What Happened That Summer (Book #1)

The Message

Chapter Summary:

Jane Oliver wishes she was anything but alive when she accidentally sends a draft message to an ex boyfriend who did horrible, unspeakable things to her back in eighth grade.

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I wish I could forget what happened on August 19th, the summer of eight grade.

The summer of torture.

The memory fades away in bits and pieces then comes back in, like a reoccurring hurricane.

The draft message would help. Would help me get my emotions out and finally forget about him. So, thinking it would solve my problems, I took out my phone and clicked on his name. I was ashamed he was still in my contacts.

I clicked on the type a message bar and braced myself. It was a challenge even though it wasn't actually being sent.

I typed and typed. Until my thumb hurt. Reminding him of the hurt he caused me, the horrible things he said and especially did. Feeling free and refreshed, I reached for the backspace button. Erasing everything. Imagine that horror I would have dealt with if I actually-

Oh no, no, no, no, no, no! I stared at my phone, red-faced and wide-eyed. The message was...sent. I panicked. Immediately I tried to delete it, but it was too late.

Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid! How is it possible a mistake from two years ago can haunt you just as much as if it happened yesterday? And then make a such a stupid mistake.

"Expresso?"

I nodded and slugged up to the counter which my beverage was resting in a woman's hand. Ignoring the words 'caution hot' printed on the side of the sleeve, I grabbed below it, letting the scorching hot sink into my hand. As I walked out of the store in a daydream state, not completely sure where I was going the thought snuck back into my mind.

His name repeated over and over in my head taunting me.

"Jane?" My name spoke from an unknown voice. I turned to see a familiar face.

"Katherine? Funny seeing you here." I replied.

She chuckled. "Funny? I come here everyday for lunch break. What's funny is seeing you here." She made continuous eye contact between me and my hot coffee drink.

Busted.

"I thought you were having 'severe stomach cramps'?" She pointed out.

"Okay you caught me, I'm ditching school but you cannot tell anyone." I begged. I felt the heat on my face from the redness.

"Jane, you lied and said you were going to the bathroom, but you didn't mention you were going to the one in the coffee shop." She titled her head to the side.

"Fine. I lied because... something has come up."

"Something? What something?" She rested her hand on her hip like a 'mini-mother'.

"I needed a break from school and whenever I have a break my mind begins to wonder. And wondering leads to...thinking about him." I reluctantly pulled out my phone and after a few seconds of stalling I handed it to her. After a long look at me she took it.

"So?" She snapped.

"Scroll up." I instructed.

She placed her hand over her mouth as if to cover up the loud gasp that took place. "It's... it's him."

I nodded. "It was an accident."

"Yea...maybe one of the worst ones you've ever made! What were you thinking?" She shouted.

I sighed, "Remember that time when you suggested I write a draft message to him explaining the hurt I felt when we broke up?"

"Yes! And the point of that was to pour out your feelings! Not to actually send it!" She yelled.

"I didn't mean to! What do I do?" I paced with panic.

"Hmm, what to do if you accidentally send a text message to your worst ex boyfriend? I don't know MOVE TO CANADA!"

"Katherine! This is serious!"

"Okay, okay. Did you try deleting it?"

"Doesn't make a difference! He read it and now he thinks I want him back. Now he knows that when I pretended not to be hurt and offended, I was lying. And now... my life is over." I planted a seat on the edge of the curb in front of my car.

Katherine did the same. "Look, I know this is a pretty big deal, especially after what he did to you that summer, but he's not a mass murderer. He goes to a whole different school, and you guys most likely have no chance of seeing each other."

"You're right." I stared at my phone.

"I've got to get back to school. Lunch break ended ten minutes ago." She sat up and brushed off her pants.

As if it would make her stay, I let my eyes follow her as she hopped in her car and drove back towards Peterson High School.

I ran my fingers through my hair and took a big gulp of my expresso. I must be the the most idiotic fool on earth.

My phone buzzed and a text notification appeared on the screen.

From: Ex.

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Hey guys! I hope you like this book! I'd like to give credit to __aalexandraa__who is giving me some ideas for this novel. Thanks guys! Much love- Pastel_world24.

Vote! (Please excuse any typos or grammar mistakes :)

Part two will be out soon.