About Last Summer

by Patricia B Tighe

  “You sound like you’re hyperventilating.”

  I sat up. “What if my parents won’t let me date Noah?”

  Kenzie came up on her elbows. “You’re seventeen years old, Gabby. They won’t be that unreasonable.”

  “I’m the youngest in my family. You know they think of me as a baby.”

  Molly sat up too. She considered me with a look that made me want to crawl under my towel. “I think you worry too much.” Her gaze softened. “Just introduce them to Noah. Have him spend a lot of time at your house. They’ll fall in love with him just like you have.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Does this mean you’ve decided to go for it?” Kenzie asked, a smug look on her face.

  “No,” I said quickly. “I still don’t know if it’ll work.” I wanted to go on and on with my litany of fears, but Kenzie had heard them all before, and Molly had heard more than enough.

  Still, Molly tilted her head like I was some creature she’d never seen before. “The only way you’ll know is if you date him. Simple as that.”

  I opened my mouth to say it really wasn’t so simple, but Molly continued. “Don’t you think I had second thoughts when I started dating Geoff? If you hadn’t noticed, we’re almost complete opposites.”

  Kenzie coughed out a laugh. “Understatement.”

  “But we bring out the best in each other, and I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t gone out with him. Has it always been easy? No. But we’re committed to working on things.”

  I frowned. “You sound like a grown up or something.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Or something is about right.”

  “I want to be an ‘or something,’” Kenzie said.

  I smiled while they laughed. Did I have it in me to be an “or something” too? If I did, I knew without a doubt that I was going to have to fight my parents to get them to see me that way. To know and really understand that I was growing up and could make decent decisions.

  And whatever happened with Noah, I knew that the place to start with my parents was over the school stuff. I wanted to take theater, so I was going to take theater. Not accounting. Maybe I’d never act in a play, but that wasn’t important. Making my own choices was. I’d probably have to change my schedule so that I could take a few AP classes as a compromise with my mom. And I would need to be prepared for her to be angry for a while. But I’d work hard. And that’s all they could really ask for, right?

  A weird calmness settled over me. Huh. Who knew? Maybe I really could be an “or something.”

  Noah

  Dinner that night was a quick slide through the kitchen to grab a few slices of pizza and then a retreat to Geoff’s room to get ready for the play. In the brief moment I saw Gabby, she gave me a shy smile before being hustled out of the room by Kenzie. I knew I shouldn’t read anything into it. I knew she was probably still unsure about us. But it gave me a burst of energy as I jogged up the stairs. In about an hour, the play would be over, and we could have a long overdue conversation.

  Because it all came down to this—she loved me. I didn’t know who Alejandro was, but Dylan and Geoff had convinced me there was an explanation. Probably a crazy one, but still an explanation. And it wouldn’t be that Gabby was in love with some Alejandro dude. I was trusting her on that. Even though my gut twisted at the thought of it. I was trusting her because I knew deep inside that she loved me, and that the reason she’d dumped me before was because she was afraid she’d screw it all up somehow.

  Besides, fourteen-year-old eavesdroppers were sure to have gotten the story wrong.

  I dropped into a corner of the room to eat and to stay out of the way of Geoff’s eating/pacing. Dylan had hunkered down on the bottom bunk to finish his pizza, brooding more than actually chewing. He was probably trying to decide how far to push Kenzie during the play. Good luck with that. The whole hijacking of the play would likely end up a huge disaster, but we had committed to it. If we had tried to back out Geoff would’ve kill us, especially since we hadn’t let him hang out with Molly all afternoon. That bikini episode had practically sent him through the roof. After I’d pushed the guys back into the garage, Geoff kept muttering about how much he hated us. I was probably the only one who even heard him, though. Dylan was a silent robot, going through the motions, but not interacting with anyone. I’d lucked out by purposely not focusing on what Gabby was wearing.

  At least not then. When Mr. Bryson was done with us, we’d snuck around the house to peek at the girls while they sunbathed, and had to grab Geoff to keep him from joining them. It was bad enough to feel like an idiotic creeper—there was no way I would go drool over Gabby, even though every nerve ending in my body went on high alert the moment I saw her. I was still holding out hope that avoiding her all afternoon would actually bring results.

