This was the time they’ve been waiting for. The sun beamed high in the sky, the faint smell of BBQ lingered in the air, vibrant colors of blooming flowers and chirping birds illuminated their surroundings. The adrenaline was visible amongst each of the four grinning faces packed into the white SUV, with their assortment of luggage piled high.

“I’m so excited to finally get away from this boring town!”, Anna told her friends eagerly from the driver’s seat.

“I totally feel the same way, finally we get some freedom away from our parents,” added Emma mischievously.

“Hell yeah! Just me and my favourite girls celebrating the end of the school year together.”

Alex raised her hands up eagerly. “Well, don’t forget we’re also celebrating your birthday tomorrow!”

“Oh my god!, Anna gasped. I almost forgot about that. I’ve been so busy with prom, summatives, and exams, that my birthday completely slipped my mind. I guess this weekend is going to be especially fun then girls.”

After settling in the car, their journey up North officially began. The road trip went smoothly. The girls sang out proudly to their favourite songs, and continued to further discuss their excitement.

After two hours, the cramped car pulled up to a quaint cottage. It had a dirt driveway, leading up to a long wooden staircase, stuffed between an array of violet enchanting flowers. The building stood modestly, painted an icy blue with ivy growing up the sides. The girls unpacked the car and brought their stuff up to the inside. They were all quite pleased with the appearance of their weekend home.

Anna stood in the living room with her arms stretched triumphantly. “This is so sweet! We picked such an awesome spot for the weekend.”

Shea’s eyes widened in shock as she pointed to a spot across the room. “Gah! There’s an ant in here.” She started to walk towards it with intentions to stomp on it.

Emma stopped her. “Wait, there’s another one right by your foot!”

Shea hopped on to her other foot with alarm. “I knew this place would be too good to be true. If there’s one ant, there’s bound to be more. There’s probably a whole colony in here.”

Emma shivered in disgust. “If that’s true I’m sleeping in the car. I hate bugs so much!”

Alex attempted to lighten the mood. “C’mon guys, it’s just a couple of ants, at least it’s not spiders.”

“Don’t speak too soon,” advised Anna. She pointed to two more ants on the kitchen counter. “No wonder this place was so cheap, there’s practically an infestation of them in here.”

Suddenly, the gang’s trip went from relaxing in their dream summer home, to a live action rendition of ‘A Bug’s Life.’ This decreased all of their moods significantly.

Anna decided the girls should go pick up a pizza and watch the sunset from the beach instead of staying in the home longer than they had to. Everyone unanimously agreed.

With the setting sun came a bold battle of a luscious pink stretching over the water. It was illuminated with hues of crimson from a mix of ruby red and bright yellow. The sky looked like a Monet painting that was set ablaze. The slight but steady motion of waves splashed upon the damp sand. The cry of seagulls fleeing the land with the echoes of other tourists chattering rung throughout the beach. The atmosphere created the perfect backdrop for the girls so settle into the sand and have meaningful discussions about their futures.

Emma wrapped her arms around her legs. “Do you guys think we’re still going to stay in touch after highschool is over?”

Anna answered back without hesitation. “Of course! We’re all best friends nothing could ever change that.” Shea and Alex nodded their heads in agreement.

The girls travelled back home once the moon made an appearance in the sky. After a long day of travelling, they curled up onto the couch and watched a movie together.

The next day, the girls wake up early to go out for breakfast and celebrate Anna’s birthday.

“Happy birthday Anna!” Alex, Emma, and Shea collectively yelled out.

Anna beamed full heartedly. “Thanks guys, I’m so glad that I get to spend this day with all of you.”

The gang drove over to a local diner and enjoyed a delicious breakfast together. Emma decided to tell the server it was Anna’s birthday so they would sing to her. Once a gathering of the waitresses began to sing Happy Birthday, Anna blushed in embarrassment. She was not one to desire a lot of attention.

