Summer Daze

by Renee Porter

  “We did. But you know…what happens in summer stays in summer.”

  “Ugh, you’re insufferable.”

  “I hear El is going to be back too. And Summer.”

  “Yeah? That’s cool.” I smiled and was thankful for the buzzing thing in my hand to go off letting us know that our table was ready. Saved by the bell, for now.

  It wasn’t that I wasn’t excited to see El. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I was too excited to see her, and also really confused. El had been distant with me the last night she was here, and then the kiss, and then she was gone.

  We still messaged each other, and even went so far as to Skyping, but we never spoke about it. Maybe it was just a part of the game. Maybe I was safe for her. Again, with the maybes.

  And I didn’t even want to think about Summer. I heard from someone who told someone else that she had a drunken fling with some girl at a swimmer’s party. At first, I felt the rejection take fold. Again, I didn’t feel like I had ever been good enough for Summer. But then I realized Summer didn’t know who she was yet. I was so much ahead of her in that department. Maybe this summer we could finally put it all behind us.

  Dinner was delicious but I was already starting to feel the day’s activities taking their toll. I looked at my watch and realized that I would have my first shift at Now or Never in less than thirteen hours. No rest for the wicked.

  “I’m proud of you, you know that?” Justin said as I hugged him goodbye. Again, the tears in my eyes welled and I pushed him away.

  “Thanks, you know, for helping me through the crazy times.”

  He nodded his head. “You know, thanks for saying that, but it wasn’t me. I was too busy making out with Madison. But I know someone who you should thank.” He gave me that teasing grin.

  “Yeah, I get you. We’ll talk about it later.” I knew he wanted to know what was going on in my head. But right now, all I could think about was sleep. And how I was a high school graduate.

  And how El was probably already back in town.

  ***

  “No, I don’t like it. Do you have it in fuchsia?”

  I rolled my eyes and stifled a moan. Today was the worst first day in Now or Never history. “No, sorry, just the Roy G. Biv colors.”

  “What? Who’s that?” The lady said through the dressing room door.

  “You know, the colors of the rainbow. Red, Orange, Yellow…Roy G. Biv?”

  Again, I think the palindrome was lost on her.

  “Hey, Jay? When you’re done can I talk to you?” I heard through the tinny voice of the headset. I confirmed with Lacey that I should be done soon, but nearly thirty minutes later and a rack of clothes to put away, I was finally finished with the customer from hell.

  “Hey Lace, what’s up?” I sidled up to my manager and she smiled at me holding up a piece of paper.

  “I interviewed this girl today. She put you as a reference, I wanted to get your take on her?”

  “Sure,” I looked down at the paper she handed me. The last name stuck out first and then I laughed. No way could I see El working at Now or Never.

  “She’s great. She would be a perfect addition to the team.”

  “Okay, I really liked her. Are you two good friends?”

  I considered how to answer that and landed on the truth. “Yeah, we are. She’s a serious worker. And gets along with everyone.”

  Lacey nodded and I tried every bit not to laugh aloud. For all the times El teased me for working here and now she wanted to work here as well.

  Wait, why did she want to work here?

  I thought for a moment, looked at the clock and decided to take my break.

  “Why do you want to work at Now or Never?” I didn’t even wait to say ‘hello’. I hadn’t really called El in a few weeks so she must have been surprised to actually hear my voice.

  “Um, is that like, a trick question or…?”

  I rolled my eyes over the phone and I heard El chuckling. “Stop rolling your eyes at me, Jayce.”

  “Where are you?” I asked gripping the phone harder.

  “Your twelve o’clock.” I looked behind me and El laughed harder. “Your other twelve o’clock.”

  And there she was. El was looking brilliant in her interview attire. Tight dark blue jeans with a white blouse and dark blue three quarter length blazer. I swear the woman became more beautiful as the minutes passed.

