Summer Away

Chapter Six

Maddie is staying at the house for a couple nights- she leaves Monday, the same day the brothers' mom arrives. Her arrival has switched up the sleeping arrangements. Her and Levi through a fit about being separated, even for a minute. And I had no interest in sharing a room with Maddie. Before she came Levi and Jameson shared a room, Kayden and Isaiah shared a room, and I had my own room. When Jackie came she fell asleep on the couch the first night, the night of the party.

Now Levi and Maddie have a room, I'm sharing with Jackie, and Jameson is on the couch downstairs. Kayden and Isaiah stayed together. It's getting a little crowded in this house, and since no one will take the master bedroom everyone is cramped.

Jackie's stuff is strewn everywhere in our room. Her suitcase lies empty and open on the floor at the foot of her bed. Her clothes are scattered throughout the room. There's a skirt on her pillow. A tank top on the bedside lamp. A messy pile in the middle of the floor. The nightstand is also strewn with makeup and skincare products. Her bed is unmade. I can't stand it.

On the other hand, my bed is made. My clothes are hung in the closet. My makeup is organized in a container and sits on the floor of the closet. I have a few pairs of shoes neatly lined up under my bed. And yet, my side of the room isn't clean. Her stuff is encroaching.

It's night now. Well, early Sunday morning. It's not an hour someone should be awake. But Jackie won't let me sleep, either. She insisted that we keep the light on until 1, then when she finally went to sleep she started sleep talking. I haven't slept at all. It's 3 now. This is ridiculous.

I silently creep down the stairs and towards the kitchen. I turn the stove on and fill up a kettle. Maybe some chamomile tea will help me sleep. I grab the kettle off of the stove immediately when it starts to whistle. Then with my steaming cup of tea I go sit on the back porch. The lulling of the crashing waves quickly makes me forget all my annoyances with Jackie.

-

"Aleena!" I flicker my eyes open as someone shakes my shoulder. I look down at the kneeling figure. Jameson.

"Jameson." I groan, "Why'd you wake me up? I've barely slept today."

He laughs as he eases himself into the chair next to me, "Jackie's a terrible roommate, huh? When we were kids whoever drew the short straw had to bunk with her."

"Oh my god." I sigh, just wanting to close my eyes, "I'm glad it's not just me. I didn't go to sleep until 3 or 4. Is there somewhere else I could sleep? We could switch."

"Hell no." Jameson quickly says. "I'm not doing that."

I hear the patio door slide open. It's Jackie. Unlike Saturday morning, she looks perfectly put together. She has a light layer of makeup, fresh clothes, and a happy smile. I'm jealous. I'm sure I look like I slept in a rocking chair last night. Because I did.

"Sorry, Leena." She says, "Maddie decided to stay until Wednesday. I'll switch with Jameson. Then I can go my thing until I want to sleep."

Jameson laughs. This family laughs way too much, "Okay, Jack Jack. I'm glad you're finally taking the short straw."

"Shut up." Jackie flips him off on her way inside.

"Have you guys made coffee yet?" I ask.

-

Jameson brought me a cup of coffee with some fancy creamer. Again, I cannot get over how good these coffee beans are. They make the best coffee ever. Jameson even came and refilled my cup once.

On one of his coffee runs Jameson brought me my book from the living room, so I've been reading and staring out at the morning surf. It's a nice enough day. Mild, maybe seventy degrees. People are already setting up their stuff on the beach. There's a couple families and a group of surfers. It's the most ordinary day.

Eventually Maddie sits in the same white rocking chair Jameson sat in earlier. She doesn't say anything for a while, she only stares out at the ocean. Just like Jackie, she looks perfect. She's dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a baggie green t-shirt with a French tuck. Her brown hair is held up by a white claw clip at the nape of her neck. The shirt brings out the green of her eyes. Like always, Maddie looks flawless.

Eventually she breaks her silence. Maybe she sensed my staring. "I'm sorry, Aleena." I don't say anything. "It all started in the fall. Levi drove me home after his football practice. We exchanged numbers. We didn't really talk until January, but even then it was just friends. Things only became.. this.. in May."

I finally speak, "I feel like you didn't care about my friendship. It seems like you threw away us for some guy."

"We're still friends, Leena. Best friends."

I look down, "You can say that, maybe even believe it, but it's not true. Will you be coming over to see me or my brother? Will our time together turn into double dates? Or maybe I'll just third wheel in my own house."

"You kissed Nathan."

"That has nothing to do with this."

"Doesn't it?" Maddie raises her voice, "Levi brought you to a party, gave you a group to hang out with, and you venture off and make out with the person he hates? Then Levi comes home the next morning and sees him in his living room?"

I grab my book and turn away from her, towards the house.

"What you did to Levi was way worse than what we did to you."

"Shut up."

"Come on, Leena. Be real with yourself! You whored yourself out to Nathan because you were mad about Levi and I!"

I leave. Kayden's standing at the door, clearly eavesdropping. I don't care. I don't know why Maddie thinks she's so much better than me now that's she's "dating" Levi. I was even going to let it go. I wasn't going to be the one to mention it first. But then she just had to get all defensive and bring up Nathan. And have the audacity- I can't with her. I just can't. 

I go out the front door. I hear Kayden run out behind me. He tells me to get into his car. Says we'll go somewhere far away from her. I get in. I don't care where I go as long as she's not yelling at me.

I start to cry when Kayden stops at the first stop sign. I try to hide it by looking out the window, but I know he knows. I don't care. I just care about how my best friend turned on me so fast.

My phone dings.

From: Levi

I'm so sorry, Leena. I'll talk to her.

I almost want to throw my phone out the window.

Kayden pulls up to a drive-in and orders two peanut butter chocolate milkshakes. These brothers really do have the best taste. But even the sweetness of the milkshake can't wash away the angry feeling.

Kayden parks in a lot that overlooks the beach. There's a little gravel trail that leads from the parking lot to the ocean. Surprisingly enough the lot is almost empty. I guess it's not that surprising considering it's a Monday. Adults are usually working, not taking their families to the beach.

"I don't know what's gotten into Maddie lately. She's been terrible to everyone." Kayden finally says something. "You didn't deserve that."

"I didn't know about Levi and Nathan. All I knew was that Levi abandoned me at that party."

"I believe you."

Those three words are enough. If Kayden, who I barely know, believes me then I'm sure the others will too. What am I talking about? There isn't that many people. Only the brothers and Levi. And I know Levi knows I didn't know.

"Just avoid her." Kayden says when he finishes his milkshake, "Things will even out. Let things cool off. She'll leave soon."

"Thanks."

Kayden cracks a smile and pushes my shoulder, "Come on, Leena. We're family for the summer. Anytime."

I think he knows exactly how much it means to me. I'm sure Kayden knows about my parents- my lack of them, that is. I'm sure he knows just how valuable a family might be to me. I start crying again as he puts the car in reverse and backs out of the spot. But this time it's different. I'm happy.