About Last Summer

by Patricia B Tighe

  “Sure,” Haley said.

  Kenzie gave her an approving look. “Right. Back to the Hunter. This character is another girl who’s in love with Bill, um, the Beauty.”

  “That’s me!” Geoff said, grinning. “Everyone’s in love with me.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Forget it.”

  “Then you can be the butler,” Kenzie said.

  “And the maid’s a guy?” Amanda asked.

  “Yup.”

  “I guess I should play the maid then,” Noah said.

  Amanda’s face transformed. Her mouth opened, she flushed pink, and smiled. “I’ll be the butler.” Then, as if realizing how obvious she looked, she dipped her head, running a hand through her auburn hair.

  “Great,” Kenzie said. “We still need the Hunter.” She shifted toward me. “Gabriela? How about you?”

  “Give her a break, Kenz,” Geoff said. “She can barely speak English.”

  “I bet she speaks English better than you think,” Noah said.

  I ignored him. “Well,” I said, stalling for time. Should I say yes? If I played the part would I slip and sound too American?

  “You can read English, right?” Kenzie asked.

  “Yes, of course,” I said.

  “Then you should have no problem with this.”

  “Except that she has to pretend to be in love with Geoff,” Amanda said, breaking into giggles with Haley.

  “Shut up,” Geoff said. “It’ll be easy for her.”

  I smiled at them, pretending to be confused. I’d just thought of a way to do the chicken impression. Working it in would be tricky, though. “I believe I can do it. But I will not be very good at it.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Kenzie said. “None of us will be any good.”

  “How can we be?” Amanda asked. “The play’s not any good.”

  “I heard that, young lady,” Gamma said.

  Everyone looked up. Geoff and Amanda’s great-grandmother was sitting in a chair near the window, a book in her hands. Light from outside lit up her white hair making it look like a halo. What was she, a stealth grandma? I hadn’t heard her come in. And neither had anyone else, apparently.

  “You won’t tell Dad, will you, Gamma?” Amanda asked with a nervous smile. “I didn’t really mean it.”

  Geoff snorted. “Yes, you did, and everyone agrees with you.”

  Gamma ignored him. “No, Amanda dear, I won’t tell your father. But the play will only be as good as the actors who are in it.”

  “Ooo, burn,” Geoff said and then stretched his arms and legs out like sticks. “Are we ready for a break?”

  “Not yet,” Kenzie said. “Let’s go over what we’ve got. Geoff is the Beauty, I’m the Beast, Haley is the Grandma and a Merchant, Amanda is the Butler, Noah is the Maid, Gabriela is the Hunter, and we can take turns adding to the traveling merchants.”

  “Or maybe Dad will want to be a merchant,” Geoff said.

  “Good idea. So, am I forgetting anything?”

  I could’ve kissed her. It was as if we’d rehearsed it. I took a deep breath, focused on getting the accent right, and said, “Do we need any barnyard animals?”

  Noah

  I sucked in a noisy breath.

  “Any what?” Geoff asked through a laugh.

  Gabby was going to do her chicken impression. I’d almost lost hope. It would’ve been a bummer to have to tell her secret after all. Getting her to do stuff was way more fun.

  Gabby frowned. “Did I say it in the wrong way? Animals around the cabin. Like chickens, dogs, or perhaps sheep?”

  “There aren’t any listed here,” Kenzie said, holding up the script. “Why?”

  “Because I might be better acting as one of them, instead of the hunter.”

  Kenzie smiled. “Really?”

  “Yes,” I said. “I can be a chicken.”

  Anticipation thrummed through me. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

  “You can?” Geoff asked. “Show us.”

  It was just as hilarious—and adorable—as it had been at drama camp. Gabby stood, and with her elbows bent, she stutter-walked, squawking as she went. The room erupted in laughter. Even Gamma smiled.

  A bottomless pit of want and need opened up inside of me. That same pit it had taken months to fill up.

  I fell back on my mantra from last school year. She never loved you. She dumped you. She’s evil. She doesn’t deserve you. I’d repeated it in my head so often that I even shot baskets to the rhythm of the words.

