| Summer Secrets Chapter 16 |
| ~*~ A Few Days Later ~*~ She counted her strides and her breathing as she jogged. Everything was right; she was jogging but it was for her own delight. No longer was it to clear her mind or to try to better herself, it was simply for her enjoyment. The sky was blue with a few clouds and the sun shone, but not too brightly. Its light was just enough to make it a wonderful day. That was exactly what it was: a wonderful day. It was a day before her birthday, she was finally with the love of her life, and she had friends which she never thought she would have. As she made her way through the park, at her steady pace, she looked around. It was early, but people were already out either walking their dogs, excersizing, or just sitting out and enjoying the day. A smile slowly crept on her face out of pure happiness, but that smile was soon altered at the sight of someone. A thin figure with dark hair sat on a bench lonely and looking around. Summer recognized the emerald eyes, but there was something unusual about them. Their expression was no longer confident and happy; they seemed sad. So sad that the shade of green seemed a shade darker. Withouting realizing Summer slowed herself to stare at the person on the bench. She looked forgotten and as if no one cared for her. A dash of guilt began to flow through Summer's veins and she headed toward Erin. "Erin?" Summer said standing behind her. Instinctively, Erin turned at the sound of her name. Once her eyes met Summer's, they were locked. "Hi." Erin said unsure of what to say. As Summer looked more closely she saw Erin's eyes were pink and her cheeks looked a bit hot and flushed. "I'm sorry." Summer started. "You didn't do anything." Erin laughed bitterly. "You just fell in love with him, just like me." Summer looked down guiltfully. "Still, I should have just taken him." Summer said and winced at her word choice. "He loves you. I'm sorry I hurt you, I was just jealous of you." "Why were you jealous of me?" Summer asked surprised, for no one had ever been jealous of her. "Because, you were happy, and you have this wonderful smile, and on top of that all you have the love of a man that I can only dream of." Erin said. "I don't know what to say." "You don't have to say anything." Erin said as her voice cracked and she brushed a tear slowly off her cheek. "I loved him, I still do, but he doesn't want me." "I'm sorry." "Don't say that. You have no reason to be sorry. He wants you. I'm not trying sound noble or anything, but I think that he deserves you and you deserve him. I know I don't know you very well, but I can already tell you're a wonderful person. Especially the way he talks about you." Erin stated as more tears escaped her eyes and flowed freely down her cheeks. Summer stared at her with a concerned look. "I have to go. It was nice seeing you, Summer. I hope you'll forgive me for slapping you." "You're forgiven." She replied unsure if that was the correct thing to say. "Thank you." Erin said and stood up. She leant over and gave Summer a hug. Shocked, Summer stood there then soon reacted and hugged her in return. "I know you can make him happy." She said with a weak smile and turned around to leave. Summer watched as she walked away and then headed back to JC's house, slowly walking every step of way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey you're back!" JC said when Summer walked quietly inside the door. "Yeah, I umm I saw Erin." "Where?" He asked, his softened expression in a second turned hard. "At the park." "What was she doing?" "Crying. JC, I don't want to talk about this right now." Summer said and looked down. "Ok we don't have to." He said and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm going to go take a shower." He nodded and watched as she headed up the stairs toward one of the bathrooms. Once he made sure she was upstairs he quickly grabbed the phone and dialed Justin's number. "Hello?" Justin answered. "Hey, it's me. Do you have everything almost ready?" "Yeah, Nichole and Becki are out getting balloons still though. That helium tank thing didn't work so they went to get another one." "Ok good, and Gracie and Joe are picking up Autumn and June right?" "Yes, calm down. And Chris is getting the cake. Where is she anyway?" "In the shower" JC replied. "Ok, I'm gonna go. Nichole and Becki just got back with the new tank so we're putting everything in here." "Ok Bye." JC said and hung up the phone. A smile slowly crept on his face. This was going to be perfect. Summer's birthday was tomorrow and he was going to have a party for her. He made sure to fly her sister's out, he knew how close she was with them and invited everyone Summer knew in Orlando. It was going to be magnificent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So you know it's your birthday tomorrow, right?" JC said and walked up behind Summer putting his arms around her as she brushed her long hair which was beginning to fade into a dark shade of brown. "Yes I know." She smiled, "I haven't