When Summer Ends

by Isabelle Rae

  “Hey you,” Olly greeted, seeming a little more relaxed now that I was closer to him.

  “Hey back.” I squeezed his hand a little as he brushed his other hand across the side of my face softly.

  “Want to do something after school today?” he asked, looking at me hopefully.

  I winced. I was studying tonight with Nick. The best days for him were Tuesdays and Wednesdays so I couldn’t exactly ask him to change his plans to another night just so he could help me out with my stupid class. I glanced at Nick to see if he was still up for the tutoring, but he was talking to Amy again.

  “I can’t, Olly, I’m supposed to be studying with Nick tonight. He helps me with my calculus,” I said apologetically.

  He frowned disappointedly, and I suddenly felt terrible about it. “I could help you study, I don’t mind. It makes more sense for me to do it, I am your boyfriend after all,” he countered, smirking at me cockily.

  “I know you are but Nick already agreed to help me. We’ve been doing it for the last couple of weeks, and it’s really starting to sink in. I think it’s best if I don’t mess around with something too much when it’s working.” I shrugged. Nick seemed to be able to explain it to me extremely well, and he was so patient with me. He didn’t mind going over and over the same thing until I understood it. “Besides, it’d be embarrassing for my boyfriend to find out how much I suck at something,” I added sheepishly.

  He sighed but nodded in agreement. “Okay. Do you do it at the library or something? Maybe we could meet up after.”

  I shook my head. “No we do it at his place. It’s part of the agreement; he tutors me and I have to cook dinner. I’ll be at his place until late, sorry.”

  His frown became more pronounced. “So you study with your ex-boyfriend at his house, on your own, and then you cook him dinner after and stay there until late. That’s what you’re saying?” he asked, his voice slightly hard as he looked at me like I was crazy.

  Holy poop, is he jealous of Nick now? What the heck is he thinking? “No. I study with a friend and cook him dinner as a thank you. That’s what I’m saying,” I corrected defensively.

  He sighed and shook his head, forcing a tight smile. “Right yeah, sorry. Forget I said anything. We can hang out tomorrow night instead, if you’re free that is.”

  I smiled and nodded. Is he jealous? That was a really strange, surreal conversation, and not one I wanted to have with a guy I’ve been dating for less than twenty-four hours!

  The rest of the week passed slowly, news spread that Olly and I were dating which gained me a few glares from girls that had crushes on him. Olly continued to be really sweet - paying for food and the movie when we went out, driving me home, walking me to my classes, and texting me endlessly in the night.

  The only thing I didn’t like was his idea of taking it slow. It was a lot faster than my idea of it. He seemed to keep forgetting himself, and when we were kissing his hands were a little all over the place. A couple of times to the point where I had to push him off of me because he was trying to unclasp my bra or unbutton my pants. As soon as I said something about it, he stopped immediately and apologised, but I could see he was getting a little frustrated with me. I wasn’t giving in though, it had been five days since he asked me out and that just wasn’t long enough for those kind of things to be happening between us - well, not for me anyway. I had a feeling that he thought ‘taking it slow’ meant that we just wouldn’t have sex for a while, I didn’t think he realised I wasn’t going to let him past first base.

  Will was just the same all week, I felt a little awkward around him because of his little outburst in his classroom where he accused me of letting Olly ‘paw me’ as he called it. Things were just a little strained, a kind of forced friendliness between teacher and student. He didn’t single me out but he didn’t blank me, just kind of ignored everything that wasn’t to do with his classes. A couple of times I’d seen him turn around and walk the other way when I was with Olly, his posture a little stiff. At those times I always wondered if he was jealous like I thought, but I honestly had no idea so I gave up trying to work him out.

  After school on Friday Olly led me over to the benches outside so we could hang out for a while before he drove me home. I couldn’t see him tonight because he was going to a family dinner at his uncle’s house so he wanted to spend some time with me before he dropped me home. He seemed a little reluctant to come to my house after the uncomfortable scene with my dad on Monday. I sat on the bench, soaking up the sun with my eyes closed just looking forward to having the weekend away from this place and the stress that it brought with it.