  “And there you are,” I said into the phone. I saw her shrug her shoulders. “You know, we could always hang up and talk to each other face to face. But if you’re too shy…” I ended the call as I walked up to El. For everything that had passed between us last summer, I couldn’t help but feel like nothing had gotten between us, just the same.

  I didn’t even wait to pull her into a hug, and her own arms tightened around my back.

  “That’s the kind of welcome that keeps me coming back.”

  I held El at arm’s length. “You look beautiful. Older, again. But still stunning.” Did those words come out of my mouth? To my pleasant surprise, she smiled with a slight glow to her cheeks.

  “You know what they say,” she said. I waited for her to continue but it looked like she was at a loss for words. “Actually, you know, I don’t know what they say.” She chuckled and I joined in pulling her arm and bringing her over to a less dense area of the mall.

  “So, really, why not Music Center? I thought you wouldn’t be caught dead working at Now or Never. You have the job by the way…”

  I realized that I had spat a lot of words out in such a small amount of time. El laughed trying to take it in. “Well, Music Center didn’t have any openings, I have connections at Now or Never and yay, I have a job.” I placed my hand on El’s forearm. I didn’t know when I had gotten so touchy but I couldn’t help it.

  “You’re back.”

  “I am,” she nodded. Her hair fell into her eyes and for a moment I felt it was my place to move it away, just to see the blue. But I allowed her to take that action on for herself.

  “So, what is the plan for this summer?” She asked standing. She could read me like a book, knowing exactly that my break was over by the way I fidgeted with my watch.

  “I think swimming, beach, more swimming, and probably folding clothes.” I scrunched up my nose at that last one. El laughed at it still, and I realized that I could hear that laugh forever if it was possible.

  “Well, the swimming does sound exciting, and the beach sounds amazing right now. The folding though…we’ll have to work on that.”

  “Oh believe me, you’ll be working on it a lot this summer.” We stopped outside of the store, telling each other we would call one another within the next few days.

  I didn’t want her to leave, and I could tell she didn’t want to either, but we pulled away from each other just the same.

  “Just friends, huh?” Lacey said quietly in my ear. I looked up at her surprised to see the teasing grin. She nodded out the window and I could still see El, looking in, smiling in my direction.

  I really did love Summer.

  Chapter 11

  How many times will it take me to realize that I am nothing more than just a friend?

  I pondered this question as I sat with my new co-worker at the food court during lunch. I thought, for some astounding, unknown reason, that this summer would be the one. You know, the one that would change my life forever. I’d fall in love, get married after college and see where the world would take us.

  I was a romantic and I thought, yes thought that maybe El was the one to do that? But nope, again, just a friend.

  “So his name is what again?” I tried to do as many things with my fidgeting fingers as I could. I had mistakenly asked El what she had been up to since we last saw each other. I still knew that she had a band and that they were actually gathering a large fan base but her personal life led much to the imagination.

  “Adam Watson. He’s a bassist.” I nodded my head as she showed me a picture. He was taller than
her, kind of scrawny and geeky. Not the kind of guy I imagined her with. She flipped through the pictures and landed on one of them kissing.

  Sweet.

  “He seems nice.” I nodded my head one too many times.

  “He is. How about you? Breaking any hearts these days?” I smiled and shook my head.

  “No, not many. Didn’t realize how horrible the high school gay scene sucks. I was basically the only one out. Hard to date when there isn’t anyone to date.” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “Well, Summer is back in town.” Ah, there it was. I didn’t hear any malice behind the suggestion but I knew that El was digging.

  “Good for her.” I smiled again and waved my hands. “You know that the crush ended the day she stood me up right?” I tried to laugh it off.

  “Looked that way in the kitchen.” El tried a for a smile but it fell a little flat.

  “Yeah. You know what sucks more than Summer rejecting me? Trying to make out with me while pushing her away so I could try and talk to you.”

  “About what?”

  I opened my mouth to say something but her phone rang. What’s his name’s picture showed up and I closed my mouth right away. Just a friend, Jay.

