Jason sat on the porch of his family’s cabin, listening out for the sounds of an approaching vehicle. He’d hoped someone would be here by now - as the person who organised this little getaway and has the keys to the cabin, he’d been here since morning and it was getting lonely. Admittedly, he told the group chat to arrive around 5pm, but he had hoped at least one of his friends would turn up early.
The crunch of tires on gravel brought his attention to the driveway. A very old looking car stopped outside the gate, and someone got out of the back before it turned around and drove off. As they approached and he got a good look at them, Jason realised it was his buddy Ryan. He ducked under the low-hanging branch as he made his way up the gravel path to Jason’s cabin, his tall frame making him a natural target for the overgrown greenery. His shaggy blonde hair was windswept, as if he hadn’t bothered with a brush after rolling out of bed, but it somehow suited him. He wore a well-worn navy hoodie, the kind that looked a size too big but perfect for a cozy weekend, paired with faded jeans that had seen their fair share of road trips. His sneakers were slightly scuffed, hinting at a guy who didn’t mind getting a little dirt on him. With one hand clutching the strap of his backpack slung over his shoulder and the other gripping a six-pack of beer, he grinned at the sight of Jason on the steps leading to the wooden cabin.
He should’ve figured that if anyone were to be early, it’d be Ryan. He’s always been one for punctuality, after all, even when they were all teenagers at school. He’d always rushed to make classes on time while other boys’ casually strolled and took the lecture from the teacher for tardiness on the chin.
“Evening, Jase!” Ryan called out. Jason got up from where he was sitting and walked over to fist bump his friend.
“Hey, Ry. Thanks for coming, man. And for turning up twenty minutes before the time I put in the message.” Jason teased.
“Guessing I’m the first, then?”
“Yeah. Just us for now.”
The pair spent a good ten minutes catching up, having not seen each other in person for around a year. Adult life had kept this group of school friends’ meet ups infrequent, though they still talked a lot online. Just as Ryan was talking about how his apprenticeship was going, another car turned up. This one was a little more modern and it actually came and parked outside.
Zoe climbed out first, smoothing her sweatshirt over her jeans with an awkward tug as she glanced around. She was a plain girl, the type who didn’t bother much with makeup or flashy clothes. Her brown hair was tied back into a simple ponytail, and her sneakers looked like they’d walked a hundred miles, comfortable and unremarkable. She gave a shy wave to the guys, her expression caught somewhere between excitement and hesitation.
Then Fiona stepped out, and it was like the world paused for a moment. She was breathtaking, the kind of woman who could turn heads without even trying. Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, perfectly framing a flawless face with bright eyes and a dazzling smile. She wore a snug, white tank top that emphasized her curves—especially her ample chest—and a pair of fitted denim shorts that showed off her toned legs. A pair of stylish boots completed the look, giving her an effortlessly cool vibe. She adjusted her sunglasses on top of her head and shot the guys a playful grin.
“Hope you boys are ready to carry our bags,” Fiona teased, slinging her purse over her shoulder. Zoe gave a small laugh, grabbing her own duffel from the backseat, but it was clear Fiona was the one commanding the spotlight. Jason chuckled and opened the door wider, while Ryan stood for a beat too long, caught somewhere between awe and a smirk as Fiona sauntered past.
“You’re wearing sunglasses at this time of year?” He teased.
Fiona didn’t have time to respond as the next car arrived. This time, Freddie and his little brother, Ethan, stepped out.
Freddie stepped out of the driver’s seat first, pushing his thick glasses up the bridge of his nose as he glanced around. He had the kind of look that immediately screamed “tech guy.” His short, dark hair was neatly combed, though it had started to stick up in random places after what was probably a long car ride. He wore a T-shirt with a faded graphic of some retro video game logo, paired with cargo pants that had an excessive number of pockets. His sneakers were pristine—clearly a man who valued comfort but wasn’t about to let his shoes get scuffed. Slung over his shoulder was a black messenger bag, likely stuffed with tech gadgets, chargers, and maybe even a laptop or two. Freddie’s lanky frame and slightly awkward posture made him look like the kind of guy who was more at home in front of a computer than in the great outdoors.
Ethan climbed out of the passenger seat, looking both excited and nervous. At eighteen, he was a few inches shorter than Freddie but still had some growing left in him. His messy brown hair flopped over his forehead, perpetually in need of a haircut, and he wore a bright hoodie covered in a chaotic pattern of comic book panels. His skinny jeans were a little too tight, emphasizing his wiry build, and his beat-up sneakers had clearly seen better days. Ethan carried a bulging backpack that looked like it contained more snacks and random junk than anything useful. His youthful face still had a bit of baby fat, and he had the air of someone desperately trying to seem cooler than he felt.
Their appearances didn’t give it away, but Freddie’s family was absolutely loaded. Ethan was only here because their parents were on holiday in Spain, and despite being 18, they didn’t consider him ready to be home alone and asked Freddie to request he come along. Though they’d never really met him, the group agreed to make Ethan part of the weekend. Freddie had warned them ahead of time that he was incredibly quiet and would need a lot of time to get comfortable with them, so Jason was not surprised when he had to make the opening move in introductions. One by one, he introduced himself and everyone else, hoping he was doing a good job of making him feel welcome.
“Well, we’re all here. Let’s head inside.” Jason said, noticing that everyone was far too polite to go in until the host okayed it.
Minutes later, they were relaxing around the little cabin. It wasn’t exactly roomy, and only barely had enough room to give the girl’s their own sleeping space, but it would do. Ryan was the first to crack open a beer, and the group had a fun evening beside the fireplace, catching up, telling stories, reminiscing and, of course, drinking.
What they couldn’t have possibly known is that reality itself was just about ready to break around them. This wasn’t dangerous or anything, but it was going to change them, and chances are these changes will go unnoticed. By the time everyone had settled down and went to sleep for the night, reality was ready to begin making huge alterations to the world and the people living in it.
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