Summer with the Boys [On Hold]

Chapter 8

A/N: Hi all! Hope you are all well. Here is chapter 8. Sorry it has been a while since I updated. Please let me know what you think. :)

Summer sat on the log in total amusement as her friends discussed the outline of the Bravery Test. She had only played the game once but that was back in year eight when her school went on a camp to get to know one another better, it wasn’t really a Bravery Test with teachers hanging around each group of students. This was going to be different with teams only made up of two people. Penelope had prepared herself with a hat and everyone’s names scribbled on small pieces of paper, obviously she had been planning on this event from the start. Summer watched as Ginger, Mitch and Pip pulled out names from the hat. She was next to select her partner, the paper made Summer smile.

“Nick,” She gave a small wave to the youngest member of the group. “You’re with me.” The young Harrington boy looked away in embarrassment. She could not have chosen a better partner; it was time for her to find out what Nick was really like, away from his opinionated brother. As if on cue Mitch locked gazes with her and made a jump rise in her heart beat.

“Wait that means Al is left out.” Ginger pouted and scooted closer to her boyfriend.

“It’s ok babe, I can be the one to judge who the winners are.” He quietly replied, placing a feather-light kiss on her forehead.

“Are we going or not?” Pip asked with excitement practically pulling at his seams.

“Let the games begin.” Wyatt nodded in agreement.

“Do you see any other people around?” Summer asked as she gazed around the forest like area. The teams had all been placed by Al in different locations and their mission was to reach the top of the cliff first. It didn’t seem too hard but Summer was having trouble remembering which way they were meant to go.

“Why are you so enthusiastic?” Nick mumbled. She turned to face him and gave the boy a little nudge.

“Well, its always fun to play games and things with friends. Don’t you think?” She turned back to their surroundings and walked on. “So what was getting you down the other day?” There was silence for a moment and the only noise was the sound of leaves being crushed underfoot.

“There’s this girl…at school.”

“What’s her name?”

“Rebecca.”

“Do you think she is pretty?”

“Yeah…but there is a problem.”

“What’s that?” Summer pretended she wasn’t really paying attention to the conversation and instead focused her gaze on the cliff in the distance. This was to allow Nick to feel comfortable to talk about his issue.

“I’ve never liked a girl and I’m not even sure I do like her. I mean we talk at school sometimes but…how do you know you like someone?” At this point Summer had to stop and face the boy. She placed her hand over her heart.

“Whenever you see them, your heart does a funny little thudump thudump,” She showed by slowly raising and lowering her fingers on her chest. “You enjoy being with them and when you aren’t you think about what they are doing. You wonder if they ever think of you too.” She moved to place her hand over Nick’s heart and smiled. “Do you feel like this around Rebecca?”

Summer just felt the tiny flicker of fluttering in Nick’s heart beat until it flowed back to its normal rhythm.

“It is something you can’t explain…does that make sense?” She withdrew her hand and gazed upon the boy’s face. His cheeks were slightly pink and he was biting his lower lip. He gave a nod and focused his attention back to his chest.

“Have you ever felt like that?”

Summer smiled and began walking backwards, facing Nick as she did. She had to ponder his question. Had she? Lost in her thoughts she lost of footing and tumbled backwards, down an unknown ditch. Twigs scraped against her skin and rocks hardened her fall. A cry escaped her as she finally reached the ground, landing awkwardly on her ankle. “Are you ok?” Nick called from above. Summer tried to stand again but it was no use, she was going to need help to get out.

“Nick, I’ll throw up the flash light…go and get Al. I’ll need him to help me out of here.” She threw the torch and watched in unease as darkness swamped her.

She pretended nothing was wrong and gulped back a scream every time the wind blew a branch near her. Summer wondered how long it would take Nick to get help. They had only just started when she had fallen and so she hoped Al hadn’t placed them too far.

“Don’t move, I’ll get help.” Nick called before he disappeared out of view. It was only around a minute before Summer heard someone else edge towards the top of the ditch.

“Hello?” She yelled upwards, hoping the stranger would hear her.

“Sum?” Penelope squeaked in confusion. “What are you doing down there?” The bubbly girl shone the touch down the hole and almost blinded Summer in the process.

“I fell…Nick has gone to go and get help.” She noticed a blur of dark movement beside her and froze in fear until a hand reached out to touch her arm.

“You really are an idiot.” Mitch rolled his eyes, now completely revealed in the light from Penelope’s torch. He moved his focus to Summer clutching her ankle. “Does it hurt?”

“A little…but I think I’ll be able to hobble if you can help me up, please.” Summer asked.

Mitch gave her a hand up but Summer shook from placing pressure on her sore ankle.

“You’ll have to get on my back.” He instructed crouching down.

“I’ll be ok-”

“-Don’t argue, you won’t be able to walk if you can barely stand.” Mitch interrupted. “And besides, I want to hear your answer.”

“My answer?”

“Nick’s question.” The Harrington boy whispered as Summer finally agreed to the piggyback ride. Her heart thudded in her ears and she felt her breath quicken from the unexpected return to the other conversation. What was she going to say?

Summer held onto Mitch tightly as they slowly ascended the ditch. She knew she was probably being the biggest bother to him but he was the one who had offered. The two of them spoke in hushed whispers as Penelope led the way with the light shining brightly in front.

“Sometimes I think I do…but other times I can’t work it out.” She answered truthfully, surprising herself and the boy as well.

“The way you described it sounded like you had.”

“You were listening to my private conversation with Nick.” She gasped, feeling a sense of embarrassment arising. “Have you ever felt…it?”

“I think I’m beginning to know how to recognise it if I do.”

“That’s a pretty backwards reply.”

“So was yours.”

“Mitch?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank-you.” She rested her head on his shoulder blade and gave a sigh of somewhat contentment.

“You…” He began but stopped and let out a sigh of his own. “You’re welcome.”