Summer Break

Sometimes I like to stop and wonder about how my life would've ended up had Summer not left.   Maybe my Summer would've been different. Perhaps my life wouldn't have changed the way it did. All the things that'd happened, secrets and all, wouldn't have even existed. 

Or would they?

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When I woke up the next morning, still soggy from that horrific late night swim, I wanted to just sink right back into bed. All throughout the morning I'd thought about Peter and his newfound mood change towards me. For some reason, I didn't oppose it. I was suspicious but something in my body relished in the fact that we were being recognized. More so that it's Peter Nixen. 

While I hadn't known him well in school, I'd catch my ear perking up whenever I heard his name or I'd let my eyes wander and catch the back of his head in the hallways. It was because it's hard to not know the name or reputation of our school's 'hottest boy'. 

While I didn't bother myself with small events such as Peter Nixen and his goons. I was forced to listen to it when all Summer talked about. Every day she'd sit there and update Niki and I on the latest happenings in the town of Apex. Most of it being things that happened in school. 

I have to say, while I was bored with most things she brought up, I found myself invested in the most scandalous gossip: A mystery teacher hooking up with a mystery student. 

It was shocking, but also filled the void of drama for weeks. Almost everyone in the school was invested and determined to find out who they were and why they did it. There were bets placed, and people spreading rumors. It got all the way to the parents. That's when they shut the whole thing down, we were forbidden from talking about it as it 'hadn't been confirmed to be true'. We all knew though. 

However, right after that a rumor of Peter and his, then girlfriend, had broken up and he was on a sex-thirsty spree. While this also wasn't confirmed to be true, I wouldn't be surprised if it was. 

Especially with the way he was pressing this girl against the school wall. She was a short blonde. I could hear her giggling from here, way across the parking lot where the rest of us sat. I could hardly hear Dylan speaking. 

Today was Saturday. A couple days after the whole Peter flirting thing. For some reason, Dylan thought it'd be a great bonding experience for all of the seniors, plus me, to come to the school and do some cheesy remembrance ceremony. Dylan made it seem all professional and high-class but seeing him now in a white button up, mismatched crew socks, slides, neon board shorts, and some aviators, it made me want to just go back home. 

He hadn't exactly told me much last night. He'd told me to wear something white and to bring a friend along. However, my friends were away so I'd invited nobody. I hadn't even gotten the chance to drag Niko with me, but he'd already been dragged away by his Dad. 

We were all sitting on the very picnic table that condemned my peaceful Summer. It was  boiling outside, yet here we all sat on the prickly wood, directly under the sun. Those unfortunate enough to arrive late were either standing or splayed across the grass. I felt for the ones who sat on the cement. 

Still, my thighs stuck uncomfortably together. I peeled them apart for the fifth time in fifteen minutes. I even had droplets of sweat drip down my legs slowly. I wiped that for the seventh time in fifteen minutes. 

I was boiling and here was Dylan, flapping his arms, and shouting big words at us. I almost didn't care what he had to say. I wanted more than anything to tell him to shut up or to just get back in my car to drive home. This heat was almost unbearable.