The Summer I Met You

Hi...dad?

I stare out of the gold Jeep's open window.  All I can think is why do I have to go to Florida? Why do I have to meet my dad? He left my mom for some super model, who he is now married to! Apparently he wants me to meet his new family! What was so wrong with this? Why couldn't he stay here in Rockwell, Minnesota? With my mom and I?

Mom pats my hand," Sweetie, I know you don't want to go, but you need to meet your father. Plus it'll be good for you to get out of this little old town. Maybe meet some boys?"

"MOM!" I shout. She giggles. "When I get to Orlando, the last thing I'll be thinking about is boys. Besides, I'll probably just be hanging around Dad's set for his new movie he's directing."

"Oh...right. The one about beaches and parties. What is it called?"

"Beach Party." I mock the title in a surfer dude voice. We giggle as we pull up to the airport's drop off area. That's when I realize I won't see my mom in three months.

She hugs me across the center glove box. "Good bye, baby girl," she says, I think I see tears in her eyes.

"Bye, Mom. I'll see you soon! Call me!" I reply as I get out of the car.

I walk to the trunk of the Jeep with my purse in one hand. I open it and pull out my new Kate Spade suitcase, a gift from Dad for my sixteenth birthday (that's when I found out about this trip). Closing the trunk, I walk into the airport, looking back to give my mom a sad smile.

I take a minute to look at my surroundings. There are multiple airline booths; American, Alaska, South Western, Delta, and United. 'Oh, man,' I think,'which airline did dad book?'

It takes me a moment or two to remember that dad had chosen Delta. 'The safest and the cheapest, plus there's free cookies!' he had said. I smile to my self, 'ahhh free cookies!'

I walk into the line for Delta. "Miss, I can help you here!" a woman behind the counter with short gray hair and round glasses on yells.

I walk up to her station. "Name and destination?" she asks.

"Willow Carter. Orlando, Florida,"I say as cheerful as possible.

"Okay, can I see your id?"

I hand Georgia (that's what her name tag says) my driver's license. She scans it and hands it back along with my boarding pass.

I walk to the long line of people waiting for the dreaded security check. But, as long as I'm safe I'm happy.

~~~~

'Wow, that was the longest flight of my life,' I think as we land.

The flight attendant, Wendy says on the speaker,"Hello passengers, this is your flight attendant speaking. Welcome to Orlando, Florida; where the current temperature is 105 degrees. If this isn't your final destination we hope you have a safe rest of your travels. You are free to be on your small electronics. When the captain turns off the seat belt sign, you are free to move about the cabin."

'Beep, beep,' the fasten seat belt sign turns off. I take off my seat belt and grab my Kate Spade purse (it matches my suitcase). When I stand up in the aisle, I let out a sigh of relief, man oh man it feels good to finally stretch my legs.

I follow the line of fellow passengers out of the large plane and to baggage claim number six. As we ride the escalator to the baggage claims, I spot an old tall skinny gray headed man holding a sign that says 'Willow Carter' on it. 'Really, my dad couldn't have picked up the daughter who he's never met face to face before?' I ask my self.

I walk down to the man and say,"Hi, I'm Willow Carter."

"Miss. Carter, I am Burt your driver for the summer. Usually I'm the butler, but no I have to spend my summer driving a crazed teenage girl around to malls and concerts," Burt says in a monotone voice.

"Nice to meet you too."

"Like wise. I guess I should go get your luggage."

"No, it's fine. I can get it my self."

Anything to get onto this guy's good side. Especially since it looks like we're going to spend lots of one on one time together. 

I walk up to the baggage claim with Burt trialing behind me, just as the first falls onto the black track. Just my luck, it's mine! At least one good thing is coming out of this trip! I grab the handle and haul the heavy Kate Spade over the metal wall. 

"Let's go, Burt!" I exclaim.

"Your limo is right out front."

"My limo?"

"What did you think? We were taking the bus? Your father is Carl Carter for heaven's sake!"

"I know that but...oh never mind."

We reach the limo and Burt takes my bag. He opens my door and I slide in. In five short minutes, we're off airport property. 

~~~~

I can't take my eyes off of my beach-like surroundings. This is so surreal, I can't believe that Florida is this beautiful. We continue along this street that follows along a beach. Finally, we reach a giant gold gleaming gate with the name Carter engraved in an oval shaped piece of metal. It automatically opens and we pull up a long drive way. Once we reach the top, I see a giant gray stucco mansion with a beach right behind it. 'Man oh man, am I gonna get a tan,' I think to my self.

The car comes to a sudden stop and Burt opens my door. He leads me to the giant front double door, each has a lion shaped knocker. Burt pulls a set of keys out of his pocket and opens the front door. Standing in the middle of the huge foyer are Katherine Philips and the one and only Carl Carter, my dad.

~~~~

Author's Note:

YYYYYYYYAAAAAAYYYY this is my first ever book on Wattpad. Oh my gosh, I have been planning this for so long! Firstly, I would like to thank my followers, who have followed me for no apparent reason. Secondly, I would like to thank all of the readers, who are reading this, WOW that's really cool of y'all. I hope you guys stick with this book through out its journey.

I will have a few contests through out this book, the only rule is you have to be a reader!

Contest: First person to comment (anywhere on the first chapter) gets a character named after them!

Any who... comment, follow, vote, and fan!

- Mia <3

Word Count: 1113