  Geoff dropped a pizza crust on his plate as he walked by the dresser. “We all good on what we’re doing? Any questions?”

  Dylan grunted but didn’t say anything.

  I washed down my last bite with a swig of iced tea. “Yeah, I mean if we screw up, we just go with the flow, right?”

  “Exactly,” Geoff said. “Improv city.” He stopped in front of Dylan. “You okay, man?”

  Dylan looked up. He’d put in contacts for the play, and it made him seem a lot younger than eighteen. “Just dandy.”

  Geoff placed a hand on the upper bunk and leaned closer. “Dude, don’t freak out. Seriously. You don’t have to plant one on her. We already told you that.”

  “I’m not freaking out,” Dylan said. “I’m just ready for this to be over.”

  “Me too,” I said.

  Geoff straightened. “Good. Let’s get ready.”

  My costume consisted of jeans, a pleated tuxedo shirt I found in the storage closet, and a yellow apron. Perfect for a maid, right?

  For the traveling merchant, Dylan wore karate pants that were above his ankles, a brown T-shirt, and a faded olive-green fishing vest.

  But Geoff had the win. He’d found a blond chin-length wig in the closet that he used to spice up his plain black pants and long-sleeved blue shirt. From there he added three or four strings of beads and a blinking red heart pin that he attached to his shirt. Not exactly my definition of beauty, but it made us laugh when he posed in front of us. “I’m gonna be the best Beauty this play has ever seen.” He pushed a button on the heart pin, and it stopped blinking.

  “I hope you’ll be the only Beauty because I never want to do this again,” Dylan said.

  “Not a problem,” Geoff said. “In a couple of months, I’m deleting this play from my dad’s computer. That should take care of it.”

  “Make sure you check his backup drives too,” I said.

  “Naturally,” Geoff said.

  We all stood there staring at each other for a few seconds. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one who looked ridiculous. Geoff stuck his arm out. “Go team?”

  Dylan actually smiled. “Why not?” He placed his hand on Geoff’s.

  I groaned. “Seriously?”

  Geoff grabbed my wrist and pulled me in. “On three. One, two, three.”

  “Go team!” we halfheartedly cheered.

  “Weak, guys, really weak,” Geoff said. He held up the stack of replacement cards. “Let’s go wreak havoc!”

  Dylan smirked and gestured to the door. “After you.”

  I exhaled a loud breath. Great. We were really doing it.

  We followed Geoff out of the room.

  Gabby

  I circled the kitchen island, shaking my hands to try to get rid of the tremors. The plastic quiver and arrows across my back scratched through the green cotton tunic. I didn’t look like a hunter. I looked like a female Robin Hood. I dragged in a tight breath. I looked stupid. The play was stupid. I was going to get up on that stage and make a fool of myself.

  Kenzie blocked my path and placed her hands on my shoulders. “Stop. Take a couple more slow breaths.” She waited, her head angled
, watching me. I obeyed without arguing. When it came to being on stage, Kenzie knew what she was doing. I focused on the whiskers and lines I’d drawn on her face to make her more Beast-like. I wouldn’t tell her, but with the Viking hat she wore, she actually looked like a cat with horns. A cute cat with horns. “Now,” she said. “I know it won’t help to remember that the audience consists of maybe eight people. That is, if any of the people Uncle Mike invited decide to come. Instead, I want you to focus on me the whole time you’re on stage.”

  “How can I be Gabriela, the Hunter, and focus on you?”

  “Don’t worry about Gabriela. If your accent slips, no one will notice. They’ll be too busy with their own lines.”

  “Still.”

  She squeezed my shoulders briefly. “Pay attention to what I’m doing and you’ll forget about yourself. And if you freeze up and can’t speak, I’ll make it seem like it’s part of the play. Half the time when we’ve done these things, my uncle yells the lines from the audience.”

  I let out a breathy laugh. “Okay, nothing is serious. Got it.”

  She smiled. “Focus on me.”

  “Right.”

