Maglins and the Infinite Quest

47

Lucy Nova

It's now the morning of July 2nd, the day of my beginning of summer party and I woke up early to begin preparing. We cleaned up the lake house we're renting for a few days and began decorating.

I somehow managed to convince my parents to let me pick the decorations and the theme.

Neon.

Once I settled on neon, I wrote to all of my guests once more and informed them to bring some bright outfits.

My parents both helped me set up the decorations and because we are all decently tall, it made it easy. My mom is a few inches shorter than me, and my dad and I are close in height. We sometimes tease her for being the short one.

My younger sister Paige, is just about the same height as my mom, but we don't tease her about it because she's still in the process of growing.

I can't believe that in a few short months, I would be back at Maglins, and this time I'd be bringing Paige with me. I remember when she was just beginning to learn the alphabet and would sing the song constantly.

I'm all for learning and everything but that got bloody annoying very fast.

It felt like just yesterday when I was helping her do some maths assignments and she would ask, "What's 9 take away 3?"

Looking back on it, it brings a grin to my face.

Once the party was all decorated for, my mom and I set up the snack table as guests began to arrive.

First was a group of girls that I frequently studied with, and then some other friends began to trickle in. In the group, Ben managed to sneak in.

"Ben!" I called out, trying to get his attention, "Ben!"

Still no response.

"Benjamin West!" I shouted, walking toward him, "Fancy seeing you here,"

"You invited me?" He said, acting puzzled.

"That's not what I meant and you know it," I said, "Follow me,"

I led Ben upstairs and down the hall to the room I'm staying in. I have a large room with a bathroom connected to it. We both sat on the edge of my bed.

"How's your summer been hot stuff?" He laughed.

"Quite boring actually, not much to do,"

"Come stay with me for a few days then," He pleaded.

"What? So I can watch you get drunk and then have to take care of you?" I scoffed, "No thanks,"

"Come on Lucy, you don't think very highly of me,"

"Because what did you do the night of the spring dance?" I questioned.

"Lucy,"

"No Ben, what did you do?"

"Fine," He sighed, "I left you to go drink with my friends. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"You're irresponsible Ben, you left your date to go get drunk with your friends," I began to shout before catching myself and lowering my volume.

"What did you want me to do? Stay and dance with you for hours on end?"

"Ben, all I wanted was for you to care about me. To stay at the dance even though you weren't having a lot of fun just because I was and you knew it made me happy. I wanted you to put me before you for once. For you to prioritize me for once. Was that too much to ask?"

"Lucy, I'm sorry," He sighed.

"Sorry doesn't cut it," I responded, "I wish I could uncry all those tears I shed for you,"