Meet Me At The Sunset

Chapter 1 -

The end of the school year. Usually the best time for anyone in school. Getting to have a few months free of homework, stress, and more. Usually I would feel this joy. Though this year was different. My parents had always brought me along with them to wherever they decided to vacation. We would go for the whole summer. My parents love to travel. That's how they met. Both their planes were delayed due to weather. And the two of them just so happened to catch each others eye.
They traveled the world together. Got married. And then had me. And every year since they bring me along on an all summer trip. Two years ago it was a cruise. I was 15. And though some people may disagree with losing one's innocence if you know what I mean, at a young age. I don't regret it. He was a year older than me. And it was also his first time. We met by the pool. And hit it off almost immediately. Our parents went out to the bar one night. And it just happened. Neither of us regretted it. We still keep in touch. But it's hard to be 17 and 18 and living continents apart. We both agreed it was a one time wonderful thing.
Last year, we went to New Zealand. And maybe you can guess. I met another boy. I was 16, as was he. I'd just gotten out of a relationship with a boy from my school back home. He'd left me since he didn't want to be without a woman all summer. So the company was much needed. He also, had just gotten out of a relationship. Though his was a mutual ending. I even got to meet her. My parents went out for drinks every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. And we met every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Before you assume we were always "involved". We really honestly just enjoyed each other's company. We spent a lot of time watching our favorite shows and eventually, his ex joined us. I still of course enjoyed him in other ways. His sleek black hair I shall always remember. I loved to run my fingers through it. And look into his sea green eyes. We also keep in touch. Our last evening together I told him to try with his ex again. Because I could still see their chemistry. And maybe they just weren't ready yet. From what I've seen over the past year they're doing remarkably well.
Now. This year. My parents have decided to go on a trip by themselves. It's their 20th wedding anniversary. And they wish to spend the summer together. Now. What does this mean for me? It means I'm to spend my whole summer. At a summer camp. Thankfully my parents splurged for me. And I will still technically get to travel away from Colorado. Though my parents get to go to Paris. Which was where they met when their planes were delayed. As jealous as I am that I won't be going I am still happy for my parents. I'll be going to Michigan for the summer. Specifically to all the Great Lakes that touch its land. We are to go to each one every three weeks. Lake Michigan is the first. Then Lake Superior, and lastly Lake Huron. I must admit, I'm not thrilled but it's nice that we shall still be moving every once in awhile. But still being in the States isn't as exciting as a trip to Paris.

