(Elias)
I set my alarm for 5:30 AM, but I was already awake when it went off. I had been lying in bed for the past hour, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the day ahead. The beach. Avery. Just the four of us with no parents, no teachers, no expectations.
I got dressed quickly in swim shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed my keys, and headed downstairs. Mom and Dad were still asleep, which was perfect. I did not want another lecture about responsibility or appearances. Today was about Avery and nothing else.
I walked out to my car in the driveway and pulled out my phone, dialing her number. It rang twice before she picked up.
"Elias?" Her voice was alert, not sleepy at all. She had probably been awake for hours too.
"I'm outside in my car," I said. "Ready?"
"Give me two minutes!" She
