Summer of first love

1

It was 1965 in Santa Maria, California—a town where the sun always seemed to be shining and the surf was just a short drive away. Roseann Hathaway, a junior at Santa Maria High, walked through the bustling school hallway with her best friend, Renee, by her side. The girls had been inseparable since they were little, sharing everything from secrets to fashion tips.

As they strolled past the lockers, discussing the latest gossip and plans for the weekend, Roseann's attention was suddenly caught by a glimpse of someone new. A boy with sandy hair and a quiet demeanor was leaning against the wall, flipping through a book. His appearance was understated—he wore a plain white t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of worn-in boots. But there was something about him that made Roseann pause.

"Who's that?" Roseann asked, nudging Renee.

Renee followed her gaze and shrugged. "Oh, that's the new guy. I think his name's Braeden something. I don't know, he's kind of average, don't you think?"

But Roseann didn't think so. There was something about him that drew her in. She couldn't quite put her finger on it—maybe it was the way he seemed so comfortable on his own or the quiet confidence in his eyes. Whatever it was, it intrigued her.

As the day went on, Roseann found herself thinking about Braeden. She hadn't had the chance to talk to him, but she wanted to. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, she walked out of the building with Renee, still pondering the new boy.

"Hey, I'll catch up with you later," Roseann said to Renee as they reached the front steps of the school. "I've got to do something."

Renee gave her a curious look but nodded. "Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Roseann watched as Renee headed off, then turned her attention to the side of the school where a few students often hung out. And there he was—Braeden Langley, sitting on the grass with a guitar resting on his knee. He was strumming it lightly, his fingers moving over the strings with ease. The soft melody drifted through the air, drawing Roseann in.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over to him. "Hi," she said, trying to sound casual. "I'm Roseann Hathaway."

Braeden looked up from his guitar and smiled. "Hey, Roseann. I'm Braeden Langley. Nice to meet you."

"Are you new here?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah, my family just moved here from a small town in Arizona. A place called Winslow. We've moved around a lot, wherever my dad could find work, but I'm hoping this place will be more permanent," Braeden explained. "I'm starting to like it here."

Roseann smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Do you play guitar?"

Braeden chuckled. "A little. I'm not great or anything, but I like it. What about you? Do you play?"

"A little," Roseann admitted. "But my voice is really my instrument."

"Really? That's cool," Braeden said, genuinely impressed. "Maybe we should play together sometime."

"I'd like that," Roseann replied, her heart skipping a beat. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Yeah, I've got a brother named Colton. He's more into sports, though. Wants to try out for football here."

"My sister Luana sings too, but she's really shy about it," Roseann said. "She gets nervous singing in front of people."

Braeden nodded. "That's understandable. It's not easy putting yourself out there."

Roseann glanced at her watch and sighed. "I should get home. But it was nice talking to you."

"Yeah, you too," Braeden said, giving her a warm smile. "I'll see you around, Roseann."

"See you," she replied, turning to walk away, a small smile playing on her lips. As she headed home, she couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. There was something special about Braeden Langley, and she couldn't wait to get to know him better.