"You better come visit"
"I'm going to try!!"
"My sister keeps asking about you"
"Aww"

As the plane lands I look out the window, remembering back to when I boarded a plane here just 10 months ago.
I let out a deep breath of air, my sadness from the past few months was slowly getting smaller and smaller in my mind. I hope I get to Ash and the others. My heart aches. The thought of being this close to them and maybe not even seeing them is killing me. I have no idea what our exact plan is for this week, but hopefully I get to see my friends. And my siblings! The though pops up.
"Time to get off," My father nods toward the exit and I stand up and grab my carry on bag.

I can barely contain my excitement as Jen pulls up in our old car. The first person from home that I get to see! I'm home!
We climb into the car after playing tetris with our bags in the trunk and then we're off.
I stare out the window as we go by places I knew by heart. Beans Coffee Beans, The gas station, the library!

When we get to the hotel we all head inside, I'm shaking with excitement. Possibilities of what is to come are flashing through my mind.
I walk in and there stand my best friends. I run up to then and hug them and as I get to Zack he ki-
"Leave your carry on I'm the car for right now," My mother instructs, "we'll come back for them once we're checked in.

I let my mind wander as my dad checks us into the hotel, trying to get it back to where it was when we were getting out of the car but it won't get there.
Walking through the hallway on my phone when suddenly I bump into someone. I glance up for a moment.
"Sorry-" I break off, my eyes going back to my phone.
"Lana-?" The person asks.
I look up again and look the person in the eyes, "Zack!?"

After my father checks us into the hotel we each receive our wolf ears, placing them on our heads proudly.
"We've got two rooms so we can be more comfortable, that way Shrek and Persia could come too," my mother says, glancing to Shrek and Persia, "Since we have four more braclets than we have people-" My mother begins.
"Oh my god-" I gasp, my heart beating ten miles an hour,"are you joking-!?"
My father shakes his head, "invite your friends over."
"And don't speak like that," my mother rolls her eyes.
"Right, sorry," I say, already typing rapidly on my phone.
My smile stretches across my face and I can feel my cheeks starting to hurt. I get to see my friends! What if- my mind briefly flashes to the image of Zack and I kissing from one of my daydreams earlier.
"Ash can spend the night but the boys can't," my Father states.
"I figured they couldn't," I nod, still smiling.
"You and Ash will be in the room with Jen and Persia," My mother explains.
"I'll bring the car around so we can get our bags," Jen offers.
"Sounds good, thank you Jen," My father nods.

Once we get to our rooms, my father passes out our braclets. He and our mother get room key braclets for their room and Jen and I get room key braclets for our room. Everyone else would be getting the plain bracelets.
After a few minutes, Jen and I put our things in our room and I put my suitcase on my bed.
"If my parents come looking for me, I'm going down to the lobby to meet my friends," I tell Jen.
I get to see my friends!
She nods absently and goes back to unpacking her suitcase into the hotel dresser.

The elevator ride is awkward since there's a family of people in swimsuits on there with me, hopefully headed to the pool. I pull out my phone and check my messages.

Ash: HOLY SHIT I GET TO SEE YOU
Ash: WE GET TO SPEND A WEEK TOGETHER
Ash: DUDE IM SOBBING RIGHT NOW
Me: IM SO EXCITED

My smile returns just as wide as before and I momentarily pause to think what the other people in the elevator might be thinking right now. I decide I don't car and go back to my messages.

Jake: leaving my house right now
Zack: me too
Ash: ALREADY ON MY WAY

"Lana!" Ash screams as she walks into the hotel lobby.
"Ash!" I cry.
We run to each other and are soon hugging tightly, both refusing to let go for at least 60 seconds.
I take in a deep breath, taking in the extent of the hug. God, I've missed her.
"I've missed you so much!" Ash sniffles.
"I've missed you too!" I laugh through the tears, smiling at my best friend.
We hug once more and start talking about how excited we are while we wait for Jake and Zack to get there.
Jake is the next to come. He hugs me, then Ash. His hug was breif, but tight.
The three of us begin chatting as we wait for Zack.
"He's taking forev-" I break off, seeing one of the main doors opening.
I hold my breath as the person reveals themselves. Zack! He notices us standing there and i see his face light up.
"Lana!" He calls.
"Zack!" I run to him, throwing my arms over his shoulders when I get to him.
My arms brush against the bit of his chestnut hair on the back of his neck.
He squeezes tighter for a moment and I let out a deep breath, feeling all my sadness melt away before he let's me go.
"it's good to see you!" He smiles as he let's go.
"I've missed you," I sigh, still smiling.
I nod towards the others and we walk that way.
"Ok, so, we'll go up to the rooms to change and then we're gonna hit the water park," I recite the plan my mother had told me.
By the time we get to the room, Persia and Shrek are already changed.

