Summer Spent with You

Chapter One, Part Two : Midnight Dances

Ava's POV

"Ava Kay, time to get up!" My mama said as she gently shook me.

"Can't I stay home?" I asked, groaning as I hid my face in the pillow.

"No ma'am, up now.. don't make me send your brothers in here." She threatened. That made me sit up.

"I'm up, I'm up!" I told her as I threw my blankets off. She laughed and walked out of the room to go get the other four Lake kids up.

I grumbled as I walked over to my closet. It was too dang early. I pulled out a pair of jeans along with a loose fitting navy blue shirt. I was too sleepy to be picky about my outfits.

After I was dressed and had already taken care of my hair and make up, I joined my four siblings and parents in the kitchen. Mama had placed a stack of cinnamon toast on the table, along with different cereal boxes and the milk. I grabbed a grapefruit off of the counter and joined them at the table. I wasn't in the mood for cereal.

Mama was standing up, behind my sister, putting her hair into a fishtail braid, while Noel finished eating. Andrew was quietly eating. He looked half dead, but that was normal. He was not a morning person. Aiden looked surprisingly cheerful. I was sure that his good mood had something to do with his music though. That was the one thing he was passionate about. Then there was Blaine, who you would barely notice anywhere. He, as usual, had a book in his hand and was totally engrossed in it.

I looked around for my daddy, but he wasn't in the kitchen, which was not normal. I heard the front door open and close, then a moment later my father came into view.

"Here you go, Lay." He called to my mother as he tossed her a bag. I curiously glanced at the bag and was able to make out a rectangular shaped box. It was the same kind of box that I had to get once a month.

I looked down at my food and smiled. It was a little after seven in the morning and my father had gone to but my mother tampons. By the look of him, he wasn't finished getting ready for work .. but he had taken the time to do that for her.

"Bents, I could have gone once I dropped Noel and Blaine off." She told him as she handed him a cup of coffee and he kissed her forehead.

"Well now you won't have to." He told her, giving her the smile that he reserved just for her. She called it the famous 'Lake Boy Smile'.

She smiled at him and then turned to us kids. "Don't forget to pick up Hunter and the twins." She reminded us three older kids, referring to our Uncle Brantley and Aunt Hope's only child and Uncle Brandon and Molly's two daughters.

Since my parents had three kids who turned sixteen at one time, we had to share a vehicle. I don't think they liked the idea of buying three different cars for three sixteen year olds. However, they did say that after we graduated they would buy all three of us cars a graduation presents. Anyways, we couldn't really complain about having to share, because the truck they gave us was nice. Yes, a truck.. remember, I have two brothers, and they would not want to drive a car.. besides we needed plenty of space to fit us and the kids we had to haul around, in it comfortable.

By 7:20, we were walking out the door. I climbed into the backseat, Andrew drove and Aiden was in the passengers seat. Honestly, I felt safer when Aiden drove.. but I wasn't going to complain, like I said, Andrew was not a morning person. We drove the two minutes to our Uncle Brandon and Aunt Hope's house to pick up Hunter, then right near them, was Uncle Brandon's where we picked up the girls, Emberly and Eve. The properties that the three houses sat on were all connected. It had all been one property until I was about five, that's when my two uncles decided to built their houses. So the brothers split the property into three equal shares. Each lot was big enough for each family to have space, but be close enough to visit. That's how the adults liked things.