I haven't seen Summer in two weeks.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC60gJ3wAX
I called the front office and they told me she was out sick with a bad "flu." I knew it was a lie because she was perfectly healthy the last time we spoke. They reassigned me to a different counselor while she was away but it wasn't the same. I shut her down, similar to how I first was when I met Summer. I refused to answer any of her questions about my mom because I didn't trust or know who she was and she wasn't Summer.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMDYBWz3Nq
My dad and I also haven't talked in two weeks either. After our argument I'd been avoiding him, which wasn't hard to do. He stayed in his office most of the time. I caught Glenda going up there a couple times and she tried approaching me but I avoided her too.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWNwgW2TU7
My dad had another cocktail event planned for the evening this time at a venue. He tried to bribe me to dress up and attend but it didn't work. Nothing he said would convince me.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOsuF7dmzN
"That's all I have for you today, make sure to bring a Scantron next week for your first exam." Mr. Burg shouted over the microphone.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzo9kt3yZB
"Hey stranger." Frankie tapped my shoulder by the exit. I stopped sitting next to her and West because it was evident he didn't want me next to her. "Hey."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ57lJm0aP3
"Your dad invited me to his cocktail party tonight, are you going?" She was more chipper than her usual self.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1dYFjzlHS
"Depends, are you?"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5XHU8kOQj
"I don't know. I don't have a plus one." She twirled her hair looking at me hopefully.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoJmgK5Mhr
"What about West?" I stated plainly. She looked surprised by my response.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5diggUq6MT
"West is out of town for the next week." I figured she was only asking me because West wasn't available. "Everyone in town is going to be there, I just don't want to be the only one to show up alone." She added.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIj5nL1tqk
"Everyone?"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqjSBw2dMq
"Well, everyone that knows about it. It's a fundraiser event. Shouldn't you know all this, it's your dad's event?"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i5ya7B42a
"My dad and I aren't on the best terms right now so I haven't really talked to him." I spoke awkwardly. She nodded, confused but didn't pry.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjdSdFiJCk
"Well it would be nice to go together. Plus I've never seen you in a suit." She nudged me playfully and I smiled.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0vzQek8se
"Sure I'll go with you." She grinned at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ZzRpRWNe
"Thank you Tommy!" I watched as she skipped away to her next class. I wasn't completely over her yet and there were still some feelings left but it still felt weird to be going with her. It was a perfect distraction for me though so I went with it. I hadn't been able to keep my mind off of Summer, it felt like there was something wrong but there was nothing I could do about it.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV7wOrCu6U
I got home and showered. It was a black tie event so I couldn't show up in jeans this time as much as I wanted to. Evening fell and it was time for me to pick Frankie up. I pulled up and parked in front of her house. I stood nervously by the door waiting for her with a rose. It felt weird to show up empty handed but I didn't know if she'd be okay with me bringing her a bouquet so I chose a singular rose.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdcWZWWxyG
The door swung open and Frankie appeared in front of me with a short silk black dress. Her hair was up in a fancy looking bun showing off the butterfly tattoo on her neck.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzKfFNmuCb
"You look beautiful." I smiled.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsvhcYDzt2
"Thanks." She twirled to let her dress flow. I handed her the rose and she looked down hiding a smile. I opened the car door and helped her in and we took off.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEDtpjLzDV
Once we arrived, the parking lot was pretty much full. Inside, there were hundreds of people mingling by the entrance. We sat at the front by the elevated stage and I found my dad chatting with business men. He caught my attention and signaled me to go over to him. Frankie and I greeted him and the two other men he was with and after they left he turned to us.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIrOXDUS8W
"I'm so glad you came, I had a feeling inviting Frankie would persuade you." He looked satisfied with himself. "Take a seat, they're about to give a speech."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICppshEcIe
We both left him and sat back down. The speeches were never ending with rich people mostly talking about themselves. "What is this fundraiser even for?" I whispered over at Frankie trying not to be too loud. "Cancer research." She leaned in and whispered back. I nodded and continued to listen to the speech.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Vhtt0Yb5
Deep down, a part of me hoped I'd see Summer here considering the focus of cancer research. I thought maybe she'd attend in memory of her late husband but given her two week absence from work it didn't feel likely.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rVfKpqaj5
After the presentations and speeches we were free to move around and discuss with the presenters about our interest and input to the research. Frankie wanted to be a doctor so she was much more attentive and interested. I walked away from her while she talked with a doctor that was there. I couldn't understand half of what they were saying anyway.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZzdearKNs
I went to the bar at the back of the venue and bought a cocktail. I stood there observing the room of people lost in thought.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13sd51Rsu0
"Vodka and cranberry please." A familiar voice sounded next to me. I pull myself from my thoughts and looked over to my right. I saw a short girl with black hair that barely reached her shoulders wearing the most breathtaking dress I've seen in my life hovering over the bar table.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL61wFCaM0U
