by Kailin Gow
Then she wakes up, and her eyes are staring into mine. We are staring at each other for a while when she says, “I’m sorry, Drew, I fell asleep on you, when we’re supposed to have dinner and go for a swim. Gosh, I’m sorry. You’re only here for the day, right? Now it’s almost over, and you have to go home.”
I pull her up and cup her face with my hands before saying, “The day’s not over yet, Summer. Now if you’ll help me cook, we’ll have dinner ready, and then go for a swim.”
“When are you leaving for home?” Summer asks.
“After the weekend, Monday,” I say. “I’ll have to finish up some assignments from my AP classes for next semester for it to count towards this one. It’s a condition they have in order for me to have early Admissions.”
Summer couldn’t have looked happier than she did that very moment as she grab me and held me close. “I’m glad you’re staying. It can get lonely here by myself and the whole hating thing going on with the Academy is getting me worried…”
“Summer,” I say, my voice barely a whisper, “When will you learn that whenever you feel lonely or sad or just need someone to talk to, you can always call me. Text me, email me, write me. Just let me know how you feel instead of going through this by yourself.” Knowing that she felt all this while I’ve been missing her so much, makes me frustrated and angry. I’m worried about her. I see that she has lost a bit of weight and that there are some dark circles under her eyes. I’m worried and so upset because I care so much about her, that I begin to get angry. “Now see here, Sum,” I say. “You are not going to go through missing Aunt Sookie and that crap with the Academy and worrying about Astor, alone. You have me, Rachel, and Nat no matter what. Aunt Sookie may not be here in person, but she’s here with us, and she wouldn’t want to see you living and suffering like this alone. Now, let’s go have dinner, take a swim, and deal with all this later.” I lift up her chin with my index finger so her eyes are looking into mine. “Clear?”
Summer is staring at me without breaking as she says, “You don’t know how much that means to me right now, Drew.” She leans in close and then her soft lips are on mine, moving possessively over them.
Like a man who has been thirsting for water for days, I delve into the kiss, relishing how Summer has grown more passionate and assertive than she was a few months ago. As she begins unbuttoning my shirt, and kissing me on my chest, I almost fall to the ground to pray, thanking God for her change of heart in seeing I’m the one she wants, right?
Wrong. As soon as I begin kissing her back, entwining my tongue with hers, tasting how sweet her mouth is, I realize this is all wrong. Summer isn’t acting like herself, and worse still, she seems as though she is trying to seduce me for reasons other than her wanting to prove something to herself. What? I do not know. What I do know is that I have to stop this, as much as I hate to, before she has regrets. So, with a reluctant hand, I push her back and stand up. “Summer stop,” I say. “Please. I want this more than anything, but we have to stop now or there’s no going back.”
“I’m sorry, Drew,” Summer says. “I thought you wanted this. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be, Sum,” I say. “I do want this, but not now, not this way. I think maybe you’re having some insecurities right now, and you’re trying to prove something by sleeping with me, right? I want this, I want you more than you know, but I can’t be the enabler of your insecurities, Summer. I’m here for you, and you don’t have to owe me for that, especially by trying to sleep with me because you think that’s what I want from you.”
Summer blushed and nodded. I didn’t let her dwell on it too long because soon we’re cooking up dinner together, eating, and then jumping into the heated pool for a swim. I’m trying to make sure she has a good time with me tonight, to think about something else other than all her worries so I try to jam in as much fun as I can into this day.
It’s been a long day, but I’m enjoying it as much as she is so we don’t even notice it’s past midnight and even in the wee hours of the night. So when we hear a doorbell at two in the morning, for some reason, it is surprising at first but then not surprising, when it turns out to be Nat.
My older brother by a year Nat, whom Summer has always harbor a crush on despite everything, is here, and he looks like he’s had a rough day.
Chapter 5
Nat
I am torn seeing Drew here at Aunt Sookie’s. As his older brother, I’m proud of him for going after what he wants, but at the same time, I’m angry at him for going after what he wants since what he wants is the same as what I want…Summer.
