7 Summers

Chapter 1 - Amelia June Warren (2029)

I walk outside onto my balcony, and lean on the railing at the front. It's pouring, and the sky is a blue-gray color, my favorite. Occasionally, a streak of bright purple lightning illuminates the sky.

This is exactly what summer is supposed to be. Well, in my opinion.

I hold out my hand to feel the cool rain, when I hear a knock at my door.

"Come in," I say. I recognize by the footsteps that it's Jessica Schuette.

"Amelia, you can't just be sad and heartbroken all the time." She says to me.

This is now a daily conversation that we've had for the past 7 years. Jess' long lecture about moving on never changes, and nor do my feelings.

"I can't," I reply. "I need to know why he just left me."

"Mav came to visit again," Jess informs me after a long sigh. "He's waiting downstairs. Come when you're ready."

And she walks away.

I don't really want to see Maverick right now. I never want to see him. He's been after me since 5th grade, and it's not that he's a bad person. I just can't move on.

I go back inside my room, only to grab my waterproof speaker and bring it outside.

I play my favorite song from my favorite artist, as always.

Somehow, the rain, thunder, lightning, wind, and even my own heartbeat and breathing, all synchronize with my music playing.

Must be an act of God.

But if only an act of God could bring Tucker back to me.

If only an act of God would tell me why Tucker left me.

If only an act of God could fix me and my broken heart.

♦♢♦

I walk down into the basement, carrying 5 cups of coffee, but none for myself. Jess follows me, with a few sweet snacks in her hand.

"What's up Amelia," Mav acknowledges me, and the rest of the boys pause their game to talk with me.

"Nothing." I say, setting their coffees down on the table and sitting in my chair in the corner. I'm staring at the ground, but in my peripheral vision, I can see them exchange glances with each other.

"Amelia," Conrad starts. "Do you know what it is today?"

Elijah Lane and Owen Harrison both smack him, because they know it'll provoke a memory, but Conrad knows what he's doing.

"It's Tucker's birthday..." I say slowly.

"And?" Conrad prompts, while the other boys sigh and silently groan because they think he's messed everything up. They think I'm going to have another breakdown.

"It's been exactly 7 years." I reply. Tears don't come anymore, and everyone looks at me with surprise. Even I'm surprised at myself.

"Exactly 7 years since what?" Conrad continues to pry, even though everyone knows the answer.

"Since..." I trail off, so he gets up and goes to the speaker and plays 7 Summers by Morgan Wallen  at a low volume, but then he turns it up when I make eye contact with him. He knows me too well.

"It's been 7 summers since Tucker left me." I say without hesitation, without any emotions in my voice, without any emotions in my brain, and without any emotions in my heart.

In this moment, I feel completely hollow.

It's like my endocrine system is tired of pumping those same sad chemicals, and my nervous system is tired of sending those same sad electric signals, and my muscles are tired of crying those same sad tears, all the time, all for the same reason: Tucker.

Conrad comes to me, gets down on his knees, and takes my hand.

"You're doing great, Amelia." He whispers to me, but I shake my head.

"I'm still not okay..."

"It's okay. It's okay to not be okay."

I shake my head again. "But I want to be okay." I say, but this time louder. The others can probably barely hear me over the music, but it's okay, because 7 Summers is a song that heals my heart, even if it's only for a moment.

"You're going to be okay." Conrad tries to convince me, but I've already convinced myself that it will never be okay, so I shake my head.

Conrad takes his hand and slightly lifts my head so that I make direct eye contact with him.

"You will be okay." He says firmly.

"But when?" My voice cracks, and I can feel tears starting to come.

"You have to convince yourself." His words echo through my entire brain, over and over. I shut my eyes, letting the tears drip down my face.

How can I convince myself that I'm going to be okay when I know I'm not?

I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline kick in for no reason whatsoever, and a huge tsunami of some strange feeling washed over me.

I don't know what I'm thinking or feeling in this moment.

I didn't even realize what I was doing, until I opened my eyes and looked.

Part of me wished that this was a nightmare and part of me wished that I was just hallucinating or having delusions.

But another part of me was actually somewhat content.

Because I was doing something that I couldn't have imagined doing, not ever in a million years.

I was kissing Conrad Jack Peterson.

In the background, I could hear the next Morgan Wallen song playing.

"Every time you close your eyes, tell me who do you see?"