Waiting For Summers

CHAPTER 9

Summer sun, indeed. I wake up to the golden sun hitting my face from my bedroom window.

I roll over to the other side turning my back against it. My head still feels light. So this is what they call 'hangover'. I reach for my phone and look for a text message from Laura. None. To be honest, no one really texted. As usual. I roll under my sheets again then I suddenly remember something. SHOOT. Laura's flight to Paris is tonight. I immediately stand up and get myself ready.

I knock on their door twice and open it. You know the level of friendship when you're so close with the family that you sometimes just open the door and go straight inside the house? That's us. I go inside and see their luggages. I see Laura packing her own luggage. Her stuff scattered all across the living room. They're really staying there for the rest of summer.
I sigh, "Hey Mrs. Summers, anything I can do to help?"
"Oh, Jared! You are here. I didn't see you and Laura arrive last night?" she questions but her eyes focused on the clothes she is folding. My eyes meet Laura's. She looks at me with a give-your-best-you-can-do-this-chill-kind-of look.
"We kinda arrive past midnight ," I'm trying really hard to hit the time she'd be asleep.
"Oh, really? I'm asleep by that time," she pauses, "Doesn't matter now. At least she's there now fixing her stuff."
I laugh awkwardly. "He-he. You're going to enjoy Paris anyway, Mrs. Summers."
"You're sweet. I really hope so," she pauses again to tuck a hair behind her ear. Mrs. Summers is a tall woman with a long blonde hair that falls down beyond her shoulders. Whatever dress she wears, her curves still show. She always looks sophisticated even in their own abode. "Can you please pass that pouch to me?"
I pass the pouch to her and make my way to Laura.

Laura is struggling to fit her last pile of clothes to her bag. I take it from her. "That is not how you do it," I say as I fold her clothes properly one by one. "How are you?"
She starts to bite her nails. "Well, to be honest, my head kinda still hurts. But hey, no stopping them from really giving space to each other huh?"
I pout sidewards. I don't know how to answer these kind of situations. I try anyway. "Just let your parents have the space that they want."

She continues to talk about her plans in Paris. I can't concentrate about what she is saying. Half of the time, I'm folding her clothes, concentrating. Half of it, I'm thinking about the kiss. I wait for her to open it. But I think it's never going to happen. I'm finished packing her clothes when I decide to ask her about it, "Umm.. Laura.. about last night?"
"Huh, what?" she turns to me but Mrs. Summers approaches me at the exact same time to ask for help bring out the luggages. I decide to drop the matter.
"I'm just glad you had fun last night. I'll see you soon after a month, kay?" Laura tells as I help her load her bags to the trunk.
"I will."

I am trying not to look at her straight in her eyes. I am not supposed to feel butterflies and other flying idioms they use inside the stomach.
"Hey, do not try to miss me so much," she sits at the edge of the back of the car.
"Ha-ha. Funny," I sarcastically say.

After a few minutes, everything is set. Mrs. Summers says goodbye and tells her regards to my parents. Laura hugs me before she goes to the passenger seat. Then, they drive away.

That's it. Nothing else. Am I expecting at the moment? For something more than just a friendly hug? Why Jared? You're best friends and that is more than enough. I watch as the car go in the distance.

Suddenly, a head pops out of the passenger seat window. It's Laura. She is waving as she shouts, "Byeee! I will be back! Find your own adventure, Red! I'll miss youuuuuu!"

Red. That is it. A smile starts to grow in my lips. She probably remembers. She probably not. But I'm satisfied with that. I wave good bye as they fade in the distance during this golden hour.

******

Summer quickly passed by. I did not stay inside my tree house but I decided to volunteer in the community centre. Twice a week, children go to the centre and attend activities such as playtime where they get to do a lot of team building activities. They also have arts where they learn how to draw and paint. They even have music time where they either learn to dance or play an instrument. You know, activities where they can really be children and know about the real the world rather than being zombies controlled by their phones and iPads.
Allison volunteered this year. She says it is for her application to look good. She taught the kids modern dance or ballet. Boy, does she dance gracefully.

I was just there to volunteer as helper but I admit it is actually a good idea. They assigned me to do the storytelling time. I would tell stories to the group. It was fun seeing how they react to some scenes especially the ones with an element of surprise like the scene from Little Red Riding Hood. I aced the parts. It was also through this that I figured out I needed glasses. I decide not to get them yet.

There were times that the Community Centre staff would hold meetings and free snacks for everyone after the long day. During those time, Allison and I were able to talk about some things. We talked about about her family and how everyone in their family is an achiever. That's why she strives so hard to become the head of the cheerleading squad.
"Why did you volunteer anyway? Don't you have a vacation place to go to?" I wonder.
"We have but I'm passing this summer. I'd rather feel some good, y'know? I still believe life is not just meant to be just reaching your dreams. It's also meant to reach out to other to people. Extend a hand. Life is not meant to be selfish, that is," she replied.
Her gaze straight out the window where kids were playing in the playground. She snapped after a few seconds. "You really know how surprise people, huh?" She refers to the Little Red Riding Hood scene.
"He-he," I scratched my head shyly, "at least in a good way, right?"
"Uh-huh. Like who doesn't love the element of a good surprise?" she winked.
"You'll be a great philanthropist someday," I joke. She raises her eyebrow.

Everyone is really special. Everyone has a good inside them. Even the ones you think that does nothing but to smile and be fancy (example, cheerleaders and jocks). You just have to know how to bring out the best in them. We also went out for coffee to talk about other activities to add in the volunteer program.

The next month, I had to quit the centre earlier than I expected since we have to spend the last few weeks of summer with my aunt in Arizona. The week we got back, there was only less than a week before the junior year starts. The moment I got back, I already have a lot of stories to tell and I only have one person in mind that I'll always be excited to talk to, no matter what — Laura.