Out of the Blue

21

It's been three weeks since the run in with Caleb. Summer had come to an end. Stephanie's mind and eyes slowly faded into consciousness. She looked over at her clock. 5:00 a.m. Her alarm clock was set to go off at 6:00. But Stephanie didn't bother trying to fall asleep again. She stared into the darkness that engulfed her bedroom. Shadowey forms of furniture stood still in her room and a few rays of the Kawai'i sun peeked through her blinds.

Today was the big day. First day of senior year. Prom, colleges, applications, stress. But there was something more. Stephanie had gone through a lot this summer. A lot. She was dating the most popular guy at school. Well, who knows any more knowing what Caleb and his crew told people. The name still have Stephanie and odd feeling. The past three weeks have been pretty smooth between Andrew and Stephanie. No more crazy adventures, they worked everyday, went on a couple more dates, visited Miranda Falls and Mana Moku and surfed a few times in the morning and night. But summer was over and they were no longer hidden from their summer time isolation.

   Beginning to over think, thousands of thoughts darted around Stephanie's head. How will Andrew treat me at school? Would he be ashamed of me? Of dating me? Would our relationship last with all the pressure of school? Is he proud to call me his? Stephanie shook her head and forced herself to stop thinking bad thoughts. To erase them, she thought of all the amazing things that happened to her this summer and started to smile. Her first training day, Stephanie was dancing and ran right into him. She laughed at the memory. The many times Andrew pulled her into Mila's tank. When she injured her foot, the first time she saw Andrew's walls break down. Miranda Falls, the big storm... Mana Moku. Their first formal date... The first time she became completely vulnerable. When he told her he loved her. So much has happened this summer. Does it mean everything will come to an end?

Stephanie finally gathered up the energy and got up out of bed. She showered, put on athletic shorts and a t-shirt and once her hair was semi-dry she threw it up in a ponytail. Put on some mascara (gotta try somewhat for the first day of school) and brushed her teeth. She went down stairs where on her kitchen table she saw a coffee mug and a note that said " Happy first day of senior year! Here's a mocha to start off your year! Love, Mom and Dad". Stephanie lifted up the mug and breathed in deeply the earthy scent with swirls of chocolate. Taking a sip, warming up her body, she smiled and whispered " Thanks Mom and Dad". Sipping her coffee, Stephanie slowly gathered her book bag with new binders, notebooks, pens and pencils.

Finishing off her last sip, Stephanie swung her book bag onto her shoulders and headed out the door. She felt the buzz of her phone in her hand. It was a text from Ms. Darla: Enjoy your first day of school dear! Remember you work today 3-9. Come straight from school. Have fun!" Stephanie smiled and put her phone in her front most book bag pocket.

When Stephanie hopped on her bike, just about to head to school, the all too familiar engine sound turned into her driveway. " you aren't really going to ride to school are you?" Andrew laughed leaning outside his window. Stephanie placed her bike in the side of the house and ran to his truck. Threw her book bag into the back seat and hopped up in the middle of the front row. "Good morning!, you are looking beautiful as ever." Andrew put his arm around Stephanie and kissed her on the forehead. Stephanie laughed and with a big smile greeted him back with a kiss on the cheek. She stared into his piercing blue eyes which stood out even more against his tan skin. He smiled back with his perfect teeth and said "let's go to school, shall we?"

   The fifteen minute car ride was filled with music and laughter as Stephanie and Andrew jammed out to songs like "Fergalicious" and "That's my kind of night". Andrew finally pulled into his assigned spot, 18, and turned off his truck. Stephanie shifted uncomfortably and gazed away from Andrew.

   "What's wrong?" Andrew knew something was up instantly, he knew her so well he could read Stephanie like a book. But Stephanie just shook her head. Andrew put both hands on her shoulders and turned Stephanie towards him, he made their eyes lock. "Steph, nothing and I mean nothing is going to change about us today. Got it? We went through a hell of a summer. It was the best summer of my life. I mean look! I fell in love! I'll scream it from the rooftops, I FELL IN LOVE THIS SUMMER!," Stephanie looked away and couldn't help but giggle while trying to shush him. He let go of her shoulders and lifted her chin back up so his eyes could meet her amazing golden brown, doey eyes again, " I'm not going to lie, people are going to talk. Whether it be good or bad. But we are facing this together. Whatever happens it's going to be you and me vs. the problem. Don't take shit from anyone and if someone is giving you shit, I'll take care of it." Andrew's eyes twinkled as his mouth curled into that smirk she loved, giving her a sneak peek of his pearly whites. All of Stephanie's anxieties seemed to melt away in his eyes. He's right, we went through in hell of a summer. Stephanie nodded and lightly brushed his lips with a kiss.

   She smiled and replied " I know".

   They both got out of Andrew's truck, grabbed their book backs and met right in front of his truck. Andrew wrapped his muscular arm around Stephanie's shoulders and kissed her again on the forehead. " Ready to head on in?"

  Stephanie smiled and nodded eagerly. She took a deep breath and her and Andrew started to walk into school together. Stephanie smiled up at her Andrew, thinking how summer ending was like the ending of a book, wishing there was more to read. But Stephanie and Andrew's end of summer wasn't an ending of a book, it was the beginning. Stephanie looked ahead at the stone building and took another deep breath.

Time for the next chapter.