by Renee Porter
Synopsis
Jayce Danley is a self-proclaimed nerd, not knowing who or what exactly she wanted from life, except for Summer Bloom.
Summer Bloom was popular, beautiful and everything that Jayce wanted, or so she thought. She never realized that life was more than just wanting a crush and in turn, desperately falls for someone who she never thought possible.
Eleanor Bloom knew from the start she wanted to sing, but didn’t count on falling for her sister’s friend. It all happened during one summer, and every summer after that, something more blossoms until one summer, everything changes.
Follow these two girls as they grow into women and find out what life holds for one another separately and together. Will young love finally turn into something more in Summer Daze?
Chapter 1
Part. Hold. Twist. Twist. Twiiissst. Clip.
Tada! My face fell as I looked upward toward my head in the mirror. The French twists that looked so easy online made me look that my head got in a fight with a lawn mower. Obviously, the lawn mower won.
I removed the clip and threw it back in my drawer, slamming it not so nicely.
“What was that?” I heard my mother call from downstairs. I winced at the frustration that I was allowing to show.
“Nothing mom, sorry!”
I brushed my hair, wetting the bristles first so any fly-aways would be matted down. But there was a little too much water and now my hair looked wet. Which meant that when it dried, it would have a single wave in the middle. Which meant that I’d look exactly like I did every, single, other, day.
But today was not any ‘other’ day. I was supposed to be extraordinary today. I was supposed to look like the girl in the video who tried to robotically teach me how to do my hair. I was supposed to be pretty and charming and giggly like the other girls.
Because I was invited to the popular party.
Okay, invited is a strong word. I’m going as my cousin’s ‘date’ which is the only way that he would be able to go in the first place. Justin is sixteen and handsome for a Danley, if you ask me. We didn’t all get the good genes, though, unfortunately.
I guess at fifteen, any party which includes boys, girls and the possibility of alcohol was considered a ‘popular’ party. I wouldn’t know as the only parties I had ever been to involve me blowing out candles on my birthday cake. The last fifteen wishes never came true though. Cause if they did, I wouldn’t be walking down to my cousin’s house, sounding like an elephant in two inch heels and pretending like the single wave in my hair didn’t want to make me want to turn and run.
“Yeah, ready to go.” Justin didn’t even look up at me as he exited the house. I didn’t even have to knock – It looked like he had been waiting.
“Nervous?” I jibed and Justin smiled, flinging back his bangs with his hair.
“Me? Nah. Never.”
I scoffed as Justin popped the locks on his car. Jumping into the passenger’s seat he took a second to breathe in deeply.
“Madison is going to be there, holy shit. I’m gonna tell her tonight.” I stared in confusion. What was so great about Madison Baily? Yeah I guess she was pretty but her personality sucked. She wasn’t even funny.
“That’s good. I’m sure it will all go down famously.”
“You think?” I could hear the excitement in Justin’s voice. I loved him, I really did, but I wasn’t sure if my words were ringing true.
“Gotta take the risk, right?” I tried for the go around and it worked. Justin cranked up the music and soon we were flying down to Madison Baily’s beach house.
At fifteen years old, you don’t have much life experience to go off of. Now, me at fifteen? Well there is barely any life experience at all.
I am a nerd. Self-proclaimed, and I love it. I wouldn’t trade books for movies. Wouldn’t trade math for football and definitely wouldn’t trade Doctor Who for Pretty Little Liars. Okay, scratch the last one. Pretty Little Liars isn’t that bad…
But my lack of life experience hinders me, a lot. I was fine with family, even funny if I do say so myself. But with random people it was more difficult for me to get comfortable. I had friends at school who I ate with and actually spoke to, but there wasn’t a whole lot more than that. I didn’t have that one friend that you cling to. The one that you just couldn’t live without. The one that you would do anything for and who would do anything for you.
I relied purely on myself for that.
