The Beach House - 1. Chapter 1

This would be our last summer together—one last chance to hold onto the friendships that had shaped who we were. We had practically grown up side by side, seeing each other through the messiness of coming out, the heartbreaks, the nights when the world felt too big to handle. You could never ask for a better group of friends… but, as quickly as we had begun, it was slowly coming to an end. Most of us were done with university, and we were finally stepping into the rest of our lives. That meant some of us were leaving the safety of our city to head off and explore the world.

I was the first one to get to the beach house. I guess most of the group calls me the mediator—the one everyone can rely on to set the record straight, to listen and offer advice. I’m always there for everyone, except maybe for myself. But since I met Eric, things have been different. I’m still the mediator, but I’ve found a new kind of purpose. We’re moving to the West Coast, starting something new together. And Eric says he’s ready—he says he’s excited. But I can’t help but wonder if he’s just telling me what I want to hear. He has an amazing job here, and I see the way he looks at his friends, the way his voice catches when he talks about everything he’ll leave behind.

I’ve always been the one who knew just what to say. But now, as we all drifted in different directions, I wasn’t sure I had the words to fix what was changing.

Eric—he’s amazing. He has this way of making everyone feel at ease, like they’ve known him for years. Even though we met just over a year ago, the group took to him right away. I remember our first dinner together, how he had Jason laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink, or the way he helped Shawn through a tough exam week, showing up with takeout and refusing to leave until Shawn felt better. He’s charming, witty, and just… so easy to be around. Everyone loves him, and it’s hard not to. Sometimes, I think they all wonder how I got so lucky.

Then there's Jason. What can you say about him? He’s ambitious—always has been. Even when we were kids, he was the one organizing lemonade stands and keeping track of who owed what. Now, he’s following in his father’s footsteps, heading off to the UK to work for a prestigious international finance firm in their mergers and acquisitions department.

But the problem is Michael—he loves Jason. He’s loved him for years, probably since the first time Jason explained some complex finance theory and Michael pretended to understand just to keep listening. But he’s never said anything. Michael and I have talked for hours about it—me, trying to push him to speak up, him resisting every time. He doesn’t want to be the wildcard. He doesn’t want to derail Jason’s opportunities, and he’s afraid that if he says anything now, that’s exactly what will happen.

I haven’t talked to Jason about any of this—it’s not my place, and I respect that. But it’s hard to watch Michael stand back when he’s so obviously in love. I keep hoping he’ll say something tonight, because if he doesn’t, this might be his last chance. And I hate the thought of him spending the rest of his life wondering what if.

And we can’t forget Shawn—the baby of the group. He’s so naive sometimes that you have to spell things out for him, like the time he tried to tip a barista fifty dollars because he thought it was standard in that particular cafe. But he’s funny, and we all love him for it. He’s also becoming a doctor, which still blows my mind. He’s not that much younger than us, but he’s always been so focused on school that he never really had time for relationships. We tease him about it all the time, but he just laughs it off. When he’s ready, he’ll find someone. None of us are in a rush to push him into anything.

Shawn said he had something to tell us this weekend, and we’re all dying to know what it is. He hasn’t hinted at anything, so we’re more than a little curious. Maybe he’s finally found a boyfriend! We’d love nothing more than to see Shawn happy, but whatever it is, we’ll be ready to celebrate with him.

And then there’s Tom. He’s not coming, thankfully. He’s rich, successful, and, honestly, a real piece of work. He flaunts his wealth and his looks like it makes him better than everyone else, and he’s at least ten years older than the rest of us. I still don’t understand how Tom managed to worm his way into social circles like ours, but the rest of us just do our best to deal with him whenever he’s around. None of us are sorry he decided to skip this weekend.

As I look at the road ahead, the beach house comes into view—perched right at the edge of the sand, where the waves roll lazily toward the shore. The sun is high, and I can see people scattered across the beach, towels laid out, laughter carried by the breeze.

“Hey, we’re almost there.”

