Fireflies

A/N: This is a story that I started on my old account, and when my account screwed up, I put it on this one :) Vote and Comment!

Prologue

The fireflies were beginning to flicker as the sun slowly set over the lake. The lead singer of the band called out. “We are gonna slow this one down y’all” they began to play a slow jazzy tune. Stratton looked over the group of people sitting on towels and blankets. He spotted the girl with auburn hair sitting back on a blanket watching the couples making their way to the front area in front of the stage.

“Man, just go ask her”

Stratton turned around. He saw his younger brother, Jace standing behind him.

“She’s gonna say no.” Stratton replied. He was sure of the fact and didn’t want to be turned down.

“No she’s not. Man I know she likes you. Just go do it.”

 Jace said, giving him a little push in the girl’s direction. Stratton ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. He made his way through the people and around the small children and dogs running between the blankets getting snacks from just about everybody. Stratton took a deep breath breathing in the smell of the lake and the warm smell of a summer evening. He paused before tapping the girl on the shoulder.

“Kathryn, would you- um, do you want to dance with me?” Stratton asked.

Kathryn blushed a little against her tan and smiled.

“Of course I would, Stratton, I thought you’d never ask”

She took his hand and let him lead her to the grass in front of the stage. He pulled her close and they began to sway to the music. He looked at her and smiled.

“Do you know how to really dance?” he asked.

She blinked and then said, “A little.”

They began a sort of modified ballroom dance. He twirled her under his arm and they stepped back and forth to the music. She was laughing and Stratton’s heart swelled at the sound. He pulled her back towards him and she laid her head on his shoulder. He looked up and saw his mother standing a few feet away with a camera. Stratton smiled and he nudged Kathryn a little. She looked up at him and smiled as well. Stratton knew then and there that he had completely and fully fallen in love with the green-eyed, auburn-haired girl on a field by the lake that day.

Chapter One

Stratton Waters sifted through the knick-knacks he had collected over his years as a single man.  He was finally moving in with his girlfriend of 4 years, Abigail Grae, and his mother insisted on his cleaning out of some of his things.

“Whatever you just cannot part with you can store in our attic or in your old room at home” she had told him.

Stratton stopped for a moment to get some water. As he made his way back from the kitchen, he almost tripped on two large boxes in his path.

“God, Mom, you can’t just leave boxes in my path. I’m gonna fall and bust my butt on something one day” he muttered.

Looking down at the boxes he noticed the labeling.  Stratton High School Stuff read the side of the box. He sank down on the floor and opened the boxes. In the first one, he pulled out his old football jersey, number 40. He sifted through some other objects, such as yearbooks. In the second box, he found a photo album. He knew he recognized it from somewhere, but he couldn’t put his finger on where.  He opened the album, and sucked in his breath. The first picture was a group picture at a pool party. He recognized that pool, it was the Walton’s pool, but that wasn’t what caught his attention. It was the girl. The auburn haired, green eyed girl that was standing beside him with a bright smile. The next picture was another similar one except on some sort of skiing trip.