Eventually we're all changed and we head towards the water park.

When we walk into the water park I'm washed over by the heat. It's not necessarily a bad heat, it almost reminds me of California. Am I missing California? I shake it away, glancing to my friends.
I reach my hand out to take Ash's hand and she glances down and accepts my hand.
"Us adults are going to head to the hot tub, come tell us if you leave the water park," My mother says, gesturing to my older siblings, my father, and Jen, "we'll take the twins with us for a bit t-"
"Don't worry, Shrek and I will take you two to some of the other pools in a bit," Persia rubs Kelly's shoulder.
"K guys, let's go," I look to my friends and nod towards the stairs.
Ash and I lead the way and the boys trail just behind us as we head down to the bottom level.
"How about the wave pool first?" Jake suggests.
"Sounds good," I say.
Zack and Ash nod.
We splash into the water and Ash and I let go of each other's hands as we navigate to the deep end.
Zack splashes my back was we're walking and I whip around to face him.
"Hey!" I complain.
I give him a mischievous look and splash him back.
He splashes me again and I blink for a moment to regain my sight.
He laughs as I try shaking the water from my face and I scrunch up my nose. I start coming towards him, intent on splashing him, but he grabs my wrists.
I wiggle around and manage to tear my wrists from his grip and I proceed to swim backwards to get away.
I throw my hands down and splash him, smiling mischievously and it starts a splash war.
We get closer to each other as we splash, laughter being heard over the water and the other loud noises of the water park. I accidentally hit his hand when I go to splash and we stop. I look him in the eyes and we take a step closer each.
"Lana!" Ash calls over to me from where her and Jake are a bit further out in the water, "the waves are starting!"
My gaze lingers on Zack for a moment but then I look over to Ash.
I glance over just as Zack starts swimming past me over to them and I swim after him.

"Ugh, this line is so long," Zack groans.
"But it'll be worth it!" I say.
Ash nods, I can see them shaking slightly.
"Don't worry Ash, we'll be there with you," I lean over and whisper to her.
Ash nods again and I can see the shaking easing up.
"Gonna be super fun. You'll want to go on it again," Zack nudges her slightly with his elbow.
"I don't know, I'm not a huge fan of big rides," Ash shrugs, "like- I'm not really scared, just nervous- If you get what I'm saying-?"
"You've never been on one and you're just anxious since it's something new," Jake nods.
"Yeah," Ash nods.
I smile at Ash, "I bet you'll like it."

Eventually we get to the front of the line.
I can see Ash shaking, their hands balled into fists. I reach over and lightly touch their shoulder.
"Next," the lifeguard looks at us, "do you guys meet all the requirements?"
We all glance to each other and nod.
The lifeguard throws a float into the little pool at the top of the slide and holds it for us to get on. Zack gets on and sits at the corner furthest from the stairs and I go and sit on the one closest to the conveyer belt. Ash gets on to my left and Jake gets on beside them.
"Ready?" The lifeguard asks.
We all nod and the lifeguard steps out of the pool, shoving the float as they go.
We're all silent for the first moment, just glancing around the darkness. I can feel my heart racing and I glance to each of my friends, I bet they're nervous too.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Ash starts screeching as the float begins to spin a little, "I don't want to be backwards! Oh g-"
Luckily for her, the float keeps turning. Sadly for me and Zack, it puts us going backwards.
"Oh god-" I break off.
Zack just laughs and Jake joins him
I close my eyes tightly as I feel us nearing the drop.
Suddenly the float begins dropping and my mind tries to urge me to let go of the handles. Not doing that. I press my lips tightly together. Just as we get close to the bottom my right hand releases its grip and instantly goes to the handle Zack is holding onto.
Once we hit the bottom we're in a huge, bright area, sliding up the sides of the wall. I cab feel Zacks hand gripping mine as we both hold onto the handle.
We're holding hands- I break off, glancing at Ash and Jake.
Ash is looking all around themselves, taking in the bright red and yellow walls while Jake- is looking right at them. I smile a little and glance over to Zack. He's looking around him but as I turn my chin to face him, he looks directly at me and just smiles.
I've missed this.