  When Gabby returned to her seat, Geoff said, “Please do that again. Every day, forever.”

  Gabby just smiled. No embarrassment at all. “It is easy, no? I think all of you must do an animal, too.”

  Amanda stood. “Um, no. This is where I draw the line. No offense, but I don’t do animal impressions. Besides, it is time for a break. Haley and I are going shopping this morning.”

  “Hate to break it to you,” Geoff said. “But you do a great pig impression.”

  Prickles of red mottled Amanda’s freckled cheeks. “I do not.”

  Geoff frowned. “Or was that Noah?”

  She never loved you. “What?” I asked.

  “A great pig impression,” Geoff said. “Can you do one?”

  The mantra wasn’t working. My gaze landed on Gabby’s dark curls, and I felt myself slipping backward into the pit. I frowned up at Geoff. “That would be you,” I said, hoping no one noticed the dull sound in my voice.

  Geoff rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “Oh, yeah, you’re right.” He dropped to the carpet, snuffling and snorting, and making a complete pig of himself. So to speak.

  Kenzie laughed and bopped him on the head with her rolled up script. “Great job. Now get up.”

  Amanda and Haley headed for the door. “We’ll be back later.”

  “Wait,” Kenzie called. “Try to be here by one, okay? We need to rehearse.”

  “Ugh. Okay.”

  With the younger girls gone, Geoff stood and stretched. “Anybody want to go shoot baskets? We’ll go easy on poor altitude-challenged Noah.” He strolled to the window. “Looks like we’ve got about half an hour before that rain hits.” He grinned back at them. “Amanda and Haley are gonna get drenched. That is, if Dad even takes them into town.”

  Kenzie tossed the script onto the coffee table. “I’m in.”

  “You’re likely to have to take the girls to town yourself,” Gamma said in her quiet voice.

  “Crap,” Geoff said. “Oops, sorry, Gamma.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Let’s get out of here.”

  I stood. Moving around would definitely help me stop thinking about Gabby. At least temporarily. And after that, I’d refocus on the plan.

  “What about you?” Kenzie asked Gabby.

  I sensed her watching me, so I moved to where Geoff stood at the window. Please don’t. Don’t say you’ll come with us.

  “No, thank you,” Gabby said. Such a polite Spanish girl. “I want to call my parents.”

  Geoff laughed. “You don’t hear that very often.”

  “Ignore him,” Kenzie said, drawing Gabby through the doorway with her. “I’ll be outside in a few minutes,” she said over her shoulder.

  “Okay,” Geoff said, then turned to me and lowered his voice. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve been hit in the face with a brick.”

  “Nothing.”

  Geoff eyed me. “Whatever. I can see what’s happening. You’ve got a thing for Gabriela.”

  “No, I don’t.” I wanted to hide behind the loveseat. Was it that obvious?

  “You’d better move fast. She won’t be here very long.”

  “Don’t be an assho—”

  Geoff elbowed me in the ribs. Hard. Gamma was staring at us with a weird look in her eyes—like she could read minds or something. “See ya later, Gamma,” Geoff said.

  She smoothed her gnarled fingers across the pages of her book. “Have fun.”

  Was she about to laugh? Humo
r gleamed in her light brown eyes, and an urge to find out why grabbed hold of me. Could she really tell I was obsessing over Gabby? “Do you want to come with us?” I blurted out. I could feel Geoff’s gaze burning a hole in my skull, and warmth actually heated my face.

  Gamma smiled, the lines etched in her cheeks deepening. “No, thank you, dear.” She glanced out the window. “It does look like rain, and I don’t want to be caught out in it.”

  “Well, can we get you anything before we go?” I asked.

  A delighted look took years off her face. “No need. You’d best hurry.” She waved a finger toward the window.

  “Right,” Geoff said, just a bit too loudly. “Let’s get going.”

  I gave Gamma a brief nod and followed Geoff into the hall. When we were on the stairs to his room, he frowned at me. “What was that?”

  “What was what?”

  “You invited Gamma to shoot baskets with us.”

  “No, I didn’t. I just asked if she wanted to come. She’s capable of sitting outside.”

