The Echoes Of Summer (Noah Centineo fan-fic)

Chapter 1

    Stepping out of the taxi, my muscles held a specific tightness from the endless plane ride. That first outstretch released all of the tension in my legs, like the first big stretch after taking a deep long sleep. Light breaking through the floating tree limbs that danced in the wind, as if in melody with an unspoken song; caught in my eyes. A very unfamiliar kind of breeze for early summer, much different than my normal scene back in Dallas, Texas.

    The smell of the cars exhaust tied together with the overpowering pumpkin air freshener making my stomach turn a little more than the plane ride did. "Fair's been paid" the man said in a passive voice, without even turning back to acknowledge me. The closest I saw to his face was watching his jaw move up and down, gnawing on a piece of winter fresh gum that wafted back to me, catching a ride on the AC air.

    Instant confusion began to rise, we've stopped at a large gate, brass and polished as if it were brand new. Trees lined the drive way making it seem as if a forest was the only thing ahead, the drive curved around, so the house was no place to be found. Through the front of the windshield a small golf cart came around the bend, as if knowing by some chance that I had already showed up.

    In the driver's seat, a woman wearing a white pantsuit, and I couldn't distinguish if she worked at a country club or perhaps, maybe a member. Closer examination brought the same familiar facial structure I grew up gazing at, she was family.

I thank the man for the ride and shut the door behind me, now leaving my nose with the smell of exhaust as he pushed off down the road, disappearing down a hill.

    "Oh, Nicholas! I'm so happy to see you!" she explained as the gates silently slid past her, leaving no barrier between us. She ran up and wrapped her arms around my neck, the smell of sweet perfume brought delight to my tortured nose, still haunted by the smell of exhaust.

    "Let me have a look at you." She said as she cupped my face between both hands while carefully examining me.

    She stood a few inches shorter than me, slightly having to lookup to see my eyes. Considering im 6'0" I'd say she was around 5'7". Her pale blue eyes reflected mine, and the man I had inherited them from, my father. Her face full of youth, for a woman in her mid 30's, two dimples on either side of her mouth became more prominent when she smiled, and a slight crinkle of her nose that would soon follow. Her dirty blonde hair slightly caught the breeze, carrying the smell of coconut up to my face. Her cold hands cupping my cheeks, gave a refreshing feeling to my fluttered warm face.

    "Hey, aunt Jennifer" I offer with a smile as I get my face from her hands.

    "Well whats the matter with you? Don't they feed you back home, you're so skinny, but look how handsome you are!" She exclaimed while taking my duffel bag and putting it in the back of her golf cart.

    "You've never been here since I've moved, have you Nicky" She asked as I slumped into the seat next to her.

    "Of course not, your father it too up tight to let you spend some time with me" She uttered, as if, to herself, before I could get a word out.

    Rolling around the corner the house broke from the privacy of the tall trees, revealing a grand manor. White with a black roof, two brick fireplaces extending from the roof and tall glass windows. It had a small beach cottage feel, except it was two stories tall and the size of two of my houses combined.

    Aunt Jen did well, she was a well-respected Cardiovascular surgeon but that's all I ever really knew about her. There was some big falling out with her and the family and she stopped showing up to holidays and events when I was about 8 years old. That never stopped her from sending a birthday card of Christmas present each of the 10 years in her absence.