The Boy Next Door ✑(h.s.)

twelve

Chapter 12

“I think that’s the last of it,” I yelled from the back of our family station wagon. I struggled to close the rear door as it was nearly stuffed up to the roof with anything and everything you’d ever possibly need for a weekend at the infamous Staunton state park. After asking Harry if he wanted to join I got home to find Theresa and Phil along with my parents already planning the upcoming adventure together. To say our parents got along was a bit of an understatement. Thinking about spending the whole weekend, a total 72 hours, with Harry and his family along with my family gives me immense amounts of anxiety. The good thing was I had about a good 2 hours to think about how this weekend was going to play out.

Our plans were pretty simple. One, drive a good 2 hours and about 40 minutes to the astound Staunton State Park. The place we, as a family have visited every fourth since, well since I could remember. Two, rent two cabins for the weekend. This year we had only planned on one, because we would invite Angie along as well as the rest of the Martin’s. But due to pervious altercations, they couldn’t join us this year. Inviting the Styles’ though has hence occupied the extra cabin.  

I made my way to the side of the car, leaning upon it while my parents gathered random miscellaneous things they’d need. I turned my head to the side, looking across the street at Harry’s house. I practically saw the exact same thing I saw over at my house. Harry leaning against the hood of his parents’ car while the grabbed last minute necessitates. We (meaning my parents and Harry’s parents) came up with a ‘let’s follow each other there’ kind of thing. I didn’t see why, but when it comes to my parents, I don’t have much say in anything.

“Alright Pop, you should probably go ahead and get in the car. Your father’s just going to make sure we have everything,” my mother stated, making me advert my gaze from the family across the street.

“Alright,” I said with a sigh.

“What’s up Pop? I thought you’d be excited,” my mom asked while leaning on the car next to me, nudging me with her shoulder.

“I am, don’t get me wrong. You know how much I love it at the lake. It’s just, this is the first year without, well without the Martin’s,” I finished with another sigh.

“I know, believe me, but honey you can’t just dwell on every old memory you have of you and Angie. This is a new year. It’s not last year, it’s not when you were 8 either, okay? It’s now, and you’re going to be faced with new memories, new experiences, and you can’t ruin those with the past. I’ll be damned if I let you.”

“How do you do that?” I asked.

“Do what?” My mom furrowed her eyebrows together confused.

“Say exactly the right thing, all the time?” She lightly laughed before responding.

“Oh honey, it comes with being a mom,” she chuckled while putting her arm around my shoulder, hugging me into her side. “Alright, let’s get going.” She said as she released me from the hug. I made my way to my designated door, as well as my mother. My father made his way out the garage, closing it behind him.