The Last Summer (EDITING)

>Chapter Ten<

"Having fun so far?" Ciera smiles, brushing her long wavy hair behind her shoulder.

I think for a minute. Am I having fun? Sure I rescued Amber and reunited Marley with her grandparents, but I also put my self at risk by ding dong ditching a lunatics house. Who at this point wants me dead as well.

I only nod, looking out my balcony window, wanting to see a certain someone with brown hair and blue eyes looking back at me. But he's not there. He's spending the day hanging with Koby and Bryan while I'm hanging out with Ciera.

I would have invited Taylor, but something tells me she wouldn't have came.

"I knew you would. I look forward to this every year."

I again nod my head, gazing out the window to the other side of his. I have no idea why she would look forward to this or why I agreed to play.

"Is something wrong?" She asks, her tone growing serious.

I shake my head,"Just a little homesick."

Ciera nods her head in understanding,"I've never really asked you about your life back home. What's it like?"

I swivel myself around so I'm facing her. My knees pulled up to my chest I begin to tell her,"First of all I don't have a dad. He passed away a while ago."

"I'm sorry." Ciera says remorsefully.

"It's ok. My grandpa died a while back as well. So my grandma's now living with us. Helping us around the house. Watching my brother when my mom's at work."

"What's she like? Your mother."

"Stubborn." I smile. "But loving, funny. She loves making Jackson and I laugh. She would do anything to keep us smiling."

Ciera smiles,"Is Jackson your brother?"

I nod,"He's nineteen and has the brain of a second grader."

Ciera's eyes soften,"He's mentally disabled?"

I like that she said 'mentally disabled' and not 'retarded' or anything else like it like anyone else of ignorance would. "Yeah. Down syndrome. Has had it since birth."

"You're life's so interesting. Full of color."

I raise my brows,"Color?"

She laughs,"You have so many adventures to live. So many stories to tell. Koby burping the alphabet at breakfast is as close as he gets to exciting."

I chuckle,"Yeah he's an interesting guy."

She nods in agreement before her face turns serious,"When do you leave?"

"End of August."

"Are you scared?"

I meet her eyes,"Scared?"

"Of why you'll leave behind?"

Arron. That's the first thing that comes to mind. Sure I'll miss My aunt and even Ciera and Koby, but Arron. He gives me feelings I've never felt before. Makes me feel a way that was once foreign to me. I don't want to let that go.

"Yeah." I whisper. The day I will have to go replaying in my head. Our last hug in each other's arms. Parting then an intense gaze into the others eyes before pulling away. Walking away from something that once was so beautiful, now just a memory.

"You ok?" Ciera asks, resting her hand on my shoulder. I nod, a tear stinging the inside of my eye, about to fall when the downstairs door bolts open. The three boys joking and pushing one another up the stairs and to my room.