I walked out of school with my two best friends. Eliza, my best friend since Pre School. Her long blonde hair swaying from side to side. She always refused to put it up unless we were in gym. And Julia, she moved to our school in the 8th grade. She had the same bookbag as me and Liza. And we've been a trio ever since. As we walked and laughed on our way to our cars in the students parking lot. My eyes made their way over to Bowen Carter. The boy whom I'd thought would be my high school sweetheart. Yet the boy who broke my heart over a year ago now. So that he would sleep with other girls. Just because he couldn't go two and a half months without putting it in something. He was laughing with his buddies. Jacob and Rory. Jacob was honestly the bad influence on Bowen. He'd always been the boy who slept around with any girl willing at school. And with the silky brown hair and baby blue eyes not many girls said no. Rory on the other hand. He was always nice in Middle School. Then as soon as we entered our Freshman year he changed for the worse. He became the school bully. Not even a bully. If he needed something he'd find something on you and use it against you. Usually something humiliating. So he could share it with the whole school. Thankfully me, Liza and Julia had managed to stay out of anything those three were involved in for the past year. Junior year was certainly not the worst. And newly 17, some of us still 16. We were starting to become a bit more mature. I found myself still looking at him and finally turned my head.
"Joan were you looking at Rowen again?" Liza asked chuckling. I felt my cheeks flush, from embarrassment and a bit of rage.
"Well how can you blame her really Liza. I mean. Even if he isn't the best of character he's still attractive. And the two of them have a past." Said Julia.
"Honestly Lia. Who cares if he's good looking. There's plenty of good looking guys at school who are also good guys." Liza said. She paused then smiled at Julia.
"You know. The Pikes Peak college boys don't look too bad." She exclaimed to Julia. Julia's face went bright red. Me and Eliza had suspicions that Julia had been seeing a Senior who had graduated last year. Now a freshman at Pikes Peak.
"Don't pester each other guys. Let's have a good positive conversation before I'm sent away for the whole summer" I said. We stopped walking beside Eliza's car. Her older brother waiting inside. Eliza looked at me with sad eyes.
"It's such a shame you couldn't just stay here. We always miss you all summer. Hopefully we'll have the last week together before Senior year." Liza said. She took my hand and Julia took the other.
"I'm sure the camp won't be so bad Joan." Julia said. I smiled a sad smile. I hadn't spent more than two weeks of a summer with my friends. Usually we got to spend breaks together thankfully. But it was still always sad to have to part from them for the whole summer basically.
"I'll miss you guys." I said. Eliza pulled me into a hug and waved goodbye. She got into her car and me and Julia continued to walk to my car.
"Glad I had you drive me today. It's really gonna suck without you as always. We always have so much fun." Julia said. She looked at the ground as she said it.
"Well next year I'm sure I won't be going anywhere. Honestly I think we should all go somewhere. We can get part time jobs and save up for a beach trip maybe. I know you both love the beach." I said. Julia smiled and we made it to my car. My lovely ruby red Nissan Rogue. A gift from my Grandmother. She wanted the newer model and offered the old one to me as long as I visited and washed her dishes. Nana hates to do dishes. We got inside and immediately turned the car radio on. Julia connected her phone and smiled. I made eye contact with her and she put on our current favorite song. Bad Friend by Bad Wolves. I started to back out looking over my shoulder. When out of nowhere a deep green car pulled out infront of me. I slammed on the break and looked over my shoulder again. In the seat of the car was none other than Rowen. In the passenger, Jacob. Who was laughing and making faces at me. I smiled. Rolled the windows down. And took Julia's phone. I changed the song to Hollywood Undead's, Whatever It Takes. My rage go to. And started blasting the music. The boys soon lost interest and got out of my way. As we drove me and Julia kept singing along to good old new age metal and some older. Eliza wasn't really into the same music as me and Julia. But she did always enjoy videotaping us singing along.
We made it to Julia's house. And we both said our goodbyes. As I drove home I thought about it. I wasn't going to know anyone at the camp. I would have to make new friends. I was hoping I'd find someone of a few someone's that I'd click with soon. That way I'd have someone to talk with all summer. I was also slightly hoping to find someone who I'd click with more. In a different way.
As I pulled into my driveway and noticed neither of my parents cars were there. Both still at work it seemed. I went inside. A note from my mother on the kitchen counter. Telling me what to pack and how much to pack. I made my way up to my room and pulled three suitcases out of my closet. I know my mother was telling me to pack more moderate clothes. But that's my mother. I of course was looking for my next summer fling. So there was no way I wouldn't wear my favorite pieces. I packed a few different bikinis, some of my favorite summer dresses, skirts, and sandals. I did listen to pack a few pairs of pants and a jacket incase it got chilly. And a pair of boots and sneakers. When I finished I sat on my bed and opened my phone. As I did so I heard a car pull into the driveway. Most likely my dad. He usually got home first. A few moments later I heard the door open. And my father putting his keys into the bowl on the counter.
"Joanna! You home?!" My dad called to me.
"Yeah dad I'm home I'll be right down!" I yelled back. I got out of bed and ran down the stairs. My dad was in the kitchen putting a pot of water of the stove.
"You're making dinner tonight dad?" I asked. He turned and smiled.
"Yup. Your mother will be at work a bit later tonight. She's hoping to have a little more spending money for Paris. And you know that means another suitcase to bring home most likely." Dad said. I smiled. That's mom. Her shopping addiction. I walked over and hugged my dad. Knowing tomorrow I'd have to part from him and mom for several months for the first time ever.
"Hey Joanna. You alright?" Dad asked me. He could always tell. When I was little and being bullied. He knew there was something wrong. And when Rowen left me he was the first to notice there was something up.
"I'm just going to miss you and mom." I said. He pulled me out of the hug and looked at me with his loving eyes.
"We're going to miss you as well Joanna. But I'm sure it'll be nice having some time to yourself before you leave for college next year." He said. I smiled and he returned it. It was nice they were also thinking of giving me space. And I knew they needed theirs after 17 years of raising me. They deserved it.
"Well go on now. I'm going to cook dinner. Your mother should be home within the next couple hours." Dad said. He ruffled my hair and I made a face at him and tried to fix my now crazy faded hair. Which got me thinking.
"You know what dad. I'm going to run to the Beauty store quick to get hair color. It'd be nice to have a fresh color for camp." I said. He smiled and nodded. I grabbed my keys and headed out.

