Summer Nights

The last day of school. The beginning of summer. Freedom. No being trapped inside a school for 7 hours a day. No homework. Complete freedom. Don't get me wrong, I love school. But, I love summer too. Especially when I get to spend it with my best friends: Bex and Lizbeth. And then there's me: Kori.

I live in a small town, go to a small school, and people never leave this town. Never. It's weird, and sad. And I don't want to be one of those people. I want out. Soon. I'm a sophomore in high school, well I was. After today I guess I'm officially a junior.

My alarm was blaring and pulling me from my thoughts. I hit snooze just to lay under my warm black covers, with Duke for a few more minutes. Duke, my massive Great Dane. An 'I'm sorry' present from my dad for missing all of my golf tournaments last year, and the dance recitals, oh, and the band concerts. Oh, well. I loved my big baby. Looking at the time, I sighed and hugged Dukes head to my chest. Today was my last day as a sophomore.

I threw back the covers and got dressed. I slid into jean shorts and a grey and white striped cropped top, the straps of my black sports bra still peaking out. I applied light makeup and straightened my light blonde hair. It fell to my ass, long passed my crop top, just passed the top of my shorts. It may be the last day of school but that didn't mean I didn't still want to look good. I stepped into my lilac vans, and with one last once over in the mirror I headed downstairs.

"Morning Mamma," I kissed her cheek and she smiled.

"Morning Kori."

I poured myself some coffee and leaned against the counter. I studied my mom over the top of my mug.

"Okay, what is it?" I knew that look. The one my mom was currently sporting. She only had that look when there was something she wasn't telling me. Something she didn't want to.

"What's is what?" she asked. Oh, no mom. I know that trick.

"Mom. I invented the act-innocent-and-you'll-get-out-of-it thing. I know there's something going on. What is it?"

She sighed, "Well, fine. You're dad wants you for the summer."

"He what?" I deadpanned. My parents had gotten divorced my freshman year and if you couldn't tell, I was 100% on my moms side, "you're kidding," I burst after a moment, slamming my coffee cup on the counter.

"I'm 'fraid not love," she sighed again.

"This was supposed to be the perfect summer! With Bex and Lizbeth! I don't want to go spend the summer with him and Marie!" Marie was my older sister. I couldn't stand her.

"Well, Marie won't be there. She's graduated, you remember going to that?" I nodded, "She's going off to a summer program for culinary students at her new college. You're dad has a business thing in Seattle this summer and since you're interested in colleges there he thought you might like to tag along. Nici will be there."

I sighed. Nici was my cousin. We used to live near each other and we were super close, but right around when my parents divorced, hers moved her to Washington. We still Skype and text, I go there for a week every summer and she comes here, but this was her last summer as an actual kid. She'll be a senior next year, and I was happy to get to spend it with her. Only problem: my dad.

Don't get me wrong. I love him, but he's.. Well he moved. Away. To North Carolina after the divorce and while I was happy to stay here with mom.. He still left. And he never visited, or called, or anything. But sometimes he'd pull something like this and want to drag me away from my life here. I couldn't believe his nerve.

"I'm not getting out of this am I?" I asked.

"No," she sighed, "Love, he's still your father. And he loves you. I'm sure you'll have fun, and we'll see about getting Bex and Lizbeth out there for a week or something."