Summer Falls in Love

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

  “Mom, Dad!” Summer yelled out to her mother the moment she landed eyes on her parents entering the backyard of the Dawson Mansion, “Over here!”

  Regina Falls turned her head to come face-to-face with her beautiful daughter in a stunning red curve-hugging dress. Her eyes darted to the people around her and found at least three guests staring. She laughed internally. Her daughter was gorgeous and she didn’t even know it. “Summer, dear,” Regina smiled warmly as Summer made her way over to them.

  “So glad you could make it!” Summer grinned at them.

  “Yeah, hello to you too, sis,” Skye muttered, rolling her eyes.

  “Oh, Skye!” Summer jumped, she didn’t notice her sister standing beside her parents. She looked so different in that pastel pink dress and nude pumps. Not to mention her hair, which was done up in a side bun, with strands falling out of it. She looked…beautiful. “You look absolutely gorgeous!”

  Skye smiled, “I look 20, don’t I?” she winked playfully, twirling around.

  “Oh stop it, sis,” Summer waved her off, “you don’t want to grow old.”

  “Summer, honey,” Stephen Falls addressed his daughter, “why don’t you show us around?”

~*~

Summer carefully guided her parents to the buffet tables, but slowly, as she scanned the crowd for a very familiar person called Jake. She needed him right now. At last, she spotted him by their table, chatting casually with Zach and Cameron. However, the girls didn’t seem to be there. She quickly ushered her family to where Jake was.

  “Jake,” she grabbed him by the hand and quickly dragged him off, but not before mouthing a ‘sorry’ to Cam and Zach, who stood there dumbstruck.

  Jake looked at her, confused, “What is it, Sum?” he asked.

  “You’ve met my parents, right?” Summer smiled as he looked beside her and found himself face-to-face with the Falls again.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Falls,” Jake greeted politely as he hugged them both but Skye was nowhere to be seen. That girl.

  “Why hello Jake,” Regina smiled. “And Jake, please call us Regina and Stephen.”

  “Lovely party you’ve got here, son,” Stephen commented with a grin.

  Jake laughed, “I admit,” he said, “I had nothing to do with this set-up. It was all my step-mom.”

  “Speaking of which,” Regina said, “where is that gorgeous step-mom of yours?”

  “Ah,” Jake looked around, before spotting a tall gorgeous lady who resembled a Greek goddess, holding a glass of champagne, next to his father, chatting with an elderly man, “Come on,”

  They made their way to the domineering couple of the year and the elderly man excused himself, giving the Falls the direct attention of the CEO of Dawson Co. and his gorgeous supermodel wife.

  “Guys,” Jake started, “This is Stephen and Regina Falls, my girlfriend, Summer’s, parents.”

  “Hi,” Natalia greeted them warmly, shaking their hands, “I am Natalia, and this is my husband, Robert.”
  “Pleasure to meet you at last, Stephen, Regina,” Robert said smoothly, a trait Jake had inherited from his father.

  “No, no,” Stephen chuckled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Robert. I have to say, I am a big fan.”

  “And so am I, Natalia,” Regina addressed Natalia, who laughed, “what’s your secret?”

  Natalia merely laughed.

  “So, can I treat you guys with some champagne?” Robert said as they led them to a table to sip one of the most expensive champagnes in the world.

~*~

The whole line of Dawson’s always made spectacular entrances. No, they don’t simply blend in the crowd. They stand out. Their presence itself already deemed a party 5 out of 5 stars. Get a Dawson at your party and you’ll be splattered all over the papers. The Dawson’s were practically Hollywood royalty.

However, as ironic as it seems, Dawson’s were also known for their stealth and sneakiness; to simply disappear in a party. No, not the ‘missing’ type of disappear. They simply fade into the background according to their will and no one actually notices. They just know the perfect timing, perfect exit, perfect disappearance. And that’s exactly how Robert and Jake shied away from the lively classy Christmas Ball.

They chose Robert’s office to talk, since it was soundproof and safe. The minute the door clicked shut, Robert engaged into conversation.

  “Wow,” Robert looked straight into his son’s eyes, daringly.

  “Wow…?” Jake’s lips formed a ghost of a smile.

  “I have to say,” He smiled proudly at his son, “I never thought you’d date a girl that’s actually decent.”

  Jake felt his smile falter at his father’s blunt words but was ecstatic of his approval. “Summer is definitely special.”

  “I am proud of you son,” Robert placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and smiled warmly at him. Jake saw the twinkle in his eyes that he hasn’t seen for many years. It made his heart inflate with love. “I approve.”

  Jake couldn’t help but smile, a real smile. But then a tiny voice inside his head reminded him that it was all fake. Summer was supposedly his fake girlfriend, remember? He felt guilt tug at his heart. It all felt real though. And those butterflies…he couldn’t deny them.

  “Well, this marks the end of my matchmaking days,” Robert chuckled, “Now let’s get some champagne, shall we?”

As Robert left the room, Jake couldn’t help but let his mind wander into a spider diagram of possibilities. Namely Summer’s relationship with him. It couldn’t be for the publicity…the attention…to get his father off his back…

No. Jake made up his mind there and then. What’s the point of a fake relationship? He was sure as hell now that there was something between them and he couldn’t deny it. There was something there and he was determined to expose it.

But as he made his way out of his father’s office, he couldn’t help but doubt. What if…what if somehow, after all this, Summer didn’t feel the same…?

He paused mid step. The fear of rejection echoed throughout his 23 year old mind. It was a word he knew, but somehow never felt thoroughly. And he was afraid of it. How could the player be played? There was no such thing. But then again, was he still the player? After all that’s happened?

Or have the roles, perhaps, reversed?

~*~

Hey guys! :)

sorry for a day late upload! im having my piano practical exams in less than a week so stressed out is an understatement of how im feeling now :/ 

Comment...? :)

Julia ;/