Max-

I sit on the roof of my apartment building, the sun dipping low in the Brooklyn sky, casting a warm, golden hue over everything. Elio’s next to me, his curly hair tousled by the gentle summer breeze, and I can’t help but steal glances at him. It’s crazy to think we’ve just graduated high school, and soon we’ll be separated come fall.

“Max,” Elio says, breaking the comfortable silence. He’s leaning back on his elbows, his glasses slipping down his nose. “What are we going to do with our last summer together?”

I turn to him, my heart racing. “I’ve been thinking about that too. We need something epic. Something we’ll remember forever.”

His eyes light up with curiosity. “Like what?”

I sit up straighter, excitement bubbling in my chest. “How about a road trip? Just you and me, hitting the open road. We could drive to the beach, maybe even head upstate or go to the city. We could stop at all those weird roadside attractions!”

Elio raises an eyebrow. “A road trip? That sounds fun, but where would we go?”

I grin, trying to paint a picture in his mind. “We could start at Coney Island. Ride the Cyclone, eat some cotton candy, and watch the sunset over the ocean. Then we can head up to the Catskills, do some hiking, and maybe find a lake to swim in. What do you think?”

Elio nods slowly, a smile creeping across his face. “That does sound amazing! I’ve always wanted to go to the Catskills. We could take pictures and make a scrapbook.”

“Exactly!” I lean closer, feeling the heat radiate from him. “We’ll document every silly moment. You can wear that ridiculous hat you have.”

His laughter fills the space between us. “You mean the one with the flamingos? I think it’s stylish!”

I roll my eyes playfully. “Yeah, stylish in a totally embarrassing way! But that’s what makes it perfect.”

Elio leans in, resting his head on my shoulder. “I love this idea, Max. I can’t believe it’s our last summer before college. I want to make it count.”

A weight settles in my chest at the thought of us being apart. “Me too. I don’t want to think about that right now, though. Let’s focus on the fun we’re going to have.”

“Okay, so what’s our first stop?” he asks, eyes shining with enthusiasm.

“Coney Island for sure!” I reply. “We can ride the Cyclone, eat Nathan’s hot dogs, and then walk along the boardwalk as the sun sets.”

Elio sits up, looking more alive than ever. “And then we can hit the beach! I can’t wait to see the ocean again. We can build sandcastles and swim.”

“And take a million selfies,” I add, already picturing us together in front of the Ferris wheel, grinning like idiots.

As we sit there, the sun setting behind us, I feel the weight of the world slip away. No worries about college, no fear of separation—just Elio and me, planning our perfect summer adventure.

“Let’s make a list of everything we want to do,” I suggest, already reaching for my phone to jot down ideas.

Elio leans in closer, his excitement palpable. “Yes! I want to do everything!”

“Alright, how about we start with ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory? That’s a must,” I say.

“Definitely!” he exclaims. “And a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden! I want to see the flowers in full bloom.”

“Good call! We can take photos there too,” I add, feeling a rush of joy at the thought of making these memories with him.

As the stars begin to twinkle overhead, I realize this summer is about more than just adventure. It’s about us. It’s about celebrating our time together before life pulls us in different directions. I want to hold on to every laugh, every moment, and every late-night conversation we share.

“Max?” Elio’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“I love you,” he says, looking deep into my eyes.

I feel my heart swell, and I smile, warmth flooding through me. “I love you too, Elio. Now let’s make this summer unforgettable.”

Today’s the day. Elio and I are finally heading out on our road trip to Coney Island, and I can’t contain my excitement. I glance at the clock—it’s already past nine. I can’t wait any longer.

I throw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, my heart racing as I grab my backpack and head down the stairs. The smell of pancakes wafts through the air, and I can hear my mom humming to herself in the kitchen.

“Max! Are you ready?” she calls out, a cheerful smile on her face as I walk in.

“Almost!” I reply, grabbing a plate. I quickly pile on some pancakes, pouring syrup over the top. 

As I shove a forkful of pancakes into my mouth, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. It’s a text from Elio: I’m ready

I grin and quickly text back: I’ll be there in 10!

After finishing my breakfast in record time, I dash out the door, my heart thumping with excitement. I sprint down the street to where I parked my van—the Beast. I’ve affectionately named it that because, let’s face it, it’s a bit of a monster. It’s an old, rusty blue van with dents and scratches, but it’s got room for all our gear and then some. It’s perfect for a road trip.

As I reach the van, I spot Elio walking toward me. He’s wearing his favorite baseball cap, and I can’t help but smile. He looks so effortlessly cool, and I can’t believe he’s mine.

“There it is!” he exclaims, pointing dramatically at the van as he approaches. “The Beast!”

“Yep, she’s ready to roar!” I say, throwing open the sliding door. “All aboard!”

Elio laughs as he hops in, throwing his backpack onto the seat. “This is going to be so much fun!”

I hop into the driver’s seat, slamming the door behind me. I can’t wait to hit the road. “Okay, let’s see if this beast can still handle the trip,” I say, turning the key in the ignition. The engine sputters to life, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Elio fiddles with the radio, searching for a good station. “We need some epic road trip music! How about some classic rock?”

“Perfect!” I agree, and he finally settles on a station playing the Rolling Stones. The familiar riff of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” fills the van as we back out of the driveway.

“Let’s go!” Elio cheers, pumping his fist in the air. I can’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm.

