Rest, Summer

Summer's POV

"Congratulations, graduates of East High!"

And then the crowd went wild. Graduation caps thrown everywhere, cheers of people and loud graduation music filled the whole gymnasium. I still can't believe that I just graduated College. It's like a dream come true. It feels like I've already accomplished everything in life. But no, this is just the beginning of something new.

The last semester was hell of a stressful year. Requirements here, assignments there, and projects everywhere! I am so ready to unwind and enjoy summer with my besties before we start the new stage of our lives.

"Girls, it's time to get ready for our beach trip!" Vanessa said as she pulled Chloe, Sophia, and me to a tight group hug.

The four of us have been best friends since junior year. At first, it was just me, Vanessa, and Chloe. But then Sophia moved here on senior year and eventually became a part of our group.

"Oh my god, I can't believe we just graduated college." Sophia said while wiping her tears. I can't help but feel a little emotional too.

"C'mon drama queen, stop whining and let's get ready!" I said, while wiping some of my own tears. We left the gymnasium together, congratulating our schoolmates as we go.

Honestly, I'm glad that school is over. I didn't really have a good time in here. I don't like the stress and pressure school brings to my life. My mental health has been tested a lot specially on the last semester. It's a miracle we've all survived school in one piece. And a summer getaway is the best idea to finally relax after what feels like a decade of stress.

Me and my friends have this amazing plan for this summer. "This is going to be the last summer of our lives, before we become fully an adult, so we should NOT waste it." Is what Vanessa always say since the start of first semester.

We saved money to rent this beach house for two weeks. It is a four to five hour drive from our small town. It has three bathrooms, two large bedrooms, a chef's kitchen, and an indoor pool. We've planned every single thing on this trip. From the things we're gonna wear in our Instagram photos, the food for our trip, the movies we're going to watch, we even have a checklist of things to do when we get there!

We leave right after graduation. We're going to use Vanessa's family van. We all have our own car, but a roadtrip would be more fun that driving on our own. Her parents we're kind enough to lend us their van and help us pay the rent for the beach house. I packed everything the night before, so I just have to fix a few things, get ready, and I'm good to go.

"Okay, here's the plan. We go home, We get ready, and then I'll pick you up after an hour. Is that clear?" Vanessa said when we got to the parking lot, she's always been the leader of our group. She's very organized and without her, this trip would be a disaster.

"Let's do this!" All of us said in unison. I am SO excited!!!

°°°

I'm now at my house. I took a rest for a while, got ready, and then fixed the things for our summer getaway. Vanessa would be here in a couple of minutes with Sophia and Chloe. I'm the last one to be picked up since I live the farthest.

While fixing my bags, I heard a sound of an engine outside. I peeked through the window and Vanessa's van is already there. So I quickly went downstairs to say goodbye to my mother, who doesn't approve on this summer getaway of ours. My parents have always been overprotective, but I believe that I'm old enough to handle myself.

"Hey mom, Vanessa's already outside. Have to go." I said to my mother as I kissed her in the cheek. She was watching her favorite noon time show at the living room, as usual. I got no reply, guess she still think I shouldn't go on this trip. I've always spent summer with my family. And this is my first time going on a long trip with my friends. Good thing dad is at work today, or he'll convince me to just stay at home.

"Bye mom, see you in two weeks." I said as I opened the door and went outside.

"Let'z go!" I said as I got in the back van beside Sophia. She was staring at me like a weirdo. Was I too loud? oopsie

"What?" I asked Sophia. She just looked away and stared at the window instead. What's wrong with her?

Vanessa's van is huge. It fits all of us, and all our large bags perfectly. Vanessa and Chloe are taking shifts driving. While me, and the weird Sophia are on the back of the van.

"Wear your seatbelts gals." Vanessa said as she started driving. Her eyes are puffy, like she just cried or something. Maybe she just got in a fight with her boyfriend again. I told her to break up with him multiple times, but she never listen.

All of us are wearing our best summer clothes that we've obviously planned for weeks. I am wearing a pastel blue summer dress I bought online. I just put my long black hair on a ponytail, since we will just go swimming when we get there. Vanessa is wearing the shirt we bought together last summer. It is a white, off the shoulder crop top that she absolutely adored. And it's paired with some black denim shorts, her brown hair in a messy bun. Chloe is on a summer dress like me, but hers is a bright yellow that matched her dark skin tone perfectly. Sophia is wearing a plain purple shirt and black leggings. Who wears leggings on a beach trip? Anyways, both Chloe and Sophia has their blonde hair down and all of us are wearing our matching watermelon-print flip-flops we've ordered online two weeks ago.

