The Summer Of Max and Jessica

Chapter 2- Moms news

Mom and I walked into the house together, her arms were filled with groceries, I thought it was odd considering we were leaving tomorrow for the beach house but, I didn't say anything. I held the door for her and then followed her into the kitchen. I helped myself to the cookies she had just bought and sat at the island while she put away the rest of the groceries.

"How was School Hun?" She asked me as she put the eggs in the fridge.

"It was fine. You know tests, tests, tests and then the bell rang. Can you toss me a gatorade?" I was surprised she didn't give me the speech she usually does when I ask her to throw me something. About how I am a lady and ladies hand them and not throw them. She handed me the gatorade without saying anything. I could tell she was thinking about something, probably work.

"I'll be in my room" I said. "Might as well start packing... two and a half months worth of clothes don't pack themselves."

"Um-hum" was all she said.

I was confused but I ran up the stairs and stumbled into my room, setting my gatorade down on the dresser. I looked around and found all of the luggage placed around my room. My mom must have put it there. I looked at it, then at my closet and then back at the luggage... I shouldn't have save this for the last minute.

I decided to go head first into the task at hand. I grabbed a few sundress', t shirts, tank tops and a few pairs of shorts before sitting on my bed. Just five minutes I thought and laid down to rest.

I woke up from what I thought would be five minutes and looked over at the clock, it was 7:40 pm. I checked my phone, 4 new messages from Taylor, ugh she was so pushy. "Hey babe, wanna come over and help me pick out an outfit for tonight since you won't come with." "with me, you won't come with me. Finish your sentence Taylor" I thought. The other texts continued with, "Jess?!?!", "Helloooo Earth to JEeessicCcAaaA?!?!", "Check your damn phone." and the most recent, "Never mind, I'm already to go" I typed back a quick response now feeling guilty for missing her messages, " So sorry Tay just woke up! Have fun tonight... but not too much fun ;) haha" I knew that would make her laugh.

Just then there was a knock at my door. "Can I come in honey? I have some dinner for you." Hearing my moms voice reminded me that she seemed worried about something earlier.

"Sure mom" I said "Sorry I guess I fell asleep." I was suddenly feeling guilty for missing dinner as I saw on the plate she had made my favorite type of chicken for dinner.

"That's okay sweet heart, no worries, How's the packing?" She asked while she eyed my half full suitcase.

"Oh, you know..." I said. "By the way, you can take which ever suitcases you and dad need to pack your stuff."

"Honey, we have to talk about the summer this year... it's going to be a little different." She said it hesitantly and I suddenly realized whatever she was about to say was what she had been thinking about all day, I was suddenly worried. "What do you mean?" I managed to spit out.

"Well, your father and I are both very busy with work, so neither of us were able to take vacation time this year."

"You mean were not going? Then why am I packing" I was suddenly confused.

"No let me finish Jessica. Youare still going, your father and I will drive you up tomorrow and then come to visit for a weekend in both July and August. We figured it was best so you wouldn't be getting into any trouble with Taylor or any of you other girlfriends. With your Father and I at the firm all the time we figured it was best for you to at least get a vacation. Do you understand me Jessica?"

I did understand, I loved the beach house and I would love not having to come up with lame excuses for not going to parties with my friends. "Totally Mom, but I better start packing."

"Are you sure you're okay with this Honey? To be honest I was hesitant but your Father pushed me into it."

"Mom it will be fine. I swear. I will call if I can't handle it, OK?" I said reassuring her. I was a little upset that my parents could ship me off without much of a say but I was okay with it, because it meant avoiding the kind of summer the kids in my town liked to have.

"Of course sweetie, always call, I love you, goodnight."

"Love you too, 'night Mom I said as she closed the door behind her.

I ate my now cold chicken and rice as I packed. The gatorade I had from that afternoon warmer than my meal. I finished off my clothes suitcase with a pair of sunglasses and a few bathing suits before moving on to the other cases that lie in front of me. I filled one with my bath things, shampoo, soap, shaving cream and razor, a curling iron, a few towels, a blow drier and my bag of make up.

The two bags I had left began to be filled with books and magazines for the beach, my laptop, my various chargers and favorite DVDs including JAWS of course! I had to watch it every year on the beach, no exceptions. I then packed my art supplies all of my sketch books, pencils, oil paints and water colors to last a summer. I threw my various cameras I had collected over the years anticipating the pictures I could take this year on the beach.

I guess you could call me "artsy". If you wanted to base things off my taste in "urban-hippy-chic" clothes as Taylor called them or the fact that I wore black nail polish most of the time and had a rings  on almost every finger. But you could also call me "artsy" because I just loved art. It was what I did and what I loved.

I placed all my bags by the door and sighed, I was ready to sleep. By the time I had made sure I had everything I would need I was exhausted and it was 2:30 am. I sent a text to Taylor and my other two friends whom I was not quite as close with, they were even more boy obsessed than Taylor was.  "I will miss you gals, see you in two and a half months. LOVE YA!" I hit send all and then fell asleep right away.