I’m also impressed Drew has gone through the lengths that he has to be here. He won a football scholarship to USC for Pete’s sake and early admissions…something I have to admit I couldn’t do. Drew’s managed to do all that, and make Dad proud. I know he’s done all that because of Summer. He’s always had a crush on her, I just didn’t know to what extent. He’s got girls and women of all ages wanting him, wanting to sleep with him, wanting to date him even (he’s the whole package – good looks, that Donovan charm like Dad’s, smarts, and wealth), yet he’s still crushing on my girl. My Summer.
I’ve given him lots of chances with Summer, don’t think I haven’t. I’ve even purposely held myself back and away from my desire to be with Summer over the years, knowing how Drew feels about her. Drew has had his chances with Summer. If he’s too chicken to act on it, then that’s his problem. If he’s acted on it over and over again, and Summer still hasn’t chosen him over me or any other guy, then it means she’s just not into him as much as he is into her. Then that’s not a good match. This past summer, I’ve given him my blessing for me to stay away from Summer, to give him a chance. I’ve done all that for him, and yet here he is, still not with her. That just tells me something…that Summer still loves me, and although I haven’t shown it as much or in the past, I love her. We are meant to be. Time and destiny will prove that to be real, no matter how many times Drew or Astor or the long line of guys who may try to win Summer’s heart might try, she’s still my girl.
I inhale a deep breath and push the mental picture of Drew with Summer out of my head when I go up to Drew. “Good job, Bro!” I say, clapping him on his shoulders. “You did it! You got a football scholarship to USC and early admissions. I’m proud of you, and I’m sure Dad is, too.”
“You are?” Drew asks, surprised.
“Hey, don’t act so surprise,” I say. “You’re my little brother. Of course I’m proud of you.”
I go over to Summer and smile widely, pulling her to me. “Congratulations on the volleyball scholarship. I always knew you were really good.”
“Thanks,” Summer smiles back at me. “But I bet this isn’t why you’re here with us right now at 2 am in the morning.”
“So why are you here?” Drew asks me.
“Do I need an excuse to come see Summer? I hope not, but since you’re looking for one, here’s one. I’m back because I thought Summer needed my help,” I say. “But from what I see, you don’t need it.” I look intensely at Summer, seeing if she will crack and finally tell me what is wrong, instead of saying everything is fine with her.
“You know, Nat,” Drew said. “Summer did text me before about wanting some advice, but…” he looks over at Summer, “you never explained what you needed some advice on.”
Now Drew and I are looking at Summer, waiting for her to respond.
“Glad you’re asking,” Summer says. “Nat and Drew, sit down. I have to show you something.” Summer goes to her room and comes back with her laptop.
“What is this?” Drew asks.
“It’s the numbers for the acting academy. See, compared to the last few months, this month’s enrollment has gone downhill. No new students are enrolling and there are even complaint letters about the school that we’ve received all in a matter of weeks when there is no history.”
Summer sighs then. “Aunt Sookie’s Acting Academy is in trouble of being clos
ed down. No new students are enrolling, and it seems when they do, they stop coming again.”
“It’s the bad publicity out there,” Drew says.
“Lots of stuff on the internet about the Academy and Aunt Sookie that’s not even true,” Summer says. “Aunt Sookie’s even not around to defend herself, and if she does, they’ll just think it’s petty.”
“We can’t let whoever is doing this to continue,” Drew looks like he wants to smash his fists into a wall.
“Any ideas who is doing this?” I ask Summer.
“Could be anyone with some kind of disgruntled lost dreams or a rival acting school or even individuals teaching. It can be anyone. Or a rival for ”
“I know,” Summer says. “Whoever is doing this has moved on to write hate-filled personal letters to me.” She shudders, and I can see real fear in her eyes.
She pulls out letters and showed a few email messages addressed to her and to the acting academy. I perused through them, not believing some of the falsehoods in the accusations. It has me incensed enough I want to make sure whoever is doing all the bashing of the academy, of Aunt Sookie and Summer; would be led to justice.
