Summer Jam (gxg)

2. The List

It's only the second day of our summer vacation and I'm already, obviously, over at Rachel's place.

My mother rolled her eyes as she saw me leave this morning after engulfing my 11 a.m. breakfast, but I don't really care anymore. I guess I just got used to the little attitude she always has when it comes to me doing practically anything. She doesn't even ask when I'll come back anymore, knowing that I'll probably text her or dad sometimes in the afternoon to tell them. Besides, little Willy had just started screaming and it was the perfect opportunity for me to leave without having to answer any further questions. I left as soon as her attention wasn't on me anymore, letting the door close soundly behind me.

***

About a frozen pizza and an hour later, Rachie and I are sprawled on her large bed. Even though we spent almost each of our days together since we were four and that she technically tells me the daily 'drama' of her life as soon as it happens, she talks and talks until I don't know how she manages to anymore. Her worn out Converse lay next to mine in one of the corners of the room and our chocolate provisions are seriously getting low. Some series still plays in the background on her laptop, volume low and subtitles on so that she could talk over it. Besides, we probably watched that show three times or so already.

Somehow, even with the pink walls and the cute pouting bunny plush I'm holding in my arms, I feel like I belong here. In her room, with her talking and me listening. Even with my Star Wars tee and overall and nerdy glasses that obviously contrast with the room, I feel at ease. I think that to us our differences don't matter since we grew so used to them.

She would spend a lot of time with Adrien over the last few summers, but now her eyes are glimmering as she speaks of her 'newfound'  free time. She states how sorry she is that we didn't spend as much time together and that now is going to be the best summer of our lives and that I'm not getting rid of her. Honestly, even with her ex-boyfriend around we still talked everyday and I never felt like she was forgetting about me, but as I tell it to her for the hundredth time she shushes me, pushing me slightly to the side.

She even made a bullet point list of things that she states we have to do before the next semester begins, and I burst out laughing as she pulls the thing out from under one of her pillows. She's always hidden things there and I point it out, resulting in her puffing her cheeks in slight annoyance. But she doesn't have time to be upset with me, even jokingly, as she can't wait one more second to show me her list. She points one of her fingers toward me and stabs me in the arm with her nail. "Okay, first, Jam you need to find a girlfriend and this is absolutely non-negotiable."

I feel a small tingle of annoyance, and I actually facepalm at her words, putting up an overdramatic front. I try to argue against it, but she simply nudges me on the side, practically dismissing me, before going on. "This summer, we need to find you a girlfriend, go to the drive-in cinema as soon as possible because I've just got my licence and mom never uses her old car, we're also going to the beach! I've got a new swimsuit I need to wear out! And there's this new thrift shop just around the corner, and..."

and friends and parties and series and recipes and diet and workout and a bunch of things that I kind of forget as soon as she says them because she's going way too fast for me to even begin to assimilate anything.

To be completely honest with myself, all I care about is that we'll be doing it all together. It doesn't matter where we go, it doesn't matter what we do. The simple fact that we're getting slushies later on and that she's here with me is enough to make me happy. I don't need parties and a huge number of friends or even a girlfriend; I need Rachie here with me.

My smile is almost painful. I've given up on making her understand that I'm fine being single for now, and instead I chose to appreciate the present moment. She states she's rarely seen me so happy about going out of the comfort of my bed, but she's used to seeing me smile when we're together so she lets it slide quickly.

Around her, I'm never in a bad mood.