✷ CHAMPAGNE COAST... 🌊🌺☀️
twenty twenty five  (2025)

bring, bring, bring your flowered hat

IN PARADISE, PRIYA WAS HOME

After a few months of living in California, Priya finally began to settle into the rhythm of her new life. The idea of returning to Boise was no longer an option, and for the first time, she realized that might not be such a bad thing.

Her mother seemed happier than ever, thriving in her new role as Vice President at the Four Seasons. Neha came home every day looking fulfilled, with a spark in her eyes Priya hadn't seen in years. Frank, too, seemed more relaxed, as if the California sunshine had stripped away some of the stress that once clung to him.

Jacquette was also adjusting well, her weekends home from UC Davis full of stories about her classes and friends. She wasn't just surviving college; she was thriving in her own way, finding her groove.

And then there was Sloane, who had managed to become the social butterfly of her new school. At just 10 years old, she already had more friends and plans than Priya could keep track of. Sloane loved the attention, soaking up every bit of her newfound popularity. It didn't surprise Priya at all when her younger sister started talking nonstop about her upcoming 11th birthday.

That Friday, with Jacquette home for the weekend, the family gathered around the dining table for dinner. Jacquette had just finished recounting a story about her roommate's failed attempt at baking when Frank turned his attention to Sloane.

"So, birthday girl," he said, grinning as he gestured toward her with his fork, "have you decided what you want to do for your big day?"

Sloane immediately straightened in her chair, her face lighting up. "I want to go to the trampoline park!" she declared, as if it were the most exciting idea in the world.

"The trampoline park?" Priya echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Really? What happened to that horseback riding idea you wouldn't stop talking about last week?"

Sloane shrugged, her grin never wavering. "That was last week. Trampoline parks are way more fun. Plus, everyone from school will come. It'll be huge."

Jacquette smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Let me guess: this has nothing to do with your birthday and everything to do with Harper's party being last month."

Sloane gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. "Jacquette! I don't compete with Harper."

Priya snorted. "Yes, you do. You literally told me her party decorations were 'basic.'"

Sloane's cheeks turned pink, but she refused to back down. "Well, they were. They were beige and white. Mine will be better." She turned to Neha and Frank, her hands clasped together in mock pleading. "Please, can we go to the trampoline park? I promise I'll help plan it, and I won't ask for anything else!"

Neha exchanged a glance with Frank before turning to Sloane. "That's a big ask, but... I think we can make it work. On one condition: no last-minute changes to the plan. Once we book the park, that's it."

"And no inviting half the school," Frank added. "Keep it reasonable, Sloane."

Sloane beamed, practically bouncing in her seat. "Deal!"

Priya rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Fine, but don't expect me to jump around like a maniac. I'm too old for that."

"Aw, come on, Priya," Jacquette teased. "You only turn 11 once. Live a little!"

Sloane leaned dramatically against Jacquette's shoulder. "See? Jacquette gets it."

The rest of the dinner passed in a haze of laughter and chatter, Sloane's excitement infecting everyone at the table. As Priya looked around at her family, she felt a rare sense of contentment. Maybe California wasn't so bad after all.

✷

The next day, Priya headed into her AP US History class, textbook in hand and ready for the class discussion on the pages they'd read earlier in the week. She walked toward the door, only to begrudgingly witness Luke making out with Sarah right there in the doorway. 

Suppressing an annoyed sigh, Priya stepped past them, muttering, "Get a room," before heading inside and sliding into her seat. 

A moment later, Luke plopped down beside her, his usual grin in place. "Sorry you had to see that." 

"Whatever, man. Just take it outside or go do it somewhere else," she shot back without looking at him, flipping open her notebook. 

Luke tilted his head, studying her. "Are you mad at me, Priya?" 

She finally looked up, her expression unimpressed. "Has Sarah met your parents?" 

"What?" He frowned at the sudden change in subject. 

"Answer the question," she pressed. 

He sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "No." 

"Why not? You've been dating for almost a month and a half. You guys make out everywhere, she parades you around, and you buy her gifts all the time." 

Luke blinked at her, caught off guard. "What are you getting at?" 

Priya leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "On her Instagram, it always looks like you and her are together 24/7. Doesn't it seem weird she hasn't wanted to meet your family?" 

"You stalk me?" he teased, smirking. 

"Shut up," Priya muttered, rolling her eyes. 