This is going to be a long trip, so I decided to take a nap while listening to music.

°°°

It's a normal sunny day. The sky is painted with pretty colors. Birds are flying in groups everywhere, and indication that winter is near. I'm at the loveseat beside the large windows of my room, reading the book Vanessa gave me on my birthday last year.

"Summer? Summer, honey where are you?" I heard my mom calling me from downstairs.

"Summer!" My dad said from a distance.

They're both here? Are they supposed to have work today?

I got down from the loveseat and immediately felt water. Wait, water?

My room if flooded! Where does the water even come from? It is rising in an incredible rate. I felt the panic in my system as I sensed that the water level is rising in a fast rate. I must get out of here!

I went to the door and found that it is locked. I tried smashing it with my body but it still wouldn't budge. The water level is now almost above me, c'mon summer think about something.

I heard screaming, from a distance. I looked at my window and found people running. There's a large hurricane killing people as it goes. Some houses are on fire, and some are completely destroyed. I felt the ground shake, an earthquake!

"The world is ending! The time has come!" I heard a man say from outside.

"Mom? Dad? I'm here at my room, I can't get out! Help me! I'm scared" I shouted, hoping that they would here me, but there was no answer. I can't help but cry. The fear and panic is getting in my head. Am I gonna die today?

The water level is now almost at my ceiling, and there are now some coming out of my windows. My whole body is shaking, my lips are trembling from the cold. I'm losing hope.

Wait, I think I have a baseball bat under my bed! Maybe I can use it to smash the door open.

I took a deep breath, and swam down. I opened one of the drawers under my bed, and the baseball bat was there. I used all my strength to pull it out of the water.

I swam up, and got ready to smash the door, but I noticed that there was something written on the baseball bat that wasn't there before.

"I know what you did last summer." I written with red ink, all over my baseball bat.

I heard a loud scream of a girl. I closed my eyes and covered my ears. But I can still hear it. It's hurting my head. Please make it stop!

The screaming stopped. I only hear the flow of water that is now, I assume, coming out from the ceiling.

I opened my eyes and saw another girl standing right in front of me. She's looking straight into my eyes.

"I know what you did, summer."

I woke up. I'm still in the van and when I looked at the window, the sun is setting. Chloe is driving while Vanessa is now on the passenger seat. Sophia is still looking out the window, with an airpod on one of her ears. It was just a dream, a nightmare, almost.

It's weird how I still remember every single thing on my dream. Maybe I should share it with Sophia before it gets wiped out from my memory.

"Hey, Sophia" I said quietly, Vanessa is sleeping right now.

"Shhh" Sophia said as she put another airpod on her second ear so she wouldn't hear me. She didn't even look at me! What's wrong with her today? Did I do something to piss her off? geez

I don't even know the things I did last summer. I remember going on a beach family trip, and going to the summer carnival with my best friends, and that's it. Did I do something else?

"We're here!" Chloe said, interrupting my thoughts.

I went out of the van, and saw the view of the majestic beach house. It is fairly big, with two large windows on the second floor. When you stand on the driveway, you can see the infinity pool on the roof top. I hear the relaxing sound of the ocean waves, I can clearly tell that this beach is clean and well maintained. I can't believe I'm going to stay here with my friends for two weeks. I'm so excited!

"OMG! It's amazing!" Vanessa exclaimed

"It's even better that the pictures they showed us!" Sophia added

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

We immediately unpacked and fixed our rooms. It's already past 8pm and it's dark outside. Despite the house having two large bedrooms, we decided that we'll all stay in one.

"C'mon gals, let's go night swimming!" Chloe said excitedly. She's still energetic despite the long drive to get here. We've all been waiting for this moment, so who wouldn't be excited?

We all wore our swimsuits and ran to the sea. The moon shining brightly and the stars twinkling in the night sky.

This is going to be the best two weeks of my life.

°°°

This is a very tiring day. After hours of swimming and lot's of girl talk, we finally decided it's time to watch movies till we fall asleep.