The cigarette smoke hit me straight away when we walked up to Madison’s gate. I watched as Justin fixed his shirt, then his hair then shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans then back to his hair. Finally, whilst rolling my eyes, I picked up his hand and knocked. He looked at me as if I was a monster.
“Only you would do that, you know?”
I shrugged my shoulders at his annoyance. I was the one having to be here for him and not the other way around. If it wasn’t for this party I could be at home. Not in two inch heels, not worrying about my hair and definitely not caring if Madison’s cousin, Summer would be here. Summer Bloom, even her name was beautiful. With blonde hair that waved in all places instead of just one. With blue eyes and perfect eyebrows and blushed cheeks – it was amazing how someone could be so perfect.
Okay, so maybe Justin wasn’t only the one who was a little nervous.
It wasn’t as if I was going to confess my undying love for Summer. That wasn’t my style. My style was to hang out on the wall and side eye her to see what or where or who she was up to. It may seem a little stalker-like, but when you’re a year younger and not in the same ‘status’ as Justin’s crew, you tend to not want to stick out like a sore thumb. Or lesbian. To me, these two things were quite equal at the moment.
“Actually, you know what? I think we just walk in…” When no one came to the door I pushed it open. The house was eerily quiet. “Are you sure this is her address?”
Justin raised his eyebrows and looked around the large room. “Yeah, I’ve been here before. Maybe they’re out back?”
“Oh, you’re here!” Madison giggled as she came running up to the door, drink in hand. She smelled like cigarettes and weed. I forced myself not to gag. She hugged Justin and held on tightly, his goofy smile growing by the minute. Okay, maybe Justin didn’t have to be nervous at all about asking Madison out. It was a little too obvious the girl was crushing hard. “And you brought…”
Madison’s hands flung out in front of her trying to remember my name as if she were a magician and a name would suddenly appear. “Jayce, but it’s okay. We’ve only met eight or nine times.” I smiled awkwardly and Madison chuckled a laugh. “Right, Jayce. Love your hair.”
And the gloves were off.
If I could have smacked Madison for her sarcastic comment I would’ve right there. But I was very keen on the fact that Summer Bloom might be standing right behind us, watching the interaction take place.
“Thanks,” I hissed through clenched teeth. Justin was swooning, Madison was smug and I turned to find a wall. It didn’t take very long as there were a lot of them to go around.
Madison Baily was the queen bee. Pretty much queen of everything to tell you the truth. Good looks, good genes/jeans, and money will do that for you. Her father owned every single Burger King in town which meant that yes, Madison was even the Burger Queen. I’d snort if I wasn’t so nauseous from watching Justin hang onto every word that Madison was saying.
The party wasn’t as large as I thought it was going to be, which made me a little more uncomfortable than I was already feeling. At least with a large party, I am not generally noticed. This however, was more like a hangout. The ten to twelve kids that came and went hung out mostly on the patio, the sea breeze too cold for anyone to venture further than the bon fire. I had
to cling to the shadowed chair, watching the fire dance and flick with the breeze coming off the ocean.
If I were Madison I wouldn’t let anyone in this house. I would use it for myself, to sit and read as the seagulls cawed and the sun dipped below the horizon. But that was me and not Madison. Instead, Madison was sitting on Justin’s lap, tickling the fine hair on the back of his neck and downing yet another Smirnoff Ice.
To my dismay, Summer Bloom was in fact, not here. I thought she would be, since I ‘overheard’ Justin and Madison talking about how her cousin would show up. I didn’t mind it all that much, though. I probably would be doing the same thing right now even if she was here, but at least I’d have something nice to look at.
If you didn’t gather it, I’m a lesbian. Well I think I am at least. It’s not like I’ve ever been with a girl. Or kissed one, or ever been approached by one either. In all honesty, I haven’t done that with a boy either. But I just know that I’m not attracted to guys. I’m not holding anything against them, I just can’t imagine kissing them. I guess I never grew out of that coodies stage.
“Vodka?” My eyes peeled away as a handle of clear liquid was placed in my face. It smelled like rubbing alcohol.
