Only for the Summer

MY PARENTS HAD SAID goodbye last night, knowing they won't catch me in the morning. My dad likes to leave extra early in the morning for a vacation to ensure they won't be stuck in traffic. It isn't my mother's favorite thing, but he makes her favorite breakfast on the way. They're going to the town for the day to celebrate my Aunt Judy's birthday. She has invited us too, but she's one of those relatives I can only handle seeing once a year.

I sleep most of the day, happy to finally catch up on some of my rest. With all the wedding planning, I barely have time to relax. Now that our parents are officially on board, everything with the wedding has been smooth sailing. Plus, Charlotte and I's hike had been more strenuous than I remembered.

Tomorrow, we'll be going wedding dress shopping and bridesmaid dress shopping. I've been too nervous to ask if that includes Daphne. I'm hoping and praying it won't. I know it's childish to be avoiding someone, but I just don't want to relive all the drama she put me through in high school. She doesn't seem to have grown up much, and the last thing this wedding needs is more drama.

Getting back from my run, I go to check on Charlotte. She's been quiet today, catching each other in passing but giving each other our own space. With all the planning, it's also been hard to find time alone. There's usually someone around at all times, asking what size we wear or our opinions on something. We haven't had time alone since our hike, especially not time to talk about the kiss and what it meant. I know she said it was practice just in case, but it feels like more than that.

The door to her room is slightly ajar, and I can hear her speaking softly. She must be on the phone, so I decided to shower first. After my shower, I throw on some old clothes, and this time, I knock on her door. She calls me in a moment later. Charlotte's sitting on the bed, a book opened next to her. She's in comfortable clothes like me, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head.

"Hey, what's up?" She smiles.

"I was going to order a pizza. Did you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure, that sounds fun!" She picks up her book, puts a bookmark in to save her place, and exchanges the book for her phone on the nightstand.

I call the local pizza place and order our usual, then head to the living room with the bigger TV.

She sits next to me on the couch, and I try not to notice how close she is. Lately, it's getting harder and harder to ignore my feelings for her. It isn't just me though; she's different here. Back home, she had never been so flirty and affectionate, I blame it on the fake relationship we're in. But then, when we're alone, did she forget to stop, or did she not want to?

"What should we watch?" Charlotte asks as I click the button for Netflix.

"Something scary?" I'm a horror movie fanatic much to her displeasure. I'm always trying to persuade her to watch something scary with me.

"Nice try there, how about something like this?" She grabs the remote from me and puts on some romantic comedy that's based on a book she read.

"Ugh, fine," I fake protest but twenty minutes later, I'm invested.

We're sitting on the couch, a thin blanket covering us when the rain starts. At first, it's just a normal rainstorm hitting the windows lightly. But not too long later, it starts pounding, and we have to turn up the volume

"Is the pizza person going to be able to deliver in this?" Charlotte asks, looking toward the large glass windows.

"Growing up here, I know they aren't normal windows but extra strength to keep out the rain. Seaside is beautiful, but rainfall like this isn't uncommon.