“Huh? Oh… yeah, we are,” said Eric, his voice distant, lost in thought. What am I even doing here? He forced himself to smile, hoping Jeremy wouldn’t notice the hesitation. I love Jeremy, I do, but... The idea of leaving everything—my job, my friends, my family—was terrifying.

“You okay? You seem miles away. What’s up?”

“Yeah… just thinking.” He tried to brush it off, but Jeremy’s eyes were searching his face, full of concern. Eric could feel the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. Could he really go through with this? Going to the West Coast meant starting fresh, leaving behind so much of who he was. But Jeremy was so hopeful, so sure. How could he say no now?

“About what?” Jeremy asked, reaching over to take his hand.

“Nothing important,” Eric lied, his smile faltering before he looked away. It was the same smile Jeremy had always loved—charming, reassuring—but right now, it felt like a mask. He didn’t want to disappoint Jeremy, not when Jeremy was so happy. But the truth gnawed at him, a fear he couldn’t quite silence. Could I really start over like this? Could I really be everything Jeremy needed?

As we pull into the parking lot, I turn the car off, and for a moment, we just sit there, admiring the view—the waves rolling onto the shore, the bright sun casting a golden glow across the sand. Everything felt like it should be perfect.

“Should we go in?” I ask, glancing over at Eric. He’s looking at the ocean, lost in thought again.

“Yeah, let’s. I’m stiff from sitting in the car for so long,” he says, his voice distant but friendly.

We get out of the car, and I pop the trunk. I grab our bags and lock everything up. Eric stretches, and we walk toward the beach house together. The wooden stairs creak underfoot, the worn planks reminding me of the summers we spent here before—how we’d race down them, eager to start the weekend.

I put our bags down and unlock the door. It creaks open, and a musty smell hits us immediately. I scrunch my nose and glance at Eric, who just smiles and shakes his head.

“Home sweet home,” he says, his tone halfway between sarcasm and fondness.

I push the door open wider, and Eric steps in behind me. The air is stale, thick with dust and memories. I move to open the blinds, letting light flood into the dim room, while Eric struggles with a window, finally managing to force it open. A breeze filters in, carrying with it the salty tang of the ocean.

“We’ve made a lot of good memories here, haven’t we, Eric?” I asked, glancing over at him. “I’m really going to miss this place. I hope we can find something like it on the coast. It’ll be nice—just you and me, getting away from everything, being able to relax.”

Eric paused for a beat longer than usual, his eyes fixed on the horizon. “Yeah,” he said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “I’m looking forward to it. Just you and me.”

I could sense some doubt in his voice, but I wasn’t entirely sure. I know he thinks the group doesn’t accept him—but they do, they really do. He’s more than just my boyfriend; he’s a part of all of this. For some reason, though, he’s always felt like an outsider, no matter how much I’ve tried to make him feel included. He’s always been by my side, always willing to join in, even when I’ve told him he could sit things out if he wanted. Maybe I’ve pushed too hard, but I just want him to see that he belongs here, just as much as anyone else.

Eric and I go back out to the car and grab the coolers, full of beer, wine, and sodas, plus food for the weekend. Shawn, Michael, and Jason are also going to bring more stuff along. I’m pretty sure we’ll have more than enough—but if not, the town is only 15 or 20 minutes away, and we can drive in to pick up whatever we need.

Once everything is put away, Eric and I finally sit on the porch, enjoying the warm summer air and the slight breeze coming in off the water.

“You know, Eric, being here with you, getting ready to start our lives together… it means a lot to me.” I looked over at him, feeling a flutter of both excitement and unease. “I promise you, this will be good for us. I know it’s a new city, and we won’t have any friends there at first, but we’ll make them,” I said, the uncertainty creeping into my voice. This group is all I’ve known for years, and soon, none of them will be there—just Eric.

Eric looked over at me and smiled. “It will be good for us,” he said, his voice soft, almost as if he were trying to convince himself. He looked out at the ocean for a moment before continuing. “I mean, it’s a big change, sure. But new beginnings are good, right? I think we both need this. A chance to grow, to see what else is out there for us. And hey, you know I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

He squeezed my hand, and for a moment, I let myself believe that was true—that we were both ready for this leap, that the doubts I thought I’d heard in his voice were just my imagination.