“No thanks,” I tried for a smile but the kid just shrugged his shoulders and went on to the next guy who took a healthy swig.
“Yo Madison, where is Bloom? I thought we were going to play truth or dare!” Boy with vodka chuckled as Madison flicked her hair back. She smiled and rolled her eyes. Okay, so I wasn’t the only one that thought Summer Bloom was gorgeous.
“She’s picking up her sister. She’ll be here soon. Then you can do whatever you want.” Madison gave him the middle finger and the group chuckled and started to talk loudly. Me on the other hand, well my heart rate spiked with the knowledge that Summer was going to be here. And on a night where the party was just a small hangout, I may be able to actually speak to her. Or just nod and listen while she spoke to me. Maybe tonight, during truth or dare, someone will dare me to kiss her. The thought sent shivers down my spine.
I saw Roy looking at me, his smile cocked and his eyes glassy from drinking. Then I thought maybe I would be dared to kiss one of them.
I decided at that moment I would not be playing truth or dare.
Time passed along with alcohol, cigarettes, and joints. The smell and cold started to get to me and it felt as though I had a contact high from everything exhaled from twenty-four pairs of lungs. Didn’t they know what they were doing to their bodies?
I stood trying to catch Justin’s eyes but they were glued to Madison’s chest. That boy really had no game. Instead I chose to enter the house with no one watching. It was common for me to remain invisible. It really was a talent of mine.
I scoured the kitchen for something warm to drink. I considered the espresso maker on the counter, cursing to myself for not understanding modern technology. The machine had about twenty buttons and not one of them had anything close to what looked like a power button. I considered warming up a glass of milk but I figured that looking like a preteen ready to go to bed was not the ‘extraordinary’ I was going for tonight.
I sighed, regaled to at least find a blanket or jacket that I could use for when I go back outside. Somewhere in the distance I heard a door close and the group outside cheered. Sounds like someone made an appearance and I tried to glance through the kitchen window from the living room. A flash of blonde hair passed my senses and my nerves got the best of me. Summer smiled as Jake picked her up and spun her around. He placed a kiss on her cheek, something which was a common occurrence with all the boys around the fire. Summer seemed to get a kiss from everyone.
My heart fell as I realized that my reveries of tonight hadn’t gone right since the beginning. In my fantasy I was cool and collected. I was funny and captivating and everyone, especially Summer, wanted to be near me. But I was inside, looking out. In real life I had a headache and my boney legs were prickled with goose bumps. My mouth felt like it was filled with cotton and I was struck with a sense of being exhausted.
It just wasn’t my night to fit in.
I sat down on the large couch and let it envelope me. Even though I didn’t find a blanket I was so much warmer. Removing my heels, I picked up my knees and tucked them under me. I picked up the remote and turned on the large eighty inch TV, intent on finding something that would maybe make me look cool if someone just happened to walk in on me.
I landed on ‘Ancient Aliens’. Well, there goes that thought.
“Aliens.”
I was startled, pulling my eyes off of the ‘Expert Ancient Alien Theorist’ on TV. His wild hair flopping as he spoke. I turned my head and found a young girl, maybe the same age as me, or a year younger mimicking the guy on the screen.
I chuckled and sat up as she sat down on the couch at the far end. She gave me a shy smile and looked at the TV.
“How does one become an “Expert Ancient Alien Theorist?” She asked in earnest. I shrugged my shoulder and couldn’t help but chuckle. She eyed me and then the TV and then eyed me again. “Not interested in joining the party?”
I shook my head and gave her a tight smile. She sighed, kicked off her shoes and tucked her own legs under her. It looked like she was getting comfy.
“I’m El.” The girl was pretty, that was sure. Her hair was a dark, dirty blonde, tied up in a neat pony tail. She wore a casual blue tee and light blue jeans. She was natural, holistic, like ‘the girl next door’. I’d never seen her before.
