Waiting For Summers

CHAPTER 4

I wait for Laura.

I wait for her more. Then, I grow impatient. I decide to look for her in the crowd. I go to the backyard and surprise myself.

This party is really huge. I see people from junior and senior classes. Some are in the pool. Some are hanging around the dj table. Some are in the gazebo lurking, probably making out. I shake my head. Look for Laura, Jared. Look for Laura. I don't want to look clingy or anything so I decide to go to the long table and get myself a punch. I squeeze through the people dancing and jumping wildly. Why am I here again? Where is Laura? I hate her. I will look for her. Nope, she will look for me. I am okay.

I drink the punch in my cup. In a place full of pretty faces, I look for her. That doesn't mean anything, does it? I look around again. No sign of Laura.

I scoop another punch and drink it. I scoop another and do the same thing. I scoop the last time, deciding to look for my friend. As I turn around, I bumped against someone spilling my punch all over her. I don't know what to do. "I'm sorry, I really am," wiping the juice all over her. "No worries, no worries," she grabs the napkin from my hand, "Stop, I am okay. Please. You can stop wiping my chest now," she laughs. I stop and look up. "Oh, Allison..," I stutter. She snickers a lot more.

Allison is the head cheerleader at our school. I feel awkward 1) for wiping her chest; 2) for spilling juice all over. She lets go of my hand and puts the napkin on the table. "Are you not friends with Laura?" she asks. Of course, who does not know about her? She might be in any of the clubs at school but she sure is popular. That's the only reason people know me — Laura's sidekick.
"Oh yeah. Laura, the famous. That's her!" I scratch the back of my head, "Sorry again."
She shakes her head, "Do not worry, I'm wading to the pool after a little while, you wanna join?" she smirks. We always have this idea that cheerleaders are soul eaters and fame whores but Allison is different. I am surprised she is talking to me, though.
"Nah, I'm good. Won't you rather invite Aaron instead?" I wondered. "Nope, we argued a while ago. Don't wanna see his face right now," she gulps a punch.
"Oh, that's why you are here? Lurking in the dark?" I joke.
"Now, I'm not the one lurking in the dark! You are. God knows how many punches have you had!
"This is only my third!"
"I'm not even sure about that!"
"You are the one drinking too much!"
"So not!" she laughs. She starts filling her cup again, "I have never really talked to you, Jared."
"Well, we are a completely different person depending on who we are around with."
She pauses. "You're always deep, Mr. Literature Club."
"I'm surprised you even know that."
She started splashing me with the punch from her cup. I pretend to cover myself from it. "Do you wanna g —," she is about to finish what she is saying when I hear Laura's scream pierced through the noise. I run to look for her. "Sorry, Allison!" I shout back. Allison looks back confused.

I see Laura arguing with Nixon, the guy she used to date. "I am telling you Nixon! Leave me alone!" Laura screams. She is being held by Monica and some other girls while Paco stands in between them, arms stretching to say stop.
"Cut it, Nixon! You messed up. Accept it. Stop bothering her already!" Paco shouted. Nixon tames himself, "I.. I know Paco. Just, just let me to talk to her."
I approach Nixon, "Umm, let her go for now, Nixon," I stand in front of him, blocking his view, "Trust me, Nixon. I know her more than you. Let it go for now."
Paco nods, "Yeah dude, let it go or this will be the last party you'll be invited to." Nixon sighs and walks out anyway. "Break out everyone! Show's over!" as Paco waves everyone away.

"Thanks Paco for being there," Laura fixes her hair and wipes her teary eyes, "I'm just grateful you got me." Monica puts a strand of Laura's hair behind her ear, "I don't know what you liked about that jerk but let me know if he starts to bug you again, my dear." Laura nods and wipes her face with her both hands. I look at her, worried. She straightens her skirt and holds my hand, "Thank you Paco and Monica. Let's go, Jared," as she pulls me away with her. She leads me to the gazebo far away from the noise.

We are still at Paco's backyard but the music is much softer now. "What happened?" I ask. She sits down on the grass and looks up at the sky, "I'm just tired, y'know, Jar," she puts her hand under her chin, resting it to her knee, "I've got to tell you something."
I feel the dread run along my spine. If this another goodbye, I will not be able to handle this. "I'm going away," she sighed. I feel heavy all so suddenly.
"But don't worry, that's only this summer," she laughs.
"I am gonna kill you! Don't ever joke to me like that!" I stamp my foot, feeling so annoyed, "you don't get to drop bombs like that to me!"
"I know. I'm just going on a vacation before we start our junior year. Paris."
"Just make sure you're going back, I'm cool with it."
"I am. With that being said, let's go have fun tonight!"
"Umm, aren't we having fun yet?"
"Nope. Not yet! I'm feeling bored here," she stands up, brushing the grass off her skirt, "let's go somewhere else."
"Where?" I look at her. Her smile so wide, it spells trouble.
"Just follow me. But you drive," she pulls me again towards my car. I feel terrified but I smell adventure. I let her take my hand.