Hopeless

01 | The Superior Season

| Word Count: 1324 |

Thuram

Objectively speaking, summer was by far the worst of the seasons. I was convinced anyone who liked summer that much was honestly just blinded by childhood nostalgia, unable to see the season for all its ugliness. The annoying disgusting bugs, the boiling hot temperature, the humidity. Personally I preferred spring, but I wasn't completely opposed to winter either.

But overall spring was the superior season, heads and shoulders above the rest. It wasn't too cold or too hot, all the flowers and trees just starting to bloom, most of the bugs weren't around yet as it was still too cold for them, the cozy rainy days and the smell of wet newly grown grass that usually followed, and best of all was the cool breeze.

So as I'm sitting in the backseat of Tsimi's fancy ass open car, headed to his beach house, the strong cool air blowing through my hair was the only thing I was truly enjoying. Tsimi sat behind the wheel, singing loudly along with the other two who were in the front as well; Enu and Trent, both of whom were standing up, whooping into the air.

The music was so loud I could feel the rhythm and bass from inside my body, which I would normally despise. But the scenery and the wind made this long car ride from the pier bearable as I couldn't wait to arrive so I could lie down. Beside me in the back was an oddly quiet Soleil, sat in the middle seat, all too busy with her phone when normally she'd be in the midst of all the chaos, whooping and belting along with the three up front. Instead she was just sitting there... essentially a mute ever since the flight.

I suspected the reason behind her uncharacteristically reserved demeanour, but didn't ask as it would've just been pointless. Her chestnut brown curls were down and blowing around her face with the shades resting on top of her head, her teeth picking at the dry skin on her chapped lips. Despite being in the sun so little, her light golden brown skin was already tanning deeper and deeper by the minute.

"How long?" Yannis asked, bored and frustrated from where he sat on Soleil's right hand side.

"How many more times you gonna ask that same question?" Tsimi replied, looking at Yannis in the rear view mirror.

"Until we're there."

"Come on Yan, when will you learn life is about the journey and not the destination?" Trent chimed in as he sat back down to switch the song track before he turned his torso, looking at Yannis while leaning on the brown leather seat.

"I mean I'm right there with Yan. Can't sit in here any longer. Tired as hell." I spoke, backing up Yan as I always did. He met my gaze, leaning over with his clenched hand outstretched and we bumped fists over Soleil's lap.

"We're here anyway," Tsimi interjected, the car slowing into a driveway.

Ahead of us was Tsimi's beach house, looming large with its sleek lines and expansive windows that embraced the breathtaking ocean view. The house was surrounded by carefully manicured gardens and lush greenery. Crisp white walls contrast with warm timber accents and large glass panels seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.

I was one of the first people to jump out the car and head inside with my luggage. Stepping inside, I was greeted by an open-concept living space bathed in abundant natural light where the layout effortlessly connected the living area, dining space, and the gourmet kitchen Tsimi went on and on about. The polished concrete floors provided a cool foundation, while the walls wore a soft, neutral palette.

"No one can take the suite on the top floor cuz it's mine." Tsimi interjected, but Yannis and Trent were already off by the time he finished speaking.

"Think again!" Trent yelled over his shoulder. "First one to touch the door gets it all to themselves."

"Bet." Yannis replied, tripping Trent, before he kept running while cackling, leaving Trent behind to hammer the floor with his fist in anger.

"Boys," Enu sighed as she shook her head. She turned her gaze towards me where I stood in the big ass hall next to her. "Wanna explore the place together?"

I looked over my shoulder to the wide open front door where Soleil still stood in front of the car, her head buried in her phone. "Why is no one asking that one what's going on with her?" I went.

Enu huffed, shrugging her shoulders. "You know how she is," she said. "Beau always takes precedence. And you know she never listens to us."

Tsimi placed their duffel bag on the table before he sat down. "One of these days we're gonna need an intervention for this bitch cuz I swear," he chimed in, massaging his temples.

"Maybe a house warming party will finally bring her back to reality? Even just for a little while." Enu suggested.

"How cute. You actually think alcohol is gonna fix this problem instead of just making it worse." Tsimi laughed.

"Well imma throw one anyway. It's the first order of business on the list after all." she added before dragging her luggage further into the house. "You coming, T?" she asked, pausing in her tracks to throw me a glance.

"I'm too tired to explore right now." I told her, rolling my luggage after me as I began walking inwards to the second floor where I picked one of the empty rooms and didn't even bother unpacking and just fell back into the bed.

The natural light filtering in through the large windows, highlighting the crisp linens and plush bedding, made the fatigue more prominent in my body and I let it wash over me. I kicked off my shoes, shutting my eyes.

Suddenly, just as I felt myself drifting off into sleep, I heard a knock and my eyes opened back up. I picked my head up to see Soleil standing in the opening.

"Hey," she said. "Did I interrupt your nap or something?"

I sat up, shaking my head. "What's up?"

She wandered into the room, approaching the bed and slid into the opposite side of the mattress. For a while she remained like that, breathing and staring at the ceiling without speaking a single word. This was standard for her whenever she wanted to talk about something. All I needed to do was wait quietly.

"I feel like..." she began. "Relationships are just not meant for me. I mean since they all just keep crashing and burning, that's gotta be the reason, right?" she continued.

"You genuinely desire that type of deep connection. And I think there's no point in trying to lie to yourself about that," I told her. "It's just you're also hella into self-sabotage."

"Hey!" she exclaimed, snapping her gaze towards me. I was smirking all amused, but there was significant truth to that as well.

A faint smile shadowed on her lips which made me happy to see. Remnants of the chaotic and fun Sol seemed to be peeking out again ever since she disappeared earlier this morning.

"I know you hate hearing this but please remember you're on vacation, okay? Leave all that drama with Beau back home and just unwind. That's not so hard for you to do right?"

"I know I know, " she huffed. "Can I sleep here tonight? Don't think I'll be able to fall asleep on my own with the way my brain just won't shut the hell up."

"Of course."

I watched her get up off the bed and wandering around in the room, the shorts on her flowery jumpsuit twirling slightly with every big movement by those long toned legs. She first opened the wardrobe only to close it and instead open the door to the room's en-suite bathroom.