front seats, this had to be the first paved road since twenty miles back. A small brightly colored sign read, Sunset View Resort and Vacation Getaway.

Surprisingly, I hadn't noticed the resort. It would have been hard to do. Unlike its surroundings, there were tall, water starved trees and bright green grass circled almost the entire resort. Plus there were small houses littering the flat grounds and the hills above them. It was a rich person's idea of a getaway, with all the luxuries of home. I could practically smell the dollar bills burning away in the sun. The paved driveway led to a security booth, which after at least five minutes of questioning finally let us in. Apparently, being dropped off to visit during the summer was uncalled for here. That's probably because normally they're flown in. I thought to myself dryly. The paved road continued, branching off into smaller streets leading to the houses, but the main road continuing a bit farther, decorated with limp palm trees and night lights, and finally leading to the major parking lot and the main office.

I stepped out of our Ford, noticing that the lot was almost completely empty, and the only vehicles other than our own included a sleek Z4, some lonely boat trailers and three golf carts. That small flicker of hope I had had quickly drained away.

"Don't worry dear, the night life here is much better than the day life." A familiar voice spoke warmly.

I turned around abruptly and smiled at the person who stood in front of me. Thirty some years old, single and the most gorgeous non-model out there, even my current attitude couldn't help me from leaping into Aunt Jenna's open arms and returning her hug.

"I missed you Charlie girl."

"I missed you too, Aunt Jenna."