Our Last Summer

Part One.

"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are" - Mason Cooley

It was the end of school. The end of seven painful years of school. I couldn't wait to get out and get away from here. Get away from my parents, this town, the people. The only person I needed was Ava.

Me and Ava have been friends since primary school. We became friends over fighting for the same surfer barbie doll. She won ,of course, I let her. I remember the first time I saw her. Her golden yellow hair and her crystal blue eyes. Everyone loved her and I could never understand why she became friends with me. Everyone adored her and I was the boring quiet girl. I had boring brown hair and boring brown eyes, I blended in. I could never stand out like she could.Yet she chose to be friends with me and I couldn't be more grateful.

I wouldn't have been able to get through secondary school without her. She was my night in shining armour. My saviour against the horrible stereotype bullies at our school. I've always been picked on. I was the classic person to be bullied.Quiet book nerd.

As soon as I find a book I can never put it down, it's like I fall into the story and pretend I'm there and I never want to leave. That's what I want. I want a fairytale life. I mean anywhere would be better than here.

Living in England isn't my fairytale. That's why me and Ava are going on a gap year. We are going to the South of Italy. One whole year away before coming back to England to study English literature at university. It is going to be amazing just me and her. Magical.No parents no pressure, just the sun and books. I can't wait.

There was only one catch. My parents wouldn't let me travel Europe at 18 without my stupid older brother Jacob. He was 20, a pain in the arse and very gay. He loved girl talk and I hated it. I could never see the point in talking about boys and fashion when I could be reading a book about star crossed lovers. I guess that's why Jacob and Ava have always been closer than Jacob and I.

I sometimes used to be jealous at how close they were but I would never show it. I would've  liked to be close to Jacob, but he was the complete opposite of me. It's not like we didn't get on,we did, and he would always protect me at school. At the end of the day he was my older protective big brother. He was clearly mum and dads favourite. He got good grades throughout school, so sporty, charmer. He was the child our parents would brag about their Sunday lunches with the other families from school.

That's another thing I couldn't wait to get away from. The judgmental Sundays brunches,filled with people bragging and fancy meals. The only good part of Sunday's was seeing him. Oliver Peters.My brothers best friend. It's stereotypical , I know. Of course the younger sister has a crush on her brother's best friend. But I couldn't help it. He was your typical bad boy. And he was fun. Jacob said he was coming to Europe with us. This was only going to end badly with me embarrassing myself or drooling over him in the sea.

I'm getting away though. That's all the matters.