forgotten my own birthday yet." "I figured, but I want to take you somewhere." "Where?" "Somewhere special. So get yourself more beautiful than you already are, which would mean you have graduated to gorgeous like I've seen you do before." He smiled and kissed her cheek. She laughed at him as he began to brush her hair. "Ok well then will you pick something for me to wear?" "Sure." He said and headed out of the bathroom toward the bedroom. Her green eyes watched as he left the room and she smiled in happiness. Happily, she turned around and began to blow dry her long hair while she hummed 'Sweet Home Alabama'. She was so diligently working on her hair that she didn't notice JC as he watched her and leaned on the door frame to simple admire her. His eyes traced her every curve, every crease, every strand of dark hair. Finally out of the corner of her eye she saw his movement and turned around to find him smiling face staring at her. "Did you find something?" "Yes," He replied and held up a pale blue sun dress in one hand and a pair of white sandals that matched. "I don't remember owning that." Summer said and cocked on eyebrow. "That's because you didn't. Becki got it for you." "Oh right. I was going to start to get worried if your fashion senses where that well in function." She laughed and grabbed the dress from him. "The reservations aren't for another 2 hours so take your time." He smiled and headed past her to take a shower. "Ok I'm going to call my sister." "No!" He said quickly. "Why not? She's my sister I can talk to her if I want." "Yeah, she umm just called and you were in the shower and she said she wasn't going to be home, because I told her you would call her back and stuff. She said she'd call you later." "Ok I'll call Jilly." She said and turned around. "Who's Jilly?" "My friend." She smiled not looking at him and walked out to talk on the phone before she changed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where are we going?" "It's a surprise." He replied. "I don't like surprises." Summer said as she tried to weasel a response out of him in a sneeky matter. "Yes you do, and if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" He said and continued to drive. "Why can't you just tell me?" She asked beginning to get frusterated. "You're making me nervous." "Don't I always do that?" He grinned. "You're gross." She said and pinched his arm. He simply laughed and continued to drive. As Summer's eyes diverted to the surroundings outside of the car she realized they were farther away from the city. "Are we almost there?" "Yes." He replied and turned into a long drive way. In a short distance was the view of a sort of country club looking building that was inluminated by lights and the numberous plants made it seem to have a tint of green amoungst the shimmering white paint. "Wow," she said in shock at the magnificant architecture before her. "Pretty, huh?" He grinned. She quickly glanced at him in disbelief as the building came closer. He stopped the car in front of a man who was obviously going to park the car. They both stepped out of the car and JC met her and took her hand. "Why are we here?" "You'll see." He smiled and led her inside. Upon their entrance, Summer was surprised to walk into a very elaborate room with chandeliers and beautiful decorations. Without asking where to go, JC led her to a pair of double doors where he stopped when he reached them. "Ready?" "For what?" She laughed. Gently his hand reached for the golden door knob and with one flip of his wrist the door blasted open and a wail of noise came from the inside as streamers surrounded her and confetti glided in her hair. She hadn't even realized the loud noise was the word 'surprise'. As soon as it registered in her brain she began to laugh lightly and couldn't believe this was all for her. The streamers, the lights, the decorations, the music, all of it was for her. Everyone around her greeted her with hugs and numerous 'Happy Birthday's. The attention was overwhelming and while she usually would have felt uncomfortable, she was calm and a feeling of being wanted overcame her and became pure happiness. For once everything was right. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on two figures one with red hair like her own and the other with brown hair. Summer smiled at the sight. It was her two sisters. She glanced over at JC with a smile before hurrying over to greet her sisters with a hug. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "That was so wonderful." Summer said through a yawn. It was two o'clock and the two had just returned to JC's house after a night of celebration. "I'm glad you liked it." Summer headed into the bathroom and pulled her hair into a pony tail, she then washed her face delicately. After completeing her nightly tasks and putting on her pajamas she crept into bed next to JC and flipped off the lights. "Thank you so much." She said and hugged him. "You're very welcome. You deserve it." He said and held her closely and drifted off to sleep. |