Years of Summer: Lily's Story

by Bethanie Armstrong

  Things started calming down and most of the girls, except us, had put in a movie and were watching it. I had too much time to start thinking about Jace not being here. I started missing him badly. I had become used to the idea of him being around and me being able to talk to him whenever I wanted. I needed some air, so I ran down to where we were going to sleep and pulled out my fleece jacket and put it on. It was my favorite, light gray with ADPi embroidered in light blue with violets on either end of the words. I came back up and told Mrs. Harper that I was going outside to sit and listen to the waves.

  “Lily that is my favorite thing to do when I come out here. If you will look in the little storage closet on the deck there are some camp chairs with footrests on them. Come here.”

  I followed her out to the deck and she showed me where the camp chairs were, and then she pointed out where the best place to sit was. “Thanks Mrs. Harper.”

  “Anytime, enjoy yourself. By the way, over there in that group of condos, the third one from the end is Mr. and Mrs. Masters’. We decided to have the bonfire on Tuesday night kind of like a grand finale before we go home. I’m glad you suggested it. Enjoy your time, tomorrow we get down to RUSH business. Sydney has come up with some great ideas for this year. Don’t stay out too late.”

  “Okay, thank you Mrs. Harper.” She squeezed my shoulders and went back in. I looked over at the group of condos. They didn’t seem too far away, but I so wanted Jace to walk out the back door of that third one from the end. I missed him so much I began to cry. Then I wondered if he missed me just as much. I shouldn’t have, but I did. I wanted him to miss me that much. I guess that was selfish of me.

  We hadn’t spent hardly any time away from one another over the past two weeks unless we had to go to a different class, or needed to study. But most of the time we studied out on the quad on my blanket. I am sure many people already considered us a couple. I liked that idea, me and Jace as a couple. As I thought that and sat there listening to the waves for a couple of hours a flicker of light caught my eye. I looked to where I thought I saw the light and it wasn’t where I was hoping it was coming from. That made me extremely sad. I knew though, that his family wasn’t planning on coming until Saturday, so was he, Dave, Ty, and Mike. I leaned back against the back of my chair and looked up at the crystal clear night sky and saw a million tiny little stars and the big full moon. It was so relaxing and beautiful. I heard the back deck door open and looked and saw Jillian, Brianna, and Chelsea coming out the door to join me. Mrs. Harper showed them where the chairs were too.

  “Hey Lily, we were wondering where you had gone off too.”

  “Well you found me. There was too much noise inside and I wanted quiet.”

  “So you could think about how much you miss Jace?” Chelsea knew me well.

  “Maybe, but I wanted to hear the waves too.”

  Jillian offered her opinion. “Lil why don’t you just let your guard down and allow something to happen between you and Jace? Honey, Chance is gone, you don’t have to worry about him getting in the way anymore and you know as well as I do that Jace is absolutely nothing like him and if I may be so bold, Jace is head over heels for you, don’t you see that?”

  “Jillian, do you have any idea how much I want to do that?”

  “No, I don’t, and lately you seem to be pushing Jace away. It would not surprise me if he was at the frat house wondering if you still want him around.”

  “What? Jillian what are you talking about?”

  Chelsea piped up then. “Lily, what Jillian said is true. He asked me the other day what was going on with you and even asked me if he should stick around.”

  “What, no, that’s not what I want. I do want him around, more than anything.”

  Brianna added her two cents. “Then my suggestion to you would be to let Chance go. He is gone. You don’t need to keep your defenses in place, because if you do you’re going to lose Jace and you know that, unless that is what you are hoping for?”

  “No, I don’t want to be without him.” I started crying again. “He really thinks I don’t want him around.”

  They all three, at the same time, said “YES!”

  At that moment I resolved to myself that as soon as I could I would call him tomorrow to meet me so we could talk. I never wanted to lose Jace and especially not because I was acting stupid. I looked at the three of them. “Okay, tomorrow I will talk to Jace as soon as I can.”

