It Just Kind Of Happened

11: GETTING TO KNOW SUMMER

SUMMER

She was alone again. She felt alone again. The cabbie had just dropped her at the small brick house her aunt lived; the same aunt that was on a family vacation with her husband and children. So basically, Summer had the house all to herself. And that was bad.

The more time she had alone, the more time to think. And thinking is not always good. It's something like a time machine; you can either go forward or go back. And in Summer's case, she always went back. Back to the good old days when she was ten years old and her parents had to sing her to sleep because she was stressed. And even though it's very strange for a ten-year-old girl to get stressed, it was quite normal in the family. After all, what is there to not get stressed about in school?

High school was the worst. Summer entered that building for the first time thinking that it would be a completely different story. But it just ended up being the same book, just another chapter. Same people and same gossiping. Same stupid commentaries about her household.

Growing up with two moms was never difficult. It was never easy, either. It was normal. She'd grown up perfectly and Myrna Hills and Alexandra Hills were the perfect parents. Of course, for some people, it was hard to accept that Summer was created by the love of two people of the same sex and gender. And yes, Summer was created by Myrna and Alex. She wouldn't be Summer if they weren't Myrna and Alex.

Since she could talk her Moms told her that somewhere in the world, two people couldn't take care of her for whatever reason. That the strangers loved her; but not as much as they did. And she was completely fine with it. Never had the curiosity of her biological parents reached out to her. She never really cared about it. She had a family and that was everything she didn't know she wanted.

The reaction was quite radical when they moved. Summer is originally from Texas, but due to her Mother—Myrna—career, they had to move to Ohio, Columbus. Summer was still young, just over three years old and she liked it there. Some kids played with her and some kids didn't. But soon no one played with her. Their parents wouldn't let them.

Their neighborhood was a very uptight community, and for some reason, it was hard for them to accept that the new Chief at the local precinct was a lesbian. And it doesn't exactly matter that today's teenagers and some rare adults are more liberal and accepting. The prejudice was still present; whether it is when they treated her as a nobody, or as someone special. She was neither. She was just Summer Hills.

Alexandra worked as an Engineering Professor at Ohio State. The students loved her. She was funny and not to mention she got to the point quickly, being easily one of the best professors in the University. That's probably why most of her friends were college students. Sometimes they would come with Alex home so that she could help them with a misunderstood subject.

Anyone who entered the Hills' Household knew the truth. They were a tight and caring family. Alex and Myrna couldn't have raised a better girl. They raised her right; polite, kind, strong, opinionated. And that's probably why High School was hell for Summer. No one likes a know it all, they would say. Didn't your dad teach you that?

And she wanted to say no, I don't have a dad like yours, that comes home with handcuffs for DUI and tells you that no one likes a know it all. In fact, I don't have a dad at all. Better that way, wouldn't you say so, Jackson? But she wasn't mean. She was disgusted to even think such thing, although it seemed to be a natural response to anger; always hurt the other more.

She learned to cope with it, nonetheless. That's why she laughs so much; it was either crying or laughing. Laughing seemed better at the time. Now, not so much. It feels like there is something stuck in her throat all the damn time! Summer Hills doesn't know how to handle herself in situations of conflict because she chokes. And it's just awful.

Her aunt was another one of the not so understanding people. She knew that Aunt Jamie loved her sister, Alexandra, and that she loved her niece, Summer. But every time they got together, it would end up in a fight. There was always something wrong with the Hills. It was always a snarky comment like have you grown out of your phase yet, sister? or something like look at your child's table manner, tsk.

Her mothers would get really pissed off and Summer would cry. She felt like it was her fault. She felt like if she tried harder, she could prevent it. They were family and family love each other. Summer grew with these words engraved on her heart.

So while she walked the well-known way to the guest bedroom, Summer couldn't help but let her mind wonder to the three strangers she met a few hours ago. Daniel with his certainty; Mackenzie with her fierceness; and not so little Henri, with his calm and peace. In just a couple of hours, they had shown her more love and kindness than she had ever seen in her life, her moms being the exception.

But Summer was sure they would be fine with it... right?

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Hey guys!!! Thanks for reading hehehe

So, finally we get to know what's been going on inside of little Summer's head... guess the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" can be applied here, huh?

My objective wasn't to make a depressing character, no; it was to make it human. Summer, Daniel, Mackenzie, Henri. All of them are people like us, with problems and solutions. I hope I managed to do it right and make you all feel the way I do about them :)

Don't forget to leave a comment/vote, I always appreciate to know what you are thinking!

And oh! Have any of you tried to figure out what the catch is? :P Leave your answer on the comments section!

See you later, alienator Xx :D