Average

Chapter 6: Trey Parker

The last week of freshman year flew by in an instant. One moment I was a measly freshman, and the next I was finally a sophomore. One year down, three more to go.

Courtney, Jaxon, and I kept our agreement and made the best of our last days together before summer break. Courtney was going off to her annual summer camp, and I started my first job at the local grocery store the next week.

I thought it would be awkward to be around Jaxon after our talk, but I think it brought us closer. He seems to be more comfortable around me, more so than before. Jaxon has opened up even more than our already great friendship had been.

The day after school was let out, Courtney had to leave for summer camp. She gathered both Jaxon and I into a hug, squeezing as hard as she could. Her famous last words before she departed were, "Don't fuck me over."

I started my job at the grocery store the week after school let out, and I was not ready. Getting up before 8 every morning, then waiting on rude customers? I'd rather be in school.

The one good thing I found over the summer was Brian. He visited town every summer, staying with his grandparents. He'd gotten his job around the same time as I had. He worked as a bag-boy; I was the cashier. I scanned the items, he bagged them. We were a team.

At first, Brian teased, flirted and I easily reciprocated. But sooner rather than later, we were hanging out outside of work. At my house, at his. Always together.

It wasn't long and Brian and I were the official "boyfriend and girlfriend." We would make sure to take our breaks together, and sneak away for a couple of minutes alone.  

My Sunday traditions with Jaxon stayed steady for a while, but once Brian and I started dating, they lessened. He'd make up excuses for why he couldn't come and eventually he just stopped.

I was hurt at first, but I understood that we both had lives; we were growing up.

My summer fling with Brian, while eye opening and amazing, came to a sweet bitter end when school started back. He said he couldn't be "tied down to someone he couldn't see everyday" which was understandable. We parted on good terms, and you never know, next summer could be even better.

Courtney had being fairly quiet all summer long. Neither Jaxon nor I really heard from her besides the random text here and there. But on the first day of school, her curly brown hair flew through the air towards me. I barely had time to throw my things down when she jumped into my arms.

Her squeals made my ears ring as my arms instinctively wrapped around her waist. The weight of her body slamming into mine knocks the breath out of me and I stumble back a few steps.

Courtney finally eases back from her death grip and I'm able to take a good look at her. Her skin has turned from a pale, soft shade to a bronzed, golden tan. Freckles litter across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Another new addition to Courtney's face is the bright, shiny stud placed through her right nostril.

My eyes widen at the sight. Courtney has always talked about tattoos and piercings, but her strict mothers has always shut down the idea.

"I missed you so much!" Courtney smiles as she brings my attention away from the piercing back to her. Her happiness is contagious, and I can't help but smile with her.

Bending down, I pick up my stranded binder. My schedule sits placed under the clear cover and Courtney's eyes sparkle when she sees it. Laughing, I hand over my binder and let her compare our schedules.

I watch her face as she reads over it. The once happy smile is replaced with a pouty frown. "Hmph." She grunts and pushing the binder back into my arms.