  Chelsea reached over to squeeze my hand. “That’s the girl I know, welcome back Lily.” I felt happiness, for the first time in a long time and it was because of one guy—Jace.

  * * * * * * *

  We came in about midnight and took our showers and went to bed. We had a huge day ahead of us tomorrow. I was sure we were going to start working on the moves for our skits or at least start acquainting ourselves with them. We elected officers though, and I was voted secretary once again because they somehow thought I had the writing skills to do it. Our President stepped down because she was about to graduate and Nina was voted the new president. Jillian was voted historian and Brianna was voted vice president. Chelsea was re-elected rush coordinator, because she was so good at it and our new cabinet stood in front of the sorority.

  Chelsea started handing out the skits we were to familiarize ourselves with and we broke off into groups to decide who was going to play which parts. Chelsea loved doing that and that is probably why she was elected every year as rush coordinator. We ate lunch and then worked about two more hours and then Mrs. Harper, who was pleased with our progress, gave us the rest of the afternoon to go play on the beach, after she gave us the rules.

  “Now, girls, I want each of you to make sure you know where your group members are and check in with me, every hour. You can designate a checker and send only one back to me or you can each individually come and check in, which is what I prefer, but I will leave it up to you. Keep a check on the time and I want everyone to return to the house by six for dinner and then you can have free time the rest of the evening. Now, I know some of you have friends that are going to be on the upper corner of Seaside and you are allowed to see them, but again you must check in with me every hour. Curfew is at 10:30. I fully expect you to be somewhere in the vicinity of this house by that time. I have spoken with the Masters and have told them of my rules also.”

  She eyed me, Chelsea, Jillian, and Brianna and we gave her a nod of understanding and she returned one to us.

  “Now, girls, go have fun.” We did our little cheer and then we went and changed.

  There was a phone downstairs and I called Jace after I changed into my swimsuit and cutoff denim shorts. He answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey Jace, it’s Lily.”

  “Hey Lil.” There was an edge of hesitation in his voice.

  “Are you settled in?”

  “Yeah, we made it here about an hour ago.” He still had an edge of hesitation.

  “Jace, do you mind if we talk?”

  I heard a not-so-nice word under his breath, and then he answered me. “Okay, where do you want to meet?”

  “Just start walking out your back door and you will see me walking towards your condo. I’ll see you in a minute.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  I had no idea how to do this, I had the feeling right now he thought I was about to break up with him and the funny part about that is we were not even officially designated a couple yet. My mind floundered, I felt like a fish that had washed up on the beach and couldn’t breathe. I so wanted this, but was going to have to let everything go in order to have it. Can I do this? I had no idea.

  As I started out the backdoor, I knew Brianna, Chelsea and Jillian were watching from the window that lead out to the hot tub. They wanted this for me as much as I wanted this for me. I made my way down the stairs and started through the yard as I saw Jace in just his swim trunks and tank-type shirt. He had some tan to him and was walking down his back deck steps and I thought my heart was going to thrum out of m
y chest. Every muscle on him rippled under his shirt as he made his way towards me, but he was very hesitant. I was right; he thought I was about to break up with him. That almost made me smile and I almost giggled. He had missed me, but was not sure how this was going to turn out.

  It seemed to take forever to meet up with him. We finally did. “Hey Lily bell are y’all off for the rest of the day?”

  His eyes were the dark-cast gray which confirmed my suspicion. “Yeah we are. Jace, what’s wrong?”

  He looked at me as tears welled in his eyes. He was fighting them back as hard as he could, actually about to cry. “Lily, why don’t you tell me?” We were standing at a midpoint between the back yards, he had his arms crossed in front of him, and he was trying to look over my shoulder to keep from facing me.