“You know,” I tell Summer, “We’ll get to the bottom of this.” I looked at the clock on my phone and realized I still have time to take the exam. “Now I know what’s been making you upset, I’m going home to take that exam first thing in the morning, but I have to go now.” I called Steven to fly me back to San Francisco as quickly as possible.
“Drive back to the hangar, and we’ll be there waiting for you.”
“Good, I’ll be flying fast over so keep the engine going.”
I turned to Summer, “I hope to be back tonight after my exams this morning, to make you that birthday dinner and to stay over this weekend.”
Summer’s face light up then and she says, “I feel safer already.”
I look over at Drew. “Are you planning on staying all day or going home to tell Mom and Dad about USC and early admissions?”
“Both,” Drew says. “I’m here for the weekend, and then I’m going back to get some things square away, finish some assignments at school, and start packing. Guess I’ll be back for Winter Break, too, and then I’ll be here to start Winter Semester at USC!” He smiles happily, and I smile back. I truly am happy for him, especially since Drew needs to have this happiness in his life. He’s been through a lot with Mom, Dad, Rachel, and losing Aunt Sookie, too.
“Then keep your eye on her at all times, Drew. You’re in charge of her safety now. Whoever is stalking her is one real nut case.” With that, I leave, going to my black SUV and gunning it all the way to the hangar.”
Now that I know what Summer’s situation really is about, I’m going to head out to Donovan Dynamics. Dad’s company is a high tech security company, which I will someday inherit and run. I might as well begin putting my influence in the company to good use. To protect the woman I love.
Chapter 6
Nat
I cram study for my exam on the flight back from LA to San Francisco. I only had to study one section because I had studied all week with my study group before last night.
With all the excitement I have from flying to Malibu and seeing Summer, and then finding out everything that’s been going on with her, I could not sleep. Summer is being attacked by some kind of malicious anonymous person who find it amusing to harass a girl who recently lost her beloved aunt, and to try to tarnish her aunt’s reputation. For what? To get a competitive edge over someone’s competition? To make them feel better from their own insecurities? It can be a jealous competing acting school or someone jealous of Summer, but whatever it is, it is petty and deceitful, and reeks of the worse offense I can think of. Cyber-bullying.
And now it’s gotten bad enough that Summer’s getting hateful physical letters, too. This has got to stop, and I will do whatever power and resources I have to stop this. No one should be experiencing this. No matter how someone has offended anyone, no one should be the victim of such cruelty.
My mind is racing as I make calls to some people I know at Donovan Dynamics. We are going to put our resources into getting those haters to stop targeting Summer, Aunt Sookie, and the acting school. I’m doing this not just because I love Summer, but because it is just wrong, wrong for the competition to use the internet to bring down their rival through malicious means rather than by their own merits.
This has me so incensed that I even send Dad a note that I want to put Summer on the emergency fly list for the company jet. If Summer is in any trouble and she needs emergency help that Donovan Dynamics can provide, then I’m going to make sure she gets it.
It doesn’t take long for Dad to respond back to me by phone, saying that Summer is now on the approved emergency fly list and all the other emergency lists Donovan Dynamics has. Dad’s known Summer off and on when we used to live in LA and he would drop by Aunt Sookie’s to pick us up. I guess he has a soft spot for Summer, too. “How’s Summer doing?” he even asks.
“Trying her best to deal with Aunt Sookie’s affairs and trying to finish school. She got a scholarship to USC for volleyball,” I say proudly.
“That girl’s going places,” Dad says. “Has a good head on her shoulders. I always thought she would be a good influence on you and the twins. That’s one thing your mother and I agreed on while raising you kids. Letting you spend your summers at Sookie’s. She was always the rock in the friendship between your mother and her. Gave your mother perspective. When we moved, and your mother didn’t have Sookie’s friendship so readily available out here, I guess that brought out a lot of insecurities with your mother.”
I couldn’t believe Dad is telling me this about Mom and Sookie.
