The Tuition Fee

Chapter 21: July, Year 3

Alina

This year. This is the year we get the hammock for the backyard. I shift my weight slightly and the hammock rocks with me and I let out a small sigh. Oh yeah. This is what true relaxation is. 

"Want some lemonade?" 

I open my eyes and smile up at Marissa holding a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade in each hand. "Yeah, you wanna join me?" I sit up and scoot over, making room for my best friend. She hands me the cold glass and slides next to me, sitting up so we're facing the lake. 

"How are you doing?" she asks, rocking us slowly back and forth. After my dad's surgery, after my kiss with Derek and then my (for lack of a better word) cuddling session with Nathan, Marissa checked in on me every day. I told her about the mental breakdown, and then about Nathan convincing me to go to the SHC. She came and slept over a few times to keep me company when Nathan was gone and my love for her increased tenfold. I got a stern scolding as well for hiding so much of my pain from her, but then she broke down crying and I broke down crying, and we hugged for twenty minutes. She was my best friend, I couldn't hide anything from her anymore.

I shrug and sip the lemonade. It's tart and sweet and perfectly mixed. Mrs. Walker really is a wiz in the kitchen. "The medicine is helping a lot and I'm finally sleeping again. And this hammock is actually what dreams are made of." She laughs as I stretch out like a cat in the sun. But I'm being honest, I really am doing better than I was three months ago. I stayed true to my promise to Nathan to go to the SHC and see a doctor. They gave me some anxiety medication and I went and talked to a psychiatrist every two weeks. Another wonderful benefit of our scholarship, free health insurance through the university while we were students. 

"Good, I'm happy you're doing better." She squeezes my hand and I lean my head on her arm as we rock on the hammock, feeling a tiny sense of peace in my chest for the first time in a long time. 

Out on the lake, the boat pulls back up to the dock and two figures jump off, tying up the boat but not raising the lift up. "Oh great, here they come," she whispers. 

I laugh and watch a soaking wet and shirtless Reese and Nathan jog up the steps and run across the grass, pushing and shoving at each other like they were actually twelve instead of twenty. 

"Whatcha got there babe?" Reese comes up behind Marissa and wraps her in a wet hug, She squeals and pushes him off, quickly chugging the rest of her drink. 

"I had some lemonade. Your mom made some, it's in the kitchen." She grins at him and he bends down to kiss her. I gag, turning to Nathan who's drying off his hair with a lime green and electric blue towel.

I hold my half-empty glass out to him, lemon slice floating on top. "Want some?" 

"Fuck yeah." He takes the glass from my hand and chugs it. I laugh at him and stand, yanking the glass from his hand. 

"I didn't say all!" I look at the tiny amount left at the bottom of the glass and scowl. "You owe me more." 

He laughs and takes the cup back, draining the rest of it. "Yeah alright. Come on then." He slings his arm around my neck and I jab his side but he doesn't remove his arm, just holds me tighter. He smells like the lake and cologne with the faint hint of lemon. 

"How was the boat?" I ask, pushing his arm off and stepping away from him as we step through the open sliding doors towards the kitchen. Mrs. Walker is mixing up batter for a cake and smiles at us. 

"Boat was good. Mrs. Walker where is some of your delicious lemonade?" He holds up the empty glass and she gestures with her chin to the refrigerator.