pieces | ethma

Cruel Summer

Ethan

Summer in Wisconsin meant one thing. Chilly in the morning, excruciatingly hot during the day, and chilly at night. It was like living in the desert, but Wisconsin.

I always wore jeans in the morning. I always kept a pair of shorts in my truck in case I got too warm during the day at work.

It was just another normal morning in the middle of June. I was always the one to go on the daily coffee run. I worked at an auto shop. It was run by my uncle, and my twin brother and I were finally old enough to officially work there. We had turned sixteen the previous winter. Grayson and I helped around the shop growing up, but now we were actual employees.

There I was, in jeans, a jacket and a ball cap waiting in line when I saw her for the very first time.

It was either her first day, or she's never worked the morning shift at Sam's Coffee House. But her eyes caught mine, and it felt like I was drowning. In a good way. Her eyes were like the ocean, and I couldn't look away. Even when she looked away, blushing and giving a small smile as she continued to make coffee for the other customers, I couldn't help but watch. She was so beautiful.

Until the guy taking orders called me up next. I gave him my orders, and then I waited by the pickup station.

Luckily Sam's Coffee House always have drink carriers, so I didn't have to figure out how to carry eight different coffees with two hands.

"Have a nice day." The girl said, hanging me the two drink carriers. I glanced at her name tag.

Emma.

I wonder if she goes to my school? She looks relatively close to my age.

"Thanks, Emma."

She looked down at her name tag before looking at the sticker on one of the coffees.

"No problem, Ethan."

And that was the start.

I worked every day that week. I got coffee everyday that week.

I saw Emma everyday that week.

Forget the coffee, seeing Emma's smile was what put me in a good mood everyday that week, and even Grayson could tell something was going on with me.

So, I brought him to the coffee shop too. Just from observation, he figured out that I was crushing on Emma. She was adorable for goodness sake, and the coffee shop was the highlight of my day for the last week.

It was a Saturday night when Grayson and I got invited to a bonfire on the beach. These bonfires were some of the most fun parties of the summer, and the possibility of Emma being there completely slipped my mind until I accidentally bumped into her.

"Ope, I'm sorry." She said.

I turned around to face the voice. It was dark outside, but the light from the fire lit her face enough so I could tell it was her. I barely recognized her without her coffee shop uniform.

"Emma?"

Her eyes searched my face until recognition crossed her face. "Oh. Um, Ethan, right?"

I smiled. "Yeah. Hey."

She smiled back. "Hey."

"You know, going to the coffee shop and seeing your smile has been the highlight of my week."

She giggled. "Mine too."

"Are you from around here?" I asked. We were both walking towards the lake house the party was being hosted at. Drinks were all the way inside of the house.

"My family and I just moved here from Michigan."

"Ah. Across the lake, huh?"

She smiled again as we made our way up the back porch and into the house. "Yeah. What school do you go to?" She asked.

"I'm gonna be a senior at Lake Village High."

"No way. Me too! We should hang out."

"Totally. That sounds fun. You know, I was a bit surprised to see you here tonight."

"This is actually my cousin's party." She said.

"Bryce Larsen is your cousin?"

"Yeah."

"Emma, how didn't I know? Now that I think about it, you look a lot alike, and he's talked about his cousin Emma from Michigan before."

Emma giggled. "I didn't know you were friends with Bryce."

"Yeah. He's on my football team."

-

Emma and I hit if off really well. I mean, we hung out that whole night. Walking around the beach, talking, and simply hanging out.

It was only the beginning of summer, but I knew it was gonna be a great one. The next week came, and there I was in the coffee shop yet again. I didn't have to work that day, but I wanted a coffee anyway.

That was the day Emma put her number on my coffee cup.

Ethan: have a good day at work :)

Emma: haha thanks it's slow so far today.

Ethan: maybe I'll come back just to hang out with you

Emma: haha I wish. Maybe after work?

Ethan: what time?

Emma: I'm done at noon.

Ethan: I'll be there :)

Emma: sounds great :)

I ended up picking her up from the coffee shop, and I took her to the local arcade to play skee ball.

Emma let me guide her arm to throw the ball perfectly. I didn't mind. She was cute, and I really liked her.

We played skee ball for hours. It was so much fun. Emma was fun. Hearing her laugh, and knowing she was having fun with me made me only want to get to know her more.

After that I took her for tacos at the local Mexican restaurant Andre's.

I was beginning to feel like Emma actually gave me something to look forward to. Going to the coffee shop before work, senior year. More bonfires at Bryce's house on the lake.

I knew Emma was different, and frankly a girl like her was exactly what I needed. I was so caught up in the hookup routine that I forgot what it was like to hang out with someone and genuinely grow a friendship. I was happy to be good friends with Emma. I was really starting to catch feelings.

I just hope she never breaks my heart.

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A/N: should this be a book?