That Summer

Chapter 1: The Plan

Amy, my best friend, and I had always wanted to go on a holiday together but we knew our parents wouldn't allow it. We'd tried asking them earlier if we could go to Paris for the weekend or something but obviously it wasn't the right time to ask because we were "too young". To be honest, we didn't even ask properly.

The plan had many flaws.

But this time we planned like a week in advance of my 16th birthday. We made sure we had answers for any of the questions they may ask to put us off and we did all our research in advance too. Me, being the organised one wanted to put all our research together in a PowerPoint presentation to make it easy and professional for our parents but Amy thought it would be too long and rehearsed. She was right. So we just made notes and got everything ready for the morning of 13th October.

On the actual day, as per the tradition, I went downstairs to meet my parents where they wished me, then gave me a card and asked what I wanted as my birthday gift. This was my time to finally ask them.

"Mum, Dad I wanna go to America with Amy." I said. "Now before you say no, just listen to me." I said quickly so they couldn't interrupt me. "We're not asking to go to LA or New York. I just wanna go see Calum and since Amy and I won't go to college together next year we wanna spend the summer together."

"America, on your own? You know we've said no before so you shouldn't bring it up again."

"Yes I know but back then we were too young, like you said, and now we're getting older and more mature. Plus it's not like I've never travelled alone. Remember I used to do that all the time when I was 7 and 8 yrs old."

"That was different. You were a minor then so the air-hostess looked after you but now..."

"Now what? Now I'll have Amy with me to 'look after me' and it's not like I don't know how to ask for help if I get stuck. I can always ask the airport staff for help. Pleaseee! It's my birthday wish."

"Fine. We'll allow you but will Amy's parents agree?"

"Of course they will, we've done our research to convince them. Oh and before you ask, we'll go in the beginning of August so like 1st or 2nd. Calum said that would be the best time for us to hang out."

"So you've spoken to him too. Does Aunt Joy know?"

"I dunno. I spoke to Calum and he said he'll take care of it so I'm guessing so. If not, then I'll speak to her after Amy has asked."

After that, I ran up to my room and called Amy. "Guess what!!"

"Did you ask? Already?"

"Yes and guess what they said...I AM ALLOWED!"

"OMG YES!"

"Now it's all upto you...only January will tell if this trip will go on or not. You better not mess it up." I warned Amy.

"I'll try not to. I've still got 3 months and a bit."

"You better practice it well"

"No, I don't want to sound rehearsed."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Well I'm gonna go, I've got other calls waiting for me. Ttyl"

"Yeah cool. Have a great birthday! Bye"

----------------------

I was sorted. Now we waited till January for Amy's 16th. It was a 3 month wait but with school it didn't seem so long.

----------------------

It was finally January and it was Amy's big day. Based on her parents' decision we would either call it Sweet Sixteen or Sulky Sixteen.

I met Amy in school on that day and she seemed all happy- which is obvious- but then by the end of the day she seemed a bit anxious. I walked over to her and said "I'm sure it'll be fine. Just ask them in your own way." She looked at me and smiled.

That afternoon I waited for a text or call from Amy telling me whether it's a yay or nay.

It wasn't till 7pm that she messaged asking me if I'd already asked her parents for her.

"No, I haven't said anything to them. I haven't even spoken to them since Christmas"

"That's odd because even before I asked my dad, he said he knew what I was gonna ask."

"But did he really?"

"Yes! That's why it's odd. He said he knows I wanna go to America with you to visit your cousin so that we can spend the whole summer together."

"Wait, what? He said that? No way!"

"Why?"

"Because I told my parent's the same exact thing"

"So..."

"So, my parents may have spoken to yours about this."

"But why?"

"To help you, you bum! So did it help?"

"Yes! My mum gave me a dress as my birthday present and with that she gave me a card that said 'This summer, you'll be in America with your best friend so enjoy your summer when it comes. Love Mum x' Like how cute is that?!"

"Aww that's so cute! See, my parents did help!"

"Yes they did so tell them I said THANK YOU for this great surprise."

"Hahaha, I'll surely pass on the message."

"Cool, I gotta go now so bye. Cya tomorrow."

"Yeah cya then."

And with that both of us were sorted by the end of January. Now all we had to do was work our butts off in school and revise hard for our GCSEs so that our parents don't change their minds about summer.