Dad laughs and waves a hand in front of his face. “Go brush your teeth kid, your breath stinks. Better grab a shower while you’re at it.”
When I turn to head back inside, Mom is standing in the front entry. She leans against the door frame, a cup of coffee in each hand.
“Morning, Mom.” I give her a peck on the cheek as I stride past her, then hover in the hall for a moment, just out of their sight, eavesdropping.
“Coffee! Thanks, Sarah.”
“No problem, Justin. I know you’ll need it to keep up with that boy.”
Dad laughs, and I smile. I shower quickly and put on clothes that I’m pretty sure are clean, then head back down the hall and enter the kitchen. My parents are still drinking coffee and talking.
Every time I see them together, I wonder why they couldn’t work past their differences and stay married. They obviously still care about each other.
“You ready to go, kid,” Dad asks, spying me lurking in the doorway.
I shake my head. “No way I’m leaving without food first.” I take out the cereal and milk, then add, “And I have to finish packing.”
Mom sighs. “Really, Kane? I thought you finished packing yesterday after school.”
Just the word school makes me think of Summer, and misery replaces the happiness I felt at seeing my dad. I shrug and remain uncharacteristically mute.
Mom and Dad exchange a look, then return to their conversation. I finish pouring my cereal and quickly shovel it into my mouth. When I finish, I leave the dirty dishes in the sink and return to my room to finish packing.
Bag in hand, I grab my phone and charger. I stare at the blank screen for a moment, hoping for a call or text from Summer. After a week of the silent treatment, I know it’s not coming.
With a defeated sigh, I shove the phone in my pocket and return to the kitchen.
Dad looks up and beams at me. “Ready to go, kid?”
“Yep, let’s hit the road.”
I throw my bag on the backseat of the SUV and help Dad attach my bike to the roof rack. I can see the camping gear through the rear window, and I hope Dad has stocked the cooler with Mountain Dew and chocolate bars for s’mores.
Dad and I wave goodbye to Mom and pull out of the driveway.
“So, you talk your mom into drivers ed yet?”
I give Dad a pointed look. “What do you think?”
He chuckles. “I’ll try to talk some sense into her. You’ve got a girlfriend now, right? It’s not fair to make her drive everywhere.”
“Sure.” How do we keep circling back to the one topic I want to avoid? I turn up the radio, killing any chance of conversation, and stare out the window. Out of the corner of my eye I see Dad glancing at me every few seconds.
I close my eyes and relax against the seat. I try to focus on the lyrics to the rock song, and not think about Summer.
Once we arrive at the campsite in the Santa Monica Mountains, we join forces and pitch the tent. Dad’s way better at this than I am, but I manage to not rip the canvas or put the stake through my foot, so I call that a win.
We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the hiking trails. Dad tells me about the latest movie he’s been doing stunt work on, and I tell him about school. When we return to our campsite, we start a fire and roast weenies for dinner.
“Dad, how did you know Mom was the one for you?”
He doesn’t answer right away, and when I look at him, he’s staring pensively into the flames. I can’t be sure, but I think maybe he’s thinking about happier times with Mom before the divorce. We never really talk about before, and I wonder if it makes him sad. It was probably stupid of me to ask.
“I knew your mom was the woman for me the first time I laid eyes on her.” He grins. “We were only a little older than you. I saw her walking across the quad on campus and just knew I had to talk to her. After our first date, I knew I wanted to marry her.”
Frowning, I think back to what I told Mom after my first date with Summer. That’s the girl I’m going to marry.
“You going to tell me what happened?” Dad asks, interrupting my thoughts. “Or do I just have to assume the worst.”
“Not sure what you mean, Dad.” I thrust my stick into the flames and pull it out when the end catches fire.
“Come on, Kane. Your mom told me. What happened with that girl of yours?” I’d hoped he’d let it go, but that clearly isn't happening.