"Summer?" I approached the girl and she turned confirming my guess. She brushed her hair behind her ear and looked stunned to see me. Her eyes sparkled in the low light and she didn't have her glasses on. I noticed she had a bit of makeup on for the event and a tattoo on her collarbone that read "keep going." I was so hyper focused on her appearance I almost missed her reply.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuzQGfAqGT
"Thomas, I didn't think you'd be here." She still sounded and looked stunned.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7nAfwRL4z
"I didn't think I was either." I said. "It's my dad's event so I was forced."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AbiLUBQ9g
She just nodded and turned away to face the bar and wait for her drink. "The office said you were sick." I spoke again.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkUDHGjL0p
"I was."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6kCSWq8Vc
"You look perfectly healthy to me." She glanced over at me but didn't say anything. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way. I feel stupid about it and I never meant to upset you. Just please come back to work, I can't stand my new therapist her voice is annoying and she smells horrible."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm6Kvox7CE
Collecting her drink from the bar, she paused, fixing her gaze on me briefly before letting out a soft laugh. I felt a sense of relief to see her smile and released a breath relaxing my shoulders.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJQEPdGL8p
"I'll be there on Tuesday." Her lips curled into a grin.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRio7GDGxif
"You look incredible by the way," I remarked, taking in every detail of her appearance. The sleek black dress that reached the floor complimented her frame. Her cheeks flushed, and she responded with a shy smile. "As do you," she said in return.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hRdr64vXy
"Did you come with someone-"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPXJjW8fj3
"Who's this Tommy?" I felt a light touch on my arm and immediately knew it was Frankie.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3TWdBVf82
"Oh, Frankie this is my therapist Summer Evans, Summer this is my friend Frankie." I cringed at the sudden awkwardness in my voice.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai8Pt0vNDA
"So this is your therapist, I didn't except you to be so young!" She shook her hand.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIFbJIcgCl
"Yes, I get that a lot." She laughed softly.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddhM71MfIK
"Well I just came to see what was taking you so long, they brought food out." Frankie turned to me with her puppy dog eyes. I felt strangely self-conscious being seen with her around Summer.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQbP8bAWmE
"I was just about to sit down, I'll see you guys later."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIt5kSQSGE
"You should join us, we're sitting in the front." I stopped her from walking away. She looked from me to Frankie.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2jLdNPumn
"Sure, let me go tell my date and I'll meet you guys over there." She turned and walked away.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwXI7XBbBx
Date?
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRJ9RjJdRK
Frankie tugged my arm and I walked behind her to our seats. My eyes followed Summer until she disappeared into the crowd. She reappeared with her hands linked onto a guy with a drink in his hand.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ccRydUlTh
"Hi nice to meet you two, I'm Jason."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlnZxwt5KD
"I'm Thomas." I shook his hand. Who is this guy? Summer's boyfriend?
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46qLBeF2em
We sat down as they passed plates of food around. I picked at my food not feeling particularly hungry and sipped on my drink instead. "You alright? You've barely touched your food." Frankie asked.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD6Ae9y3Zj
"I'm fine." She was starting to irritate me. The whole night, she scrutinized every move I made, ensuring I didn't wander off and constantly monitoring my food intake . After finding out my dad made her ask me to come, I had a suspicion that he sent her to watch me like I was a child.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCR14AOzxK
"How do you two know each other?" I asked Jason.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vjmhOUa1e
"I was a friend of her late husband. We both took his passing pretty hard and connected because of it." He looked at her but she kept her eyes down. I tried to read her body language and figure out if it was her boyfriend or just her close friend but she wasn't giving anything away. She was closed off most of the night only speaking when spoken to.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsn6VBU5rq
Once the night was over everyone slowly started exiting the building. Frankie went to say goodbye to the doctors and Summer's date told her he'd pull the car around to the front, leaving me and her alone.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKO4r1NdO
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4dH3lZxEZ
"I'm alright."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxCAvwl67c
"You don't seem alright." I pressed. She flashed me a sweet smile. "I am, I promise." I nodded not fully believing her but accepting it.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2THOgKTtV
"Was that your boyfriend?"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVThiIa3KGQ
"Just a friend." I nodded trying not to give away the odd sense of relief I had from her answer. "That was Frankie, your ex?" She followed up my question with a another one.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutAyiaVLWc
"Yeah." I said shamefully.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIDL12r0y6
"It's great to see you guys are doing better. She's very pretty." Her tone felt more professional than casual. I nodded not knowing what to say. A second later her phone vibrated and she looked down.
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22lBa7BeTV
"I should get going, Jason's out in front."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGKwKbpnNN
"See you Tuesday?"
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCPMovvjQu
She confirmed. "I'll see you on Tuesday."
174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TQnBib0py
She walked to the front entrance and I focused my eyes on her, not able to look away. She made it to the door before turning around one last time to find me still standing in the same spot, watching her. I savored every detail of her smile before she disappeared behind the door.
ns 15.158.61.54da2