  “What do you want me to tell you—that I missed you so much last night I cried.” I placed my hand on his face as a lone tear escaped his sad eyes and I wiped it gently away. I whispered. "Jace, please don't be upset.” I placed my other hand on his face and took my finger and traced his cheek down to his lips. “Tell you that I have let all my defenses down and that I feel dangerously vulnerable right now.” I brought his face to mine and looked deep into his eyes, as I smoothed a curl off his forehead. He began to smile. “Tell you I’ve wanted to do this to you for a while.” I kissed him—soft and long—knowing this is what I wanted and I was pretty sure it was what he wanted too.

  I broke the kiss gently and looked into his eyes. “Do you accept me for who I am, Jace?”

  He held me tightly and whispered in my ear. “Every centimeter, no strings attached, I hope you have no regrets.”

  “Don’t give me reason to.”

  “I love you Lily Grace Aldridge and I know you love me too.”

  I did not deny that, I just held him closer and found myself crying, hoping one day I could say “I love you too”. Right at that moment though, he knew it unspoken and that was enough for both of us.

  From behind us on his deck I suddenly heard a bunch of cheers and whistles. He and I both laughed as we stood there holding each other. “You ready to hit the beach.”

  “Yeah, let’s go.”

  Jace looked up at his deck and yelled. “Hey you losers, did we come for the beach or not.”

  Hoots and hollers came back in answer as about fifteen guys came stampeding down the deck stairs. I was afraid it was going to fall, but amazingly it didn’t. Brianna ran out to meet Dave; Chelsea ran out to meet Ty; Jillian ran out to meet Mike. They caught up with me and Jace as the rest of the guys had already hit the beach. There were volleyball nets set up all over the place and Brianna had brought a Frisbee and of course there was the ocean, but the water was still a little cold for me so Jace and I just stayed at the edge and tried to beat the waves. A couple of times they caught me on the back and man were they cold, but then Jace would pull me against his warm chest and I would be all warmed in no time. We all checked in with Mrs. Harper like we were supposed to and had the best time.

  Six o’ clock came too soon and we had to part ways for dinner, but told them to be looking for us out in the backyard around eight o’clock. Then we could spend a little more time together. Some of the other girls had made friends quickly with Jace’s cousins and looking around the yard you could see little groups sitting here and there, like the eight of us were, just chatting. Suddenly Mrs. Harper appeared with tiki torches and she sparsely spaced them around the yard in and amongst the many different groups. She claimed it was because of mosquitoes, but none were biting. It was basically to shed a little more light on everyone.

  Jace laughed. “She seems to think a bunch of college guys are not trustworthy.” We all laughed about that.

  His parents came over too and it was funny. They and Mr. and Mrs. Harper sat on the deck and watched us like hawks, but nothing could really be said because all of us girls were still in and around the vicinity of the house. Again 10:30 came way to soon and Mr. Harper called curfew and all the little groups dispersed. Jace kissed me goodbye, Dave did to Brianna, Mike did to Jillian, and Ty did to Chelsea. Some of the other girls were having a spring fling of their own. We cheered our way into the house as Mrs. Harper called roll. We were all there.

  Then she gave us a little warning. “I am glad all of you seemed to have a good time today, however, don’t try to sneak out of this house tonight, I will have the security alarm on and every window and door is equipped with one. So if any of you were planning that, first of all, you will no longer be a part of this sorority, and secondly I will never allow anything of this nature again. I believe I can trust all of my girls, don’t prove me wrong, nor disappoint me.”

  “Yes, Ma’am, Mrs. Harper.” It sounded like a little kid chorus saying good morning to their teacher.

  * * * * * * *

  The next three days went pretty much the same. No one set one toe out of line. Tuesday night, the night of the bonfire was a bittersweet time for me and Chelsea and Brianna and Jillian. Tomorrow we would head home and spend the rest of spring break with our families, but Jace and Ty and Mike and Dave were staying at the beach.

