The Last Summer Apart

Chapter Three

After four hours of nonstop work and constant screaming from everyone when a live spider was found, the place was finally safe to live in and everything was put away. It was about 3:00 in the afternoon. We all collapsed on the nearest couch or chair we could find.

“Ugh. I can’t feel my arms.” Mahira grumbled.

“I think I pulled a muscle carrying all those boxes to the storage room.” Ethan said, rubbing his back.

“The hard part is over. The only thing we have to do now is figure out sleeping arrangements. The rooms are big enough for someone in the bed and someone on the floor. There is no way in hell I am cooking tonight, so everyone can make a sandwich when they get hungry tonight. I’m going straight upstairs and taking a shower, then sleeping for 12 hours.” Roger said, wiping some sweat off his forehead.

“Obviously Ethan and Lauren can share a room, so you guys can take your suitcases up there and pick first” I said, “but the rest of us need to work something out.”

Lucas chimed in, “Why don’t you and I share and Mahira and Roger share?”

The three of us seemed to agree there was nothing wrong with that. We picked up our suitcases and took them upstairs. Lucas and I had the bedroom in between the storage room and the bathroom.

“Who’s sleeping on the floor tonight?” I asked, throwing the bedroll on the floor.

“NOSE GAME” he shouted, throwing his finger up to his nose just before me.

“Dammit Lucas! You win this time, but I will get my revenge!” I said rolling out the sleeping bag and foamie, as he laughed from the bed.

“You just have to step up your game girl! Where are those lightning fast reflexes that always beat me in our foosball matches?”

“My whole body is too sore from all that cleaning.” I said, and collapsed on my makeshift floor bed. I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxation. “This is the way summer should be spent. At a cabin by the lake.”

“Mmmhmm,” Lucas mumbled in agreement, “I’m just glad I could get the time off work!”

“They never let you have any fun! We never get to hang out anymore!” I said with a frown, looking over at him.

He looked back, “I know, I know. I miss hanging out and catching up. things have been crazy ever since you left...”

I sighed, “The only reason I stayed so long was because I got to work with my best friend. How could I have turned down the internship?”

Lucas got up and plopped down next to me. “If you would have turned it down, I would have slapped some sense into you. You’ve been working at it for two years now, how could I have held you back? That would make a terrible friend! No way in my lifetime would I ever let you pass up that opportunity.”

I chuckled, “I couldn’t have done it without your support though. I could help you find another job! I’ll help you build your resume, we can go to the library and see if they have any resou-”

“Shh,” Lucas said, “Don’t you worry about me. I will be fine. But you still have to come and visit alright?”

I laughed and nodded. Our eyes met for a brief moment. Something I always admired about Lucas were his eyes. They were unlike anyone else’s. Bright jade green swirling into a light brown. A girl could get lost in them I tell you. That reminded me...

Breaking the strange long eye contact, I asked him, “By the way, how’s that girlfriend of yours? Molly was it?”

Lucas’s mood instantly changed. His smile disappeared, he tensed up, and looked down. “It didn’t work out. Simple as that.”

I have to admit, I was surprised. It was his third girlfriend in all of high school, and they all ended rather poorly. I got to hear all about them. They all sounded batshit crazy. It made me wonder why he dated them in the first place. But, I was in no position to judge. I was in a serious relationship from grade 8 to grade 10, but I realized that they guy was turning me into a bad person, so I saved myself before it went too far. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said in an attempt to comfort him. “Sometimes we just pick the wrong people. Then we realize that the person we’re truly meant for is still out there looking for us. We just have to find them. She probably didn’t deserve you anyways.” I nudged him with my elbow. “Now, let me see that smile again?”

Slowly but surely, a smile reappeared on his face. “You’re the best at that you know?” He said.

“The best at what?” I looked at him, puzzled.

“Comforting people when they’re sad. Whether its about a breakup, a family issue, you always know what to say.”

I blushed a little bit, “Well of course, you think I don’t know that?” I sassed, in an attempt to cover up my modesty. “Now I have to get sleep or I won’t be able to function tomorrow. Scoot.” I said nudging him off my mattress. “Go scrub your teeth or something so I can change.”

“Just change in the closet!” He said

“It doesn’t have doors!!” I protested.

“Ugh, fine, I’ll leave. I’ll only be gone five minutes though! You’ve been warned!” He said, grabbing his toothbrush and walking out, closing the door behind him.

I grabbed my PJ’s out of my suitcase. It was hot out there, so thankfully I brought just an old t-shirt and some pyjama shorts. I pulled off my top and threw it in my bag. Just as I was going to undo my bra, the door suddenly opened!

I screamed at the intruder, “Oh my god don’t you knock?!!?!?!”

 “Sorry! Sorry! I forgot my toothpaste!” Lucas shouted back, covering his eyes. I rolled my eyes. This was going to be a fun living arrangement for the next few days I thought.