  “Say it.”

  I glared at her.

  “Dynamic duo,” she whispered with a grin.

  “Dynamic duo,” I repeated.

  She stepped back. “Let’s go. I think everyone else is out there.” With a swirl of her peasant skirt, she spun and headed for the garage.

  I snatched up my child-sized plastic bow and followed her. We squeezed into an eight-foot square space with the rest of the “cast.” The seven of us stood behind old closet doors that had been set up to hide us from the audience and represent the wings of a stage.

  My gaze went straight to Noah’s back as he watched Mr. Bryson step up onto the platform. What was Noah thinking about? Was he nervous? Last summer when he had to perform, he’d tighten his jaw and concentrate like he was about to skewer everyone with laser eyes. But as soon as he’d walk on stage, he’d drop immediately into character. I wished I could see his expression. More than that, I wished I could grab his hand and lead him into the backyard so we could talk. Forget about the silly play.

  Mr. Bryson was welcoming everyone and talking about the show. Kenzie’s breath came quietly beside me. Geoff fidgeted at the back of his neck, adjusting the beads he wore. Haley let out a nervous giggle. Dylan stood tall and stiff as a statue. Amanda pulled a section of hair behind her ear over and over. Haley giggled again.

  “Stop,” Amanda said in harsh whisper.

  Haley’s mouth went slack beneath her Grandma makeup and gray wig.

  Geoff frowned at Amanda and opened his mouth to speak, but Dylan got there first.

  “It’s okay, Haley,” Dylan whispered. “We’re all nervous.”

  “Ha,” Geoff whispered. “Maybe you are.”

  Kenzie placed a hand on Geoff’s back. “It’s time.”

  Mr. Bryson had left the platform and cut the lights. I widened my eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness. A weight pressed against my chest. I drew in a tight breath. Just forget about everything. Your breathing. Your lines. Focus on Kenzie.

  Finally, I realized I could see. Dim amber lights glowed from the floor throughout the garage. Geez, the Brysons thought of everything.

  “Ready, Haley?” Kenzie whispered.

  Haley nodded and went to the stage. When she was in position, a spotlight came on, showing most of the set and Haley in a rocking chair with a pile of yarn in her lap. Kenzie sneaked to where the door was supposed to be and mimed pushing it slowly open. Then she stormed over to Haley, roaring and knocking over an end table. Haley squealed, threw the yarn up in the air, and ran off the stage. The spotlight narrowed on Kenzie as she paced, letting out a chuckling growl as she went. Amanda and Noah raced onto the stage, looking wildly around for the Grandmother.

  Kenzie stalked up to them. “I’m in charge here now.” She gestured at the overturned table. “Get this mess cleaned up.”

  Amanda took a step forward. “But our—”

  “Now!” Kenzie yelled.

  Amanda pretended to give Noah instructions and then he picked up the yarn and set the table upright. Once finished, he and Amanda took their places standing stiffly against the wall.

  Geoff left our hiding place, and walked out, a red hoodie hanging from his head. Chuckles sounded from the audience. He whistled as he strolled, swinging what was probably Molly’s black purse. Huh. Whistling had never been a part of our rehearsals.

  I leaned toward Haley, who was taking off the grandmother costume she had on over her traveling merchant pants and shirt. “You prepared to knock?” I whispered, trying to keep being Gabriela as long as possible.

  She gasped, let her skirt drop to her boots, and picked up the blocks of wood she was supposed to bang together. Geoff lifted his hand and pretended to knock on the door three times and Haley matched him perfectly. But then he knocked twice more, and when no sound came, he sent a snarky look to where Haley, Dylan, and I stood behind the closet doors. Haley clapped the blocks two times and Geoff nodded as though satisfied. More chuckles from the audience.

  Okay, so Geoff was messing around with the play. I should have expected something like that. Kenzie was right. Nobody was taking it seriously. Except maybe Mr. and Mrs. Bryson.

  Amanda pretended to open the door and said, “Yes?” in her best scornful tone.

  “Hello, there, Butler-girl. I’m here to see my grandmother.”

  “Butler-girl?” I whispered to Dylan.

