The Summer to Remember

Sacramento, California - Part 3

Anthony:

Tomorrow, we left for the road trip. As stupid as the whole thing was, I can't lie. I was excited. It was something I've always wanted to do, and being with Ian would make it a million times better. After the break-up, I realized how douchey I had been being to Ian. I ignored him a lot for her, and that I couldn't move out and leave Ian alone. He was always there for me, and I would always be there for him. Maybe a summer with only each other would show him how sorry I was.

Today, we were going to the grocery store to stock up on everything we would need. Usually, we switched off going to the store, because we both hated it. But we decided to go together today since we would be needing so much.

Ian walked in front of me, pushing the cart through the labyrinth of aisles. We already had about half of what we would need, most being snacks to eat in the car. We had also decided that the nights we weren't staying in a big city, we would just sleep in our car if we got too tired to save money. Yes, this trip would cost a lot of cash, but we could do it. We just couldn't be stupid with our spending.

"What else?" He asked, grabbing a pack of a bunch of water bottles and depositing them on the bottom shelf.

I shrugged. "What else do we need?"

He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. "Should we get like shampoo and shit?"

"Nah, the hotels will have that."

I turned around to scan the shelves for anything else we might need, and spotted someone I didn't necessarily want to see down the aisle.

"Shit," I whispered, spinning back around. "Go go go go."

I pushed the cart around the corner and Ian followed, not questioning because he knew how unpredictable I was after years upon years of best-friendship, but it was too late.

"Anthony?" 

And there was her voice, the voice I used to love so much but have grown to hate. I squinted my eyes shut and exhaled heavily before spinning around and putting on a fake smile.

"Hey," I said awkwardly, avoiding her eyes.

"Hey! How, uh, how have you been?" she asked, bringing her cart to a halt next to ours.

"Pretty good. You?"

I looked up, and my ex-girlfriend shrugged. "Great, actually. What are you guys doing this summer?" 

Ian shot me a protective glance, as if saying "I can make up some bullshit excuse and get us out of here," but I looked away and sucked in a breath, deciding that I would have to just get through this.

"We're actually going on a little road trip," I answered, gesturing to the cart. "All around the country. Just us."

She nodded. "Ah, that's cool! I think Pete and I are going to San Francisco next weekend."

"Pete?" I questioned, my heart sinking.

"Oh, uh, yeah. The guy I've... I've been seeing for... since..."

"Oh. The guy you cheated on me with."

She looked down and drummed her thumbs on the handle of her cart. "Uh, yeah. About that..." she looked up and smiled faintly, "I'm really, really sorry. I hope we can still be friends."

I looked over at Ian, and he looked back at me, and I looked at him like I wanted him to leave because I wanted to seem tough, but he knew I really wanted him to stay. So I stood up taller and swiveled the cart toward the check-out lanes. 

"If you'll excuse us, we have a road trip to pack for."

And then I left her, standing wide-eyed and alone in the middle of the aisle.

And I have to say, it felt pretty damn good.

*

And that good feeling stayed until I got home.

And then it all hit me, and I stood in the doorway, my arms loaded with grocery bags, and felt my heart return to the state it was in a few days ago. She was really with another guy already. There was no hope for me left.

Ian was in front of me, and after setting down his arm-full and turning around to get more, froze when he saw me.

"Oh, man..." he said, gently approaching me.

I let him take the bags from me as I collapsed against the doorframe, feeling the tears sting against my eyes. I blinked them away, trembling, and then Ian returned and gently dragged me over to the couch.

Right before he made me sit down, I hugged him tight, because I felt the need to.

He hugged me back, hesitantly at first, and then rubbed my back soothingly.

"I'm sorry," I said into his shoulder, sobbing.

"For what?"

"For being such a bad friend."

He pulled away and looked at me questioningly. "Anthony, you're not-"

"Yes I am, and you know it. I ignored you all the time when I was with her, and always came right to you when we fought, and now I'm just forcing you to deal with all my pain, and-"

"Anthony, stop. You're my best friend. I'm supposed to always be here for you. If anyone's the bad friend, it's me. I don't feel like I'm doing enough to help you through this."

I shook my head. "No no no. You've done way more than enough. Thank you for that."

He smiled a little, and I felt myself calming down. He really was a great friend. 

"I'll get the groceries. You can go start packing."

I smiled and put a hand on his shoulder, so he knew I meant it when I said "Thank you."

And I did go back to my room, but I didn't pack.

I sat there, making a promise to myself that I would find some way on this trip to pay Ian back for all he's done for me.

A/N: Woowoowoo next chapter they leave! :D How exciting is that like yay amirite idk but sorry for the short filler chapter .__. See ya latah c: