My Perfect Summer

Chapter 2

RENEE

We finally reached the familiar street and houses. We have two neighboring houses, beside ours, on the left was my friend Claudia Gushiken and her family's beach house. And on the right lived my friend Madelyn Delaney and her family.

I haven't seen Maddy since the summer before my Fathers death.
But, Claudia and I live in the same town so we see each other when the summer season's over, and we both keep in touch with Maddy.

They've both told me all of the summer before the present. On all the new summer boys they've met. Some are not so new but they told me they've become closer with Samuel Fisher and Elijah Collins. We've all been acquainted with each other, never been so-called  'best friends.'

James Davenport, though, was a new summer hottie, Claudia had said. Apparently James was from England. And Maddy just could not get over his hot British accent, she also said.

She and James had a summer fling going on the summer before, she told me over FaceTime.

When my mother slowed the car as she pulled into the driveway of our two-story Coastal Traditional beach house. Plenty of memories began to rush through my head. And it was almost like I finally realized, and it was like reality hit me. He's really gone, and he isn't coming back.

My eyes began to water, and I swallowed a gut running sob. I had to quickly push them back. I can't cry, I must stay strong. Crying solves nothing.  I constantly repeated to myself whenever I had the urge to shed a single tear in front of anybody for that matter.

For others, the house must've looked the same. But if anyone ever knew what it had before my father passed? They'd know that it wasn't the same. There wasn't the bright light and feeling it had before. It wasn't as lively, you could say. It just wasn't the same.

When my mother stopped the car and unbuckled herself, she turned to me, and gave me a smile. Except this wasn't a true smile. It didn't reach her eyes, it was like her face smiled, but her eyes didn't.

She gave me a solemn look, when she said, "It's going to be good, this summer and everything will be just the same. You know that right?"

I nodded, but we both knew it would never be the same without my father.

As my mother and I were taking out our luggage from the car, I saw two familiar figures running towards the car. My two best friends, Claudia and Maddy.

Gosh, I had missed them.

And when they swung their arms around me? It was like I'd truly returned home. This hug they gave me was one of warmth and reassurance. The unspoken words they told me were that they'll always be here for me no matter what.

"I missed you guys so much," I said, the sound muffled. And at the break of tears.

"We missed you too," Claudia said, her voice full of sincerity.

"We're here for you and love you so much Ren," Maddy said.

We stayed there clinging to each other for what felt like moments long. That is  before Claudia spoke up, "Okay, enough of the sadness," she said, wiping her tears and breaking away. "We need to catch you up on everything and help you unpack."

"Always in a hurry, huh Clauds?" I said, wiping my eyes and chuckling.

"Of course, and the first bonfire of the summer is tonight," Claudia said.

"Bonfire?" I said, completely confused.

"Someone Sam knows is hosting it at their part of the beach tonight," Maddy clarified when she finished wiping her eyes.

"And if we want to get there by time the bonfire starts, we need to start packing. Chop Chop," Claudia says hurrying to my mom.

Maddy and Claudia then give my mother their hugs and condolences.

And for the first time in a while, it was like I felt the least bit of something. And it felt good. Although, I'm still drowning. And when you drown you can't breathe. And I'm at the point where I'm gasping for the slightest ounce of air.

But maybe I'll be able to make it up for air and catch an ounce of air by the end of this summer.

I just know that I must stay smiling and strong. At least just enough to get through this summer.