Luke straightened up, his tone shifting to something more defensive. "She's worried they won't be supportive." 

Priya raised an eyebrow. "Supportive of what? Their only son being in a committed, loving relationship with a girl who loves him back?" 

"She thinks they'll make fun of her," he admitted, though his voice wavered slightly. 

Priya scoffed. "Why would they? And don't try to turn this on me—I don't make fun of her. I just think you deserve someone who's actually worthy of your time and love." 

Luke's smirk returned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh yeah? Like who?" 

Priya opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get the words out, Mr. Cameron burst into the classroom, juggling a stack of papers and a disorganized briefcase. 

"Alright, students! Simmer down!" he barked, dropping everything on his desk with a loud thud. 

The room instantly quieted, though a faint buzz of tension lingered between Priya and Luke. 

Mr. Cameron began sorting through the papers, addressing the class as he worked. "I've got your most recent test results here. I'll hand them out now. Remember: you are not to discuss your grades in class. Once you leave this room, you may do as you please. But for now—quiet." 

He started down the aisles, handing out papers with swift efficiency. "Once you've got your test, put it away. Then we'll jump into today's lesson before we dive into our discussion." 

Priya grabbed her test as Mr. Cameron passed by her row, quickly slipping it into her folder. She glanced at Luke, whose attention was now on his own paper. 

The moment was gone, but Priya couldn't shake the sting of his question: Like who?

✷

The next morning, Luke leaned against Priya's locker, arms crossed as he waited. Her locker was practical, barely decorated except for a small photo booth strip of her and Lana taped to the inside and a tiny mirror stuck to the door. Inside, a pleather jacket hung on a hook, surrounded by scattered snacks and a neat stack of four textbooks on the top shelf. 

As Priya walked up, she didn't even look surprised to see him. "Oh good, you're here," she said briskly, digging into her bag. 

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Always a pleasure to be greeted with enthusiasm." 

Ignoring his sarcasm, Priya pulled out a small envelope. "My sister forgot to give this to Lily the other day at school. It's an invitation to her birthday party next weekend." 

Luke took the envelope, examining it with mild interest. "And what do I get out of being your family's personal courier?" 

"This," Priya replied, pulling out a similar envelope from her bag. 

He squinted at it before realization dawned. "Another invitation?" 

"Yep. Sloane let me invite two people to come with me. Austin already said no, but Lana's going to be there. I figured you might want to tag along." 

Luke hesitated, brushing the edge of the envelope with his thumb. "Thanks, but I'm pretty sure I'm going out with Sarah that day." 

Priya tilted her head, unimpressed. "Are you sure? You haven't even looked at what it is." 

He sighed and opened the envelope, reading the details of the event. His expression wavered slightly as he skimmed the invitation. "A trampoline park?" 

"Yep. Pizza, cake, jumping around without a care in the world. It's the hottest ticket in town." 

Luke glanced at Priya, then back at the invitation, before sighing again. "Fine, I'll come." 

"Great!" Priya said, zipping up her bag. "See you then." 

As she walked off toward her next class, Luke stared after her, shaking his head. He wasn't sure why, but something about the way Priya managed to rope him into things always left him both annoyed and oddly amused. 

✷

The trampoline park buzzed with energy, the sounds of kids laughing and bouncing filling the air. The Danvers family had embraced Sloane's insistence on matching outfits for her birthday party. Priya tugged at the hem of her hot pink long-sleeved crop top, paired with her favorite high-waisted jeans, while Sloane flitted around as the undeniable star of the day. Her tight hot pink shirt and black wide-legged leggings made her look both stylish and completely in her element. 

Jacquette had shown up in a pink T-shirt tucked into long denim jorts, her usual laid-back style shining through. Frank sported a pink polo with his trusty blue jeans, and Neha, elegant as ever, wore a flowy pink blouse with acid-washed jeans that somehow made the 80s look chic again. 

As the kids scattered to play, the adults settled into a seating area near the snack bar. Sloane's group of friends took over the trampolines, squealing with delight as they raced each other to jump higher. Priya and Luke hung back, quietly sipping their sodas. 

Eventually, the two ventured into the gym area to find Sloane and her friends. The maze of trampolines and obstacle courses turned out to be more confusing than expected. 

"Where are they?" Priya muttered, glancing around. 

Luke shrugged, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. "You're the one who brought me. Shouldn't you know?" 