Of course Mom told him. Dad must’ve been playing dumb, hoping I’d spill on my own. I really don’t want to talk about this, but suddenly my mouth has a mind of its own and the whole painful story spews out.
“Hmm.”
“Hmm? That’s all you’ve got for me?”
Dad stares into the flames, and I study his face. He narrows his eyes, and the fire casts shadows across him. Coupled with his five o’clock shadow, he looks a little like a cartoon villain. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so anxious to hear his advice.
Finally, he turns his face to me. “It sounds like this girl has some baggage you don’t know about. Hell, this might not actually have anything to do with you.”
“Of course it has to do with me,” I grumble, stabbing my stick into the dirt. “I was the one who got dumped, remember?”
“Yes, Kane.” I can hear him trying to stay patient with me. “But from what you've said, it sounds to me like she has some other hang up you don’t know about.”
I throw my arms up. “So how do I win her back?”
Dad grins at me. “Wouldn’t it be easier to find some other girl?”
“No.” I say firmly, glaring. “She’s the only girl I want.”
“In that case, I think this calls for a grand gesture.”
“Like a flash mob? Come on Dad, you know I can’t sing or dance.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “That’s an example of a grand gesture, but I’ll bet you can think of something else. Something she’ll really appreciate.”
I stare into the flames and think about what Dad's just said. A grand gesture? My mind spins, trying to think of something that will wow Summer and convince her to give us another shot.
30
Summer
Slamming the door on Kane was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I had to do it. I know my words hurt him, but I had to end it before he was in too deep. A little hurt now is better than a lot of hurt later.
And yet, I'm completely miserable without him. His silly texts ended Friday night.
It’s been eight days since I broke things off with Kane, and the loneliness has really sunk in. I miss him more than I thought I would, and my resolve is slipping. The only way I could get through foods class this past week was by ignoring him. I couldn't even allow myself to make eye contact. He tried slipping me notes a couple times, but I refused to look for fear of caving.
I think my parents have tuned in to my change in mood, because last night they lifted my grounding a week early.
I’ve tried sketching, but my inspiration is gone. The last time I opened my sketchbook I was greeted by the sketch of us that I was planning to give him. I ripped the page out and tore it to shreds. Crying, I threw the sketchbook across the room and haven’t touched it since.
I’ve been trying to lose myself in books, but every one I pick up has some element of romance. That just makes me miss Kane more. I’m about ready to give in to bingeing documentaries on Netflix. That should be safe from romance, right?
My phone dings with a text. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Kane is the only one who texts me lately. I shouldn't look. I should block his number. But I'm a masochist, and I look at the screen.
It's not from Kane.
ABIGAIL: Spotting Mark at the beach. I'll be bored to death while he surfs. Keep me company?
I stare at the text. Why would Abigail want me to come after I broke Kane's heart? There’s no way she doesn’t know about the break up.
I like Abigail. She’s not Rachel, but the whole tattoo fiasco aside, s
he’s fun. I hesitate though, wondering if this is a trap to get me to talk to Kane. I’m about to write back with a lie about being busy when another text arrives.
ABIGAIL: Kane is out of town. Pleeeeeeeaaaasssseeee?!?!?!?
Chewing my lip, I wonder if Abigail would lie. But I do recall Kane saying something about spending a weekend with his dad, so I take a chance and write back.
ME: Okay.
I tell Mom where I’m going. She relinquishes her car keys only after I vow not to do anything stupid—like get another tattoo from a sketchy friend of a friend’s brother. I slip on my sunglasses and oversized beach hat, then slather myself in my prescription sunscreen before tossing it into my bag and getting in the car.
When I reach the beach, Abigail is sitting in the sand wearing her own floppy sun hat and sunglasses. She gives me a smile when I plop into the sand beside her.
“Thanks for coming,” she says.
“Thanks for inviting me.” I kick off my flip flops and bury my toes in the sand. I’ve always loved the feeling of the sun warmed grains sticking to the soles of my feet.
