Reveille (The Hybrid Disasters, Book One)

Chapter 1: What A Wonderful World

I reclined further back in the mahogany-hued, wicker lounge chair I was occupying outside of Franklin's Restaurant and Bar and smiled to myself. My dad rented out the swanky restaurant's patio for my high school graduation after party. The large patio overlooked a well-maintained park at the back of the brick, two-story restaurant. It was May 23rd. The temperature of the day capped ideally at seventy-two degrees, an anomaly for Texas at this time of year, but I was grateful for the cooler climate. 

Presently late evening, the sun was preparing to set over the lake in the center of the park, providing an amazing view for such an important occasion. I couldn't help but feel awed as I inhaled my surroundings. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted through the air, and, if you listened closely enough, you could hear the crickets chirping over the nostalgic nineties alt-rock hits the restaurant played over its patio speakers. From the second I woke up in my bed this morning to where I now sat, soaking in this very moment, everything about my graduation had been perfect. I could not have envisioned a more immaculate day.

I looked over at my two best friends who were sitting in identical chairs at my table. They were laughing as my boyfriend, Donny, and his best friend, Trevor, were playfully arguing about who would score the most runs their first season. They both received scholarships to play baseball at the Austin University or, as most people referred to it, AU. Donny was slotted as the first pitcher in rotation, and Trevor was guaranteed to be playing shortstop. It was an impressive achievement as incoming freshmen to say the least. I could not be happier for them; for all of us, really. I received a full academic scholarship to AU, so I would be attending too. 

In fact, all five of us were going together. My two best friends, Mac and AB, were accepted into the university as well. The three of us planned on rushing together; although, they were currently conflicted on which sorority was best. I didn't really have an opinion on the matter as I held more academic interests than social ones. That topic seemed trivial in the moment, though. The simple fact was that I was thrilled to be spending the next four years with this group of people that meant so much to me. They were all such an important part of my life, and I was happy I didn't have to leave them behind.

I glanced away from our close group and looked around the rest of the patio. The large area was filled with friends, family, and acquaintances all dressed in their Sunday best. My group had one last summer here in our small town before we headed off to college to begin the next chapter in our lives. With this soon-to-be farewell to our town in mind, we had made so many plans for the summer. Little to our parents' knowledge, our plans, which Trevor lamely dubbed 'Summer of Epically Intense Fun,' was going to begin tonight after the graduation party here at Franklin's. 

Seeming to read the direction of my thoughts, Donny winked and smiled knowingly at me from across the table. I returned his smile by blowing him a quick kiss. He made the motion to catch it mid-air and pressed the invisible pucker to his lips. He smiled again, and I grinned from ear to ear as the dimple in his left cheek appeared.

Donny was by far the most handsome guy I had ever seen. We began dating in Junior High, and he was more than just my boyfriend. He was my best friend, and he had been for as long as I could remember. Donny pushed his brown, wavy hair out of his narrow, green eyes and offered me another wink. 

"Hey, stop it with the bedroom eyes, you two!" Trevor teasingly instructed us. I blushed automatically in response. Everyone at the table laughed at my modesty, and I felt my blush deepen.

"Miss Bashful again?" Trevor mocked. "That's a new record."

"Hey now, Trev. Leave my girl alone," Donny grinned. "She only went red twice during her valedictorian speech," he pointed out. "Besides, I love that blush."