"It's fucking summer, baby!"

My skin is alive. A constant buzz seems to be inhabiting my body. It's a natural high, too. No recreational drugs have been taken in the process of this. Summer is finally here.

"Get down, Dory!"

Cam jumps up on the log next to Theodore, trying to shove him off. He goes to kick at Dory's shins, but is pushed back. They both collapse against the ground, barely missing the fire pit.

"For fuck's sake," I roll my eyes, laying my head against Teagan's shoulder.

"Boys," she sighs, patting my hair. "When will they ever learn to grow up?"

I laugh outright, stretching my legs. I'd already begun to tan from the summer heat. The fresh layer of bronze skin makes me realise just how important this time of year is.

The need to find my mum hangs in the air like the humidity. It's my last shot. After this summer, after next year, everyone will be going off, living their lives. Of course, we'll always be best friends, but I know that my mum's disappearance won't keep them all in New River. We all want to get out one way or another.

"Oi! Dickheads! Where is the bloody beer?"

Wesley looms over Dory and Cameron as they wrestle on the ground. They throw insults at each other, but I tune out their conversation. When most of your best friends are boys, you learned pretty quickly when to move on from their idiotic behaviour.

My eyes travel past the fire, landing on Ryan. He's talking to Maddie Stevenson, a girl in our year level. I glance away when he leans forward, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes.

"Fuckwit," Teagan curses under her breath, shaking her head. She nudges my shoulder and I sit up, placing my knees under my chin.

"He's so inconsiderate," she snaps, taking a sip from her red cup.

"He's our best friend, Tea," I sigh. "Aren't you used to it?"

Someone turns the music up and I cringe, turning away from the party. It's an annual tradition in New River to throw an end of school year party on the beach. I'm not one to turn down a good party, but this sucks. I would rather be with only my friends instead.

"He's still a dick, though, CeCe. You guys dated for two years. He couldn't commit, so you broke up. But then he's able to be all mushy-mushy with girls he doesn't even like?"

"We broke up ten months ago," I raise my eyebrow, taking a sip from my lukewarm beer.

I shake my head, trying to forget the disgusting taste of cheap booze. The last thing I want to do tonight is talk about my relationship with Ryan. Sure, he'd practically broken my heart when he'd never been able to say he loved me, but I'm over it. We are back to being friends and everything is good.

"You know I don't love him like that anymore, right?"

Teagan shrugs, taking another sip of her drink. "I mean, sure. It's just— honestly if it wasn't for Ryan's stupidness, I know you'd still be together."

Maybe she's right, but there is no way of knowing that now. I don't like to think of the what-ifs. I have enough to worry about with mum's disappearance.

"Whatever. Let's talk about something more exciting," I finish off the last of my beer, placing the cup down next to me.

I stand, brushing the sand from my denim shorts. I grab Teagan's hands, pulling her up. "I don't feel like being sentimental tonight. I want to have fun."

We walk over to the rest of the group. Theodore pulls me down into his lap, licking the side of my cheek. I screech, swatting his face away. Cameron and Wes run towards Tea, picking her up as she screams at them to let her go. This is another annual tradition; throwing Teagan in the water.

"I hate you fuckers!' she emerges, her clothes stuck to her like a second skin. She races towards Cameron, tackling him to the ground. His brown hair is flung across the sand as he laughs, Tea sitting on him.

As much as these idiots annoy me, they are the best damn family I have. I've known them since the day I began to crawl. They are the type of people you have by your side for your entire life. In New River, everyone knows everyone. That is both a blessing and a curse.

Ryan strides over to us, his blonde hair blowing in the breeze. His hands are stuffed into the front pockets of his shorts.

Despite what many of my friends believe, I don't love Ryan like I used to. Whenever he walked into a room, my heart used to squeeze; fluttering. Now, it clenches.

I wrap my arm around Dory's neck as he loosely wraps his around my waist. Besides Ryan, the boys are like my brothers. Always. Nothing will ever happen between any of us. None of them see Tea and I that way.

