a Season to Remember (Book 1)

Chapter 1

"I hope you guys enjoyed being freshmen this year and I hope you all have a nice summer break!" Mrs. Johnson, my history teacher was saying as she leaned against her desk.

Today was the last day of school, and we were all waiting for the bell to ring.

I've been a nervous wreck all day because it was about to be summer vacation, and what did that mean? It meant that my best friend's cousins were coming to spend the summer with her. It meant that I would have to face him.

Last summer, I had met Josephine's cousins for the first time. I got along with one of them well, and I got along with the other too well. Aizen was the name of the oldest cousin; and I was madly in love with him.

When I first met Aizen, we would throw glances at each other, not knowing if those glances meant much, then a month later we realized those glances meant everything. We talked all summer long and hung out with each other; of course Josephine was present for it all. But she wasn't present on the night of his birthday when it was just me and Aizen laying in the grass talking about life outside. That night when I was getting ready to go inside because it was getting late, he asked if I could stay outside with him a little longer. I was suprised he asked me to stay, but I stayed anyways and not long after, the confession I'd been waiting for all summer long finally came. He told me about a dream he had about me and how he's never looked at me the same since and that he had feelings for me. I ended up confessing my feelings for him and the night ended with me giving him a kiss as a birthday gift because he asked for it, and us exchanging phone numbers.

That fall, I started my freshman year at Brooke Wood High and I got a secret phone so I could talk to Aizen. We talked on the phone throughout the months, then after spring break he just stopped texting me and not long after that I told my older brother about the relationship because up until then no one else had known. I don't know what made me tell Jonathan about my secret relationship with Aizen. I guess it was that I missed Aizen and I had no one I could talk to about him ghosting me. But Jonathan knew that I wasn't allowed to date and he didn't like that I was breaking our parents' rules, so he made me not only delete Aizen's number, but he made me break the sims card for the phone and bury it somewhere. That was the first and last time I talked to anyone about Aizen.

That was months ago, now here I was going into another summer; about to meet Aizen  for the first time since he ghosted me. I didn't know how I was going to react because I still loved him.

I looked at the clock and smiled as I realized we only had two minutes left before school was over.

I grabbed my backpack and pulled my phone out of the main pocket.

When I checked my notifications, I noticed that I got a bunch of texts from Josephine.

Josephine: Last day of school whoop whoop

Josephine: Are you coming home with me today or are you taking your bus?

Josephine: I can't believe we're about to go on summer break

Joseph: Yesterday you said you were allowed to date now since you're almost 16, and you're basically a sophomore now, right? Well, I know I said don't fall for my cousin, but I was thinking about hooking you guys up this summer. What do you think?

I thought about what say for a second, then I messaged her back.

Me: I think I'm going to go home first. But I'll have Jonathan drop me off at your place later.

I didn't answer her last question. I guess she was on her phone in class too because she responded back fast.

Josephine: Dude, we need to get our own car fast.

I smiled a little as I responded back to her.

Me: We're fifteen and we don't know how to drive without a parent just yet.

Josephine: I guess you're right

The bell rang before I could reply back.

I quickly stood up and threw my backpack over my shoulders before falling in line to exit the classroom.

***

"Have a good summer, Melody. I'll see you next year." My bus driver said, once we finally came to my stop.

"Thank you, Mr. Lopez." I said, before getting off the bus.

Mr. Lopez made a good bus driver because he took the time to know everyone's names and he did his best to try and converse with everyone when he could.

After I watched the bus leave, I made my way in the direction of my house.

I didn't know if I could go through with going to Josephine's today or any other time this summer. I was still hurt by what Aizen did to me; I just didn't know if I could face him. He was my first real boyfriend and my first real heartbreak; I didn't know if that said anything but it was him. He was my first.

I was so lost in thought, I didn't realize I had made it home.

I pulled the house key out of my backpack as I made my way to the door.

I was about to unlock the door when the door opened, revealing a tall and beautiful black woman. She was wearing business clothes with a phone glued to her ear.

"Melody, you're home." She said bringing the phone down from her ear and making room for me to come in the house.

"Hi mom," I said walking inside.

She looked outside real quick before closing the door. "Where's Josephine? I've never seen you two without each other."

I started to make my way upstairs. "She couldn't come home with me today, because her cousins are coming over."

When I got to my room, I put my backpack on the floor by my desk and flopped down on my bed before I started sobbing.