  He shook his head. “You’re getting weird, Jernigan.”

  He took the rest of the steps two at a time, and I jogged after him. Was it really so weird to want Gamma around? Probably. But I had the strange feeling she might be the only one on my side.

  Gabby

  “That’s what Alejandro wanted?” Kenzie asked, a little too loudly in my opinion.

  I glanced out the bedroom door. Amanda and Haley had just come out of their room with purses on their shoulders. Had they heard her? Oh well, it wasn’t like they knew who Alejandro was. I shut the door and went straight to my bed where I flopped down.

  “A chicken?” Kenzie asked.

  “Yup,” I said, the word muffled against the pillow. “That’s what he wanted me to do.”

  “So he’s trying to make you look ridiculous.”

  I rolled onto my side and propped my head up. “I guess.”

  Kenzie had ditched her pajama pants and was pulling on shorts. “Well, it didn’t work. You didn’t look stupid. You looked funny. And Geoff really got into it.”

  “Yeah, but I totally failed at getting Noah to do an animal too.”

  “Oh well.” Kenzie concentrated on putting on one sock and neon-green sneaker at a time. When she was done, she stood. “Don’t worry. We’ll have plenty of chances to embarrass him this week. Like now.” She grinned. “I’m gonna embarrass both of the guys on the court.”

  “Wish I could see it, but I need some time away from him.”

  “I get it,” Kenzie said, pulling her hair up in a ponytail. “You really gonna call your parents?”

  “No. I’ll just text them, then maybe read or something.”

  “Okay, later.” And she was gone.

  I really didn’t want to text my parents, but it would be better than getting an unexpected phone call if I didn’t check in. I scrolled through my messages until I got to our last group text.

  Me: Hi! Everything is fine here. Kenzie’s aunt & uncle are super nice. Went hiking yesterday with her cousins. Looks like rain today. Love you.

  That was simple enough. I hoped it would satisfy them.

  With a sigh, I fell back against the soft sheets and stared at the flawless white ceiling. No cracks to stare at to pass the time. I knew I couldn’t focus on a book. Not when I kept reliving that warm look in Noah’s eyes after I’d done the chicken impression. It was almost like he wasn’t mad anymore. Like he was enjoying everything. Even being around me.

  But then the look had slid off his face as if he were thinking about the worst memory of his life. Was that me? Was I his worst memory? I had no idea. But it was probably the reason he was going to so much trouble to make me look stupid.

  He was punishing me. Guilt and frustration warred in my chest. Never in a million years had I thought I’d hurt him so badly. I’d figured he’d be over me in a couple of weeks and get on with his life. That I was the only one hurting. Guess I was wrong. How long had it taken him to get past it all? If he was like me, way too long.

  I stood and went to the window facing the back of the house. A wooden deck partially blocked the view of Kenzie and the guys shooting baskets. Laughter sounded, clear even through the closed window. Kenzie jumped up and launched the ball through the air.

  “You suck!” Geoff’s voice rang out.

  I smiled. Kenzie’s shot must have gone in.

  Noah came into view, shooting what looked like the same shot, his body long and graceful in the air. I leaned my cheek against the cool glass of the window. He was so beautiful to watch. But the bang of his shot hitting the rim jerked me out of my semi-swoon. I gave my head a quick shake. I had to stop this. If I didn’t, I’d repeat my mistake from last summer and fall in love with him.

  Only this time there was no chance he’d make the same mistake. He hated me.

  I left the window and paced the room. Focus, focus. I needed to protect myself if I wanted to get through this week without gashes in my heart. But what could I do? I didn’t want to be at Noah’s mercy all the time. Should I just ignore him? Right. Like that would work. We were staying in the same house. We were ‘acting’ in a play together.

  I’d just have to brick up my heart and not take anything he said or did too personally. It wouldn’t be easy, but I could do it if I had to. Which I did.

  Part of me wished I could do something to bug him, to get under his skin. But then he’d probably tell everybody my secret, which would be the end of Kenzie’s challenge. I rubbed the heel of my hand against the pain centered in my breastbone.

