Summer Lovin'

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The day continued blissfully. When we got back we sat on the blanket

for awhile just talking. Then one thing led to another and I was being

chased into the chilly water by Nick. When I started to shiver he

swung my legs out from under me and carried me back to shore, and no

matter my protests he wouldn't put me down until he was over the

blanket. We ate the lunch of cold cut sandwiches, chips, and fresh

fruit. The rest continued on like that. Awhile before we were going to

leave we were again on the blanket, this time I was laying in my

stomach propped up on my elbows looking at the ocean. Nick was laying

to where his head was resting on my back.

"I can't believe summer is already half over." I said wistfully,

watching the sunlight as it played off of the waves that were coming

in farther now. Nick was silent.

"Are you going to miss me?" I asked, I knew it was a stupid question

to ask, but I couldn't help but ask.

"Mandy, I always miss you when I'm not near you."

"You haven't always felt like that though, it's just this summer." I

said, my voice sounding a little pouty. I sighed angrily at that

fact. Nick sat up, the spot where his head had been was getting cold

swiftly now that he wasn't there. I turned over to look at him.

"I'm sorry Mandy, I never said I missed you before did I?" The guilty

look on his face was almost too much to take. I only shook my head.

Nick scooted closer to me, and I sat up.

"Mandy, I haven't felt this way about you for just a month. Ever since

that first day I met you, when you were outside playing in boxes after

you had moved in and I came over, I knew someday we'd be together. I

don't want to be away from you again like we have been these last 4

years." He said taking my hands with a hopeful look.

"But Nick, what about those celebrity girls you dated? How could I

believe it's only been me?" Nick looked down.

"I never liked them. Their who I was told to like - who was

appropriate for a -"

"A rock star to love. Why is it the ordinary girls are never enough?" I

said frustrated.

"Mandy. You're more than enough for me. I want you to be my

everything. I don't want you to leave when summer's over. Stay here

with me." He said looking at me straight in the eye. He was serious,

right?

"But Nick, I have school. My family?" I knew I was just making up

excuses, because I'd always dreamed he'd say that. I'd thought about

what I'd ask my parents to stay, I had it planned in my head, but now

that it was reality I knew it was an insane idea. Nick sighed, maybe

he was realizing like I was how stupid we were being for dreaming like

we were. I stared out at the ocean again, the sun was beginning to set

and the rays that bounced off the waves blinded me.

"We should start home now, Nick. Before it gets dark." I pulled my

hands from his and reluctantly stood up. I felt tears prickling behind

my eyes. I swallowed hard and picked up my jeans that lay on the

blanket next to where I'd been laying. I slipped them on and began to

pick things up and put them back in the basket or on the blanket. Nick

got up too and helped to pick things up. He didn't say anything as we

picked up or even when we got to the Mustang and began to drive home.

He would barely look at me either. Half an hour into the drive I

couldn't take it anymore.

"Nick." I pleaded, "Are you mad at me or something? Why won't you talk

to me? Or even look at me for that matter?" I looked at his face for

the first time since we got in the car. Tears were gently running down

his cheeks.

"Oh Nick..." I said softly, "Pull over." I said. We were on an empty

road so he pulled over easily. As I unbuckled my seat belt and slid

across the bench seat until I was right by him, he shut off he car. I

wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder,

seeing his tears made mine come too.

"I don't want you to leave." He mumbled. I don't know how long we sat

there, but it didn't really matter. We both felt the emptiness of the

summer's ever quickening end. And the inevitable lose of the other and

we didn't know when we'd be able to see the other again.