The Summer Everything Turned Ugly

Chapter 3

I run to my room, and lock myself up.

Why did I have to be so bipolar and ruin the whole day?

I can't believe I left Eli there to be the perfect epitome of a third wheel.

I couldn't help but feel so used.

I also couldn't help but feel disgusted with myself because I swore that I would never, ever break down like that and I did.

Maybe my walls were just built too high for me to hold them up anymore.

If he liked me, why can't he just tell me? What was so hard with that?

It's either he's just nervous or he really doesn't like me.

The tears made their way through my pale face.

Today was supposed to be our day.

And I just had to ruin it by bringing up the subject.

I almost couldn't imagine how desperate I must've sounded; I practically begged him to confess his feelings for me.

And summer break has just started.

How would the rest of my vacation be then, if it was this worse now and it as only the beginning?

~

"Mom, what do you think I should do for this summer?" I ask, while munching on the cheese-covered broccoli on my plate.

"You wanna go to voice camp? A few of my friends's sons and daughters are going," she says, playing with her mashed potatoes.

I guess you could say that we were alike in so many ways. But I didn't like voice camps and she did.

I mean, I like singing and all that, but singing in front of a crowd? Then get judged afterwards? Definitely not my kind of thing.

"Nah, I think I'll just visit Dad, if that's okay with you," I say softly, as if she were a piece of glass that might break.

Because they split up, I needed to visit Dad as much as I was with Mom bacuase he had the rights and all that. I visit him whenever I get the chance to, but it's been quite awhile since my last visit.

"That would be absolutely lovely, Summer," she says warmly. "I could visit you guys during the weekends."

I keep a smile to myself.

Even if they were far apart, their relationship seemed to be improving.

It was like they loved each other again, and maybe they did.

"That'd be great," I reply, bringing my plate to the sink.

"Awesome," she says excitedly. "I'll give your Dad a call after dinner."

She had his number? Who knew?

I snicker quietly. Their relationship was like a teenager's. Messy, crappy, complicated, but they knew they loved each other so why bother caring about the rest of the world.

What I didn't understand was that I am an actual teenager, and I've never had a relationship.

Not that I don't want one, it's just that I've never lived to have a decent guy like me. Sure, I went on dates and stuff, but those weren't really exclusive. I wanted to be able to call someone mine.

"Yeah, whatever. Are you done with that?" I ask, pointing at her plate.

She nods, and I bring it to the sink.

So this summer, I'm gonna stay at Dad's place.

I'll be leaving Megan, Mason, and Eli here then.