Maybe that's the real reason Ryan and I never worked out. We share too much of a past.

"Enjoying yourself?" I raise my eyebrow at Ryan as he sits down next to me on the log. He grins at me, pinching my cheek.

"Sure, Ceeks," he kisses my forehead, ruffling my hair.

He's drunk. Drunker than any of us. That's the only time he is ever affectionate towards me.

"So, CeCe, what is your mighty plan for our summer?" Dory asks, leaning his chin against my shoulder.

"I've gotta work out a new plan," I utter. "One that will work this time."

For the past three summers, all my friends have helped me in the search for my mum. The police hadn't done shit when dad had initially reported her as a missing person. When she didn't come home, dad resorted to alcohol. I, on the other hand, resorted to finding out the truth.

Someone has to do it.

"Start with your dad's office again," Dory suggests. "The draw that's locked. The one you almost got open last time before he caught you."

"Won't be too hard," I sigh. "I'll just wait for him to fall asleep. He's getting worse and worse every day."

"You good?" Ryan frowns, squeezing my shoulder.

"Yeah, Ry," I nod. "I'm— I'll be good. Good when this summer is over and we finally have answers."

The rest of the group make their way over to us, settling down in the sand.

"I have a good feeling about this summer," I nod my head vigorously, leaning my hands against my knees. "It's our last chance, but—but that doesn't mean it's over."

Everyone nods in agreement. I place my palm out and they all pile their hands on top of each other. Our tradition since we were four.

"Family," I whisper.

"Family," they all mumble in sync. My eyes flicker between all of them; my heart swelling. Right here, right now, this is all that matters to me. Whatever we go through this summer, I know I will have them to rely on.

"Well, well, well. What the fuck do we have here? A little family bonding time? Trying to work out how to split the three dollars left in one person's bank account?"

Everyone tenses as they look up, recognising that sultry voice. Lucas Winter grins down at us, his stance predatory. My jaw clenches, knowing his intentions are never good.

To say there is a divide in New River would be an understatement. There's us, people who don't own million-dollar yachts and three-story homes in town. And there are people like Lucas Winter, who do own million-dollar yachts and three-story homes.

"Get the fuck outta here, Winter," Wesley growls. He racks a hand through his red hair; fists clenching.

The boys hate Lucas, and rightfully so. He's the biggest douchebag in all of New River, closely followed by Carter, Dale and Rhys. His pack of wild dogs.

Lucas laughs and I notice Ryan stiffen next to me. I place my hand against his arm, praying he'll calm down. The last thing he needs is to fight right now.

"Fuck off, Lucas," I snap. "Why do you always insist on starting something for no goddamn reason?"

"Oh, look everyone! Miss Cora Cadigan, standing up for herself. Too bad her mumma couldn't stick around to see this."

Before I even have time to react, Ryan has already launched himself at Lucas, tackling him to the ground. Theodore practically throws me off as he goes to help Ryan.

"Seriously?" Teagan shouts, "can you not be mature for five seconds?"

My head snaps up when I hear shouting coming towards us. I spot Carter Thomas first, fist already raised towards Ryan. He pulls Ryan off of Lucas, punching him straight in the mouth. Dale Bellview isn't far behind, either. He randomly grabs at Wesley, his fist collecting with his cheek.

I run towards Carter, using all my weight to knock him off Ryan. He isn't expecting it, so he goes flying into the sand. Ultimately, I do too.

Ryan's breathing hard and he winces when I help him sit up. "You good?"

"Peachy," he mumbles, standing to his feet. The fight has clearly sobered him up because now he's striding towards Wesley, ready to help.

People are starting to notice now, running over to take sides. This isn't good. These are the type of situations we need to avoid. Especially Dory who is on probation already.

Carter coughs up a lungful of sand, glaring at me. "Stupid bitch," he mutters.

"Seriously? That's the best insult you've got?" I taunt, glowering at him.