  “So what are we doing at the weekend?” Olly asked as he traced his hand up the side of my leg slowly. I put my hand on top of his, holding it still when it was about to snake round to my ass.

  “Well I can see you tomorrow daytime, but in the evening, Amy and I are going to a party with a friend of mine,” I replied, shrugging. Maybe we could go for lunch or something.

  He pulled back looking at me curiously. “You’re going to a party? Who’s is it?”

  “A friend of a friend, I don’t know the guy really,” I admitted. I actually didn’t really want to go now but I couldn’t pull out because Amy was so damned excited.

  “Who’s your friend?” His eyes were a little accusing, hard and annoyed.

  I smiled uncomfortably. Why is he looking at me like that? “Actually it’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.”

  His body tensed as he looked at me like I’d said something stupid. “You’re going to a party with your ex-boyfriends brother? The same ex-boyfriend that you’re still not over?” he asked, his voice hard and accusing.

  “Yeah, we’re friends.” Why on earth is he looking at me like that? I’m allowed to have friends.

  “Oh come on, Chloe, how many freaking male friends does one girl need?” he spat, pushing himself off of the bench and glaring at me.

  Whoa! “Are you jealous?” I asked shocked.

  “I have a right to be jealous, damn it! You’re my girlfriend, but yet you’re going to a party with another guy, and not just any old guy, but the brother of the guy who dumped you!” he growled, frowning angrily.

  What the hell? There is no way I’m letting him tell me who I can and can’t hang out with. I don’t care if he feels jealous, there needs to be trust in a relationship. If he can’t accept me having male friends then that’s his bad luck.

  “Olly, get a grip, he’s a friend.” I rolled my eyes. He’d been shooting little glares at Nick all week too. Every time Nick touched me or something Olly would kiss me or pull me away from him or something. I thought he was just being cute at the time, but was it something else? Was he being possessive?

  “You can’t go to a party with him, Chloe, that’s out of order and you know it. How would you feel if I went to a party with my ex’s sister?” he asked, throwing his hands up dramatically.

  I thought about it. How would I feel? I wouldn’t mind because I trust him, and he should trust me too. “Olly, I wouldn’t mind. It’s just a party with a friend, it’s no big deal.” I shrugged, picking up my bag so I could walk away from him.

  He made a scoffing noise. “It’s a big deal to me. All week I’ve had to bite my tongue when Nick’s been draping his hands all over you, and now you expect me to let you go to a party on your own with a guy?” he growled.

  “Let me? No I don’t expect you to let me; I don’t need your damn permission to go. Jeez, we’ve been going out for less than a week. I don’t need to ask your permission to do stuff, that’s stupid.” I stood up and shouldered my bag.

  “So you think I’m stupid?” he challenged, stepping closer to me, frowning.

  “Right now, you’re being childish. I’m not talking about this, call me Sunday if you want to.” I shrugged and walked past him heading for the building. Hopefully I’ll be able to find Amy or Nick and grab a ride home; if not then I guess I’m walking.

  Olly’s fingers wrapped aro
und my wrist, pulling me to a stop. “Don’t walk away. We can’t just have a fight and then you walk off, that’s not how a relationship works.” His voice was softer than earlier.

  I looked back at him. “People don’t tell people what they can and can’t do in a relationship either.”

  He sighed. “Okay I get it. I pissed you off, I’m sorry. It just drives me crazy these guys hanging around you all the time.” He pulled me back to him and slipped his arm around my waist.

  I smiled weakly and hugged him back. “It’s okay, but there’s no reason for you to be jealous. I’m not a cheater, I promise,” I mumbled, pressing my face against his shoulder.

  He stroked my back softly. “Yeah I know. Listen, how about we go out tomorrow night instead of you going to the party. We can go anywhere you want,” he suggested.

  I shook my head and pulled back. “I can’t I promised Amy we could go to the party, it’s been arranged for over a week.”