  “You can pick that up if you want.” It was almost as if El didn’t even know her phone was going off. She startled out of her thoughts and quickly picked up the phone. Thankfully she stepped away from the table to speak sweet nothing’s into Adam’s ear.

  Just a friend.

  “Woo woo! Yeah girl, get some!” The chair beside me was pulled as a heavy set boy took a seat. I had to do a double take as a familiar looking Bryce smiled at me. “What’s up Jay! Gang’s all here!” I looked around trying to see what ‘gang’ he was talking about and then I realized he was referring to me, him and El. Oh god, here comes the threesome talk.

  “You know, I was thinking…”

  “No, Bryce. Not happening.”

  “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.”

  “We’re not having a threesome with you,” El said as she hung up the phone. I was so thankful for her bluntness.

  “But come on. It works out perfectly. You like dudes, and I’m a dude. But you like chicks and she’s a chick. So, it would go, Me, El, and You. See…” he tried to use French fries to symbolize what he was talking about. My appetite was suddenly lost.

  “You’re a dick,” El said simply.

  “Aw, come on. It was worth a shot.” Bryce shrugged his shoulders. “Anyway, get together at my house. Bring your dudes,” and then he looked to me, “or your ladies. Eight o’clock and really think about it, okay?” I flipped him off just for good measure.

  “I’m not going. There is no freaking way I am going.”

  “Yeah, me either. I think I’m just going to hang out at the house tonight. Take a swim and maybe watch some movies.” I nodded my head knowing full well that it wasn’t an invitation for me to join. “Do you want to bring the popcorn or would you rather bring the pizza?” I smiled just the same. El never let me down.

  ***

  “How many days do we have this summer?” I asked El. We were floating on our backs in the pool. Somewhere in the distance I could hear her father and step mother talking. Or maybe it was their TV?

  “Same as all of them. Well I guess a little different now. College starts sooner for you, right?”

  I came out of my float and swam to the shallow end where El was. Even though she was a good swimmer now, I noticed that she didn’t travel too far from where her feet couldn’t touch the bottom of the pool.

  “What do you mean, me? I thought you got in to Washington State?”

  “I did. But I’ve decided not to go.”

  “Really?”

  El stood now and fanned her fingers through her hair. “Yeah. I’ve decided to give the band a go. We’re going to travel next year. Hit the road, play some venues. Hope to get a contract.”

  “Really?”

  El laughed. “Yeah, is that all you can say?”

  I tried to think about that. Skipping college on a whim to do what you love to do. I smiled.

  “That’s cool. I’m happy for you.”

  I saw El smile. “Thanks, I knew you would be.”

  “Oh? Is that a fact?” I hit El with some water and she splashed me back. For the next two minutes we had an all out water war. It was safe to say that El won, especially dunking me under. She was remarkably strong.

  “So, does that mean you’re not coming back next summer?”

  El took the steps out of the pool and I followed behind. I didn’t mind watching her toned legs flex with every step. The way that the pool water danced with the light had me mesmerized.

  “Already thinking about next summer? Is that all you ever think about? Summer?”

  Again, with the tease. “Absolutely not. Well, not with how you’re making it sound.”

  El turned suddenly and I had been following a little too close. I ran directly into her, her body and mine coming into contact immediately. I hadn’t realized just how blue her eyes were until this very moment. I also hadn’t realized how warm another body could be pressed up against your own.

  “And how do I mean it?”

  “Hey, El? Can you turn off the pool light when you guys are done?” I backed away from El as soon as her father’s disembodied voice sounded through the night.

  She sighed as she watched me walk away to grab my towel. “Yeah Dad.”

  “You know what you mean.” I said continuing the conversation.

  El sighed again. “You can’t blame me, can you? You fell in love with my sister. And now you want me to believe that it was squashed with one rejection?” El tried to smile and I tried not to throw up. Love? With Summer?

