The Summer of Our Lives (bxb)

Meeting Him

I usually don't run away from my problems but I couldn't take it anymore. 

The things he said to me and the things he did just became too much. 

I've been at my mom's house for a while now. It should feel like home but it doesn't. 

There's still a part of me wishing I didn't leave, my mother says it wasn't my fault but I can't help feeling guilty. 

She also told me I needed to start working, "For Christ's sake, you're twenty three years old, you can't live here forever." She said. 

It's just been hard because I had to drop out of college because it got too difficult. 

I tried to write down my thoughts about everything because my mom said it would help me but I always end up staring at the paper not writing anything. 

Today, on a hot summer day, was no different. I was going mad with boredom. 

I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. It was July 6th, 1993. Time seemed to be moving rather slowly. 

I stared at the paper in front of me, my hands wanted to write but my mind stopped me. 

After a couple of seconds I felt a spark run through my body. I picked up the pencil and finally wrote something.

This will be the summer of my life. 

I put down the pencil and looked at the sentence, I traced the word 'life' with my finger then folded the paper and put it in my pocket.

I wanted to believe it, I could feel it. This summer would be different from last year. 

I tapped the pencil on the table thoughtfully, I needed a car, I realized. 

If I was ever going to get out of my mom's place I needed something to get away in. 

I haven't left the house since I got here, that was a week ago. 

I stood up and walked over to the front door. I put my hand on the doorknob and sighed. 

I didn't know what would be out there for me. I was ready though, I was ready to experience anything. 

The door opened and I walked outside feeling tense. 

I expected Anthony to be there waiting for me, but he wasn't. 

I sighed with relief, and continued to study the area. 

It was hot. Really, hot. Sweat had already started to appear on the back of my neck, sticking to my shirt. 

I walked down the stairs and looked up at the giant tree next to me. 

Its leaves seemed to wave at me, I gave the tree a wave and looked ahead of me.

There were two paths, right would lead me to a more nature route while left would lead me into town. 

I thought to myself that I had enough time so I chose left and that took me towards town. 

Even though it was hot, I found myself cautiously enjoying myself. I smiled, I forgot what it felt like to be happy. 

 Anthony never liked it when I smiled, he always thought I was thinking of someone and accused me of cheating. 

By the time I got into town there was a slight breeze in the air, I thought of it like it was leading me where to go. 

I followed the wind and found a white car with a for sale sign on it. It was marked for three thousand dollars and it said cash only. 

It was a Ford Taurus. I saw a lot of those these days, I've never driven one before. 

I didn't have cash on me but I did have my card so I could use an atm. 

Lucky for me, I saved a lot of money the past two years. I had to hide it from Anthony however so he wouldn't take it. It felt good to have some freedom now. 

I found an atm right next to the building and put my card in. 

I looked back at the car, there was no one by it. 

That made me slightly confused, who was selling the car? 

I got the money and made my way back over to the car and waited.

It seemed to get even warmer the longer I stood there. 

After I wiped the sweat off my neck for the hundredth time, I peeked into the building.

"Hello?" I called, "I want to buy this car." 

"Alright, be right out." Someone responded. 

Now I was nervous, it sounds stupid to say but I haven't talked to really anyone in about a week. 

Two men who looked around my age came out and stood before me. 

One of them looked like he recently had a buzzcut as it was growing out while the other one looked slightly older than him with a distinct five o'clock shadow. 

"Hey." I said and pointed at the car. "Is this for sale?" 

"Anything for you." The man with the beard said.

I glared at him, I wasn't in the mood to be flirty. "I'll take it." 

The other man held out his hand to shake mine. "I'm Lyndon, this is Jonas." He nodded at the man with the beard. 

I shook his strong hand, "I'm Shane." 

"Shane?" Jonas raised his eyebrows, "Irish?" 

I nodded uncomfortably, "Yeah." "Cute, I like red heads." He smiled at me. 

"Stop." Lyndon nudged Jonas with his elbow. "You got the money?" He asked me. 

I silently handed the wad of cash over to him. He looked through it and nodded. "It's yours." 

I smiled, "Thanks." "Here's my number if you need it." Lyndon took a pen and a gum wrapper from his pocket and scribbled his number on the wrapper and handed it to me. 

My hand shook a little as I reached out to grab it, I couldn't stop staring at him. He had a way of looking at you that made you feel special. 

I headed over to my new car carefully. It was definitely one of the best cars I've ever seen. 

I got in and started the car, I was pleased when it turned on without a fuss, I thought they sold me some run-down car. 

I leaned out the window and waved at them. Jonas waved back while Lyndon just stared at me. 

Lyndon and I held eye contact for a little bit until I broke it to drive away. 

I didn't notice until a couple minutes later on the road that my face was red, not from the sun but from Lyndon. 

I've never felt this way before about anyone, this was a different feeling than the one I had with Anthony. 

I smiled at myself in the review mirror, this summer was off to a great start.