  He huffed dramatically and let his arms drop from my waist. “Nice, so you’re choosing a party over a date with your boyfriend,” he spat sarcastically.

  I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to be having this conversation with him; there was nothing to talk about. “Look, I understand that you feel jealous, I get it. But that doesn’t mean you can get angry with me for doing something that was arranged before we even got together!” I cried.

  “You know what? Just do what you want, I’ll see you Monday.” He snatched his bag from the table and turned on his heel, stalking off towards the parking lot.

  I watched his back as he walked away. So much for ‘we can’t just have a fight and then you walk off, that’s not how a relationship works’. Fine, screw him. I’m not the one in the wrong here, I’ve done nothing wrong. I could see why he was a little annoyed, but he needed to get over it and learn some trust if he wanted this to work. Will never would’ve said anything like that to me, ‘you expect me to let you go’. I don’t need his damn permission to go out!

  I stormed off towards the building, resisting the urge to kick things as I walked past them. I headed in to the building looking down the deserted hallways for someone I could get a ride from, but by the looks of it Olly and I had been talking for too long and everyone had already left. I sighed and turned back, deciding to make the forty-five minute walk home.

  I pulled out my iPod and shoved in my headphones as I power walked down the road, letting out all my frustration. After a couple of minutes a car horn blasted from next to me making me jump a foot into the air and yelp with fright. I turned round to see Will’s silver jeep creeping along the side of the road next to me. He waved me over so I headed to his open window.

  “What’s pissed you off?” he questioned, looking at me curiously.

  How does he know I’m pissed off? “What does that mean?” I asked, flicking my eyes to the passenger seat of his car to see there was no Miss Teller with him today.

  “You’re marching, so you’re obviously annoyed. For once it doesn’t look like it’s me that’s upset you.” He shrugged, smiling guiltily.

  “No, it’s… nothing. It’s nothing.” I shook my head, frowning, trying not to think of Olly again. Stupid boy.

  “Want a ride home?” Will asked, flicking his head to move his hair from his eyes.

  Actually I would love to not to have to walk home, but do I really want to be trapped in a car with him? I weighed my options. Just as I was about to decline the offer, a drop of rain fell on my head. I nodded quickly. “Yeah if it’s all right.” He smiled and reached over to the passenger side, flicking the lock for me. I ran round the car and jumped in as the drops started to fall harder. “Thanks, Will.”

  “No problem.” He threw the car into drive and pulled away, heading slowly down the road as the rain continued to fall. “So what’s rattled your cage then?” he asked, flicking his eyes to me for a second.

  I sighed and rested my head back against the seat. “Olly. He actually had the nerve to tell me I couldn’t go to the party tomorrow with Sam. He said I had enough male friends and that I was choosing to go to a party over going out with him. Stupid ass,” I ranted angrily. The sound of Will’s laughter made me open my eyes and cast them in his direction. He was grinning happily but stopped when he saw me looking. “What’s funny about that?” I asked, frowning. There’s nothing remotely funny about that at all.

  He shrugged. “Nothing. So you two broke up now then or something?” he asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

  I shrugged, not knowing the answer to that question. “Doesn’t look good. I mean, you just don’t do that! He has no right to be annoyed with me about it; you know what he said to me?” I ranted. “He said; you expect me to let you go to a party on your own with a guy? I mean, let me go? What is he now, my keeper?” I threw my hands up in exasperation, and Will started laughing again. I glared at him and he stopped laughing but looked like he was struggling a little.

  “Sorry, it’s not funny. I just can’t imagine him telling you what to do. I tried to stop you going out with Sam once; it didn’t go down too well then either.” He shrugged.

  “But he’s being out of order, isn’t he? I’m not in the wrong here, am I?” I asked curiously. Am I just seeing this as an excuse to break up with him? Am I being extra stubborn because it would be easier without him? I don’t think I am. No man should tell a woman what they can and can’t do.