  “Woah, what makes you say that?”

  “You said so.” El pulled her shirt over her torso and covered her skin. It was a shame really, how frustrated and confused and turned on I was at this moment. Why did El have to be so unnerving?

  “I would never say that. You know how I know? Cause it’s not true.” I pointed a finger at El she grabbed it and wouldn’t let go. She was already being playful with me. I couldn’t tell if I wanted to hit her or kiss her.

  Kiss her. Definitely.

  “Come on, let’s just watch a movie.” She finally let go of my finger and I fumed. How can she say something like that and just let it go? I should just let it go. There. It’s done. See? It’s let go.

  “When exactly did I say it?” I asked her as we finally sat down. The Proposal started to play and El handed me the bowl of popcorn.

  “That night. Right here.”

  That night? I tried to remember which night she was talking about. “The night I fell asleep on your couch?”

  She nodded, her eyes not wavering from the movie. “You fell asleep on me. I fell asleep too, but I woke up to you muttering “I love Summer” in your sleep. Very telling.” She waved her finger at me and I wanted to grab it and break it off.

  “I would never say that…” and then I stopped. Because I do remember saying that, in my dream. My very lucid dream about El teaching me how to swim in the pool. Except I wasn’t saying that I loved her sister. I was saying how much I actually loved summer.

  I groaned. And then I laughed. And then El looked at me confused.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I did say it. I remember now.”

  “Okay, thank you for agreeing.”

  “You know what else I love, El?” I stopped and bit my tongue. I wasn’t going to say I loved her because I didn’t know if I did. “I. Love. Summer. As in the season?”

  El didn’t believe me, I could tell. But maybe, that small little glint in her eye was enough of doubt for her to realize that I didn’t love her sister. It was a stupid crush that ended just how crushes end.

  That’s why they call them that right? Because your heart is usually crushed when you realize the person wasn’t right for you after all?

  “Ryan Reynolds is so hot.” Nice change of
subject, El.

  I agreed with her, allowing our previous conversation to simmer. There was a whole summer ahead of us for deeper talks.

  “What’s it like being with a guy?” I asked. It was an honest question and I knew that El would give me an honest answer.

  “I don’t know. It’s exciting, how turned on you can get them, I guess. Quick, easy…” she shrugged her shoulders.

  I considered that for a moment and then asked, “what’s it like being with a woman?” This one was a little more embarrassing for me to admit. But I was only eighteen, and I figured that was still young enough to be a virgin.

  “Not sure. I imagine it’s a lot softer though, slower, intense?” She looked over at me and I nodded. El had never been with a woman, and while it surprised me, a part of me was not surprised at the same time. I always felt like El waited for the right person to share herself with. Maybe this Adam guy wasn’t so bad after all.

  “Think you’ll ever find out?” I asked. I know she knew what I was asking. If she thought that Adam might be long term.

  “I think I will, one day.”

  It was a good enough answer for me.

  ***

  “Do they know how to fold or do you think they just throw their clothes on the floor at home and pick them up when they want to wear them?” I heard El speak over the headset on our channel. Lacey had the week off to visit her family on the East coast which meant I was in charge. Currently, we were starting our closing prep and tonight, it was me, the ‘acting’ manager and El. I made sure to schedule her that night just for fun.

  “I think you’ll have a new found appreciation for how neat my closet is now.”

  “Jayce, are you inviting me to your room?”

  I never knew how much I missed El’s teasing until she came back. Okay, lie. I did know but now that she was back , I appreciated it even more.

  “You have an open invite, gorgeous.” I winked at El from across the store and I could see her shake her head. Wouldn’t it have been nice if she was also blushing?

  I continued to fold my side of the store and was almost complete when I looked at the clock. Finally closing time. I sighed as I spoke to El, “time to close up. Finally.” El nodded as she went over to the cash register to count it out. I took the keys and started walking up to the door when I saw a larger man walk in. I didn’t have a good feeling.