This is just a short part of chapter one/chapter two in my story. I'd love some feedback! I will add more to the story soon!
CHAPTER 1 [beginning]
"Wake up! You've got a lot to do today, young lady," my mom yelled from down the hall. "I'll send the dog up there if you're not awake in five seconds!"
Crap. I haven't even packed yet.
Let's just say the dog made her way upstairs to officially wake me up about a minute later.
It's not like I wasn't excited to go back to Georgia. I was ecstatic! I just... procrastinated. In fact, I procrastinated a lot. I woke up for school fifteen minutes before I needed to head out, I finished all of my homework right before the teacher walked into class, and I never made plans until the very last minute possible. Except when planning my trip to Ashbury this summer. Now that, I had it all planned out - the perfect summer.
I decided it would be best to pack my things before doing anything else this morning. That way my mom would hopefully never find out that I had just now decided to start packing my bags for a summerlong stay 2,000 miles away from her. Wow, 2,000 miles? Two thousand of them? My dad must've tried to make sure I could never go back. Figures. There's another thing to add to my list of reasons not to talk to him ever again. I mentally shrugged and laughed at my procrastination, then started to get excited for my trip as I began packing.
Over the past few days once we'd gotten out of school for summer vacation, I went shopping for some new outfits to wear and other necessities while I was away for the summer in Ashbury. I bought some vintage jean shorts - great for wearing over my swimsuit bottoms, a cute, casual, yellow cotton dress maybe to wear to the movies or a party, some new flip-flops, and a few other accessories. It was safe to say that whatever was planned or whatever sprung up on me in any moment during my vacation, I had something in mind to wear. I just loved the idea of seeing myself wearing something in some sort of romantic setting, some romantic place.
Anyway, as I thought of various events that might potentially occur during my trip, I ran across a store in downtown San Diego that I'd never been in before called Fran's Thrift and Hidden Secrets. It sounded unique, so I decided to stop in and see what they had to offer. The first thing I saw was a section full of amazing, hand-made watches. They came in all shapes and sizes - some round, some square, and some were even jagged as though to look broken. I browsed through these creative pieces of jewelry, then made my way to the other side of the store where I spotted the most colorful blouses and skirts. I must've looked at each item at least twice, when I noticed something in the very back of the store that caught my eye.
It was bright red, made of a delicate lace and it featured a deep v-shaped cut-out in the back. I imagined that if I were in that dress, I would have to be living the most romantic night of my life.
Until I looked at the pricetag...
$200. Never. No way. I couldn't spend that much on just one dress, even if it was the dress of my dreams. I couldn't do it. My mother would first murder me, then drag me back to the store to make me take it back.
I can't. I can't. I told myself.
Too late. The cashier rang me up, and I cringed a little before reluctantly giving her my credit card.
Boy, was my mother going to kill me. I better enjoy this dress now before I have to return it.
"44.13 is your total," the cashier told me as she stared at my jaw dropping to the ground in a split-second.
The dress was on sale! I couldn't believe it.
This next short part will be near the end of chapter one.
Ashbury, Georgia was my home. I spent my whole life there. It's hard to remember anything that's happened to me without thinking of Ashbury. Picturing the big magnolia trees and creeks along the roadside and the decorative little shops downtown made me miss home. I missed everything there, but mostly I missed my reason for going back home this summer at all - Graham.
CHAPTER 2 [part]
At this point, Julia, the main character, has arrived in Ashbury to meet Graham, her boyfriend, at their favorite place, a creek in the woods just a few blocks from where he lives.
"Hey you! Get over here in these arms. I missed you!" the most familiar voice yelled at me across the bridge.
I'd probably never run so fast again.
It had been almost two months since we'd seen each other. Blame my dad and his job for moving my family across the country.
His arms, his whole body felt warm, like it always had. Like I had nothing to worry about. He would always be here.
He looked in my eyes, "You are so beautiful, even more than I remember."
That deep stare always made me smile. Sometimes when I looked at him I couldn't help but picture that awkward, shy eleven year old boy sitting beside me in Ms. Moore's fifth grade class.
"I hoped you'd be here," I said, looking up at him. "I thought maybe you got lost or didn't remember the way through the woods since your sense of direction... well, you know," I said in a sarcastic tone as I hugged him tight, enjoying every second I saw him smile.
"Well, you know, if you wanna be that way..." he trailed off, searching for some clever idea or comeback to come to him.
A few minutes passed, when suddenly... "Clunk!" I heard a noise, like something jumping up from the water underneath us.
"What was that?" I laughed, looking around the creek surrounding us.
Before I could turn around, Graham lifted me up off the ground and jumped clear off the little wooden bridge, dragging us both deep into the cool and clear water. It felt amazing. I felt free of everything that ever caused me problems. They all went away.
I gasped for air coming up, as if I were drowning. Maybe that we he'd feel bad for drenching this new outfit I picked out especially for our first day together.
"That felt good, right?" He said with a laugh as he spit water out of his mouth, shaking the moisture off his long, shaggy hair.
"You're insane!" I jumped on his back and pushed his head under the water's surface, knowing I only did it so he'd be forced to come back up and think of something clever to do to me in return. Plus, it was really funny to see him shaking his head like my dog when she's just gotten sprayed by the sprinkler.
"You're lucky I don't take that personally. Remember, I'm your chauffer and roommate for the next two months," he jokingly told me with a smile.
