The summer we turned thirteen (Re-releasing 2025)

Chapter fifty-seven: Happier

James

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When my family and I returned home from Florida, things became busy.

Back-to-school shopping and doctor's appointments filled up the majority of the final week of summer vacation.

On the second to last day of break, I finally had a free day, so I met Hyland, Rachel, and Evan at the community pool.

Harlee still hadn't confessed anything to me, not over text, not by calling, and not in person.

I had a feeling Lizzie had been wrong to think she was going to.

But I was still holding out hope that maybe, there was a chance.

I even tried to get answers from Rachel about Harlee at the pool that day.

But most of Rachel's attention was on Evan.

When those two were together, they acted like no one else on the planet existed. And since he'd asked her to be his girlfriend, they seemed to be even more attached. I hoped that they had some classes together this year. Otherwise, once school started, they'd be in for a rude awakening.

"Hey, Rachel; check this out!" Evan said, then did a backflip into the pool from the high diving board he was standing on.

Rachel cheered for him; then, they started laughing and splashing one another.

"It's so cute; it's almost nauseating," I thought.

"Nah, just nauseating," Hyland said to the left of me.

She and I had been sitting at the edge of the pool with our feet in the water.

I realized I'd said that aloud and glanced over at her.

She giggled then shrugged. "Just kidding; they're cute. I ship it."

"I do too. Honestly. They seem happier. Both of them do," I agreed.

She nodded thoughtfully.

"I guess I was wrong about relationships at thirteen and fourteen. Maybe, I'm just cursed or something," she sighed.

I felt guilty upon hearing that.

She noticed my discomfort and started reassuring me,

"No, it's not just you. Don't worry. I've had other boyfriends."

"Oh." I nodded.

That admission didn't surprise me. Hyland looked like a legit supermodel.

I still didn't know why she had ever so much as glanced in my direction.

"But they turned out to be jerks, you know? I just wonder if there's anyone out there for me..." she said, then closed her eyes, seeming humiliated at the confession. "Ugh, now I sound desperate."

"No, it's not desperate. Everyone is looking for love. We all want to find someone that cares for us like that," I assured her.

"Great, now I sound like a rom-com," I joked.

She laughed weakly and kicked her feet around some. "Easy for you to say. You have Harlee."

The mention of her name made my heart skip a beat.

Had Harlee, I thought sadly.

And never as anything more than a friend.

But since I still didn't know what the situation was with Harlee, I didn't say that out loud. I just hoped Hyland would find the right person because she really did deserve it.

Trying to lighten the mood, I joked again,

"I hear Jasper is single after the bonfire."

I'd told her about the incidents that had occurred at the bonfire (minus Harlee's reaction to my confession) earlier.

I hoped she wouldn't mind my joking about her relationship problems and simply see the humor in the situation. It wasn't that I wasn't taking her seriously, I just knew how special she was, and that at the right time, she'd end up with the right person.

A hand shoved me into the pool.

At first, I thought that it was Hyland's retaliation for my joke.

But as I swam up from underwater coughing and sputtering, I realized I'd just summoned the devil. Jasper and Mike were standing at the edge of the pool beside a concerned Hyland.

And judging by the looks on their faces, Jasper had meant what he said on the Fourth about our fight not being over.

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