A staircase leads us up to the balcony. Once upstairs, Hannah throws herself onto the double bed in the middle of the room. 

“I'm sleeping here. I need my space.” says Hannah and makes herself comfortable.

"Good, and I'll take the other side of the bed. I don't like sleeping in a bunk bed,” says Chloe and sits down next to Hannah on the bed. 

Fine, I think to myself and make my way to the back room and put my bag on the top of the bunk bed. As I turn to go out again, Anne is standing in the doorway. 

“I guess I'll sleep downstairs then.” she smiles and throws her blue bag onto the bottom bunk. 

“No, well, yes. If you don't mind,” I say, not quite knowing where to look. 

“Cool” says Anne and goes back to the others. 

This is going to be fun, I think to myself and disappear into the bathroom.

Just before it's time for dinner, I go out onto the balcony. I've swapped my long pants, sneakers and sweater for a summer dress and sandals and can't quite believe that we can now be here for a whole week. A whole week away from home and everything that's difficult there at the moment. 

I look out to the sea and discover the lighthouse very close to our balcony. It's not lit up yet, but something about it fascinates me. Maybe it's the thought that it's always there, even when it's not needed. Striped in red and white, it stands there and shows everyone the way, wherever it may lead. As long as you are yourself and believe in yourself, you will find and follow your path. And I will stand by your side, said my grandfather one evening on the terrace of our house. 

“I like lighthouses,” a voice snaps me out of my thoughts. Anne is standing next to me, also looking into the distance. 

“Oh yeah?” I look at her questioningly. She has also changed her clothes and seems to be ready for dinner. 

“Yes, they show you the way with their light in the dark and that thought reassures me.” I look at her and wonder what her darkness is, but before I can say anything, Hannah storms out of the door of our room. 

“Come on Lily and Anne, we're going to be late for dinner. Mr. Binto is going to exclude us from tomorrow's diving excursion if we`re too late. Come on.” She takes me by the hand and pulls me along with her.

Two hours later we are on our way back to our room. 

“Oh, my stomach hurts,” says Hannah, grimacing. “I've eaten far too much ice cream and now I'll probably never be able to walk upright again.” I laugh and support her up the stairs. 

“You'll be fine. Lie down and I'll bring you a warm bottle for your stomach'. I say to her and go into the bathroom.

Hannah throws herself theatrically onto the double bed. When I come out of the bathroom and want to give her the bottle, she is already asleep. I put the warm bottle next to her and cover her up. At that moment, Anne and Chloe come in the room. 

“Psst. She's already asleep.” I say and try to show them to be quiet. 

“Oh, I'm going to lie down too,” Chloe whispers and disappears into the bathroom. 

“Are you going to bed too?” Anne asks me. 

“I wanted to look at the stars from the balcony and the light from the lighthouse,” I whisper to her. 

“That sounds nice. Can I sit down with you too?” whispers Anne back. 

“Sure,” I say, although I would have preferred to be on my own.

I spread out the blanket on the balcony and sit down. The sky is clear and the stars seem even closer and bigger here than at home. The light from the lighthouse turns its circle and my thoughts stop spinning. 

“It has been a long, exhausting but also beautiful day,” says Anne and sits down next to me. “Seven hours in the same car as Sam is already exhausting enough, but then the whole evening next to this loud and annoying person,” she sighs. 

”Yes, he can be very exhausting. He acts like he's the leader in my class and insults anyone who doesn't agree with him,” I say and look over at Anne. 

Her face is repeatedly caught by the light from the lighthouse and I see her looking up at the sky as if she's searching for something. 

“Ah found it. See there? That's the big dipper. And right next to it is the face of Sid from Ice Age. The three stars are arranged like his two eyes and nose. I always look for him when I'm in a new place," she says, smiling at me. 

I look up and try to see Sid's constellation, but somehow I can't spot it. 

“I can't see it. I can see the big dipper, but where is Sid? Could it be that you're a secret fan of Sid and are just imagining it?” I joke and look over at Anne again. 

“Hey, I'm definitely not imagining it. Look where I'm pointing.” She moves closer to me and our shoulders almost touch as she points her finger at Sid. “He's right there in front of us. You can't not see him Lily”. 

The proximity of Anne makes me nervous. I'm not used to people, apart from my family, getting this close to me. “You're not even looking,” Anne says and I try to follow her finger again. And there I see them, the three stars that form a face together and yes, it looks like Sid. 

“Yes, I can see it now too. You're right, it does look like him. I think you've discovered a new constellation. You have to give it a name. That's what the rules say.” 

“What rules?” Anne looks at me questioningly. 

“Um, the rules of the star explorers. Have you never heard of them?” I answer her and try to suppress my laughter.

 “Yeah, of course,” Anne looks at me suspiciously, ”You're making fun of me.” 

“Maybe I am. But whether it's true or not, you can still give your constellation a name.” 

“I'll think of one and let you know as soon as I have one, Chairwoman of the Star Explorers.” she smiles and nudges me lightly with her shoulder. 

“Thank you very much,” I smile and look out at the sea and the lighthouse again. 

“We should go to bed too. Tomorrows lesson starts early and we can't be late.” Anne whispers to me.

We wait until we can see the light from the lighthouse again and then go inside.