As we were sitting and chatting away, we heard the familiar creaks of the wooden pathway. Someone else was here.

“Hey guys, some help?” said Jason.

“Coming!” I replied. “Eric, come with?” Eric and I got up to go and help Jason with his bags and whatever else he brought.

“Finally! I thought I’d be unloading everything myself! Hey, Eric! How’s it going? I’m so glad you came—it wouldn’t be the same without you… Is, uh, Michael here yet?” Jason asked, his voice a little too casual, like he was trying not to sound too interested.

“No, not yet. Why do you ask?” I asked Jason, raising an eyebrow.

Jason shrugged, shifting his bag on his shoulder, his gaze briefly flicking away. “Oh, no reason, just wondering, you know?” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I’ve got my bag and snacks I need help with.”

Eric shot me a knowing look as we followed Jason back toward the parking lot. I could tell he had caught it too—Jason’s interest was clear enough, even if he wasn’t willing to admit it yet. I just hoped, for both their sakes, that whatever Jason felt, he’d figure it out before it was too late.

Later, as the three of us—Eric, Jason, and I—sat on the porch, sipping drinks and watching the ocean, we heard the sound of tires crunching over gravel. A moment later, we heard Shawn's unmistakable voice echoing from the parking lot.

“Hey, you lazy asses better not have finished all the drinks without me!”

I laughed, shaking my head. “That’s definitely Shawn,” I said, getting up. Jason grinned as we saw Shawn bounding down the wooden pathway, a backpack slung over one shoulder and a lopsided smile plastered on his face.

“You guys look way too comfortable” Shawn called out, his eyes bright with excitement.

“We saved a few for you, don’t worry!” Eric replied, lifting his drink and waving it at Shawn.

Shawn reached the steps, dropping his bag with a sigh of relief. “Good, because I could use one after that drive.” He gave each of us a quick hug before settling into a chair, looking out at the beach. “God, I missed this place.”

Not long after we had settled back down with Shawn, another car pulled into the lot, the engine rumbling before shutting off. Jason was the first to react, setting his drink down and glancing out toward the parking area.

“That’s Michael,” Jason said, a hint of something unreadable in his voice. He was on his feet almost immediately, brushing his hands on his shorts. “I’ll go help him with his stuff.”

I started to rise too, but Jason shook his head quickly. “Nah, I got it,” he said, already halfway up the steps. Shawn exchanged a knowing look with Eric and me, a small smirk forming on his lips.

“Someone’s eager,” Shawn whispered, just loud enough for Eric and me to hear. We chuckled softly as we watched Jason make his way to the parking lot, his stride a little too fast, as if he couldn’t get there quickly enough.

From where we sat, we could see Michael getting out of his car, and Jason was already at his side, reaching for the duffle bag Michael had slung over his shoulder. Michael looked surprised for a moment, then smiled warmly, handing Jason the bag. They exchanged a few words, their laughter drifting up toward us, and I couldn’t help but feel a tug of something bittersweet. Maybe this weekend would be good for both of them—if only Jason or Michael could find the courage to finally say something.

Finally, we were all here together. Just like we had been so many summers before—sitting on the porch, laughing at Shawn’s jokes, passing drinks around, the ocean breeze wrapping us in warmth. But this time, something was different. There was a heaviness in the air, just beneath the laughter.

We were all excited for what lay ahead—new cities, new opportunities, new lives. But the reality of it lingered in the back of my mind: after this summer, things would never be quite the same. We were leaving each other behind, in a way, each of us heading in different directions. No more spontaneous meetups, no more late-night talks just a short drive away. The thought made my chest tighten, a mix of pride and sadness.

“To new beginnings,” I said, raising my drink. The others joined in, clinking their bottles and glasses together.

“And to old friends,” Shawn added, his voice unusually soft.

We all nodded, falling into a comfortable silence for a moment. I looked around at their faces—Jason, Michael, Shawn, Eric—each of them lost in their own thoughts. I knew that wherever we ended up, we’d still be connected. But for now, I wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer, this last summer where everything still felt like it used to.