  The only thing I could remember that really bugged Noah was when we had to be apart for those breakout sessions last summer. He’d grab me when we got back together as if we hadn’t seen each other for days. My heartbeat thrummed under my palm, and I couldn’t hold back a smile. That had been fun.

  Now though, he probably couldn’t care less when he wasn’t around me. And I needed to act the same way. Completely indifferent.

  I nodded to myself. I could do it. Even if it gave me a stomach ache.

  From over on the bed, my cell phone buzzed. For half a second, I thought it was Noah. But of course, it wouldn’t be. That’s what I got for thinking about him so much. I snagged the phone from the sheets.

  Dad: Love you, mija.

  I smiled. Short and sweet. That was my dad.

  But then the phone made a swooshing noise.

  Mom: Glad to hear it. Got your registration info in the mail today. Did you know there’s an accounting course? Looks perfect. Have fun, honey!

  I threw my phone onto the bed. It bounced once before landing on the mattress. I didn’t know there was an accounting course because I wasn’t interested in taking accounting. Obviously. I’d even told her that. But once my mother got hold of an idea it was as though it floated in front of her face like a hologram and she couldn’t see anything else.

  I sank onto the bed. Despite feeling like I wanted to join a foreign exchange program—maybe I really could live in Spain—I was not going to think about my mother and her plans for my school year. At least not for the rest of the week. I needed to gear up for the next time I saw Noah. Keyword: casual. I could do it. Maybe.

  Gabby

  “Hurry up,” Kenzie hissed, waving the group to the table after lunch cleanup. “Before Geoff gets back.”

  I followed the others. Noah chose a seat next to Kenzie, who was at the head of the table, and Amanda promptly took the chair on his other side. Haley sat beside her. Okay, then. That meant I had to sit across from Noah. It would’ve seemed really weird if everybody sat on one side of the table.

  Kenzie leaned forward, motioning us closer. “Geoff’s birthday is on Friday,” she whispered. “I’ve been talking to Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike, and we’ve planned a surprise.”

  “How can you plan a surprise when his birthday is one of the reasons we’re here?” Amanda asked.

  “Shh.” Kenzie looked toward the hall, then back. “We’re gonna hide his par
ty from him.”

  “What do you mean?” Noah asked.

  “On Friday afternoon we’re gonna send him on a scavenger hunt through the town. Then, when he’s led back here, we’ll have the party set up in the backyard.”

  Noah frowned. “Sounds complicated.”

  “Yeah,” Amanda said, “I agree with Noah.”

  Of course you do. I turned back to Kenzie.

  “I think it’ll be fun,” Haley said.

  A tuneless whistling echoed from the hallway. “He’s coming,” Kenzie whispered. “Details later.”

  Geoff strolled in, his light brown hair sticking out on one side. Like someone had been messing with it. I gently bit my tongue so I wouldn’t smile. He and Molly seemed to kiss every chance they got. “Hey,” he said. “What’d I miss?” He dropped into the seat next to me.

  “Nothing much,” Kenzie said. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  Amanda exhaled noisily through her nose. “And if you wouldn’t spend so much time making out with Molly, we wouldn’t have to sit around waiting.”

  A lazy smile curled Geoff’s mouth. “Who says we’ve been making out?”

  Noah, Amanda, and Haley laughed.

  “You might want to fix your hair next time,” Kenzie said with a lift of an eyebrow.

  Geoff’s hands shot to his head. He ran his fingers through his hair, but only succeeded in messing up all of it.

  “Much better,” Kenzie said, and Haley laughed again. Kenzie pointed at papers on the table. “Everyone grab a script. We need to run through this.”

  “Can’t we do this in the living room?” Geoff asked.

  “It’s a table read,” Kenzie said.

  “I know, but we don’t have to be anal about it.”

  “Right,” she said. “If we let you sit on the couch, you’ll be asleep in five minutes.”

  “No I won’t,” he said. “I’ll be riveted to the text.”

  Kenzie glanced at him. “Let’s see. It starts with the Beast entering the cabin and tossing Grandma out. So let’s give that a try, Haley.”