Chapter 1: Meeting August
I wandered around the park aimlessly, bored as anything. People were all around me, laughing and talking. Why couldn't I have a good time like them? Because I'm September Rains. My name was
probably cursed from the moment I born. My whole life has been a train-wreck of bad breakups, best
friends turning out not to be best friends, and my dad's long list of horrible dates that pinch my cheeks
like I’m 5 years old or something and breathe on me with their alcohol-reeking breath. So I’m hoping
for one miracle to just come by. I'm wearing what's supposed to be a good luck charm, and no, it's a guitar pick, not a four-leaf clover necklace. I found one, a real, authentic four leaf clover once. I was 8. I'd tied a piece of twine around it's stem and wouldn't take it off. I'd gone to the park, and as I was crossing the street, it had gotten caught on a sign midway across the road. Stuck, I tried to pull it off, but to no avail as I’d gotten hit by a car in the next minute. I was fine, ending up with only a broken arm, but I’d never considered four-leaf clover 'lucky' ever again. Bending down I picked up the leash of a small rottweiler who had somehow managed to get free. I placed it in the dog's owner outstretched hand, who smiled gratefully, thanking me. Karma right? You do good for someone, and someone does good for you? Not for Miss. September Rains! A mountain biker crashed right into me as I stepped back onto the sidewalk. I removed my self from the pile of limbs and bicycle and inspected the damage. Only a small scrape on my left hand portrayed the accident which had just taken place. I glanced down at the mountain biker, who was still lying on the damp green grass, wet after this morning's brief drizzle. “Are you ok?” The mountain biker, who was obviously a guy, looked to be about my age, 16 maybe 17.
His white-blonde hair spilled haphazardly around his face and his eyes (which were now open and staring directly at me) were a chocolate brown.
“I'm fine.” He replied, pushing the bike off of him and getting up. “So are you the one I have to blame for messing up my 5-minute streak of not hitting random pedestrians?”
I laughed. “Yeah, or I could say you were the one who messed up my 5-minute streak of not getting hit by bikers.”
“So what's your name?”
“September.”
“Nice to meet you September, I'm August.”
I rolled my eyes. And just when I thought he could be a nice guy. I was about to turn away, when he grabbed my arm. “What?”
He smiled genuinely. “No really, my name's August.”
Like I was going to believe him. “Right.”
He smiled, nodding his head. “No really, it is! See!” He pulled out his driver's permit, showing it to me. “August Ray Tate.”
“That's just-” I started.
“Really freaky?” He interrupted me, grinning.
I nodded. What are the chances that a September and an August meet? On terms like this? Without actually looking for another monthly name? It was entirely cliche and at the same time really freaky, as August had put it.
Wincing he inspected his arm. A semi-deep red gash ran across his right arm.
“Oh here!” I rummaged through my bag for a minute before providing him with a bandage.
He raised his eyebrow. “And having the right sized band-aid in your purse is not coincidental?”
I shook my head. “I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time, I go through band aids like a normal person goes through tissues.”
He laughed. “I don't know if a band aid’s going to help though. It's going to bleed right through.”
I considered this. “Then you stay here,” I said, pulling him over to an empty picnic table. “And I'll go grab some water.”
“No, no, I’m fine, I can get it.”
I shrugged, “It was partially my fault for you hitting me anyway, so I’ll be right back.” And before he could stop me, I was off.
~☼~
“Water, water, water.” I muttered to myself. “Where's the water?” A hot dog vendor was to my right. Well that won't help.
“Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs here! We have hot dogs and lemonade and water and-”
I stopped in my tracks. “Water?”
“Yes ma'am we have water.” The hot dog vendor smiled at me.
“Great! I'll take one water please.”
He handed me a water bottle, “It's on the house. I saw what happened, better make sure your friends ok now.”
I smiled gratefully. “Thanks so much,”
And with that, I was off once more, back to the picnic table.
~☼~
“Well I got water!”
August looked up. He'd been writing something on a piece of notebook paper. He grinned. “Thanks for helping me...”
“No problem.” I said, sitting down and handing him the water bottle. “So...what are you writing?”
He glanced at me then down at the paper. “It's a list.” He poured the water onto his cut.
“Of?” I asked curiously.
“Things to do before- over the summer.” He rushed out, seemingly nervous.
I reached over grabbing the list.
“Hey!” He reached out for the paper, but I leaned away from him, sticking my tongue out at him childishly.
“One, see the sunset.” I read from the list.
“Two, dance in the rain. Three, watch a meteor shower, four, go white water rafting. Five, send a message in a bottle.” I paused. I'd thought that the list would have been things like 'finish Call Of Duty' or 'compete in a pie-eating contest' or 'knock someone out' or something that boys would like to do. Not seeing the sunset or sending a message in a bottle. I began to read again. “Go scuba diving, swim with dolphins, go surfing, skydive, go zip-lining, go to a concert. You've never been to a concert?”
He shook his head looking down. “No.”
I grinned “Me either!” Looking back down at the list I continued. “Ride in a hot air balloon, go on a road trip, sleep under the stars, ride in a Ferris wheel.” I paused, looking at him once more before reading the last thing on his list. “Number 16, fall in love.”
