My 16th Summer

Samantha, My Dear

Confused? Yes.

Sad? Yes.

Angry? Yes.

Helpless. Yes.

Fidgeting uncontrollably? Unfortunately, yes.

Oliver and I hung out, he called it a date, then kissed me. Alex and I shared a sleeping bag outside, Winston and I made a bet, and somehow that lead to Alex and I kissing in the exact same spot Oliver and I had just the day before.

I feel slutty. Two boys?? And they're brothers!! They're freaking BROTHERS!!!

It's not right, so who do I call?

I call Samantha Glennen, my best friend from the country club. In only a few short rings, I hear her pick up, answering in her sing-song sweet voice. "Hello-o??"

"Hey Sammy, how soon can you get out to Old Fort Road?"

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I heard Sam's blue VolksWagon pull up in the driveway, so I ran outside to greet her.

"Where are you going?" Winston asked me as I passed him on the stairs.

"Shutup." I told him, impersonating Alex. I heard Winnie laughing behind me as I dashed out the front door.

"Sammy!!" I exclaimed, as I saw her getting out of her car.

"Claire Bear!" She squeeled, dropping her Nike bag and racing up the porch steps. She tackled me in a hug, and we both laughed and said three word sentences. They were all parts of inside jokes from over the years.

"Who's this??" I heard Ayden ask from behind me. I turned and stood up, stepping aside so Samantha could introduce herself.

"I'm Samantha Glennen," she said politely.

"Ayden."

I gave Samantha a look that said "We need to talk.. like now", so she followed me up to my room. I contemplated telling her she had left her car door wide open and he bag on the ground, but decided against it. I'd help her with her stuff after she gave me some of her famouse Samantha Glennen advice.

As soon as I closed the door she sat on the edge of my bed. "Talk to me." I love how she can always tell that somethings up.

I told her about what happened with Oliver, then how things went down with Alex.

"And..?" She asked me, motioning with her hands for me to continue.

"And.. That's it." I assured her.

"No, no, no.." She said, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "That's where you're wrong. See, you kissed both of them. Which one felt more.. I don't know.. right?"

Alex.

"Does it matter?" I ask her, looking down at my feet and wiggling them between the shag carpet.

"Yes!!! Jesus Claire! One of these guys is obviously more fit for you, so which one is it??"

Alex.

"Stop asking, I don't know!!!" I told her, throwing my hands up in the air.

"Claire, just from the way you told me.. I know you like this Alex guy better.. You said his kiss was 'perfect and amazing' and all you said about Oliver's kiss was.. Well that he kissed you. That's all you said. You need to talk to this Oliver guy and fix things, because I can tell you like him as a friend."

I sighed, defeated. "I know.. But I can't, he went into town to get lobster for dinner."

"Fine, then go talk to Alex first." She told me, scooching back on the bed and resting her head on my pillows.

"He went into town with Oliver..." I trailed off. I probably should've mentioned that in the fist place..

"Oh, well then talk to Oliver first when they get back. You kinda have to get his blessing on the whole Alex thing."

I thought about this for a long time, trying to find something to disagree with. Trying to find some excuse to just never talk to either of them again.

"Gahh! I hate it when you're right!" I told her, storming out of the room and heading downstairs to the kitchen. I grabbed two water out of the firdge, and turned to walk back upstairs when I heard the front door open and close.

Alex and Oliver walked in. Oliver gave me an embaressed look, but Alex was avoiding eye contact all together. He was literally looking everywhere but my eyes.

I looked back and forth between the two.

This is gonna be a long night..