The girls went back to the SUV with Anna still feeling awkward about receiving so much attention. “I hate that the whole restaurant just stared at me. I wish you didn’t do that Emma.”

“Awh c’mon, it was so cute. Everyone joining together, singing and celebrating you.”

“That sounds like something you would enjoy more than me. I felt so weird and didn’t know what to do with myself as they just sang for me.”

“Don’t worry girl, this day is all about you. You just got to get used to the extra consideration everyone is going to give you.”

Anna decided not to argue any further and accepted that Emma was just attempting to be thoughtful. From the diner, the girls traveled down a long country road to the beach.

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Emma confessed. She began to stand up from her back seat and stick her head out of the sunroof. “Woohoo!” She screamed out victoriously. The car was driving approximately seventy kilometers per hour and Emma felt free as she took in the speed and rapid blowing wind.

The other girls chuckled at Emma’s wild behaviour. Soon, Alex stood up from the front passenger's seat to join in on the fun. The girls began to sing out happy birthday from the sunroof while waving at passing cars and pedestrians, smiles plastered on their faces.

Emma began to exhibit concern for her friends. “Hey guys, sit back down we’re going pretty fast right now.” Alex immediately obeyed and sat back down in her seat. Emma was more reluctant to follow orders, but sat back in her seat anyways.

Before they arrived at the beach, the girls took a detour towards a nearby cabin to pick up some more friends. Anna and Shea switched seats as they picked up their friends, so Anna could drink, and Shea would be the designated driver. The two new passengers of Jeremiah and Eden, were all supported by the girls as they were all quite good friends with one another. However, due to their now being six passengers in the SUV, the group had to assign one person to lie in the trunk during their rides.

“Alex, get down further, I can still see your head,” called Shea from the driver’s seat.

“I’m trying my best. There really is not a whole lot of room to be comfortable back here.”

The group arrived at the busy Wasaga beach beaming with excitement. As they set up their blankets and bags in the sand, they began to drink alcohol. Their moods quickly elevated even further. They were all laughing and speaking carefree to one another. They pranced around the sand and dipped their legs into the cool welcoming water.

Shea responsibly watched her friends move along the beach. She noticed police officers walk along the strip and decided to inform her friends, as public intoxication was never prohibited. “Guys, I think y’all should calm down with the drinking for now. I’ve been seeing a lot of cops walk around our area.” Everyone in the group agreed with Shea’s warning and stopped drinking. However, most of the group was quite tipsy, so putting a pause on the drinking didn’t really bring a chance of them sobering up anytime soon.

The sun shone bright in the sky, with not a single cloud in sight. Laughter and excited voices were clear throughout the beach. An hour passed, and the group began to pack up to drop Eden and Jeremiah back at their cabin. Once they stood around the SUV again, it was delegated that Emma should be in the trunk this time.

Emma was still gleaming with energy from their beach activities, and struggled to conceal herself in the trunk. “Oh my god! Imagine if we get pulled over and they saw me in the trunk, that would be hilarious. I have to take a video of this.” She began to pull out her phone to film herself stuffed in the trunk of the vehicle while laughing at the whole concept.

Shea snapped her head to the back. “Emma! Put away your phone. No one can know that you’re in the trunk. It’s illegal, if we were caught, we’d all get in serious trouble.”

Emma ignored Shea’s protests and continued to giggle as she waved her phone around. “Hey everyone, guess where I am. I bet you didn’t get it, I’m-,” Emma’s dialogue was interrupted by Shea opening the door to the trunk.

“Okay Emma, we’re switching you back with Alex.”

She started to whine. “Why? I like it back here so much! Please let me stay, I promise no one will be able to see me.”

Shea was not persuaded by Emma’s pleas. “Absolutely no way. I’m not taking the risk. You’re way too unsteady right now, someone will definitely notice you back here.”