  He shrugged and turned back to the stage where Amanda was saying, “She’s gone.”

  “How very inconvenient,” Geoff said. “Let me in anyway. I’ve traveled for hours, and I must urinate.”

  Beside me, Haley let out a surprised giggle along with the audience, and I swore I heard Mr. Bryson mutter, “Geoff.”

  None of those lines were in the play. I edged closer to Dylan. “What is he doing?” I whispered.

  Dylan smirked. “Being Geoff.”

  On stage, Amanda scowled and looked at the notes stuck to the palm of her white glove. She was supposed to say something about checking with their new master, but Geoff was already pushing in, so she stepped out of his way.

  Kenzie stormed up to him. “What do you want?”

  “Aren’t you an adorable beastie?” he asked with a grin. “But to answer your question, I want to use your bathroom. You know, the toilet, the john, the facilities?”

  I couldn’t see Kenzie’s face well at that angle, but from the way she held herself, I knew her mind was racing. She understood completely what he was doing and had to decide if she was going to go along or try to reel him back into the play. She looked down at her cards and a huff of laughter escaped her. “Well, mate, it’s your lucky day.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “It’s out the door and around the back.”

  I missed part of Geoff’s response because a satisfied sigh came from Dylan and he folded his arms across his chest. “That’s the way, Kenzie,” he whispered.

  What the heck was going on? Was I missing something? Wait. Kenzie had laughed after looking at her card. And moments earlier, Amanda had checked hers but hadn’t said anything. Were the cards different? I took off my Robin Hood cap, removed my prompt card, and edged closer to some light. That was definitely not my handwriting. And none of the lines were from the original play. Nor were the lines complete. They were the first half of sentences that apparently we were supposed to complete on our own.

  Calmness flooded me for the first time since I’d put on my costume. I could say whatever the heck I wanted on that stage, and it wouldn’t matter. We were going full improv.

  “… treat all your guests?” Geoff was saying.

  “No,” Kenzie said. “This is.” She hauled Geoff to the rocking chair and shoved him into it.

  “But, the facilities?” he asked in a high voice.

  Chuckles sounded.

  “You can hold it.” Kenzie snatched up the ya
rn and wound it around him. Then she started in on how he would be very comfortable and she’d get him whatever he needed.

  Geoff only said, “The facilities?”

  Amanda still scowled in her spot beside Noah, who had his eyes trained on the floor and his lips pressed together so he wouldn’t laugh. I felt a smile curving my lips.

  Dylan turned to me. “You’re up.”

  A zip of energy raced through me. “Thanks.” I was already supposed to be out there. I stuck my arm through my tiny bow and headed for the stage.

  Gabby

  I walked slowly, eyeing my surroundings, trying to appear as though I were looking for something. I squatted and touched the floor and then traced my finger around an invisible footprint. The heat of the spotlight made prickles of sweat break out on the back of my neck, even with my hair in a single braid. Ignore it. Sweat happens.

  I stood and went to the door to knock. Okay, Haley, let’s see if you’re paying attention. I pretended to hit the door twice with the side of my fist, and Haley banged the blocks together right on beat. Good. One hurdle down.

  Amanda approached me, her movements stiff and awkward. “May I help you?” she asked, not meeting my gaze.

  Without a second thought, Gabriela’s accent came from my mouth, speaking the new words from my prompt card. “I have tracked the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld to this home. Has he … could he truly be here?” I squeezed my Robin Hood hat between my hands.

  Amanda’s face was empty of emotion. “Come in. Everyone else has.”

  I stepped up onto the platform, my nerves skittering through my chest and down my arms. Good thing I had a hat to hide my shaking fingers.

  “Hey!” Amanda yelled, making me jump and the audience laugh. She’d apparently decided to go off script too. “Someone’s here to see your prisoner.”

  “Prisoner?” I gasped as melodramatically as I could.

  Kenzie strode over to me. “What is it?” she asked with a snarl.

  Geez, she was really good at the snarly thing. As soon as school started in the fall, I planned to recommend she get Mr. Cavazos to put her in a play that starred an animal.