“Jay.” I responded. I pointed outside, “Justin is Madison’s friend. I’m his cousin,” just in case she wondered why I would be here on a night like this.
“Got it. My sister is Summer. I’m Madison’s cousin.” I tilted my head trying to see the resemblance, it was slight. El shifted in her seat under my scrutiny. “I look more like my mom,” she tried for a smile and I was surprised she was able to read me so easy.
“I can see the resemblance. Same…fingers.” I winced, what the hell was that? El laughed and it lightened the awkwardness.
“It’s okay. She’s my half-sister. Same Dad. I visit him during breaks. My school just gets out a little earlier than yours.” She looked at the TV again as I nodded in understanding.
“Where are you during non-breaks?” I didn’t know why I was interested. Maybe I saw something similar in her that I saw in myself.
“Washington. Seattle area.” She nodded once and picked at her jeans. I could feel her anxiety of trying to keep up a conversation. I liked her instantly.
“That sounds cool. I’ve never been. I’ve always been a California girl.” Even though I didn’t quite look like it. I kept that part to myself.
“California is great. The weather is a lot nicer than Seattle. Although tonight is a little too chilly to be outside.” She wrapped her arms around her knees. “But I guess that’s why you’re in here and not outside?” She lifted her eyebrow and I felt judged. I just nodded in agreement.
Our conversation lulled after that. We sat and watched three episodes of ‘Ancient Aliens’. Every now and then we would put in our own theories on the subject. She seemed to know a lot about history, I knew a lot about the science. It was comfortable, surprisingly. I can’t say if I was ever that comfortable in the same room with someone I didn’t know.
“El?” And that’s when I became decidedly uncomfortable. I sat up straight and sudden as if I had been caught doing something. Summer came in and peered into the dimmed room. She looked at me and then to her sister and then back at me. She didn’t even really acknowledge that I was there except for a tight smile.
“Why don’t you come outside for a bit and hang out with us?” She directed her question toward her sister. El hid the eye roll but I was aware of it. I really don’t think she wanted to go, so I was surprised when she did. Summer grabbed her and looked over her shoulder at me one more time. El gave me a shy wave, ‘Nice meeting you, Jay.’ I didn’t respond. I just kept my eyes on Summer and waved ba
ck.
Surprising, I thought to myself. For an instant there, I didn’t particularly like Summer Bloom.
Chapter 2
Three. Two. One.
The class erupted in cheers as the final bell rang. Finally, summer was upon us and school was, at this point, as far away as it possibly could be until fall.
I maneuvered my way through the throngs of students who were starting to clean out their lockers. Large trash bins in the center of the hallways were already filled to the brim with old study guides and tests.
I fingered the combination to my own locker and looked inside. It was already clean.
Closing the metal door, I walked outside toward my bike. I unhinged the lock, saddled up and enjoyed the twenty minute ride toward my house.
Early summer in California really was the best time of year. It was just warm enough to not go out with a sweater and breezy enough to where you didn’t get too hot. Most days were a cool seventy-five degrees. It was my favorite temperature to be outside.
I opened the door to my house and smiled as my mom greeted me. “How was the last day?” She held a towel in her hand and she was cleaning off some paint brushes. A smudge of white acrylic paint smudged her cheek and I chuckled.
“It was great, how is the painting coming?” I went over to my mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I tried to wipe away the smudge of paint but it was already dry.
“Almost done. Hopefully this guy doesn’t run out on me.”
I nodded at my mom, hopeful for the same thing. A year ago, my mother was commissioned to paint a 6’ x 4’ painting Michael Angelo’s Creation of Adam. She worked sixteen hour days to get everything just right, and the final product was absolutely breathtaking. However, when she went to go collect the check and drop off the canvas, she realized her client had up and left the country. So, now, the painting hung high on the living room wall. It looked a little out of place, but it had become a staple in our modest home.
“Did you hear back from any job prospects?” I picked through the refrigerator, landing my eyes on some orange juice. I pulled it out, along with a glass cup and poured a generous amount.