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5/9/15
"ARE YOU SURE you can't come with me?" I ask for maybe the millionth time.
I don't usually whine, actually I always get on to Hayley for doing just that. But I haven't really seen my sister in four years, or that beach house, or that town. It all holds bad memories. I am already a bitter enough person without the reminder of that fatal summer.
I throw my last shirt in my suitcase, and sigh as I sit on my bed. I look over to Hayley hoping she will just tag along. She loves adventure, and will be able to keep my mind off that summer. The summer that changed me for the better I would say. I am no longer naïve about love or boys, but Hayley believes I need to be more naïve and have more fun.
"Gray, you know I would love to go to Florida with you—"
I cut her off. "Then come you wouldn't have to pay for a thing!" I plead. God, I sound pathetic. My shoulders slump at the realization. I am twenty years old, not sixteen anymore, and he is not even going to be there. So why am I still so apprehensive about stepping back into that stupid small beach town?
Hayley sighs and sits down next to me on the bed as her light green eyes meet mine. "You know I would love to come with you," she says. She wraps her arm around my shoulder and pulls me into her. "But I have to take this internship. If it wasn't important I would be right there with you. I always have your back G." She wraps her other arm around me and pulls me in tighter. Her naturally wavy hair tickles my shoulders, and she smells of peaches.
"You know I don't totally hate you right?" I ask as a small smile plays at my lips.
She lets me go and plants a big kiss on my cheek. "And I love you more Grayson Kennings."
I roll my eyes and pretend to wipe her kiss off. But she knows I love her more than anything, even if it is hard to say it at times. Hayley was the first friend I made in college. And even though she is the crazy party girl and I'm the furthest thing from, we mesh. We make each other better. We love each other despite our differences.
"Is it really going to be that bad?" she asks quietly. She knows what a touchy subject this is for me. It took me over a year to even begin to share with her what happened that summer. And even with that she doesn't know every detail. For me that summer will never be real if I don't have to confront anything to do with it.
I raise my left shoulder in a small shrug. "Hopefully not."
A petite redhead appears in the doorway of my room, or former room I guess I should say. I don't want to say I am bitter about Hayley filling my room for the summer. I know she needs to, an apartment in the heart of Chicago is not cheap. I just didn't think she would find someone so fast. A girl likes to think no one can live up to her. And that someone won't steal their best friend.
"Hey Maxine," I wave half-heartedly. I still don't see why Hayley chose her. She seems shy, and has barely said anything to either of us. Again I am no party child, but what Hayley and I do share is speaking our minds...and loudly.
