If Summer Never Ends

Epilogue

Epilogue:

The airport was incredibly busy. People filed back and forth between the terminal, dragging suitcases behind them . As for me, I calmly sat in the seating area with Luke next me, his arm around my shoulders while Aunt Julia sat across the way, smugly peering at us over her book. Uncle Matt was going to check our bags in before we waited in the security line to enter the airport.

I supposed many people flew into Florida to enjoy the last slice of blissfulness the summer had until the fall would take place, when everything began to crumple up and die. Then there were those like me: flying back to our residencies to resume the everyday life of responsibilities and work, away from the bliss.

Luke's hand was intertwined with my own, and I squeezed his hand. He looked at me, his eyes glistening with compassion. I rested my head on his shoulder, nuzzling myself into the comfortable warmth he had to offer.

Even though I had been waiting for the moment to get the hell out of Florida, I felt upset to leave everything behind. It was like I was leaving a part of myself there.

"Alrighty, gang. It's time to go," Uncle Matt said, our tickets in his hand. I looked at Luke and he at me, both of us dreading the moment that was about to take place.

We stood up and I bent down to grab my purse from off of the floor. When I looked at Luke, his eyes seemed dreary, like he was trying to hold something in.

"Well, it seems like this is it," I murmured, the pitch in my voice completely off.

He stared at the ground and nodded, chewing on the corner of his lower lip. "I guess so."

I was about to speak when I heard a familiar voice call out, "Wait! You didn't think you were just going to leave us without a formal goodbye, did you?"

When I turned in the direction of the voice, I saw Cecily accompanied by Scott, Maria, and Hayden, all of whom were holding up a sign that read Goodbye Gabby! in colorful letters. I was fortunate to not see the other half of the group.

"Cecily!" I chirped, dropped my bag, and ran over to her. She held out her arms and hugged me, rocking me back and forth the slightest bit. I pulled back and saw that she was crying.

I pouted and wiped the tears away from her face.

"I knew I should've worn waterproof mascara," she commented, gingerly wiping underneath her eyes.

"You guys are amazing!" I exclaimed, taking the in the poster. Four of the six people holding it smiled brightly at me.

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder and turned to see Aunt Julia right behind me. "We're going to go ahead and wait in line. I'll give you a minute to say your goodbyes."

When I turned to face my friends, they were beaming at me, a little hint of sadness in each of their eyes.

"We have one last surprise for you," Cecily claimed as she pulled something out of her bag and handed it to me.

It was a scrapbook with a glittery title of Summer. It was simplistic yet decorated to the max with stickers, patterned paper, and lots of glitter. I flipped through the pages, my stomach flipping as I looked at all of the photos: pictures right from the beginning of the summer at the carnival to the Forth of July and to an embarrassing picture of me singing onstage at 15 Minutes. The tears began to rise in my eyes and I blinked them away.