“Becoming a grown up is complicated, Nat. It’s not just about becoming of age. It’s about how you deal with responsibilities, too. Some of us, me especially, never grow up, though, and I’m sorry it has hurt your mother so much.”
I didn’t know how to respond after Dad’s apology, but I accept it anyways. I think in his own way, Aunt Sookie’s death has affected him more than he’s let on, too. And he’s trying to make up for the hurt he’s caused the family by being good to Summer. If that’s the case, then I’ll accept it. It’s the least he can do after all.
****
After the exam, my body finally gives out and by the time I arrive back at my apartment, I fall asleep for hours. I finally wake up just as the last of the message on my voicemail trails off. It’s from Rick Patterson, one of Donovan Dynamic’s VP’s, an ex-marine in his 30s who is one of Dad’s best guys. “We’re able to trace one of the emails to another acting school in the vicinity. But one of the post from a comment provided on that review site is traced to a woman in Vancouver. We’ll provide more details as to her identity in the next few days.”
I pick up right when Patterson hangs up, and call him back. “Thanks, Rick, good work.”
“We’ll drill down to exact location, too,” he says. “And once we have the identity, we’ll see who she’s working for or if she has anything or any connection to that school.”
“What happens after that?” I ask. “Do you think this woman is the one writing Summer those letters and posting those nasty rumors about her?”
“We’ll find out,” Rick said. “It can also be a ring, which is possible, so we’ll see.”
“Good, because I’ve never seen Summer act so off. This is really bothering her, and it’s not like her at all to let things get to her. Anything you can do will help. Thank you, Rick.”
“It’s what we do,” Rick says. “We’ll bring in Timothy’s team, too. I’ll let you know when we have more information.”
“Good. I’ll see you in the office in about a week or two. I’m off for Winter Break, and I’m going to be at Summer’s so I can make sure she’s alright.”
Rick chuckles, “That’s one way to win the heart of a girl. She’s special, isn’t she?”
“It’s not what she does, it’s not any
thing that stands out, but everything all together that makes Summer special. Yes, she’s special,” I say. “She must be to mean so much to all of us Donovans.”
Chapter 7
Summer
I am getting ready in my room to go out with Drew for my birthday dinner. I know Nate said to wait for him, but it is already 8 pm and Drew is starving. I put on a slinky off-the-shoulder gold lace dress that shows off my shoulders, which are tanned from hours playing volleyball at the beach. The dress flows well, highlighting my height and curves, while ending a little mid-thigh so it elongates my legs. I left my hair down in cascading waves that softly frames my face. I’m an athlete, but I also like dressing as feminine as the next girl. I know I have curves because I have muscle tone, so I want to emphasize them. Aunt Sookie was starting to live a healthier lifestyle before she died, but years of stress and not eating right, lack of sleep and her condition combined into a deadly condition. It scared me into exercising more to gain more muscles over fat. I know that I have a chance of getting what Aunt Sookie had because of genetics, so I’m making an effort to keep fit, which has its curve-making benefits.
There’s a gentle knock on the door as I’m putting on a pair of delicate gold chandelier earrings. The tiny emeralds in them makes my eyes look brighter. I guess that’ll help since I haven’t slept much in the last past weeks, and I probably have dark shadows under my eyes. Maybe no one will notice, with everything else going on.
“What is it?” I ask, knowing that it’s Drew on the other side of the door.
“I just heard from Nat,” Drew says walking in. He stops for a moment and just stares at me, his eyes going from my face to my legs, my breasts, and then to my face again. “You look…amazing,” he says.
“And so do you!” I smile, taking him all in. He does, too wearing black jeans that hugs his muscular legs to the black silk button down shirt that shows off his muscular biceps, defined chest and narrow waist. His jet black hair is combed, but it’s slightly messy enough to show he hasn’t put much thought into his looks. I look at his face, and his blue eyes meet mine. It’s friendly at first but quickly grows darker with an expression that makes my face heat up. Goodness, he is hot.