Vanessa and Chloe are now downstairs taking a bath, while me and Sophia are at the master's bedroom picking a horror movie to watch.

I thought this is the right time to talk to Sophia. She's been quiet the whole trip, and she's been ignoring me since we got here, she doesn't even look at me at all. Sophia used to be so cheerful and bubbly. I want to know what's wrong between us, I don't want to ruin our summer getaway.

"Sophia, are we okay?" I said, hoping that she'd open up and talk to me like we used to.

"Don't talk to me. I don't-" Sophia said, while looking away. What's wrong with her?

"Sophia I-"

"I said, don't talk to me!" This is the first time Sophia raised her voice at me like that. We used to be so close. I felt my heart shatter when she looked at me with anger in her eyes.

I was about to say something but then Vanessa entered the room with Chloe.

"Is there anything wrong, Sophia?" Vanessa asked while looking at her with concern.

"N-nothing" She replied.

I decided to just ignore the issue with Sophia for now. I completely have no clue why or how she got mad at me. For now, I will give her the space she needs and just enjoy our summer vacation.

Chloe ran and jumped on the bed. She grabbed the remote from Sophia and started typing things on the television.

"Time to watch horror movies! There's this new movie on Netflix that I'm pretty sure will scare our ass off" Chloe said, being cheerful as usual, trying to lift the heavy air around the room.

"Why are you standing there Vanessa? Come over here and let's party!" Chloe said while jumping on the bed. I started jumping as well. Vanessa joined in and threw a pillow on Sophia's face. The supposed to be horror movie marathon turned into a pillow fight.

°°°

"Summer" I heard a female voice call me. Her soft whisper echoing in my head.

"Who's that?" I said as I get up the bed. All the girls are asleep, don't they hear the voice too?

I don't know what got into me, but I felt the urge to follow that voice.

"Summer" she spoke again, her whispers are getting louder as I go near the door.

"Summer" I'm now sure it's coming from the guest bedroom, that is just a few steps away from our room.

I didn't bother to open the lights for the moon is lighting up the dark hallway. I walked slowly, making sure to not make a sound for I might wake the girls.

I opened the guest bedroom's door. The large windows are open and I felt the cold air touch my face. This room is also beautiful but a little smaller, with it's white walls and dark wood furnitures, it looks very elegant like the first one.

I looked around, and theres a dark oak vanity table with a white cushion seat and a large mirror. And there, I saw her. She's the girl from my last dream. She's just sitting there, looking at the mirror, while brushing her long, black hair.

"Who are you, what do you want?" I whispered.

"Summer" She said as she turned around.

"I know what you did, summer"

I woke up, scared and in confusion. Who is that girl? Why does she look like me? Is she.... me?

Sophia is still asleep on the far side of the bed. I hear noises at the kitchen, so I assume Vanessa and Chloe are already cooking breakfast.

"Time to wake up, food is ready" Chloe said while knocking at our bedroom door.

"Coming, just give me a minute" Sophia said, half asleep.

She got up and went in the bathroom in our room to freshen up.

"Sophia" I said, desperate to clear things up between us.

"Leave us alone Summer, you shouldn't be here" Sophia said as she walked out on me.

I sighed, maybe not today then. I went out of bed and got ready for another almost perfect day with my best friends.

°°°

After breakfast, me and the girls wanted to try the infinity pool on the roof top Vanessa and Chloe are already upstairs, fixing the music system and lights that we also plan to use. I am at our room, putting on some make-up for our photoshoot for Instagram later this day when Sophia went in.

"Hey, Sophia" I said, smiling at her.

Sophia sat down the bed, still far away from me.

"Summer" She whispered, tears falling down her eyes.

"I-I don't know how to say this" her voice cracked. Why does she look so miserable all of a sudden? Why can I see fear in her eyes?

"Sophia, please tell me what's wrong, we can't fix this if you'll just ignore me" I tried to touch her hand, but she put it away.

"Summer, don't you remember what you did last summer?" She said, while wiping the tears on her eyes.

"No, did I do something to you? Tell me so I can-" she interrupted me

"You shouldn't have come here Summer! You shouldn't be here at all!" She shouted at me. She looks desperate, melancholic.

I can't help but be emotional as well. I don't why she hates me all of a sudden. I don't remember anything I did last summer that might make her despise me like she does now.

