Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 78~Life's A Climb, But The View's Great

Abbie's POV

Today was Independence Day, and to kick off the celebration of the day, Uncle Brian was released from the hospital this morning. He's been doing great and he's now at home resting, which was really good to hear. He's not going to go to the fireworks tonight because he's kind of tired and still sore, but I think Ella and Brady are still going. They'll probably get a ride from someone if Aunt Sabal doesn't go to take care of Uncle Brian. 

For the day, Mom, Dad, Kaylee and I are going to Grandma's and Grandpa's for a cookout. This may be my favorite part of the day because there's food, and not to mention I have super awesome grandparents. They're honestly just really cool people, even though Grandpa thinks he's way funnier than he really is, but that's ok. That's part of what's so great about him.

Dustin is also spending the day with his grandparents, except he had both sides of grandparents. Around six-thirty, he'll come over for a little while just to visit before we leave at seven to go get our spots on the beach. The actual fireworks start at eight, and until then we'll eat from the concessions and there's also music that'll be played for a while from a DJ until they start. Between eating, he and I will probably walk around with our friends and just hang out for a while.

We wouldn't be leaving for Grandma and Grandpa's for a little while, and in that time, Papa called. He talked to Mom for a while first, and then she put him on speaker phone so he could talk to Kaylee and I. We were both sitting at the bar in the kitchen, and Kaylee had a juice box that she'd recently emptied and was now chewing on the straw, so I did most of the talking after we greeted Papa.

I'd told him about what I planned to do today, and then I asked him, "So what are you doing for the fourth?" 

"I'm celebrating with Stacy and Eric. We're gonna go out to eat and go into town for the parade and fireworks." 

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that! They do it over the waterfront, right? The fireworks?" 

"Yep, right over the river. I think you only went once, didn't you?" 

"Yeah, in the second year. Here they do it on the beach." 

"You Californians and your beaches." He teased.

I laughed. "You Mainers take plenty of pride in your beaches too, yours are just relatively colder most of the time." 

"At least you know when it's winter here." 

"At least here in California, you don't get snow thrown down the back of your shirt." 

Papa chuckled. "That was pretty funny, the way you jumped as it slid down your back."

"It was not! That was cruel, cruel thing to do! I wasn't used to so much cold, I'd only been in Maine for a few months!" 

"That was the point, I was trying to help you get used to it! You got right into the spirit after you got past the sudden shock, you threw a dozen snowballs at me afterward." 

"Serves you right!" I said, making him laugh. "So, you'll be in California again in a couple weeks, right? For Mom and Dad's vow renewal?" 

"Yes, I will. If only it were winter, I'd store some snow for you." 

"Oh, bummer. I can't believe I'll be missing out on that." I remarked sarcastically, and he chuckled again.

"By then, you'll only have about month left until school starts up again." He reminded me, and I groaned.

"Great."

"Are you not excited for high school?" 

"Well... I am, but I'm just really nervous... and scared. I just have so many questions and no one seems to really answer them." I sighed, and I saw Mom look at me from across the way, as she was sorting through mail. Kaylee was still amusing herself by gnawing on the straw.