  He shook his head. “You’re not in the wrong, Chloe. He shouldn’t be telling you that you can’t go to a party. I was wrong when I did it, and so is he.” He pulled up outside my house and I turned to look at him, smiling gratefully.

  “Thanks for the ride and the ear that I talked off.”

  He smiled his nice smile, the one I swear he only has for me. “Anytime. Have a nice time tomorrow night with Sam. Be careful okay?”

  “I will, thanks. Have a great weekend.” I pushed the door open and held my bag over my head as I ran inside with a smile on my face. I skipped to the kitchen to get something to eat thinking about the party tomorrow. I hadn’t actually wanted to go before, but now that Olly had made a big deal out of me not going, I actually wanted to go. Sam was fun, and Amy was looking forward to it so I’d make myself have a good time there too.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A car pulled up outside my house, and a second later a horn blasted. I cast a quick glance out of the window to see Sam’s car sitting there. We’d already agreed he shouldn’t knock for me because I’d told him what my dad was like. After shouting a quick goodbye to my parents, I headed out of the front door with my overnight bag. I was staying at Amy’s after the party tonight because her parents were a lot more lenient with curfews than mine were.

  I skipped to the car excitedly. I hadn’t been to a party for ages, the last one was actually another one of Will’s friends that he took me to. Sam smirked at me as I got in the car, looking me over obviously.

  “I pass the inspection or should I change?” I asked sarcastically. I hadn’t dressed up too much tonight, but I was still pleased with the outcome. I had on black tight pants that were cropped just below the knee, a killer pair of black heels, and a gold sparkly top that hung off of the shoulders and had a matching tank top underneath. Amy had helped me pick it out today while we were shopping.

  He smirked at me. “You definitely pass. What about me? I’m guessing I pass too, hell, I always pass.”

  I sighed and rolled my eyes. “You don’t need my comments to build up your already overinflated ego so I’ll just stay quiet.” I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed, heading in the direction on Amy’s house as I told him where to turn.

  “Will’s definitely not going, right?” I asked worriedly as we pulled up to Amy’s street.

  “Definitely, I promise.” He nodded, looking at me seriously; he knew I would be angry with him if he was lying so I didn’t think he’d do that to me. I smiled gratefully and he pulled into Amy’s drive honking the horn.

  She walked out of the house
wearing a jean skirt and black top, her hair all pulled up nicely. I smiled. She really was pretty and would have the guys fighting for her tonight. I’d always secretly wished I looked like her. Her hair was always straight, even when she woke up in the morning, and the colour of it was beautiful - unlike my dirty, straw coloured hair that seemed to have a mind of its own.

  Sam whistled appreciatively as she walked to the car. I slapped him in the stomach, glaring at him. “If you make a move on my best friend tonight, Sam Morris, I swear I’ll never speak to you again, and that’s not me being melodramatic,” I promised.

  He pouted. “She’s a big girl, she can take care of herself,” he whined.

  “I’m serious. Do it if you want but don’t ever expect to see me again. I’ll take the side of my friend, and as her best friend, I’ll have to take part in the torture of the Sam voodoo doll,” I warned, trying not to smile as he burst out laughing.

  “Fine, I guess you’re right. I won’t make any attempts to hit that tonight,” he confirmed somewhat grudgingly as he watched Amy’s every move while she slid into the back seat of the car.

  I smiled at him gratefully before turning back to Amy. She was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement and it actually made me more excited too.

  I glanced nervously at Sam as we walked into the packed house. The party was crazy already even though it was only nine o’clock. People were drunk, staggering around, talking animatedly. I honestly didn’t know where to look because it seemed that every wall had someone dry humping against it. Amy squealed and squeezed my hand tightly. “This is going to be awesome!” she squeaked.

  Sam grinned and threw his arm around her shoulder. “I’ll show you girls how to have a good time.” He winked at her and guided her towards the kitchen as I lagged behind, praying that he would keep his promise and not hit on my best friend tonight. She didn’t need a player like him hanging all over her - not to mention the fact that he was Will’s brother.