Emma eventually switched seats with Alex, and Shea started the car back up. The trip to drop off Jeremiah and Eden was still cheerful, despite Emma being unwillingly moved. The group sang out and swayed along to their favourite songs.

Once their two friends hopped out of the vehicle and walked into their own cottage, Alex gleefully exited the cramped trunk to sit in the backseat with Anna and Emma.

“Ah, much better,” Alex expressed her comfort aloud.

The other girls packed back in to the car after embracing Eden and Jeremiah in farewell. They were all prepared to travel to the cottage to change out of their swimwear.

Shea turned around from the steering wheel. “Okay everyone put on your seatbelts” All of the girls secured their seat belts into their buckles, everyone except for Emma. “Put on your seatbelt Emma.”

She continued to sit in her seat unbothered by Shea’s command. “Nah, it’s okay, I don’t need it.” Emma attempted to assure the group.

“I’m not driving until you put on your seatbelt.”

“Girl, the law is literally any passenger over sixteen years old is responsible for their own seatbelt. If we got into an accident you don’t have to worry because I’m eighteen.”

Shea turned off the engine of the car. “I’m serious. I’m not driving until you put your seatbelt on.”

“Why are you being so dramatic? I didn't even wear my seatbelt on the way here, I never wear it.”

“Emma, I don’t want your blood on my hands.”

“What do you mean? Not too long ago, I was sitting in the trunk of the car with absolutely no protection. Earlier today, you all saw me and Alex stand up and stick our heads out of the sun roof while we were driving.

Anna clenched her jaw and turned to Emma with clear irritation. “Just put on your seatbelt or get out of my car!”

“Guys, this is not a big deal.”

Anna’s face began to grow a bright red. “If it’s not a big deal, then just put it on!”

Emma was stubborn and stood her ground. “Just drive home, I’m sick of arguing about this.” Now, all the girls were teamed up against Emma.

Anna was completely fed up with dealing with Emma. “You’re such a spoilt brat! Just get the fuck out, no one wants you in this car,” Anna fumed.

Emma was gobsmacked. She had never heard Anna cuss, and she was especially shocked to hear such words aimed towards her.

Alex joined in on the argument. “Just walk back home if you’re going to act like this.”

“I can’t walk back home! I’m in a city that I’ve never been to before and I don’t even have any data to navigate by way around.”

“Then take a taxi or something, you are not staying in this car.”

“Fine, I’ll put on my seatbelt.” Emma swung her arm up about to grab the buckle to secure herself in.

Anna remained irritated at Emma. “No way! Get out right now. It’s too late to listen now.”

“Girl, I’m buckling up. Calm down. I just want to go home now.”

Anna was completely furious at Emma’s stubborn behaviour. She hustled out of the car on the edge of tears with Alex and Shea following behind in an attempt to comfort her. Emma had absolutely no idea what to do at this point. She knew that she had made a mistake by not listening to her friends in the first place. However, at that moment, she didn’t really feel that she had any friends.

About twenty minutes pass by, and the girls make their way back into the SUV. None of them acknowledge Emma. They drive right back to the nearby cottage of Jeremiah and Eden. The three girls walk inside and announce the situation to the other group. Emma sat frozen in her seat. Eden came out and began to collect alcohol bottles and cans from the car.

Alex stood outside of Emma’s seat with a stern glare and folded arms. “If you don’t leave the car right now, we’re calling the cops.”

Emma instantly understood why they were getting rid of the bottles and cans. The other girls were trying to hide their intoxication for when the cops showed up, so they wouldn't be able to incriminate themselves. She knew at this point she had nothing to lose. “Go ahead, I don’t care if you do. I won’t be the only one in trouble then, Alex and Anna are clearly drunk.”

Alex slammed Emma’s door shut in frustration. “You’re ridiculous, I can’t believe we brought you on this trip.”

Emma began to sniffle as tears built up in her eyes. She knew there was no going back now. The next thing she heard was the distinct echcoing of blaring police sirens approaching the scene.