We had an unspoken rule among the five of us.
Everything had to be guessed.
What to eat, guess. Where to go, guess. Who pays, guess.
A guessing game, a test of being in sync.
But every time, I was the only one who guessed wrong.
Two weeks before Thanksgiving, I asked in the group chat,
[Where are we going?]
All four replied, [Guess.]
I asked my boyfriend Nathan privately.
He said casually,
“Hawaii in November is peak season.”
I booked a flight to Hawaii overnight.
The next day, Olivia posted a Grand Canyon wallpaper in the group,
[I love hiking so much~]
I changed my ticket to Arizona.
The day after, Finn shared a Death Valley post,
[If you dare, come along.]
I refunded again. Changed to California.
Eight changes in seven days.
I thought this time I’d finally guessed right.
The night before we left, I saw a group chat on Nathan’s phone.
One without me.
Olivia, [I decided. Florida.]
Finn, [Cool, buying tickets now.]
Lucas, [Don’t forget to hint Chloe the right place.]
My boyfriend sent an OK hand.
That’s when I understood. The destination was never decided.
The only one guessing was me.
But this time, I didn’t want to change again.
I’d go to the wrong place. Have the right vacation.
—
“I heard Florida has great lobster rolls.”
Nathan leaned against the kitchen doorway. Careless.
My hand paused mid-rinse.
He walked over, turned off the water.
“You’re smart. You don’t need me to spell it out.”
He looked down at his phone. Olivia’s post from ten minutes ago.
A Miami Beach photo.
I dried my hands. Didn’t answer.
According to the old script, I should look enlightened.
Rush to refund California. Change to Florida.
Then post in the group, “Oh, Florida! I got it right this time!”
The four of them would send laughing emojis. Tease me for being slow.
Enjoy my worship of their “sync.”
This time, I looked at the calendar on the wall. Flat voice.
“Good. Eat plenty.”
I walked past him into the bedroom.
Nathan scoffed behind me. Bored by my uncooperative act.
Departure day was cloudy.
We met at Terminal 3.
When I got there with my suitcase, the four of them were on the café couch.
Olivia in a floral dress. Feeding Nathan a macaron.
Finn fixing her sun hat.
Lucas holding his phone up, making her laugh.
“Yo, Chloe’s finally here.”
Lucas looked up first. Waved.
“Five more minutes, we’d have left you.”
I set my suitcase by the table.
“Traffic.”
Finn stood. Held out his hand.
“ID. I’ll check us all in. Saves you the line.”
I opened my bag. Handed it over.
He tapped the card twice. A flicker of amusement.
“California sand isn’t tasty, Chloe.”
I looked at him. Said nothing.
Ten minutes later, Finn came back with five boarding passes.
He handed me mine. Smiling.
“Here. See where you’re going.”
I looked down.
Destination, Florida.
Olivia grabbed my arm. All innocence.
“Chloe, I knew you’d guess wrong again.”
“Good thing Finn checked your flight last night. Saw you booked California.”
Nathan walked over. Took my suitcase.
“Olivia has asthma. She can’t go somewhere like that.”
“You’re more out of sync every year.”
Lucas chimed in.
“If it weren’t for him, you’d be alone in Death Valley.”
“He bought you a new ticket.”
They dressed up checking my itinerary and refunding my ticket as a grand favor.
I gripped the boarding pass. The edge bit into my palm.
“You didn’t have to bother with me.”
I looked up at them.
“I would’ve been fine in California.”
One second of silence.
Nathan frowned. Impatient.
“Chloe, what’s with the attitude this early?”
“We’re all going together.”
“You going off to California alone? Ruining it on purpose?”
Finn pat his shoulder.
“Chloe, your brother’s worried about you alone.”
“Florida’s great. Sea breeze. Seafood.”
Olivia tugged my arm.
“Chloe, don’t you love the ocean? Let’s pick seashells together.”
I looked at her innocent eyes.
Suddenly, it all felt pointless.
The one who loved the ocean was her. The one allergic to seafood was me.
They never remembered.
I pulled my arm free. Put the boarding pass in my pocket.
“Let’s go. Security’s waiting.”
—
On the plane, the seats were three and two.
Nathan took Olivia’s pass. Headed for the front two.
Finn and Lucas took the back three.
An aisle seat left in the middle.
I sat down there.
Lucas handed me a water. Dropped Olivia’s magazines on my lap.
“Hold these for Olivia. Her bag’s full.”
“Okay.”
I put the magazines at my feet.
After takeoff, the cabin quieted.
I leaned back. Watched the clouds.
Once, those two seats in front were always me and Nathan.
Finn and Lucas sat behind us. Knocked my head from behind. Asked if I was hungry.
Then Olivia came.
Finn’s teacher’s daughter. After the teacher died, he took her in.
At first, they said, Olivia’s new. Be patient with her.
So the passenger seat went to her. She got carsick.
Food was her choice. She was picky.
Even Nathan started to think Olivia needed more care than me.
Over time, I became the outsider who always had to guess.
“Please stow your tray table.”
I straightened up. Folded it.
In front, Nathan was tucking a blanket around Olivia. Heads close. Whispering.
I closed my eyes. Turned to the window.
This was the last time I’d play their boring game.