"Maybe if I'd come here more than once in my life, I'd have a clue," Priya shot back, rolling her eyes. 

They turned a corner into a quieter section of the gym and found themselves alone. The sounds of Sloane and her friends were distant now, leaving only the faint echo of laughter. 

The silence between Priya and Luke grew awkward. They hadn't really talked much since their conversation at her locker, and the air felt... different. 

Priya finally broke the silence. "So... where's Sarah? Haven't seen her at school lately." Priya raised an eyebrow, trying to sound casual. "She's on a trip or something?" 

Luke nodded. "Yeah. Her parents took her to Vegas. No electronics allowed. Total blackout." 

"Oh," Priya said, fiddling with her bracelet. "That must be... fun for her." 

"She met my parents before she left," Luke continued. "Even met my grandpa, who happened to be there." 

Priya glanced at him, trying to gauge his tone. "And? How'd it go?" 

"They said they liked her," Luke replied, but there was hesitation in his voice. 

"But?" Priya prompted, sensing there was more. 

He sighed, leaning against the wall. "I overheard them talking later. My mom said she was... weird. She didn't like how she dressed, like it was too short or flashy or whatever." 

Priya frowned. "That's so... judgmental." 

"Yeah," Luke muttered, looking down. "I don't know. It just feels weird. Like, they said they liked her to my face, but then they were making comments behind my back." 

Priya didn't respond immediately, watching his face as he tried to process it. For a moment, she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue. Maybe now wasn't the time. 

The cake was a masterpiece, a towering creation of pastel pink frosting, glittery sprinkles, and a massive number "11" candle perched at the top. Sloane beamed as everyone gathered around her, cameras flashing. Priya stood off to the side with Jacquette and Luke, watching as Sloane's friends squealed with excitement. 

"Okay, everyone ready?" Neha called, holding a lighter. Frank stood beside her, videoing the moment on his phone. 

"Ready!" Sloane declared, clasping her hands dramatically. 

The candle was lit, and the room erupted into a raucous rendition of "Happy Birthday." Sloane basked in the attention, grinning ear to ear. 

"Make a wish, birthday girl!" Jacquette said, nudging her little sister playfully. 

Sloane squeezed her eyes shut, a look of intense concentration on her face, before blowing out the candle in one long breath. Everyone cheered as Frank handed her the knife. 

"Careful," he said, guiding her hand as she made the first cut into the cake. 

Once the slices were passed out, Priya grabbed her plate and sat at the far end of the table, savoring the sugary dessert. Luke joined her, balancing his own plate as he sat down. 

"Well," he said, setting his fork down after a few bites, "thanks for inviting me. Sloane really knows how to throw a party." 

Priya smirked. "She's been planning it for months. I'm just glad she didn't pick a unicorn theme again." 

Luke chuckled. "Unicorns are timeless, though." 

"Please don't encourage her," Priya said, rolling her eyes but smiling. 

Luke glanced at the clock on his phone. "I should probably head out. My parents are picking me up soon." 

Priya nodded, feeling an odd twinge of disappointment. "Alright. Thanks for coming." 

As they walked toward the exit, Luke hesitated, looking like he wanted to say something. "Hey, Priya?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Today was fun. You're, uh... good company." 

Priya blinked, caught off guard. "Thanks, I guess." 

He smiled, a little sheepishly. "See you at school?" 

"Yeah. See you," Priya said, watching as he disappeared through the doors. 

When she returned to the party, Jacquette was waiting for her, leaning casually against a wall with her arms crossed. 

"Luke's gone?" Jacquette asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"Yeah. His parents picked him up," Priya replied, grabbing another slice of cake. 

Jacquette studied her for a moment, then smirked. "You like him, don't you?" 

Priya nearly dropped her fork. "What? No. That's ridiculous." 

Jacquette laughed softly. "Priya, you're a terrible liar. It's written all over your face." 

Priya sighed, avoiding her sister's gaze. After a moment, she mumbled, "Maybe." 

Jacquette's smile widened. "I knew it." 

Priya groaned, burying her face in her hands as Jacquette's laughter echoed around them.

✷

AUTHOR'S NOTE━━━━━━━
luke , what have you done?

omg!!!!

priya admitted her feelings for luke????

does this mean she's going to tell him???

i've always wanted to do this.

we also about to turn it up next chap

xoxo june