Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 37

Chapter THIRTY-SEVEN

Cay called again in the morning, but I ignored it. I just felt like getting out of there.

   Cora helped me pack up the Jetta with bags of clothes, boxes of my personal items, pillows, blankets. It felt strange that everything I'd kept in that bedroom in the beach house my entire life was now packed into the car, leaving with me. I didn't feel scared, though. I felt excited, which helped me to know that I was doing the right thing.

   Cay called again as I was pulling out of the driveway. It seemed that she wasn't giving up.

   I had already said my goodbyes to Cora and Sam, and even Tom. I thanked them for everything they had done for me, which was everything. There were tears. I didn't know when I'd see them again, which gave me mixed emotions. But I did know that they would be there if I needed to come back, and also that I couldn't wait to get to Harley.

   My phone kept ringing, so I stopped the car, put it in park, and answered.

   "Yeah?"

   "Izzie, hey."

   "Hey."

  "I'm sorry. Really. I was just overwhelmed that you're really leaving," she said, and I could tell she meant it. "I'll really miss you."

   I sighed, tears filling the spots behind my eyes right away. "I'll miss you, too. Thanks for being my friend."

   "Of course, Izzie. I mean, you were my friend. You know that?" she asked me, and it hit me hard all of a sudden.

   She wasn't just my first actual friend. I had been her first friend in Siesta, too. We had only known each other seven months but our friendship had meant something.

   "Cay... I'm sorry I left like that," I managed to say.

   "No, I'm the one who is sorry. I really freaked out when I should have been supportive," she told me. "Are you already gone?" I could hear the pain in her voice.

   "Yeah," I lied. "Heading to Melbourne." I mean, I was practically already gone, and I couldn't imagine going through another goodbye,

   "Okay. Keep in touch?" she said, practically begging.

    "Okay," I agreed. " I will."

   I didn't know when I would see her again, either, but I hoped we could still be friends, then. Maybe things would be too different? Or maybe she would leave Siesta, too, at some point? I didn't know if she and I would remain friends, but I knew I would try. That was all I could do.

   I'd never been to Melbourne, obviously. It was a long drive, but I followed the GPS and got there without getting lost. I was tired and hungry and anxious when I pulled into the motel parking lot, where Harley was waiting for me. I spotted the red pick up truck right away.

   My heart was pounding in my chest. The night before, I'd had a minor freak out about actually leaving and living with Harley and, well, everything. But now? Now I was just happy.

   My phone was ringing as I turned off the Jetta. Good timing.

   "Hey, Max," I answered, with a huge smile on my face.

   "Hey girl," he said back, his voice full of curiosity. "How are you?"

   "I'm good. Really good," I answered, without hesitating.

   I heard him let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. So, you're going to Melbourne?"

   I let out a laugh. "I'm actually already in Melbourne. I just pulled in to the motel parking lot."

   "Oh, well, then." Max laughed, too. "I just wanted to check in. I was worried about you last night."

   "I know, I'm sorry I was acting like that. I'm sorry I -"

   "No, Izzie. You don't have to be sorry for calling me, ever. Or for needing reassurance, or even just to hear my amazing voice," he said, then snorted out another laugh. "If you stop calling... that's when you'll be in trouble with me."

   My heart swelled, and slowed itself down. Max really was my calm place.

   "Okay, I promise I'll call. A lot," I told him.

   "You better."

   "Good luck on your first day of school," I said, not wanting to hang up yet.

   "Oh, thanks. My roommate is so cute, by the way. He's straight, but at least I can admire his beauty..."

   I burst out laughing, then unbuckled my seat belt. It was time.

   "I love you Max," I said, serious. "I'll talk to you soon."

   "Okay, go see your boy," he finished. "Love you too."

   IM HERE, I texted Harley, getting out of the Jetta and stretching my legs.

   ROOM 31, he sent back right away.

   And when he opened the door a few minutes later, I knew this was the first day of the rest of my life. I knew because he was right, everything had happened that summer for a reason. We needed to find our way to each other, and we did. I knew because when I saw him standing there in his t-shirt and shorts, and his messy hair, I didn't have any doubts, about anything.

   I wasn't the summer girl, not anymore. I wasn't the girl whose parents died when she was little, or the anti-social home-schooled girl. I wasn't even the girl who was chasing her boyfriend to college.

   I was just Izzie Bowman, and I was exactly where I wanted to be.