Before Carter gets the chance at his retort, someone gains my attention; entering my periphery vision. "The last thing he needs is to be taunted."

I watch as Rhys Laderman moves to stand in front of me. He offers me a hand but I ignore it, standing up by myself.

"Tell your friends to grow the fuck up and stop causing fights," I growl, dusting the sand from my shorts.

Rhys watches me nonchalantly, his arms crossed over his chest. He's wearing a backwards baseball cap over his brown hair. Even in the dark, I can see how green his eyes are from up close. He takes a sip from his beer, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I can't control them. If the boys want to punch someone like Ryan," Rhys shrugs, "then I can't stop it."

"Asshole," I mutter, ramming into his shoulder to move past him. When he starts to laugh, I freeze, spinning around to face him.

"You think this is funny?" I snap. "Oh wait, of course, you would! Because rules don't apply to you. Being the son of the police sergeant, your daddy can bail you out whenever you need. No questions fucking asked, right?"

The grin drops from his face and I smile smugly, glad that I've affected him. "I guess you wouldn't understand what the consequences are, would you, Rhys Laderman? Your last name gives you an instant free pass to do whatever the fuck you want in this town. Let's not forget your mother is running to be the freaking mayor too."

He's silent for a moment, watching me as he takes slow sips from his beer. "Whatever you say, Cora Cadigan."

For seventeen years, I've hardly ever spoken to Rhys Laderman. He's the type of person I purposely avoid. The spoilt rich-kid type. Being friends with Lucas instantly makes him an asshole by association. Boys like him think they rule New River, just because they have parents with influence and prestige.

It's my turn to laugh now. "What? No witty comeback? No trailer-trash joke?" I prod, walking towards him.

"I don't know you well enough to be making assumptions," he says. It's like a slap in the face and from his expression, it's exactly what he wants.

"Asshole," I glare.

"Yeah. You already established that," he smirks, taking a sip from his beer.

"So, what, you just never break up fights because you don't think you can control your friends?"

He sighs, racking a hand through his brown hair. He blinks down at me, cocking his head. "If I genuinely thought someone was going to get hurt, then that would be different."

"Bullshit. How would—"

My voice is cut off by someone screaming cops, causing a riot. People begin to run rampant, tripping over themselves. Rhys doesn't move. He stands there, watching the crowd around him form into chaos.

"Oh!" I say. "Of course! You're totally relaxed right now because you won't get arrested. Right. It all makes sense."

"CeCe! Cora, what the fuck?" Ryan strides over to me, glaring at Rhys. He grasps onto my arm, pulling me along with him.

I free my hand from Ryan's grip, jogging alongside him as we rush away from the beach, escaping the police.

"Why the hell were you talking to him?" he asks, breathing hard. His lip is busted, a bruise already forming against his cheek.

"Oh, so now you're going to tell me who to talk to?" I snap, keeping my breathing even as I run.

The sound of sirens grows distant as we run off the beach, towards the streets. We pass house after house. Dory waves goodbye to us as he crawls through the window of his house. He lives the closest to this side of the beach, the most popular part.

"When it comes to assholes like Rhys, yes."

"Ryan, it wasn't like I was having a heart-to-heart with the guy."

"Well, good," he states, glancing my way.

Wesley and Cameron catch up to us, Teagan not far behind. "Summer, here we come!" Cam shouts, his words echoing into the night.

We all start laughing, our happiness blending in with the summer breeze. Wesley picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder, spinning me around. Teagan runs away from Cameron, dodging around Ryan. Ryan watches me and I poke my tongue out at him. He can't help but smirk, trying to hide his smile behind his hand.

This is it. The beginning of everything.

Summer is here and I'm ready. I'm ready for the truth.

I'll find you, mum. I promise.

So excited! Summer to Remember is finally here! I hope you love it as much as I've loved writing it.

I'll be posting on both Monday's and Thursday's at roughly 4:30pm - 5:30pm (AEST).

Chapter 2 is also now up!

Love you guys,

Madi xo