A Summer of New Beginnings | Completed |

Chapter 2

Sunlight streams in through my windows. I sit up, remembering Gavin's touch, tingles running through my body. He said he cares for me. Do I feel the same way for him? I'm not sure how to deal with this. My mind wanders back to the last day of school, all the memories created.

My letter! I walk into the garage, grabbing my turquoise bike, letter in hand, crossbody purse slung across my chest. I hop on, passing countless buildings, all engraved into my history. My elementary school where I first met Jessi, the public library where we became best friends, the park where I met Gavin, and the pier where I met Miles. I stop in May's parking lot, ready to start a new chapter of my life. I walk my bike to the bike rack, wrapping the chain through the spoke.

I head in, the smell of her countless deserts overwhelming me. The whitewashed brick is lined with shelves lined with flowers and pictures, the huge glass display case, donuts, cakes, and pastries lining each, little signs, descriptions printed on each in front of each item.

"Aspen! Hi, darling! What can I get you?" She walks out, her light blond hair in a bun, her pale green eyes searching my face, her apron wrapped around her waist, covering her dark blue jeans, her blue jean shirt sleeves rolled up at her elbows, everything covered in flour.

I smile. "Actually, I'm not here for a pastry this time."

"Oh. What can I get you?"

"I'm here to drop off a letter. For Firefly."

Her confusion fades. "Ok. I'll take it and why don't you come back in..." She pauses. "About three hours and see if Firefly has written back?

I nod. "Ok."

I turn, getting ready to leave. "Aspen, wait!" she comes running out, a slice of lemon meringue pie in hand. "This is for you. On the house."

I smile. "I can't take this. Please let me pay you." She shakes her head, being her usual stubborn self.

I take it, a smile tugging at my lips. "Well if you insist..." I bite into the pie. "May, this is heavenly!"

She smiles. "See you in three!"

I ride over to the beach, passing the blue sign, Coral Park Beach etched onto it. Jessi's sitting in the sand, her attention on her phone. "Hey, stranger!"

She looks up, smiling as she sees me. "Hi, Aspen!" I hop off my bike, walking it over to her. I lay it down on the sand, sitting down by her. "You scared us all last night! No one could find you."

I smile. "Sorry."

She pats my back. "It's all good." She pauses. "AD told me that Gavin brought you home last night." She tells me, struggling to keep her face neutral.

"I feel asleep on the beach, and Gavin found me."

"Is that it?" She questions. Jessi knows me so well, she can tell when I'm hiding something from here. She's always there for me when I need her.

I lower my voice. She leans in closer, anxious to hear what I'm going to say. "He carried me into my room, laying me down in my bed. He stroked my face and told me that he really cared for me. When he walked out of my room, he turned back and stared at me for a while."

She gasps, her light blue eyes widening. "Wow. I didn't think he would take you all the way into your bed. That's some dedication."

I smile. "I guess it is.

She turns to me. "We haven't hung out a lot lately, just the two of us."

I nod. "Yeah. I miss our girl days."