Summer and May

Chapter Two: Summer

May was already gone when I awoke. It was typical of her; waking up at the ass crack of dawn, skipping coffee entirely, to go work on a motor with her dad. Although I didn't understand it, it was one of the many things I admired about her. She had a hobby, something she was good at. I was slightly envious that at eighteen, I still wasn't sure what I was good at.

I slugged a non-fat vanilla latte just before Luke trudged down the stairs, at perfect timing. I loved my big brother, but caffeine was necessary to deal with him in the morning.

"What's with your face?" He asked, pulling a mug from the glass cabinet. I winced when the mug hit the granite just a little too hard.

"Hungover. Not a morning person. And, you." I chuckled. I suppose I was good at giving my brother shit for just existing.

"I'll make sure to steer clear of you on campus before noon, then." He stuck his tongue out at me, poured a heaping cup of coffee, and then he left. Most likely to see his girlfriend. They were always together, it was annoying. Love made people do the dumbest things. I wouldn't know from personal experience, but after watching Luke go from the campus man-whore to a doting puppy-dog boyfriend, I'd seen enough. Enough to make me want more coffee.

I swiftly kissed my father on the cheek before escaping to my room, to continue planning out a color scheme for mine and May's dorm next year at Brown. It was the only thing that made me excited right now. That, and the fact that we were about to have the best summer of our lives. May was truly the pot to my kettle. We needed each other in ways typical friends don't. It felt to me like May gave me a purpose, a drive to be better. When May lost her mom when we were thirteen, it was my turn to become the woman she turned to for support. We've been intertwined for life, and I'd do anything for her.

I even got a job at Dockside, this town's staple restaurant. It was everyone's favorite, even the tourists that come for a lake escape love it. I had no need for a job, but when May applied, I followed right behind. My parents have always instilled hard work in me, but they cared much more about my grades. Getting into Brown was my sole purpose in this family, alongside working for my father post-graduation. Once that dream became obtainable, I figured it would be embarrassing for my first job to be my post-college career. It would make me look like a trust-fund baby, which is exactly what I am. I just don't have any interest in making that my identity.

So, working at Dockside is my summer gig. I get to spend fifteen hours a week with my best friend, right on the water. Life was easy. I hadn't realized how deep I'd gotten into my day-dreaming and dorm-planning when I looked at the clock, and realized I was almost late for work.
Just as I showed up, I threw my blonde hair back into a pony, fixed my apron around my hips, and interrupted May as she was covering for me to our manager, again.

"You were almost late, Summer. Good thing your friend is a good liar." Stevie winked at me. I flushed red. "Start by filling the salt and pepper shakers, will ya?" She traipsed away, not waiting for our answer.

"Shit. Sorry, May." She waved a hand, grabbing the large containers of pepper and salt. "Salt to my pepper, baby! Let's go." She smacked my rear, heading to Table 1.

It wasn't busy just yet, but the dinner rush was coming soon. The wait staff doubled in size in anticipation. May and I made everything at Dockside a two-man job, just so we could be together. We filled ketchup containers, folded silverware, dumped ice in the lake, together. Stevie got annoyed by it, but there was nothing she could do. We were inseparable.

It was nearly 5, and our sections hadn't been sat yet. I scrolled on a dating app on the far side of the kitchen.

"Ew." May said, watching over my shoulder. I swiped. "No." Swipe. "Definitely not."

I sighed dramatically. "Ok, enough! They were all cute, at the very least."

Another thing May and I didn't share was our taste in men. She likes good boys, I like bad ones. She likes smart ones, I like hot ones. Car mechanics, life guards. Quiet, popular. Kind, crazy. The list goes on.

The only boy we'd ever agreed upon was Brooks Allen, the boy who'd loved May since we were kids. No one in Shimmer Lake could deny that he was attractive, but May and Brooks always remained good friends. I tried with him freshman year, but May was all he could see, although he's never admitted it to anyone. I couldn't blame him for his infatuation. She was as beautiful as she was kind. She'd never hurt a soul, did everything with grace, and was never selfish. Her chocolate hair mixed itself with caramel highlights in the most natural way. Being beautiful came so naturally to her, and I don't think she has a single clue about it.

"Summer? You're sat at Table Six!"

I grabbed a tray, a basket of crab bites, and a pitcher of water. "Let the games begin."