Abigail stares at a tiny spec on the waves, and I realize it’s Mark.
“This can get kind of boring when Kane isn’t around.”
I scoop handfuls of sand and bury my feet to keep busy. I feel like a fraud. An outsider. How can I be friends with her after I hurt Kane? Taking a deep breath, I ask, “Where is Kane?”
“It’s his dad's weekend. I’m sure they're doing some activity that has a good chance of injuring him.”
So I was right, he's with his dad. I feel a little more relaxed knowing he won’t show up today.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the sounds of the ocean.
Eventually, Abigail asks if I’ve had a chance to try a new brand of gel nail polish she saw at Sephora on her last trip into the city. We spend the rest of our time talking about makeup and school.
Ugh. School. When I broke up with Kane, I lost my new friends and lunch table. I couldn’t even bring myself to eat at my old table in the shade of the building. The proximity was too close to Kane. I’ve been eating lunch in the bathroom every day. I can’t believe my life has come to this.
An hour or so later, Mark exits the water. He doesn't mention Kane or the breakup, and I'm grateful for that. We say goodbye, and I drive home and lock myself in my bedroom.
Throwing myself across my pink and yellow quilt, I try to hide my tears in my pillow.
For the umpteenth time, I scold myself for ever getting close to Kane in the first place.
31
Kane
By the time Dad drops me off at home, I’ve come up with the perfect plan to win Summer back. I promise to tell Dad how my grand gesture goes, and I stand at the end of the driveway, waving goodbye until I can no longer see his SUV.
“How was camping?” Mom asks, when I throw open the front door. She glances up from her laptop and looks me over. “I’m happy to see you’re still in one piece.”
I grin. “It was great. Gotta run, Mom!”
I race down the hall and throw open the door to my bedroom. I barely notice when it bounces off the door stop and slams shut behind me. I throw my camping bag into my dirty laundry hamper and then race out of my room.
In the garage, I rummage through box after box of junk, but I can’t find what I’m looking for. After a few minutes, I hear Mom behind me. “What in the world are you doing?”
I swivel and face her. “What happened to that old portable radio?”
She shakes her head, then says, “My old boombox? I got rid of that ages ago. Pretty sure I sold it in one of the neighbors’ garage sales. What do you need it for?”
I groan. So much for my grand plan. “Don’t worry about it, Mom. It was just an idea I had. I’ll think of something else.” Before she can say anything, I grab my bike and say, “I’m going to ride around for a bit. I’ll be back before dinner.”
Peeling out of the driveway, I take off for my old neighborhood. Maybe Mark or Abigail has an old boombox lying around.
I ride like Godzilla is on my tail, and when I reach Mark’s driveway I’m panting. I run up to the house and try the doorknob, but it's locked. Mark must not be home.
Cutting across the yard, I nearly trip over a potted plant as I race to Abigail's front door. Before I can try the knob, the door swings open. Abigail is standing there in ripped jeans and an equally ripped tank top.
“Hey,” I manage to pant out.
“You okay, Kane?”
I shake my head and push past her into the house. Mark is sitting on the couch, a copy of Surfer Magazine open in his hands. I collapse on the living room area rug, still recovering from my mad dash over. Abigail enters the room a moment later.
“Look, Mark. Kane missed us so much he raced over to see us.”
“I...need...your help,” I pant. My heart rate is finally slowing down, and my breath is coming easier.
“Help with what?” Abigail asks, sitting beside Mark on the couch.
“I need an old boombox so I can get Summer back.”
There’s a moment of silence, and I look between my friends, who are blinking at me in confusion.
“How is a boombox going to help you get Summer back?” Abigail asks slowly.
“Say Anything. It’s her favorite. In the movie, Lloyd shows up at Diane’s house and holds up the boombox. I’m gonna do that. I’m gonna park my bike outside her house and blast that song from the movie to show her she should give me another chance.”
