Only Summer

A Short Story

The ringing of my alarm clock sounds an awful lot like a seagull. I turn over to find the incessant squawking coming from the railing on the balcony.

I hear his feet shuffle across the wood floor, trying to tip-toe because he doesn't know I am awake. I turn over to find royal eyes, sandy hair, and pink-tinted cheeks. He touches my sunburnt shoulder with a soft hand. "Are you ready?" he asks. I nod sleepily and stretch out my drowsiness.

I watch the six-foot-two love of my life saunter out the door. I've seen him walk this way a million times, but today, his steps are light and excited.

We climbed into his red Jeep, and I watched him put on his sunglasses. "Ally," he said. "Seatbelt." He flashes me a smile that gleams in the overhead sun.

We drive through our quaint little town, where I've spent the last ten summers of my life. The first building we come to is my favorite in the whole town - the library. The memory of our first summer together comes back to me like it was yesterday.

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I was always one of the most frequent visitors of the library. Even in the summer, I had to have my nose in a book to feel like I was truly on summer vacation. I was looking in the classics that day. I decided I was going to take on the challenge that was Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (to see what all the hype was, of course).

After a few minutes, I was about to drive myself insane, but I knew it should be right here on the shelf. I walked up to the circulation desk and was met by the bottom of a pair of shoes. Whoever was wearing the shoes was, inevitably, reading Wuthering Heights.

"Excuse me?" I said. "Do you happen to have another copy of Wuthering Heights?"

The top of the book lowered to reveal a dazzling set of sapphires looking straight through me. He stood up and towered over me, his eyes drinking in my freckled face and long blonde hair. After a few seconds, he says, "Actually this is the only copy. But you're more than welcome to have it – on one condition."

I pinched my eyebrows together and told Mr. Blue Eyes, "But you're in the middle of reading it. You can't just give up. You won't find out what happens in the end."

"Here's the deal. You can take the book, read the whole thing, and tell me how it ends when I take you on a date. How does that sound?" His high cheekbones blushed a little as he waited for my answer.

I didn't know what to say. Why would he ask me that? We just met, and I didn't know anything about him. My mind was racing. What do I say to him?

"I suppose I'll give you the book anyway," he said, "But it's up to you whether I will find out the ending or not. Can I have your name to check it out?"

"Um, it's Ally. Ally Pope."

"Well, Ally Pope, it seems that I know everyone in town except for you. Are you new here?" His hands worked deftly, pulling the book's card and writing the information he needed. I told him, "My family comes here every summer. We have a house on Madison." He thought for a moment and says, "It's a wonder I've never seen you before. But I know I haven't, I would have remembered someone like you."

I felt myself start to blush and looked down at my hands like they were the most interesting things I had ever seen. Why was my mind not producing words? I was usually good at words.

He laughed and I looked up to see him handing me the book. "I'm Griffin, and I would love to see you at Andy's on Friday."

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