Endless Summer

June - chapter I - Allentown, Pennsylvania

The summer month has arrived here in Allentown bringing nothing but hot sticky weather and loads of mosquitoes. The fresh change in temperature causes all the insects to gather along the surface, contributing to my disgust every time I see one. But summer meant no more school, no work. It offered a full seventy-two days of freedom.

These three months usually aren't my favorite; mostly because I sleep till the afternoon and don't contact any of my friends. It's the yearly event I make sure to take part of. But this year is different. My family has decided to travel to California, which is across the States, to my cousins' house for the summer.

This, in counting, is the first time I will have traveled to the west coast. There stands my entire friend group, well, most. I have a few friends here in Pennsylvania, but they aren't like the ones that live thousands of miles away. Here, my closest friend, Ava, is the popular blonde-blue eyed girl everyone loves. Literally the whole school audibly gasps when they hear we are friends, like I'm not good enough or something. I mean I honestly don't mind, but it would be nice for her to say "oh yeah!" once in a while, but instead it's always me. My Californian friends say she's fake, and I start to believe it more every day. I'm waiting for her 'best-friend breakup' speech she gives when she's done using someone.

On the other hand, my best friend Grace lives close to my cousins. We always facetime and call each other gossiping about the random-est things that come to our mind. The late nights of us laughing till we feel like our oxygen supply is being blocked are my favorite. She is dating my friend, Matthew, who also lives in the west, and in my opinion, the two of them are cute together and already have their future planned out.

But now this brings be back to the month of June. I was informed that we will leave for California in about a week, leaving packing to be nothing but a pain and struggle. Although procrastinating gets me nowhere, somehow it keeps me in check; it's really something only I understand, my mom really doesn't. I've already chosen my bathing suits and outfits I want to bring, as well as the extra pairs of socks.

My family consists of my mother, father, brother, and I. We get along just like an average family does and having the bickering and playfighting here and there really brings it out. My mom's name is Bailey, and my dad's is Jim. The only reason I thought to mention this was because my friends use their first names. Carter is my brother's name.

As I finish adding clothes to my luggage and the time ticks closer to summertime, a rush of excitement overloads my body, enough to make a shiver run up my spine; I can't really explain it.

Boredom crossed my mind as blasting music was not helping to complete the packing job. Deciding, I followed down the wooden stairs of my house and into the kitchen where my father was standing reading an article on his phone.

"Hey dad." I said opening up the refrigerator.

He looked up from his phone. "Hey! How's the job going?"

"Pretty good. I think I'm almost finished. Well, hopefully."

"Good. I'm trying to get this family on the road by Friday, hit the airport and arrive on Saturday morning."

"Sounds good."

Anything that got me out of Pennsylvania and in California was perfect. I will admit, Allentown is beautiful, but I want to be able to experience a summer in the popular tourist attraction of a land. The environment of beaches and sand and my friends. Knowing I'll be there is just a couple of days still shocks me till now.

The following creak of the boards followed me as I made my way back to my bedroom. Jumping onto my bed and opening up '6 Close Lozers.' our main group chat, I informed everyone that I would be arriving in less than a week. It took them a few, but later all four of them answered happily, the other one individual being Carter, who obviously already knows.

It was definite we'd be staying till mid August but between early September, that way by the time school started my brother and I would already be back in Pennsylvania.

I quickly made my way to Carter's room, only to find his luggage nowhere in sight and a gaming controller sitting in the palms of his hands. Of course he's not packing, I thought. This was highly typical of him and it didn't seem to surprise me at all like usual.

"Carter! We have to be finished packing by tonight!" I said to him, a small rush of frustration flushing through my body.

"Brooke, I know, I get it." Not even a glance fixated on me.

I sighed. Nothing would make him budge, leading me to surrendering, and he knows.

"Just. Look it's early, at least be done by before midnight."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, sure." He said. I know he isn't actually listening, but instead giving that feedback you get when someone is not focused on the conversation. I walked out leaving the door open on purpose just to mess with him.

"Brooke, close the door! Hello!?"

I could hear Carter yell at me ridiculously. He's being way too concentrated on his game to even get out of his chair and especially close a singular door a few inches from his reach. He's got an addiction to electronics, and it visibly shows, but I'm pretty sure every guy his age is.

It's around the exact time my mother would begin her journey home from work. She works as a doctor, who actually just finished her schooling to upgrade from being a nurse. I idolize the work and dedication she puts into the job, helping save peoples' lives. It's pretty cool.

My father usually cooks us all dinner, being the absolute best and lovable dad that he is. Checking back up on him downstairs, the smell of fresh food and delicious sauce grasps my airway into utter perfection.

"Dad, that smells amazing! What is it?"

He turned around quickly. I spotted his apron he uses when deep into the meal. "Hey Ke. Salmon and brussel sprouts. Good, eh!" Ke is my nickname they use.

My favorite. "Oo yes! It's gonna be great. Call me and Carter down when it's ready, please!"

"Will do!" He began whistling.

As I began walking up the stairs I heard my mother walk in the door. She greeted my father like normal then proceeded into conversation.

I still couldn't wait to be in California. The difference in our time zones will probably be difficult at first, but repetitive days will make it easier. Having nothing better to do, calling Grace felt like something fun.

The familiar ringtone of the call replayed as I dialed her number. She never let's it ring for this long, I thought. The only thing I could think of was her and Matthew hooking up, but that's nothing new.

I shrugged it off, putting on my earphones and playing my music. A few minutes later my eyes saw nothing but darkness.