"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

It was summer, and my family was on their way to my grandma's lake house. I was continuously poking my dad in the shoulder, attempting to get any type of reaction out of him and piss him off while he's driving.

"Jaden, if you don't stop that right now, I'll turn this car around!"

"Don't encourage her, dear..." My mother sighs.

Little did they know I was actually excited about it this time around. To their surprise, I didn't say another word the entire trip.

I took a picture of the big water tower with the letters C A S S O P O L I S across it. Not as impressive as the big letters in Hollywood, but I was thrilled to see it. We were finally here! And Diamond lake was just ahead.

I anxiously play with my necklace as we approach the house. From it hung a small key which I twisted in my fingers; I'd been wearing it every day since I was here last about one year ago. Not only is it the reason I'm alive, but an important symbol of my unique friendship with my former enemy Tori Vega.

"We're here, Jade." My father announces, and throws the car in park.

CH 1; The Marina

"Hun, help your father with his bags!" my mother scolds, but I instantly take off around the side of the house toward the lake.

The sound of motor boats and water bikes over the lake brought back memories. As I searched the surface, though, no sign of the black jet. Of course, Tori must not even be here yet. It was still morning, and the bonfire wasn't going to start until nightfall.

"JADE!" My mother calls.

I guess I can tolerate them, for now.

After dragging my bags up to my room, I send a quick message to Tori. I didn't want her to know I missed her as much as I have, but I really was looking forward to seeing her.

My father had come up the stairs, and I forgot that this domain is no longer a safe place. Last summer it was just me and granny, and she's too lazy to get up the stairs on her own. Dad had peaked in my bedroom before continuing down the hall to his room. I hate how he's always checking up on me...

My phone pings.

'Look out your window'

What...?

I get up and open the balcony curtains. At first I see nothing, but sure enough a closer look reviles the black jet racing around the island. I knew she was good with it, but how the heck does she text on that thing?

I step outside and watch her as she circles a few more laps around the island. I climb down the side of the house (a technique she taught me last summer) and meet her at the dock.

"Tori." I smile, as she removes her helmet. "Aren't you afraid you're going to drop your phone in the lake?"

"Eh, it wouldn't be a first." She laughs.

After that remark, she leans in and plants a kiss on my lips. "I... hope you don't mind." She blushes, regarding the sweet gesture she'd just made. "I missed you a lot."

"I missed you too."

We decided not to stay too long and chat, considering my grandmother's hatred for Tori's family. ...and her black jet. Before she left, Tori gave me the details of the bonfire. It was at one of her uncle's friends house this time; but she told me she'd happily pick me up if I don't mind getting home a little late.

"I'll text you if I need a ride." I reply. She nods, and starts the jet.

So I went through the whole routine- oh, hey grams! Good to see you again! Yadda yadda, all that family stuff. I took a picture of the ghost house and sent it to Cat, along with a picture of that citrus water she seems to like, promising to bring her some. I set the tv upstairs to record my favorite reality TV show, but I don't expect to watch any of it if this summer is anything like the last. After all this, it's only been half an hour.

"Dad?" I say, approaching my father in the kitchen.

"Jade, did mom tell you where she keeps the candy?" He asks.

Obviously there's only one thing on his mind right now, as always, and that's food. "Grandma told me I'm not allowed to tell you where her candy is." I reply. "But, maybe I'll tell you if..."

"Young lady, don't think you can bribe me into letting you out for the night." He scolds in anticipation.

"That's a shame." I sigh. "I heard she bought snickers. The big kind."

His eyes widen. "...just don't tell your mother." He gives.

I grin with pride. "It's in the cabinet on top of the fridge in the garage."

At dinner, my father discussed how it would be 'okay' to let me stay out a little later than normal.

"Considering she's a bit older now, and it is summer break."

Both my mother and grandmother store at him in disbelief. "I had a feeling there was some chocolate missing from the candy bowl." Granny sighs. "Jade, when I ask you to keep a secret-"

"Look, my friend and I are just meeting up at the Marina." I blurt. "It's just for tonight, and I swear for the rest of the week I'll come back at ten thirty or whatever the hell curfew is."

There was a pause for a moment, until finally my granny spoke up.

"Jade dear, I don't think that's possible."

I stood up in rage. "Unbelievable! You can't just let me out for one night?"

