My Best Summer

Chapter 1: Shopping and...Siblings?

I'm not sure how everything happened. It's still kind of painful to remember, yet it was beautiful as well. Bitter-sweet. Yeah, it was too crazy to put into words, but I'll try my best. Speaking of best, this is the story of a summer. My best summer. It involves some mystery, teenage angst, comedy, drama, tragedy, and a lost love.

Four summers ago, I went to stay with my uncle Leon in this island-like place called Destiny Islands. It's a popular vacation area and full of different stories of all variety. Now, my uncle is rich from inheritance from my mother's father, Granddad. Since he's oldest, he gets more. Anyway, he decided to invest in a tackle shop nicknamed 'The Fish's Lady.' It's actually called The Fisherman's Lady Tackle Shop, but all of the letters except the words the, fish's and lady fell off before I arrived. People thought it was so hilarious that they just started calling it that. It is also a small convenience shop that sells food, drinks, and beverages.

This was where I had to start out. You wanna know why?" Life doesn't always give you peaches. When it does, you don't take them for granted, or else they might be taken from you and you won't have anyway to deal with the lemons."

I look at Leon from the cash register. "Why peaches? Why not strawberries?"He ignores me. "You need to know how to be independent and rely on your own abilities. Just because you have more money than you need doesn't mean you have to lean on that only."

I love my uncle. He has been kind to me ever since he picked me up at the airport. But....he can be kind of strange. I mean, this is the second time he's spoken metaphorically. And I've never worked during the summer.

He grabs his fishing rod and hat. "I have to give some fishing lessons to a set of five year old twins. You're in charge for now until Sora arrives." I have no idea who he is talking about. I've been here for a grand total of... A day and nineteen hours. "Who?"

Leon grins. "Oh you'll know. He's hard to miss. Later." He leaves and I sigh, resting my hand on my palm. I don't know anybody, so this is probably where I'll be spending my time other than my sketchbook, which I keep with me at all times.

I entertain myself by doodling on a napkin for a while until it's absolutely full. When the bell tolls, a guy with extremely abnormal brown spiked hair and the air of a clown walks into the store and to the counter. He looks at me for a second. "You're Namine, right? Leon's niece?"

I nod. "Sora?"

He grins the goofiest grin I've ever seen. "The one and only! Any customers so far?"

I sigh. "Not really. And I'm bored out of my mind."

He wiggles his eyebrows. No, not seductively, just.....clown like. "That's because you've been alone. It's better with a pal."

He puts on his apron and leans against the counter, his hands clasped behind his head. "Where are you from?"

"Twilight Town. My mom's away on a trip."

"For the whole summer?"

I drum my fingers on the counter top. "Yep. How long do we have to be here?"

Sora looks at the clock. "Well, until one-ish. Leon says that since it's summer, he won't make us work too long." He's silent for a second. "What have you seen of Destiny since you got here?"

"My room and the refrigerator."

He laughs a bit at that. "I like looking at my fridge too. Why don't you tag along with my friends and me today? We're going to the mall at one thirty."

I look at my hands, bashfully. I'm painfully shy. "I'm not that good at making friends. Besides, I don't want to impose...."

"Nonsense! Shush your ridiculousness hun! You can come. They are really cool! You'll fit right in. Promise. "I note how sassy he got in the time span of three seconds. Yeah, I think we're going to be good friends.