When I got back mom still wasn't home. Dad was in the kitchen still. Waiting on the sauce for the pasta. I went upstairs and opened my bag. I'd decided on neons. To go with some of the bikinis I'd picked. Neon green, pink and blue. I went into my bathroom and sectioned out my hair and put the color into three different sections. I waited and then rinsed it. My bangs were the neon pink, and the rest half green and half blue. I smiled in the mirror. I always loved a new color on me. I'd done quite a few over the past three years. Ever since I went blonde in Freshman year. I then heard another car pull into the driveway. Knowing my mom was home I ran downstairs hair still wet.
My mom walked in the door and I ran to hug her.
"Woah hey Joanna. How was the last day of school honey?" Mom said. We separated from the embrace and she put her keys down.
"It was fine mom. Just sad to see Eliza and Julia for the last time for awhile." I said. Mom made a sad face but smiled. She put her hand on my cheek.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. But you can't stay here all summer alone. I'm sure camp won't be so bad." She said. I nodded.
"Well are you two just going to yap or can you come eat the food I slaved over the hot stove to make?" Dad said from behind us. Mom and I laughed and we all sat down to eat.

When I woke, I realized it was 6am. My parents were dropping me at the airport for my flight at 9am, theirs was at 10:30. So I had to get up. I went into the bathroom and brushed my hair and showered. I then brought all my luggage downstairs by the door. Meeting my mother doing the same.
"Look at you taking care of your own luggage" mom said.
"Well I learned from you mom. If I don't grab it it'll be left behind" I said. She laughed and walked back upstairs. Probably to wake dad up. I went back up and found some pink sweatpants, and a cropped brown spaghetti strap top. I grabbed my favorite hoodie incase it was cold in the airport or on the plane. And did a Quick Look to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. And before I knew it we were at the airport.
It was time for me to check into my gate. I waved to my mom and dad. Who waved back. My mom looked as if she were going to cry. And of course she pulled her phone out to take a photo. No doubt to post 'little girls first trip by herself!' Or something along those lines. I waited at through baggage check, then waited to board.

After the short flight I got off the plane and walked to find the bus I was meant to get on. And there it was. A big red, yellow, pink and purple bus. Made to look like a sunset. With big print on the side reading 'Sunset Summer Camp'. I walked over with my cart of bags and was met with who I assumed was a camp counselor.
"Hey there you with Sunset?" She asked me.
"Yes I am" I replied. I handed her the pass my mother had given me.
"Okay great, I'll have another counselor put your bags on the bus. Go ahead and find a seat." She said. I smiled and started to walk up the steps of the bus.
"Oh by the way, my names Hannah!" Hannah called after me. I got on the bus and looked around for a seat. There was only three other kids on the bus. Two boys, in the back. One looked younger. Maybe 13 or 14. The other looked around my age. And a girl up by the front. Definitely my age. I decided why not try to make a friend now. I walked up to her.
"Hey, mind if I sit?" I asked. She looked up. A bit confused.
"Uh yeah sure." She said. She was a little shorter than me for sure. But she was possibly a bit older than me maybe. She had deep blue eyes and starwberry blonde hair pulled into two space buns. I sat down and looked over at her.
"My names Joanna. What's yours?" I asked. She looked over. Still a bit nervous.
"It's Cassidy. But I prefer Cass." She said. I smiled and she smiled back, still nervous.
"Well Cass, it's nice to meet you" I said. She smiled a less nervous smile. And the two of us started chatting about where we were from. She told me she was from New York. Not the city, upstate area. She was indeed two months older than me. And she had three older brothers. I told her I was an only child and she grieved about how sometimes she wished she was an only child. And I told her how I'd always wanted a sibling.
"The one boy in the back of the bus. With the reddish hair. That's my cousin. He's a bit older than me though." Cass said. I looked back between the seats. He was definitely related to Cass. They had the same hair color and the same nose. He seemed taken by some game on his phone at the moment. At that moment someone sat next to me.
"Well hello" they said. I looked back and made eye contact with a boy. His makeup was better than any id ever done. He smiled at me and Cass. I looked back at her and she shrugged.
"Sorry didn't meant to drop in. You two just seemed the least annoying or mean out of the bunch." He said. I looked back again and realized most of the seats had now been filled.
"My names Spencer. Nice to meet you two." Spencer said.
"Likewise, I'm Cassidy and this is Joanna. But we prefer Cass and Joan." Cass said. Spencer smiled. And I realized I'd found my new trio.