"No, honey. What I mean to say is... you and your friend can't GO to the Marina." She reiterates.

I fold my arms and wait for any sort of logic to arise from her explanation.

My mother sighs. "What your grandmother's trying to say is the Marina's closed."

I sat back down and took a deep breath. Did she just say... that our Marina... is...

"You mean, like, they're just closing up early for the day, r-right?"

My mother shakes her head.

"Nope! That old rickety place is closing up for GOOD!"

"HAROLD! Knock that off!" My grandmother scolds my dad. "Barb is a good friend of ours, and your daughter loves that place."

He goes back to quietly chewing on his steak.

I slouch further into my seat. I can't really be hearing this right now... my favorite hangout, the only refuge from all the crazy places on this lake, is going away. I wonder if Tori knows?

"I think they're still there packing, if you want to run over there one last time." My mother states, but before she could even finish her sentence I was out of my seat and grabbing my coat.

When I arrived, I noticed the black jet outside on the dock. It was the only one there, unlike last summer when there were several broken ones docked for rent.

"Tori." I call when I enter.

"Jade!" She replies, dropping her phone. "You got my text?"

"I heard from my parents." I admit. "Where's...?"

Before I can finish my sentence, Barb comes out the back room with her arms full with moving boxes.

"You're both here." She sighs. "Mind giving me a hand? This back ain't what it used to be."

"I'm taking no part in the destruction of this place!" Tori announces, though by how much free food Barb's given her, it's obviously too late for that.

"Jade, dear?" She tries, but I shake my head.

Barb drops the box on a table, then slumps in a seat. "You girls are taking this pretty hard, huh?"

We both nod.

"You think this is easy for me? I practically live here in the summer! Now I have no job, and nowhere to go."

"How can you boss just do this? It's so unfair." I sigh, picking at the splinter chips on the wooded table.

"There's nothing he can do about it. The rent is getting to be too much, we can't keep anything we have left in stock, and the state says if we aren't out of here in a week tops, they'll kick us out themselves." She sadly explains, then continues to lift the box.

Even the jukebox was covered in bubble wrap, waiting to be boxed up. The place has always had a lonely aura about it, but I've never seen the Marina look this depressing.

"Maybe we could raise the money to keep it open!" Tori suggests in a hopeful tone. "We could have a bake sale, and tell everyone to buy some to support the Marina!"

"They wouldn't buy my food before. I doubt they'd be interested now." Barb sighs. "Besides, do you have any idea how much a lake avenue costs?"

"So there's no way to save this place, is what you're saying." I pick up.

"Jade..." Tori moans.

She had to admit it at some point though. Tori clearly didn't want to give this place up, but she has to realize some things are unavoidable.

We said our goodbyes to Barb and the crew before leaving out the door. Tori and I sat on the sidewalk by the lake, now, watching one of our favorite places being destroyed.

"This is so sad." She sighs, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Let's go." I suggest. "There's still the bonfire, right?"

She nods quietly, unable to speak at this point.

Even with the waves crashing under the black jet, things just seemed silent. Finally, we reach Greg's neighbor's house where the bonfire was being held.

"Tori's here ev'rone!" Uncle Greg calls, and all the drunkards toast.

"Hey..." She drags, drooping down the path to the fire.

I follow her, and we take a seat on the lawn chairs around the flames.

"Who'd you bring with ya, hun?" Greg asks, taking a seat next to us.

"You don't remember her?" Miriam asks. "That's Mika Symons!"

"Oh yeah!" Greg smiles in remembrance. "How are ya, Myka?"

"Actually Myka Symons is my fake name." I reply. "My real name is Jade Wheeler."

Now obviously either of those were my real name, but for the sake of peace on the lake...

"Drats, I knew I didn't have an eighteen year old daughter!" Miriam grogs.

Everyone here was already drunk, except for me. Oh, and Tori, who was to depressed to even grab a marshmallow.

"Cheer up." I advise. "We'll find a new hang out."

"Like where? Isle Serena?" She huffs. "Isle Serena doesn't have ice cream, or old person music, or Barb! Jade, it's not the same!"

"You to up for some karaok-"

"NO!" We both shout in unison when Tori's aunt Sal approaches us.

"Jeez! Fine!" She walks away.

"There's gotta be something we can do..." Tori contemplates in agony.