"What did I do Sophia? What did I do?" I said, desperate for her to open up, and tell me. I can't take this anymore.

"You committed suicide Summer! You're dead! Why are you haunting us?!"

°°°

Sophia's POV

Summer of last year, a girl committed suicide. She was found on her bathroom tub, she drowned herself to death. Her name was Summer Collins, a graduating college student, my best friend. She's an excellent student, she was supposed to be the valedictorian of our batch. She always looked so happy when walking down the hallways, she has a lot of friends. Who would expect that someone like that will commit suicide?

Some say that the pressure got into her head, some said she was just desperate for attention. But she's dead, she left without any explanation. How would we know?

All the three of us were devastated when we heard the news. Specially Vanessa, since she was closer to Summer than we were.

Summer planned a vacation after we graduate, she promised us that she will do everything she can to make that happen. And even though she's gone, we still went to that trip, because that's what she would want us to do.

It all started on the graduation ceremony. The school decided to have a seat empty, with Summer's name on it in memory of her. I was sitting in between Chloe and Vanessa, when I saw a shadow sitting on that seat. At first I thought it was just the lighting on the gym, but then the shadow followed us to the parking lot.

I was the last one to get picked up by Vanessa's van, but then we decided to visit Summer's house, to say goodbye, to tell her that we will still fulfill our summer getaway plan. When we parked outside her house, Vanessa started crying silently.

And then the shadow was back. It was right beside me the whole trip. I wasn't scared at first, but then I think I hear it talk. I tried looking intensely at the shadow, hoping to find something in the air, but there was nothing there. I just put one of my airpods on and not think about it, because it will eventually go away right? no.

I heard it talk again, more clearly this time. It called my name.

"Hey, Sophia" it sounded just like Summer. I hushed the voice and put another airpod on, hoping it the music would drown my thoughts. Maybe I am just hearing things.

We got to the beach house. I still see the shadow and it's following us, but I decided to ignore it enjoy this day. Besides, night swimming is a very fun thing to do.

After swimming, Vanessa and Chloe are downstairs and I was left alone in the bedroom. The shadow started talking to me again.

"Sophia, are we okay?" I'm pretty sure I heard Summer's voice again. But that can't be, she's dead.

"Don't talk to me, I don't-" I tried my best not to look at her. I don't think I'm ready to see Summer.

"Sophia I-" I can't bear this anymore. My dead friend is talking to me right now. I don't think that's normal at all.

"I said, don't talk to me!" The fear got to my head, I can't bear this anymore.

"Is there anything wrong, Sophia?" Vanessa entered the room. They probably think I'm crazy for shouting in this room alone.

"N-nothing" I replied, still scared of what happened.

Good thing Vanessa and Chloe finally entered the room. The pillow fight made me forget about Summer. I finally went to sleep.

When I woke up, I heard Summer's voice calling my name. The shadow was gone. This time, I now see summer clearly on my peripheral vision. She looks the same, she still looks alive. But it can't be, I was at her funeral, I saw her at her casket.

"Leave us alone Summer, you shouldn't be here." I said and I walked out of the room.

After breakfast, the girls are upstairs, fixing the infinity pool. I was about to go upstairs but then I passed our bedroom and I saw Summer, sitting on the bed.

I had the urge to talk to her. To face my fears and let Summer know the truth. So I went in, and sat down the bed, keeping my distance.

"Hey Sophia" She said, this is the first time I looked at her. She still doesn't look like a ghost at all. It still feels like I'm having a conversation with my best friend.

"Summer" I started to cry. Out of fear? No. I missed her so much, I can't believe I'm talking to her right now.

"I-I don't know how to say this" my voice started to crack.

"Sophia, please tell me what's wrong, we can't fix this if you'll just ignore me" Don't you know Summer?

"Summer, don't you remember what you did last summer?" I said, while wiping the tears in my eyes.

"No, did I do something to you? Tell me so I can-"

"You shouldn't have come here Summer! You shouldn't be here at all!"

She started crying. What's happening Summer? Why are you haunting us?

"What did I do Sophia? What did I do?" She sounded desperate, like she doesn't know what to I'm talking about.

"You committed suicide Summer! You're dead! Why are you haunting us?!" What I said made her silent. Like she just realized something.

"The dreams, it thought they were premonitions...." She whispered to herself.

"Please rest, Summer"