Sherelle Green - Waiting For Summer

Movement seen from the corner of her eye got her attention. There was no doubt in her mind that the guy sitting in the car next to her was hyperventilating. Judging by what she could tell from his face, she assumed it was Steve, the class valedictorian. She hadn’t talked to Steve that much in high school, but he’d always seemed nice. Within five minutes, she’d already witnessed him remove and wipe his black-framed glasses several times. There was no doubt he was experiencing the same type of anxiety that she was. Then again, was there anyone who didn’t experience anxiety attending their high school reunion? She highly doubted it.

With all the courage she could muster, Summer stepped out of her rental and began walking toward the entrance of her old high school. She was wearing her killer red heels and favorite black dress. She definitely looked more confident than she felt. When she reached the door, she exhaled the breath she’d been holding, then stepped into the building.

She barely recalled checking in at the sign-in desk and greeting a couple of former classmates before she began walking down the hall to the gym—a somewhat out-of-body experience. Neither one of her older sisters had returned to town for their high school reunions, yet here she was, walking into the place she swore she’d never step foot in again.

It wasn’t that growing up in Claysville, New Jersey, was all bad. There just were parts of the town that she didn’t particularly care for. Like being the main topic of discussion after every town event. Summer didn’t want to blame her hometown for the reason she disliked small towns. But the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if the reason she and her sisters now resided in major cities was because of their experience in Claysville. Both Winter and Autumn were now living in Chicago, and Summer was hoping to move from New York to Miami in a couple years.

The small town of Claysville was only known for three things: its historic buildings, the Fighting Tigers track team and gossip. Summer’s family used to live in a beautiful historic home. She had been on the track team, so that was a plus. Unfortunately, her family had also been the main target of gossip, more than any other family in town when they lived there.

When she stepped into the gym, the bright white lights and green and purple balloons representing the school colors transported her back ten years, to her senior prom. She blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the brightness. Claysville High was the only school she knew that didn’t dim the lights for a dance, choosing to keep them bright the entire night. Unbelievable how some things never change. Her thought was further proved when Rochelle Slater—the beauty queen herself—approached her.

“Summer, sweetie! I haven’t seen you in Claysville since we graduated. How are you?”

Summer returned Rochelle’s hug. “Hey, Rochelle, I’m doing well. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m absolutely fantastic. Expecting my second child any day now.” She rubbed her protruding belly.

“Congratulations! Is your husband here with you, too?”

“Oh, you silly girl,” Rochelle said as she playfully hit Summer’s arm. “You call Sam my husband as if we didn’t all go to school together. I mean, I should really be thanking you.”

Here we go. “Thank me for what?”

“Well, we all know Sam had a crush on you throughout grade school and part of high school. If you hadn’t shown your true colors, he probably would have never realized that we were really meant to be together.” When Rochelle stepped closer, it took all of Summer’s energy to remain still.

“You always did want all the men to yourself,” Rochelle said in a perky voice, in an attempt to disguise the insult. “Like, all of them. Each and every decent one. So, thank God you released Sam from your grasp so I could snatch him up. I mean, can you imagine if...”

“I think our view on the subject is different,” Summer said, cutting her off. “Sam was never mine to begin with. I’m glad you two found happiness.”

“Oh, yes, we’re very happy. But I haven’t forgotten what you put me through with my first boyfriend. In case you were thinking of apologizing for trying to steal Aiden away from me, no need. I accept your apology.”

At the mention of Aiden’s name, Summer’s breath caught in her throat. “Rochelle, I never tried to steal Aiden from you. Aiden and I were only...”

“Best friends. Yeah, I know,” Rochelle said with a forced laugh. “We’ve all heard that one before.”

“What have we all heard before?” Sam asked as he approached.

Summer briefly looked around the room for an escape. Okay, where is the black hole? Time travel for one, please!

“Hi, Sam, how are you?” Summer extended her hand, but their greeting was awkward.

“I’m good. Nice to see you, Summer.”

Sam and Rochelle then kissed and embraced. Looks-wise, they hadn’t changed much since high school and they genuinely seemed happy to be together. Hmm, if I liked them more, I’d say they were a cute couple. But Summer still had the scars from the drama she’d dealt with from them in middle and high school. Against her better judgment, she offered her compliment anyway.

“You both look great together. It’s nice to see a couple so in love.”

The smile immediately dropped from Rochelle’s face. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

“No, it’s not. I really mean it,” Summer responded in defense. Little did that help, because Rochelle wasn’t trying to listen to anything Summer had to say.

“Oh, and I suppose we weren’t as cute of a couple before we got Summer’s stamp of approval?”

“Uh, what?”

“For your information, the sun does not rise and set on you. Sam and I know what we have and we don’t need validation from someone like you.”

I’m sorry—what the heck? “I was just trying to be nice.”

“I guess some people never grow up,” Sam said, comforting Rochelle. “Come on, baby. Let’s go talk to some of our other classmates. You can’t get upset while you’re pregnant.”

Summer was sure her mouth was hanging open as they walked away. It didn’t matter how nice she tried to be to Rochelle and Sam, they’d already made a conclusion about her character and there was nothing she could do to change it.

Thanks to social media, she still communicated with two of her childhood girlfriends, but neither one of them could make the reunion. She should have listened when they group messaged her not to go. For a ten-year reunion, only about thirty of her seventy classmates had returned, and unfortunately, those who truly knew her weren’t in attendance.

“Why the heck did I even come to this shindig?” she said quietly to herself. She knew when it was time to make her exit. There was only one reason she’d come to the reunion. Only one reason she’d decided to throw herself into the line of fire with the couple who’d just walked away.

Although they still talked every now and then, Aiden Chase had once been her best friend. Her biggest supporter. Her trusted confidant. When he’d asked her if she was coming to the reunion, she’d told him that she wasn’t going to make it. But although he was usually traveling outside the country for his job as a fashion photographer, he’d informed her that he was attending the reunion even though he didn’t want to. Something about needing footage for a documentary being done on him.

It wasn’t like her to do surprises, but after some careful thinking, she’d driven back to town in hopes of having her first face-to-face conversation with Aiden in six years. Maybe we’ll finally meet up, like we’ve been trying to do for a while. Anything had to be better than staying at the reunion. She wasn’t even sure he was still coming.