“Just use your phone and a Bluetooth speaker,” Abigail says.
I frown. “That’s not what he does in the movie. What if she doesn’t get the reference.”
“Okay, Kane, first of all,” Mark says, leaning forward on the couch and staring me in the eye. “Nobody has an old boombox like that anymore. That movie is like, thirty years old.”
Abigail butts in before Mark can continue. “And second, Summer isn’t a moron. If you stand outside her window with any speaker playing that song, she’s going to get the reference.” She rolls her eyes, as if to emphasize what an idiot she thinks I am.
I let her words sink in and realize she’s probably right. Summer is smart, she’ll get it. Now I just have to search the Internet for the name of that song and download it to my phone.
“When do you plan to proclaim your love, Romeo?” Abigail asks.
“As soon as I get the song and some speakers.”
Mark shakes his head and picks up his magazine again, but Abigail looks thoughtful. “Come with me. I might have something that will do the trick.”
Bike straddled between my legs, I stand by the curb and stare at Summer’s house. I feel a moment of hesitation, but it quickly passes. I have to do this. I’m not going to let the girl of my dreams go without a fight.
Abigail told me which window was Summer’s, and I position myself beneath it. I’m suddenly grateful for that sleepover they had all those weeks ago.
The Sailor Moon speaker Abigail gave me to use is somewhat embarrassing, but I don’t even care. I need to show Summer how much she means to me, even if it means holding up a speaker featuring an anime superhero schoolgirl.
I connect my phone to the speaker, then hold it high while I blast Peter Gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes.’
I don’t know what I expect to happen. I know what I hope will happen.
Summer will come running to the window, grin at me, then run down the stairs and out her front door. She'll throw herself in my arms and we'll kiss and forget she ever dumped me.
I wait for what feels like ages, until I finally see her at the window. She stares at me for a few heartbeats, eyes wide and lips parted, but the smile doesn’t come. Retreating from the window, I hope she’ll come racing down the stairs, but the door remains firmly shut. When the song ends, I’m left standing outside her bedroom window like an idiot, Sailor Moon speaker in hand and no girl in my arms.
Defeated, I put the speaker back in the bag I carri
ed it in and pedal away. I stop a few houses down and look back, hoping I was premature and she’s still coming.
But Summer isn’t there.
She isn’t coming.
I’ve lost.
32
Summer
Leaning against the wall beside my bedroom window, I squeeze my eyes shut. Is this really happening? Did Kane really just recreate the iconic boombox moment from my favorite movie?
Risking another quick glance out the window, I confirm he’s definitely out there, a Sailor Moon speaker in hand, playing ‘In Your Eyes’ at top volume.
I don’t know what to do. This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. Part of me wants to run outside and tell him I was an idiot for letting him go. That the past few weeks with him have been the best I’ve had in a long time. That I still want to be with him.
But an even bigger part of me is screaming that I’m no good for him. And as much as I want to run out and throw myself into his arms, I can’t. I’m doing this for him. So I back away from the wall and lay on my bed, covering my head with my pillow to muffle the music.
I’m grateful my parents are out, and Mandy is at a sleepover. I don't want to have to explain this to anyone. Hopefully my neighbors won't mention anything to my parents. They don’t know that I’ve broken up with Kane, let alone that I’d been seeing him regularly.
The song ends, and I’m left under a blanket of silence. I wait a little longer before I chance another look out the window. Kane is a few houses down, pedaling away on his bike. He stops and looks back, but I know he can't see me watching, he’s too far away. I keep my eyes on him until he rounds the corner, and he’s out of sight, then I lay back on my bed and cry.
School last week was hard, and I’m not sure I’m prepared for another week of my self-imposed social isolation. But I suck it up. I don’t want to be the sick girl. I’ve missed too much school already. I will get through this, at least that’s what I tell myself.
Something I'm Good At: A Sol del Mar High Novel Page 18