The Truth About That Summer

twenty-five

I spend the entire day walking about town. More realistically, I'm spending my time avoiding going back to Grams, where I know my parents are waiting to ambush me.

About my attitude, my flightiness, my unshocking but still disappointing decision to drop out.

And today, I just simply don't want to deal with it. Knowing they won't come look for me - the embarrassment Mom would feel letting someone know that she can't locate her adult daughter would be too much - I let myself wander.

Up and down the beach at first, letting myself wallow in memories of Casey. Sometimes it feels like if I stare at the waves long enough, he'll come up from them, dripping wet, a surfboard under his arm, like he'd never left at all. He'd say "Hey, Dyl. Whatcha waiting for?" and walk me back home. I wish he would.

Now, I'm in town. I walked to the Daycare center before realizing they aren't open on the weekends, and even if they were, I doubt I could just pick up a shift just by showing up. Coming to a stop, I tilt my head back and realize where I've ended up instead.

Chuckling humorlessly, I pull hard at the old door - the metal scraping against the rusted frame - and enter the general store.

"Be with you in a minute," Luke's voice calls from somewhere, but I can't see him. Nowhere to be seen in the aisles, I assume he's unloading in the back storeroom.

Peeking through the doorway, I find it empty. Memories flood my brain - when we were little, we'd all sit back here with peanut butter sandwiches and board games, like our own little clubhouse. As we got older... I blush, recalling the times Luke and I slipped back here for a make out session when his parents weren't around.

"Dyl?"

I jump as his voice is right behind me, embarrassed that I got caught. Straightening up, I clear my throat and come up with an excuse.

"We're out of milk."

I cringe even as I say it, cursing my stupid feet for taking me here, of all places. Old habits really do die hard.

"Sure," Luke smirks, adjusting his baseball cap. "But the milk is over there." He points smugly towards the back wall. "You know, in the fridge."

"Right," I nod, crossing the store to grab a half gallon. "But I wasn't going to steal it, now was I?"

"How kind of you," Luke murmurs, beckoning me over to the register. I slip out the five dollar bill I always keep in my pocket and he raises his brows at me in disbelief. Still, he doesn't tease me about it.

When we used to hang out, I was notorious for forgetting my wallet. Casey, on the other hand, always carried cash. An emergency stash, just in case we ever got stuck... needing an ice cream cone or something, I guess. We never really ran into trouble, but I was always covered.

Now I keep a five on me no matter where I go. Just in case.

"Thanks," I mumble, taking my change and the milk we don't need from the counter. Peering behind it, I notice Finn curled up on his side, asleep atop a little playmat set up on the floor. "Is he doing okay?"

Luke nods, smiling down at the little guy. "He's a good kid - he's been helping me stock candy. But I think he's eating more M&Ms than stocking, to be honest."

I smile too, noticing the brightly colored ring around his lips, smeared by a line of chocolate down his chin. "Looks like it." After a moment, I make eye contact with Luke, shame filling me up. "Hey about this morning, sorry about my parents. It's just..."

I trail off, wondering why I'm apologizing anyways. Aren't they justified, sort of? He did get in the accident that killed their son.

He shrugs it off. "They don't like me."

"Yeah." I finally sigh, the words unspoken between us making the air thick and tense.

"What about you, Dyl?" Luke busies himself organizing the magazine rack in front of the counter instead of looking at me. "Is there some part of you that still likes me?"

His eyes flicker to mine and for a moment, my heart beats faster. As I squint at him dubiously, he pushes further. "Somewhere deep down?" At my expression, he chuckles. "Maybe really deep down?"

His laugh, so light and easy, reminds me of easier days and for a second, I crack.

"Maybe. Somewhere very, very, very deep down - I might still like you a little bit. Tiny, even." I hold my fingers centimeters apart to show him.

Luke nods, his famous smile spread across his face. "That's what I thought. You can't stay hating me forever."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," I reply quickly, feeling myself becoming closed off again. Shoving my change into my pocket, I push the rickety door open again, the salty air sending a breeze into the shop. "I mean, you did cheat on me, after all."

Mic drop! Who predicted that Luke had cheated?
Dun dun duhhhh - give me alllll the thoughts. Is it true? Is there more to the story? Is Dyl justified in hating Luke?
Remember to vote if you enjoyed ❤️