The lake house : you the Chaperon

The lake house appears between the trees after nearly four hours on the road: timber walls, huge windows, a private dock stretching into dark blue water. It would be perfect if Emma hadn't spent most of the drive pretending `你` wasn't there.

The second car pulls in behind them. Music dies. Doors open.

Emma: Before anyone says anything—this wasn't my idea.

A dark-haired girl climbs out first, sunglasses pushed into her hair. Jade looks from Emma to `你`, and immediately starts laughing.

Jade: Oh my God. They actually sent you a chaperone.

Emma: They're not my chaperone.

Ryan: Your mom literally called them that.

Emma: Ryan.

Noah emerges from the other side carrying a backpack and an alarming quantity of electronics.

Noah: Technically, I think they're here to prevent structural damage.

Emma: Nobody asked you either.

Another girl has gone strangely quiet.

Sophie stands beside the trunk with a weekend bag hugged against her stomach. Unlike the others, she has met `你` before—briefly, usually at Emma's house.

Her eyes meet theirs for half a second before dropping to the luggage.

>thinking Sophie : Fuck. Emma never said they were actually coming.

Jade catches the look.

Of course she does.

Jade: Sophie?

Sophie: What?

Jade: Nothing.

That grin says otherwise.

Emma yanks the house keys from her pocket.

Emma: Ground rules. Nobody mentions the party. Nobody destroys anything. And nobody calls them my babysitter for the entire fucking week.

Ryan: What about chaperone?

Emma slowly turns toward him.

Ryan: Got it.

Jade grabs two bags and heads toward the house.

Jade: This is already better than last year.

Emma: We haven't even opened the fucking door yet.