  The bonfire began at 7:00 and the flames were fairly high. Our group of eight stuck together and really didn’t say much, I think all of us were a little upset that we were going to have to part ways, but as I said in the beginning all good things will eventually end, and it was only a few days before we would see each other again. Then we could get back to a regular routine and be able to see each other every day.

  Jace and the rest of the guys were sitting on logs that had been carefully placed around the fire. I was sitting in the sand in front of Jace as he played with my hair. He would braid it and then make a rope twist in it and just let it fall through his fingers.

  He kissed me on top of the head and rested his chin there. “What’s on your mind Lily Grace?”

  “Probably the same thing that is on yours.”

  “I bet not.”

  “You’re not thinking how we aren’t going to see each other for five days?”

  “Actually no, I was thinking how happy I am to be with you and what the future holds.”

  “Jace, what do you think the future holds?”

  “I don’t know and what I don’t know won’t hurt me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Well think about it. How can you worry about something you don’t know?”

  “You can’t.”

  “Exactly my point, what good is it to worry about something you don’t know.”

  “Nothing, it does no good. Are you worried about something, Jace?”

  “Not anymore. One day at a time is all we will take.”

  I was confused. I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I let it drop. All anyone could ever do was take one day at a time, because we’re never promised tomorrow. I never realized how true that was, not then.

  The next morning, the four of us girls, packed up my car to head out. Jace, Dave, Ty, and Mike came to see us off. But Jace wanted to do something before we left. “Lily, come with me and meet my mom and dad. I meant to do it last night, but I had a lot on my mind.”

  “Okay, why now?”

  “Because we’re never promised tomorrow.” I was a little awestruck, that’s exactly what I was thinking last night. He looked deep into my eyes, searching me, before he took me into the condo and introduced me to his mom and dad. They were really nice people and I could see where Jace got his southern gentleman’s personality from. His dad was just like him. His Mom was really sweet too. After meeting them he took me back to the car.

  “Lily, do you still have the number to the condo?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Please call me when you get in so I‘ll know you’re safe and call for Brianna, Jillian and Chelsea too.”

  “Okay, I will.” The words just tumbled out. “I love you.”

  Jace had this grin a mile wide. “You mean that too, don’t you.”

  I could no longer lie
to myself. “Yes, I do.”

  “I love you too Lily Grace. I’ll see you Sunday, Good Lord willing. Be careful.” He kissed me goodbye and Dave, Ty, and Mike kissed their better halves too. We headed home.

  The rest of Spring Break was very lonely, although I enjoyed spending time with my parents and my little sister. I made a special point to do things with her, knowing that I probably wouldn’t be coming home much for the rest of the semester.

  I planned on spending all my spare time with Jace, for some reason I felt the need to do this. I had called him like he asked when I made it home as well as when Chelsea, Brianna, and Jillian made it home and called me. So everyone knew that everyone had made it safely home. I hate to admit it, but when Sunday morning rolled around and I knew that I would see Jace that night I could not wait to get back.

  I went to church with my family and then when I came home, I started packing up and getting my clothes together that I had washed, so I could leave. Ally (my little sister) cried as I put my stuff in the car. She was a junior in high school and really hated to see me leave to go back. I promised I would be back at least once a month to see her, because I had explained to her about Jace. She understood, because she had a little boyfriend that she believed she couldn’t live without. He was the captain of the basketball team, and really good too, colleges were already looking at him for scholarships. She knew their parting was coming, but chose not to think about it. I told her I loved her and my mom and dad as well, put my things in the car and made my way back to campus.

  I didn’t know what time Jace was coming in so I resolved myself that I would have to be patient and wait on him to get back. The funny part was; he was the one that had been waiting on me at the side door of the dorm. I pulled up and he was there at my door, opening it to immediately grab me up in a huge bear hug.

  “Lily, I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.” Then he kissed me. All I could say was WOW! It’s amazing what three little words can drive a man too, especially when unprompted. He helped me unload my car and get things put away and then we caught up on what had happened in the past five days.