the summer it all changed

chapter one

We like to resonate with the past, wishing things were how they used to be no matter how good we're doing now.

We want to be different versions of ourselves for the memories that came along with it.

Looking back on us, before the road of what the summer of 2018 would bring. There were secrets and problems lying underneath our skin, and that road is what made them sprout.

Expect the unexpected. We are not who you thought we were.

June 24th, 2018.

Ella lied on the couch of her vacation home, upside down.

The wind that wasn't entering from outside blew through her hair.

She threw her dogs ball up against the wall, replicating her feelings.

Repetitive. Over and over.

This summer, she had planned to come and visit her friends.

A warmth embraced her cold heart whenever thinking about the memories that we made their Freshman year.

The steel that grew from the ground and through the leaves took over after the summer of 2016.

Her mind rusted, and she never felt like repainting.

But who knows? After begging her parents to visit to their old town for summer, maybe Ella would feel bliss. Reminded of what used to lie in her body.

Prince, their dog ran over, tongue out.

He kneeled, waiting for his ball back.

Ella rolled back up and to the side, glaring Prince up and down.

"Why hasn't this summer been- summering? Ew. Sorry"

She hesitantly put the ball out, waiting for him to snatch it back.

"I know you can't, like, hear me. Well, you can. But you can't reply."

Just to make sure, she scrolled the room for him. He was playing with his ball.

"What I'm trying to say is I can't do this anymore, Prince. This summer sucks!"

Even her dog didn't take her whiny tone seriously, running away.

Ella let out a loud sigh.

"My friends and I have hung out a little, but we haven't done anything. We haven't done anything risky. We haven't gotten drunk, stayed out late, gone to the beach, god- or anything."

Kai's house

Kai didn't like the air conditioner on when it was below 89 degrees (F) outside.

He was trying to get into a book named "All the Bright Places," maybe he could relate somehow. Instead, he just found it a bore.

Kai was shirtless, laying on his stomach on the floor. His room had become a little messy since his mother left for her work trip, but he didn't care.

He skipped to page 180 to see if any of the characters had died yet.

Buzz

"My god, shut up."

He nudged his Android toward his empty bag of Takis.

Not long after, he threw his book farther than his phone.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, consecutively. Somebody was calling him.

Kai reached for his phone, but it wasn't close enough.