Chapter 23: The Mansion
The air was thick with anticipation as the group of friends pulled up to the massive gates. Riley had been relatively quiet during the drive, her thoughts racing with everything that could happen over the next six weeks. Elena sat beside her, her fingers drumming on her knee as she looked out of the window, the scenery blurring past.
"Are we almost there?" Maya asked, leaning forward from the backseat of the car, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Just a few more turns," Riley replied, offering a small smile.
"Good," Maya said, practically bouncing in her seat. "I canât wait to see this place. I didnât think you were serious about it being, you know... this nice."
Riley chuckled. "You guys will see for yourselves."
As the car drove past a row of trees and into the driveway, everyone was quiet for a moment, taking in the grandeur of the mansion in front of them. The house was nothing short of a palace. It sprawled over a vast piece of land, with pristine white walls, towering columns at the entrance, and wide windows that caught the late afternoon sun. The mansion looked like something out of a movieâalmost too perfect, too much to believe.
"Weâre staying here?" Jordan asked, his voice incredulous as he leaned forward, staring at the building. "This is like a resort."
Sam, who had been sitting quietly next to Jordan, couldnât hide his grin. "I think we hit the jackpot."
Rileyâs lips twitched into a half-smile. She wasnât used to showing off, but the looks on their faces made it clear that they were all just as blown away as she had expected.
As the car parked in front of the house, the group piled out, each one taking a moment to just take in the size of the place. Riley led them inside, with Elena right behind her.
The foyer was the first thing they sawâa grand entrance with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and gold accents. The space felt like something out of a dream, with towering ceilings and huge windows that let in the light from outside.
"This place is massive," Danny said, his voice filled with awe as he spun in a slow circle, taking in the grandeur of the house. "I feel like I need a map just to navigate it."
"Youâll get used to it," Riley replied, walking toward the stairs that led to the second floor. "Come on, Iâll show you guys around."
They followed Riley through the house, each room seemingly more extravagant than the last. The first stop was the living room, which looked like it could hold a hundred people. Soft leather couches, a massive flat-screen TV, and an open bar area greeted them as they walked in. Elenaâs eyes widened when she saw the built-in shelves stocked with books and trinkets.
"Wow," Elena murmured. "You werenât kidding when you said it was big."
Riley gave her a teasing smile. "I told you."
They moved through the house, visiting the kitchen (which was bigger than most peopleâs apartments) and then onto the movie theatre. The room was dark, with plush seats and a huge screen. A quick glance around the room made it clear that they could probably watch anything they wanted here.
"Is there even a point to watching movies in a theatre when you have this?" Sam joked, clearly impressed as he plopped into one of the recliners.
Next up was the arcade room. Riley led the group in, showing off the assortment of pinball machines, air hockey, and a few classic arcade games that lined the walls. Everyone immediately gravitated toward the games, and soon the room was filled with laughter and playful banter as they competed with each other.
"Do you even have time to play all this stuff?" Maya asked, unable to hide her grin as she tried to beat Riley at air hockey.
"I havenât had a lot of time recently," Riley admitted, leaning back against the wall and watching the chaos unfold. "But I figure Iâll have plenty of time this summer."
The next part of the tour was the pool area, both inside and outside. The outdoor pool was massive, surrounded by lounge chairs and a large patio space. It overlooked the sprawling backyard, which had a football field that seemed to stretch on forever, a basketball court, a tennis court (which could be converted for badminton, pickleball or volleyball), and a barbecue area next to the bar. Riley gestured out toward the yard, giving the group a look of pride.
"Backyard is kind of my favorite part," she said. "Itâs got everything."
Everyone was silent for a moment, just taking in the size of it all. Sam was the first to speak, his voice filled with awe. "This is unreal. Like... this is your backyard?"
Riley smiled, looking out at the vast space. "Yeah, I guess so."
Elena stepped forward, her gaze scanning the yard. "I feel like weâre going to be here forever," she said, sounding almost wistful. "Like... what do we even do with all this space?"
"Well," Riley began, her smile widening, "youâll see. Thereâs plenty to keep us busy."
The group moved to the hot tub next, which was tucked in a private corner of the yard, surrounded by lush greenery and a small stone fountain. As they all relaxed into the bubbling water, the conversation shifted to the summer plans.
"So, what are we actually doing while weâre here?" Maya asked, leaning back against the edge of the hot tub. "Are we just going to lounge around and enjoy the house? Or is there an itinerary?"
"Both," Riley replied with a smirk. "Weâll probably just go with the flow. I mean, Iâll give you a tour of the place first, but after that... weâll see where the days take us."
Jordan, who had been unusually quiet, glanced around the yard, his expression thoughtful. "I mean, thereâs no way weâre going to waste all this," he said, gesturing to the fields and courts. "We should definitely play somethingâfootball, volleyball, whatever."
"Iâm down for anything," Sam added. "As long as we donât end up just... lounging in the pool the whole time."
Everyone laughed, but it was clear that the idea of a full six weeks of relaxation and fun was already starting to sink in. There was no pressure, no work, just the group of friends, spending time together and enjoying everything the mansion had to offer.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and good times, as they all settled in and got to know the house better. Dinner was served by the staffâRileyâs parents had arranged for a private chef for the summerâand the group ate outside, under the warm glow of string lights that hung above them, creating a cozy, almost magical atmosphere.
As the night wore on, everyone grew comfortable in the space. The mansion had gone from a strange, intimidating place to a home, a place where they could be themselves without judgment, without anyone watching over their shoulders. The group settled into their new rhythm, already making plans for the days ahead.
Riley stood at the edge of the patio, watching her friends interact. The feeling of peace, of contentment, settled in her chest. For the first time in a long while, she felt like everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.
As the evening faded into night, Riley couldnât help but wonder what this summer would bring. The mansion was theirs now, for six weeksâno rules, no obligations. Just freedom.
And for the first time, it felt like everything was about to change.