As we cruise through the streets of Brooklyn, the buildings and parks blur by. I steal glances at Elio, who’s singing along with the music, his voice bright and carefree. It’s moments like this that remind me how lucky I am to have him by my side.

“Hey, do you remember the last time we were at Coney Island?” I ask, steering us through the crowded streets.

“Of course!” Elio replies, his eyes sparkling. “We got lost trying to find the bathroom and ended up on the Ferris wheel. It was terrifying, but also so much fun!”

“Right?” I chuckle. “You screamed like a baby.”

Elio nudges me playfully. “I did not! I was just... surprised by how high we were!”

I shake my head, smiling as I navigate through the familiar roads. “Yeah, yeah. This time, you’ll be the brave one. We’ll ride the Cyclone and you’ll scream at the top of your lungs.”

“Only if you scream louder!” he teases, and I can’t help but laugh.

As we finally approach Coney Island, I feel a wave of nostalgia wash over me. The amusement park comes into view, bright colors and laughter blending into a beautiful cacophony of summer joy. The salty breeze wafts through the open windows, filling the van with the unmistakable scent of the ocean.

I park the van, throwing it into park with a satisfied grunt. As we hop out, I can’t help but take a moment to appreciate the moment. This summer is ours. I can feel it in my bones—the thrill of the rides, the taste of cotton candy, and the warmth of Elio’s laughter beside me.

“Ready to take on the world, partner?” I ask, my heart racing with anticipation.

Elio grins at me, his eyes shining brighter than the sun. “Always!”

With that, we link arms and step toward the bright lights of Coney Island, ready for whatever adventures await us.

The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a warm glow over Coney Island as Elio and I stroll along the bustling boardwalk. The sounds of laughter and music fill the air, mingling with the scent of saltwater and fried dough. I can already feel the anticipation building inside me.

After wandering past colorful stalls and games, we finally find a hot dog stand, the neon sign flickering with promise. “Best hot dogs on the boardwalk!” it boasts, and I can’t resist.

“Let’s do it!” I say, nudging Elio.

He beams at me, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Absolutely.”

I place our order, the vendor expertly grilling the hot dogs and loading them with mustard and onions. The sizzle fills the air, and I can feel my stomach rumbling in anticipation.

“Here you go, boys!” the vendor says, handing us our steaming hot dogs wrapped in paper. I grab both and hand one to Elio, who accepts it with a grateful smile.

“Thanks!” he says, taking a big bite immediately.

I can’t help but laugh as he chews, his eyes widening with delight. “Oh my god, this is amazing!”

I take a bite of my own hot dog, the flavor bursting in my mouth. “You’re right! This is the best!”

We walk along the boardwalk, trying to find the perfect spot to sit. The sun beats down on us, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore creates a perfect backdrop.

Finally, we find a bench overlooking the ocean, and we plop down, still munching on our hot dogs. Elio leans back, his eyes glinting in the sunlight. “I could sit here forever,” he says, looking out at the horizon.

“Yeah, it’s perfect,” I agree, taking another bite. “Just us, the beach, and endless summer.”

Elio glances at me, his expression turning serious for a moment. “Max, I’m really glad we decided to do this. I mean, our last summer together... it feels like we’re making memories that will last a lifetime.”

I nod, understanding exactly what he means. “It really does. I want to remember every single moment.”

He takes another bite of his hot dog, a playful grin returning to his face. “So, what’s next on our adventure list after this? More rides?”

“Definitely the Cyclone!” I reply enthusiastically. “But I’ll warn you, it’s a wild ride. Are you ready for it?”

“I’ve got my brave face on,” he jokes, puffing out his chest dramatically. “But seriously, let’s try to get near the front of the line this time. Last time, we waited forever!”

“Not this time! I’ll race you over there after we finish,” I challenge, taking my last bite and tossing the paper wrapper into a nearby trash can.

Elio finishes his hot dog and wipes his hands on his shorts, a triumphant smile on his face. “You’re on! But let’s take a picture first. We have to document this moment!”

I pull out my phone, and Elio strikes a goofy pose, his cheeks puffed out and eyes squinted. I can’t help but laugh, snapping the photo before he gets serious again.

“Okay, your turn!” he says, shoving my phone back at me.

I lean back against the bench, trying to channel my inner model, giving him a mock-serious face. Elio bursts into laughter, and I can’t help but crack a smile.

“Perfect!” he exclaims, grabbing the phone to check the picture. “These are going to be great for our scrapbook!”

I can already envision it—pictures of us, goofy faces, and all the adventures we’ll have together. “Definitely! This trip is going to be legendary.”

Elio leans in closer, his shoulder brushing against my arm. “You know, it’s moments like this that make everything feel so right.”

I glance at him, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “Yeah, it really does. I love doing this with you.”

He looks up at me, his expression softening. “I love you, Max..”

“I love you too, Elio.”

The sun continues to shine down, the waves crash rhythmically against the shore, and for that moment, everything feels perfect. It’s just us, two boys in love, sharing hot dogs and dreams, ready to take on whatever adventures come next.

“Alright?” I say, nudging him playfully. “Ready for the Cyclone?”

“Absolutely!” Elio exclaims, springing up from the bench. “Let’s go before I change my mind!”

We both laugh and dash toward the rides, hand in hand, eager for the next thrill waiting for us.