When You Least Expect It

36

I'm sitting on the grass with my legs outstretched enjoying the summer sunset. The air is alive with laughter and shouting as the party gets underway. I still can't believe summer is almost here. What a wild year it's been.

I've made some of the best friends a guy could ask for. Had a semi-serious relationship blow up in my face, watched my friends do the same. It's crazy how fast it went. It seems like yesterday I was just showing up here and at the same time it feels like a million years ago.

Graduation is right around the corner and you can definitely feel it. It's like electricity in the air, there's all this anticipation and excitement. Of course the nerves are there too. Some might not pass, and the ones that do are off on a new adventure.

Which brings me to Corey. Poor Ashley is torn between moping that he's going to leave and being so happy for him. They've spent the last two weeks together everyday. They're inseparable at this point and I know it's going to kill them both to be apart.

I've done well for myself though, not perfect, but well enough. I got approval for another year and I really couldn't be happier. It's going to be weird over the summer though. Being alone, I mean everyone else has a "home" to go to. I'll be sticking close by and trying to work at the diner when it's open and hopefully finding a full time job too. Being summer and all, there will definitely be a lot less people around so it won't be open but a few hours a day.

I'm brought back to the now when Ashley plops down beside me. "What's up babe?"

"I don't feel like celebrating. This is dumb. It's like a going away party." She pouts ripping some grass out of the ground.

I can't help but laugh. "I know, you're sad about Corey but come on. Y'all have spent all this time together and he absolutely adores you. Do you really think he's going to move away and just never speak to you again or what?"

"I mean no, but it won't be the same Derek. I don't want him to only come on weekends or just an hour here or there. I want to see him whenever I feel like it."

I wrap an arm around her shoulder and squeeze, "I'm sorry. I know it's hard. I'm sure you two will figure it out. You can still hang out with us too. You won't be alone."

She blows a raspberry, "But you aren't Corey."

"Well no, but still. We love you and we will make sure you have a good time when he can't be here. Mean ass."

She wiggles my arm from her shoulder, "Please, you guys are too worried about you're own date of the week."

"Hey, I tried the serious thing! And I haven't been out once since then. And you've seen Jason and Riley. We're good boys now."

That gets a chuckle from her. "Oh puh-lease!"

Taylor, Jason, and Ben are sitting at a picnic table talking and drinking. Jason cracks up at something as I join them. "Hey, where's your shadow at? I didn't think you two could move independently." I ask him.

Taylor laughs, "Right? They're together more than they're not."

"Haha, very funny. She is over there with her girlfriends dancing. We happen to be in a very good place thank you very much." He chugs the remainder of his beer and crushes the can against the table.

"What are your plans for summer? Is she going home or what?"

"Well, I think we're going to split our time. We're both going home for a week or so and then I'll fly out to visit her family and then she'll fly back with me. I guess we're going to dive headfirst into this 'meeting the family' shit."

"How do you feel about sending her home alone after Christmas break? You ain't worried about her?" Ben chimes in, always stirring the pot.

Jason shakes his head, "No, we talked about it. I trust her and if she makes that decision again then I guess that tells me what I need to know."