He's That Summer Breeze

Home away from Home

"Callia... Callia.... Wake up..." I heard the voice quietly speaking my name and using their hand to gently shake my bare shoulder. Their touch sent chills up my spine, it was an unexpected chill that made me shiver. I woke up with a start and lifted my head up to see the headboard of the bed. I was lying on my stomach and had to completely turn my body around to see who was talking to me.

"Wh-who's there?" I asked, but turned around to see Zach sitting on the edge of my bed,"Oh... It's you." I layed my head back down and closed my eyes again ignoring the fact that he was sitting right there.

"Callia." He said... Again.

"What do you want?" I asked grumpily with my face in the pillow.

"I want to show you something." He said with excitement.

"What time is it?"

"Six." what in the world could he possibly be showing me at six in the morning?

"No way! Go back to sleep!"

"I'm already dressed, and besides you'll really like it!" he said between a whisper and a yell.

"Well if you haven't noticed, I'm in my pajamas!" I whispered loudly.

"Well get some clothes on and meet me outside in five minutes." he walked out of the room before I could protest.

Ugh. Why did he have to do this now? What is it he so badly needs to show me? I couldn't just ditch out on him, so I reluctantly got up, changed out of my tank top and pajama pants and into some clothes. I was too lazy to do anything to my hair except just brush through it. After I brushed my teeth I quietly walked down the stairs careful not to wake Uncle Clarion.

I opened the front door and saw Zach sitting on the front porch. Ha deja vu,"Ok so where are we going?" I asked curiously.

"Surprise, can't tell you until we're there." we walked for a while down the main street and past the sheriff's office to the wooded area where the treehouse was.

"It's not another treehouse is it?" I commented while asking.

"No not at all, now this time close your eyes and I'll lead you the rest of the way."

I wasn't so sure about that because of my klutziness, but before I could refuse he grabbed my hand and I closed my eyes. His hand was much bigger than mine now, and it seemed a lot stronger than I remember. He lead me a little farther until he came to a stop,"You can open your eyes now." and I did exactly what he said.

What I saw was more than I could have hoped for. It was more than I expected. It was like walking back into our field again with the strong scent of the wildflowers coming into your nose. It was a tall grassy field, just like the one back at home. There weren't any trees except the woods behind us.There were wildflowers, but nowhere near as vibrant and radiant as the ones back home. Altogether this was my home away from home. It took me a while to catch my breath, but when I did I asked Zach the question that was gnawing at me from the moment I saw it,"How in the world, did you find this place?"

His smile was big and his straight, white set of teeth were showing. His hazel eyes were twinkling bright in the morning sun,"Well you know how Charlie and I were playing soccer and I kicked it over the trees?"

"Uh huh." I said in reply

"Well, when I went to go get it I found it here. It reminded me so much of home, and I knew you would love it. So, here we are." after he told me I walked farther out into the grass and just sat down. Zach silently walked out and sat next to me, he put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze.

"Zach?" I asked while whispering

"Yeah?"

"Can we just keep this place to ourselves, like we do back at home?" I hoped he'd say yes, it's just I didn't want to share this with Charlie, Rachael, nor Uncle Clarion. This place was just for us, and us only.

"I'd like that."

The rest of the day, Zach and I spent it at the grass field by the woods. Earlier I went to the treehouse and took Charlie's guitar, knowing he wouldn't mind if I brought it back. I played music, read my book, while Zach sketched and messed with a soccer ball. He was in the middle of sketching a flower when I couldn't help but notice how his face looked when he did so. Every part of his face seemed so calm, but so concentrated. He would occasionally bite his lip and his hazel eyes twinkled the whole time. His dirty blond hair was all over the place, but it looked natural on him. I found myself getting lost in his golden eyes, I couldn't help but just to watch his face and his little movements. Then I realized that he was no longer the boy I used to chase around and make mud pies with, Zach was now a teenage boy.No, Zach was turning into a man. It's weird to think that, but he has grown taller than me by a head, and he didn't have that scrawny teenage boy body anymore. He has become more muscular and his face was no longer completely boyish, but it has a more masculine build than it used to. His crooked smile always made him look happy and it was so fitting. Zach is more than specific features, he's very... Nice looking? Oh gosh... What am I thinking? He's just a regular guy Callia get a hold of your thoughts! But, another part of my brain was telling me that he's also my best friend. Yeah, my best good looking friend! Ugh! Here I go again!

"You okay?" Zach looked at me curiously and obviously my thoughts were putting expressions on my face because I held my face in my hands as if I was crying.

"Yeah, just got lost in my thoughts for a moment." I told the truth, but only half of it. He smiled his beautiful crooked smile and went back to drawing. Ugh. Why did he have to be so... Ugh... I plopped on my back and just lay there. My eyelids began feeling heavy and I couldn't remember where I was anymore, everything was in a blur. All I could remember was how tired I was and Zach's crooked smile before I fell asleep.