This Summer

Chapter One

"Mom!" I screamed, "This isn't fair! Summer is suppose to be fun! A break, a time for no worries!"

"But this is a break, Raina. A break from eatchother. You and I haven't been getting along very well lately, as you know, and this is our chance to just be apart for a little. Rejuvenate and calm down."

I couldn't deny this. We have a screaming fight atleast once a day and almost never get along. I can get past that though, I do not need a season long break at my Grandma Bea's. She lives in Georgia, way to far for me to see any of my friends at all during Summer considering the fact that my home is in Florida. You are probably thinking, It's not far, just one state over, but no. Can you really expect a sixteen year old to drive to another state just to visit a friend who they'll see in a few months anyway? Also the fact that my grandma isn't really someone I'm dying for my friends to meet. She is basically a helicopter, hovering over me and giving me little to no freedom. I can't take this. I won't take this. Summer is suppose to be fun with your friends, not Let's go stay at Grandma's time.

"You just hate me! That's what it is! You just hate me and you don't want to deal with me for a whole Summer!" I yelled, even though I knew this wasn't true. Yes, me and my mom had our many disagreements, but I knew she didn't hate me. I'm pretty much just willing to say anything if it means I get to stay home in Florida.

"That's not true, and you know it. I'm doing this because I love you, and a break will be good for both of us. Listen, Raina, you are going to your Grandma Bea's house for this whole Summer break whether you like it or not! And that is final."

~ ~ ~

I got that Summertime, Summertime Sadness.

Lana Del Rey's voice fills my ears as I drive to my Grandma Bea's. The radio was blasting and she could never sound better. I couldn't relate to her words anymore than I do now. This Summertime is filled with sadness and it had barely even begun.

I was texting my friend Natalie earlier, and she told me the Johnson brothers were already having their first party of the Summer. It was planned for tonight, and I wanted more than anything to be able to go. I can see it already, scrolling through all the Instagram photos from the party, crying, wishing I were there. I had asked my mother if I could stay in Florida for atleast this one night, just to be able to go over to the Johnson's one time this Summer, but nooo. Your Grandmother will always come before your friends.

I had been driving for atleast four hours now. I passed the Florida/Georgia borderline about an hour ago and was only about 45 minutes away from Grandma Bea's. She lived very close to Florida, right above it really. Every mile felt like 100 as I thought of everything being left behind.

The song ended and I grabbed my phone to pick another. Thank God I have a bluetooth car, for I hate the radio's choice in songs. Scrolling through the music which mostly consisted of Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, and Fall Out Boy, I picked Diet Mountain Dew, a song that never failed to cheer me up atleast a little.

Your no good for me. Baby, your no good for me. Your no good for me, but baby I want you, I want you.

I relaxed to the delacate sound of her voice for the rest of the car ride.

~ ~ ~

When I arrived at Grandma Bea's home I felt a strange mix of relief and dread. Relief that I would no longer have to be stuck in my tiny ass car, and dread of staying in this hell hole called Georgia.