Remembering Summer

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

SUMMERS POV

A knock at the door sends my on my way down the steps. I'm a bit surprised that anybody's coming here. That's the worst part of moving to a new state in the summer. You need school to introduce you to new people. Moving in the summer means you can either: A) wait around places for someone to talk to you; or B) go from door to door like you're selling Girl Scout cookies. Although, judging by the kids my age around here, I'd love to stay a hermit. That damn party alone was insane. I've never understood why people feel the need to do illegal thins to feel cool. Maybe I just don't know what cool is.

Every time I think back to that night, I see Tyler in bed with that girl. All I had wanted was to lie down away from people, but nope. Parties apparently weren't that simple. A very big part of me is glad I hadn't kept talking to that guy Logan for any longer, God knows what I would've seen.

I open the front door to see Tyler's mom on the other side.

"Mrs. Heather!" I say in surprise. Why is she here? Shouldn't she be watching over Tyler? Today of all days, especially. Emily died three years ago today and I just know Tyler is a train wreck. My heart aches for him, worrying me. I told him just two weeks ago that heinous wanted me because I was like Emily. I know now I was only partially right. The other problem was that I don't want to trust anyone. The last time I did, things went wrong.

"Summer! I'm so glad you're here. Could you do me a favor and watch over Tyler? Shane and I need to go...um...run some errands. Would you mind just making sure he doesn't do anything?" I feel my eyebrow arch without command. What errands are so important that she can't watch her borderline depressed son? And what could he possibly do?

My stomach drops when I realize what he could do. Exactly what Emily did when things got to be too much. I nod to Mrs. Heather.

"Of course. I just need to text my dad and tell him I'm not gonna be here when he gets home." Mrs. Heather nods, thanks me and walks back to her car. Mr. Shane looks pissed. I begin to worry and wonder, my inner nosey bitch starting to surface. I push her away.

I rush up to my room to tell my dad where I'll be. My luck, of course, doesn't want that to happen easily. 10 minutes later, I find my phone inside one of my pillowcases. How the hell it got there beats me. That's when I hear the noise.

Tyler is in his room, sobbing and throwing things. Shit. Shit no. Tyler don't leave the room. He of course ignores my silent pleas and slams his door. My feet have never moved faster than they do now in the rush to get to him. They couldn't save Emily, but I will save Tyler.

"TYLER! TYLER DAMN IT OPEN THE DOOR!" The front door is locked, and I don't know what else to do. I'm panicking and I know it. Check the mat, I think. A shiny silver key winks at me in the sun when I lift the bristly welcome mat. I shove my way in and up the steps, all the rooms are empty, but the bathroom door is closed. No. Please no.

I knock quietly, then a little harder.

Silence for a moment.

"I'll be right out." I let out a sigh of relief. He's not dead. He's not hurt.

"Tyler, are you ok? I saw you freak out through the window and I didn't know if...are you ok?" I wait a little while, but then I hear the click of the door and it opens.

"Tyler, you scared the hell out of me, your parents left and I didn't know if you were ok so I came in and I just-" I can't talk anymore. His lips are on mine and I am up against the wall. I can taste the salt of his tears on his lips, and I don't know what to do.

A past part of me panics. Then I remember this isn't Jake. This is Tyler. He wouldn't hurt me. So I kiss him back. I put my fingers through his hair and kiss him back.