Summer Love - Chapter One

I could feel the wind gently flowing through my hair; it was a warm summer breeze it felt nice. "Peyton, there you are I've been looking for you all over." I turned to see a man standing five feet away from me; he was smiling at me like I was his best friend. He was taller than me by about four inches, his hair was a nice sandy brown color that reminded me of home, his eyes a gentle blue-green mix and he had a beautiful smile. When he smiled at me it made me feel amazing as though I knew he didn't smile like that very often.

Slowly his beautiful smile disappeared, I already missed it. Worry filled his eyes and his entire body tensed up. "What's wrong?" He stepped forward and as he did I stepped forward to him as if it was an instinct. "Come here my beautiful Poppet." Hmm Poppet what a strange word I wonder what it means, as these thoughts came into my mind he gathered me into his arms. I felt safe in this strange man's arms. I did not know who he was but I knew I could trust him as though I had known him my entire life, when he held me I felt nothing but love, kindness and comfort. I slowly looked up at him and felt a small smile tugging at my cheeks. "What is a Poppet?" He chuckled to himself and shook his head, "Silly Peyton you'll never remember no matter how many times I tell you."

At this point in the dream I always wake up, it's very frustrating today I will remember to look up the word Poppet. I say this to myself every time I have the dream and I forget each time. "Peyton, it's time to wake up sweetheart it's the last day of school before summer. You're going to say goodbye to your friends, you won't have time tomorrow." That's my Dad, his names John. I look a bit like him; I have his curly hair and his smile. My Dad and my Mom divorced two years ago, I chose to stay here with my Dad, instead of moving out to the seaside with my Mom. I haven't been to my Mom's new house, she moved again 3 months ago. She says it's the most beautiful place she's ever seen and she promises I'll love it there, but still I'm scared to leave. She's sent me pictures of it there, she has horses and lives a short walk away from a beach. The only problem is I don't know how to ride horses and I have no one other than my Mom to go to the beach with. I know I'll survive though, I always do. My name's Peyton Turner, I'm 17 and this is the story of the best summer of my life.

As I walked into the school it wasn't five minutes before I heard my best friend Brooke call my name. She was wearing a nice little red shirt and jeans and her favorite high heel shoes. She gave me an evil smile as she walked to me.

"So did you hear?"
"Did I hear what?"
"Nathan's dying to have you back."
"Well that must suck for him then."
"Don't you want him? Even a little bit?"
"No Brooke I don't want him, I'll never go back to Nathan."
"Well maybe you can have a summer fling, I bet the boys there are all tan and muscular."
"I don't want just a fling I don't need boys right now, they just complicate things."
"What if he has a big dick?"
"Brooke!"
"Well wouldn't you want him just a bit more if he had a big dick."
"I don't even know who he is! I'm going to class now Brooke bye."
"Bye Peyton! Think about having a summer fling though you might like it."

I was sitting in class thinking about what Brooke said, having a summer fling just isn't my kind of thing. The only man I have ever been with is Nathan and we were together for over 3 years. Flings are more Brooke's forte not mine. I felt someone looking at me from behind, I turned to see who it was and saw Nathan's big brown eyes staring at me. He mouthed me the words, "We need to talk?" I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there and stared at him finally he mouthed me the word, "Please," I gave in and mouthed to him, "After class." It felt like hours until the bell rang, I was regretting saying yes to talking to Nathan already.

I wondered to myself what he wanted to say to me. I slowly walked out of the class scared, was it going to be another fight or was he going to try to get me back? "Peyton I know you probably don't want to talk to me but that's okay, you don't have to say anything just listen. I'm sorry about everything I have ever done to hurt you or said I would love it if you'd take me back, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. So I'd like it if we could at least try to be friends. I miss you and friends is better than nothing at all." I didn't really know what to say, friends wouldn't be that bad and I'm leaving the town tomorrow morning, so I won't have to see him. "Fine Nathan we can be friends but that's it nothing, more than that." He smiled at me and went to give me a hug, but I pulled away quickly before he could and walked away.

I was just packing my last box into my trunk, when Brooke pulled up in her little punch buggy. She was on the phone as usual but she also looked angry. I finished putting the box in the trunk and went to her car.

"Hey Brooke what's up?"
She snapped her phone closed quickly. "You can't leave me Peyton I don't know what to do, my Mom's such a bitch I can't handle it anymore."
"Well I have to go Brooke, I can't just drop everything I've had these plans for months!"

"I know it's okay I'm just angry, don't worry about me, have a good time with your Mom."
"Are you sure you'll be okay without me? You can always phone, if you need anything."

"I'll be fine! Don't worry have fun, go party and hook up meet some hot boys for me!"
"Don't worry Brooke I'll try, but I should probably start driving now."
"You probably should, I love you Peyton, phone me when you get there."
"I love you too and I will."

We hugged and I went inside to say goodbye to my Dad. I went straight into the kitchen knowing he'd be making himself some lunch, he's a chef, so he cooks a lot of food. He noticed me coming in and washed his hands.

"Hey sweetie I'm guessing you're ready to leave now?"
"Yah, I have everything packed in my car I just came inside to say bye."
"Alright, are you sure you have everything you need?"
"Yah, I checked four times."

We walked out to my car and he opened the door for me, I got in the car and put my seat belt on. His eyes got big and he said, "Wait here I have to get you something," he ran back into the house and came outside a minute later with my little dog Panda. She was a small black and white Pomeranian, I've had her since I was 15. "I talked to your Mom and she's letting you bring Panda with you," he opened the passenger door and put Panda on the seat. "I also thought you might need this in case you see anything you'd like." He handed me a visa card. "I don't need this Dad I'll be fine." I tried to give it back to him but he refused to take it. "Keep it and phone me when you get there." He slammed the door closed before I could say bye, so I just waved and pulled out of the driveway.

I finally got to the restaurant where I was meeting my Mom. I turned off my car and phoned my Dad.
"Hello."
"Hey Dad I made it."
"Good have you seen your Mom yet?"
"No, I haven't gone in the restaurant yet."
"Well go find your Mom she's probably wondering where you are."
"Okay I'm going to phone Brooke first then I will."
"Okay bye sweetie phone me later."
"Bye."

I hung up the phone and dialed Brooke's number but there was no answer. I got out of the car and grabbed Panda, I looked through the window to see if I could find my Mom, but I couldn't see her anywhere. I went up to the front counter and decided to ask the girl working there.

"Do you know a woman named Donna Jennings?"
"Why yes I do, why do you ask?"
"She's my Mom, I'm supposed to meet her here, but I can't seem to find her."
"That's because she's in the bar downstairs."
"Oh well do you mind going and getting her for me? I don't see why she'd go down there when she knows I can't go in there."

"You're obviously not from around here, you can go in the bar nobody here cares."
I walked down the stairs and saw my Mom sitting at the bar, I walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and smiled, "Hey! There's my baby girl!" She was drunk as usual, this was going to be a long summer if she was going to drink all the time.