That Summer That Changed Everything

Chapter 1

               The cool fresh summer air blows through my already messy wavy hair. I sing along with my brother and mother to the song blasting through the car's speakers . I love this time of year, not only because my birthday is just two weeks away. But because of our summer traditions. We are on the way to one right now, hopefully we can make it with my newly licensed brother behind the wheel. We go to my mom's best friend's house every summer.

"Can we turn down the music please? I'm gonna lose my voice before we get there." my mother laughs. My brother chuckles but turns it down.

"Okay now that I can hear my own thoughts again I want to talk about this summer."

Tyler and I share a confused glance. "Did you do something to annoy her?" I half whispered to Tyler. He shakes his head "I was gonna ask you the same thing" he whispers just as bad as I did. Our mom lets out a chuckle from the back seat, since I called shotgun when we left this morning.

" No one did anything, guys relax."

We both let out a breath of relief. Mom shakes her head but continues.

"I just wanted to talk about this summer since it's the first since Dad and I got a divorce. I know there has been quite a lot of change this past year." her mood instantly changes.

My parents got a divorce at the end of August last year , and a lot has changed. Dad moved out but only a few blocks down. We see him as long as he's not working, that's pretty rare.

" I know this is the first summer since everything happened but I still want everyone to have a great summer like we usually do." She smiles and reaches out to both of our arms to show comfort.

" I know mom , but I think we are gonna be fine. Dad usually doesn't come to the Salvatore's house with us anyway. I don't know about Tyler but I feel like it's a normal summer. Don't get me wrong I love dad but I like it when it's just the moms and kids." It's true, I love it when it's just my mom, Mrs. Salvatore and the kids.

" Yeah I agree mom. I love dad too but it just seems more chill when it's just us." Tyler agrees. Mom smiles.

"Okay good , Ty you're going to have to stop at the next gas station before we get to the house."

After what felt like a hundred hours, but was actually two, we finally pulled into their driveway. Tyler honked the horn and they started to get out of the car. While they were getting out I was trying to tame my hair from all the wind from the car ride. Mrs. Salvatore, Laurel, comes running out of the front door with a big smile. "Oh thank god! Finally you guys made it !" Laurel yelled as she was hugging my mom then brother.

"Yeah we would have made it sooner but grandpa was driving." I chuckled and looked at Tyler. My mom and Laurel chuckled.

" Hey I drove the speed limit most of the time!" Tyler argued. Before I could continue Austin Salvatore came running out and hugged Tyler. Austin is the youngest of the Salvatore boys. There's two of them ,Ethan and Austin. As they were doing their weird hand shake thing Laurel hugged me. " Our beautiful girl is getting too big," she says while squeezing me. I laughed as my mom agreed. Laurel and her husband James had two boys. After she gave birth to Austin she found out she couldn't have any more kids. She was devastated . But a year later my mom found out she was pregnant with me. They were both so excited to finally have a girl in their big family.

"Damn girl" Austin said as he came over. Laurel let go of me and Austin picked me up and spun me around and I laughed and hugged back.

"When did you become this beautiful young woman?" Austin asked as he put me down. I laughed and shook my head.