[idea came to mind, and i really liked it so here it is. peek at 1996]
"I'm excited to have you here this year," Nonna gushed to me happily. "I know there isn't much to do in Clarkesville, and you rather be traveling the world for charities with your parents, but I promise this --"
My Nona blabbered about the different things that could possibly excite me as I lovingly smiled at her with glistening eyes of pure excitement.
She drove from the airport to her little house of two bedrooms and only one bathroom. The one with the flowery wallpaper and walls aligned with priceless china.
"I'm glad to be here, too, Nonna." I replied lightly, smiling when she continued to ramble about her eagerness.
We arrived with much time left in the day considering the hot sun burning in the bright blue sky. I inhaled the smell of freshly-cut grass and opened the rusty truck of her light blue truck. The old thing smelled like cat inside and looked like a rusted metal contraption on the outside.
"I'll take my bags into my room." I told her, not finding the need for her to help me. It was only a two duffle bags, a backpack full of necessities included.
Nonna frowned with humor. "I may be old, but I have some strength."
"Some," I teased her with a chuckle. "Save it, Nonna. You need it for better things."
"Yeah, like dealing with you," she sassed haughtily.
My mouth fell agape with laughter. "Hey!" I whined while I walked up the steps of the old, wooden porch I'll probably be re-painting with her this summer. "I'm not a handful. I'm grown."
Hearing her laugh made me happy. Ever since last year when Grandpa passed away, she was never the same woman. Being for so long with someone and suddenly losing them and their love must be one of the hardest curve balls to dodge that life throws.
"Only poking fun at you, Alexis."
I placed my things in the bedroom that I will be occupying this summer. Its walls were covered in a faded wallpaper of flowers. I smiled at the much remodelling we'll be doing. I know my grandmother, and she will not tolerate a lazy teenager eating chips all day.
I also spotted the dent in the closet door. Shaking my head, I began to unzip my duffle bag and unpack. Many of my clothes were hung while other things like jeans and undergarments were folded and closed into the dresser.
With an hour spent on unpacking and getting comfortable, I walked down the stairs to find Nonna rummaging through her things in her fridge.
"Hey, I finished unpacking."
"Great," she said into the fridge before pulling out bag of vegetables. She stood straight and turned, holding a hand to her lower back. "I'm going to have back problems in a couple of years."
Her warm brown eyes found mine and they wrinkled at the sides when she laughed at herself. I shook my head, grinned plastered on my face.
"You're too young to have back problems," I assured her.
"Stop shitting me," she warned with a playful glare.
I held my hands up defensively, trying not to seem amused, although this woman could never fail at putting a smile on my face. The rest of the afternoon was spent dipping oven nuggets in ketchup and catching up.
My hand reached for the fridge after watching three episodes of Clueless. I frowned and called to the woman sitting on the couch.
"You knew I was coming and you didn't get cherries!?" I questioned amusingly.
I heard her scoff. "Well you're not the Queen of England!"
"Nonna!" I groaned.
"Fine," she laughed. "Let's go the Square and get some cherries at the open fruit market. They're still open at seven."
At that, I hurriedly gathered my shoes. It was so hot outside, so I decided on some open-toe sandals that had many black stripes across the feet. It went with the white cropped top I had on and the high waist shorts. I made sure to adjust the black, leather belt around my waist.
We left for Clarkesville Square. At that time, I only saw a few teens around with their parents along with younger siblings. It looked like most of the town was around, shopping and enjoying the evening.
I furrowed my eyebrows as Nonna parked the truck in front of a bead store. "There's a lot of people around."
"Yeah," she nodded briefly. "A lot of people are getting their things ready for the fair tomorrow. It's one of the most exciting things to happen here annually."
"A fair?"
"I was planning on telling you," she explained, turning off the engine and pulling her keys out. "The entire town attends. I was hoping you'd want to come."
"Sounds really fun." I admitted.
Nonna and I stepped out of the truck and onto the sidewalk. Even with nearly all of the town here, it still wasn't very crowded like at home.
No one really even knows Clarkesville exists, but it's so cozy and welcoming, I'm glad no one outside knows about it. Because if they did, that would all change.
"I'm going to actually buy a few things for tomorrow as well. Further down is the open fruit market. You can't miss it."
I nodded at Nonna and then continued to walk. We parted our ways in search for different things. I watched my surroundings with contentment.
Needless to say, I was happy to be here with Nonna this summer. After much discussion with my parents, they had agreed that it would be good for Nonna to have company around her.
I knew I found the open market of various fruits when I came up to a bunch of assortments of fruit on tables with green and white stripped decorations tied around the tables. Never bothering to read the other signs, I came across the chalk drawing of cherries and the price per box.
My eyes flew down to find that there was only one box of cherries left. I sighed in relief, and as I went to reach for it another tan, pink manicured hand reached for it instead.
Almost immediately I turned up to look at the person who had taken the box. The rude teenage girl plainly stared at me with annoyance as if I had done something to her.
Her blonde hair was tied up into a perfect pony tail, her bright crystal blue eyes gazing me up and down. Disgust laced her features.
"Excuse me, but I was going to get those." I stated with slight anger.
The blonde scoffed. "Yeah, so was I. I just got to them first."
I guess I was wrong about everyone being welcoming.
"Well aren't you rude," I muttered, but she clearly heard me.
Her lips pressed into a thin line before she frowned. "I've never seen you here. I opened my mouth to reply, but she interrupted me before I even took the breath. "Listen, whoever. I don't get questioned, nor do I get denied. So get over it. Life is unfair."
"Also," she continued, my mouth parted in shock. "My cherry pie will be the best this year. You can last without your cherries for a day. They get new stocks tomorrow. Bunch of pretty cherries."
I watched her with astonishment. To be completely honest, I admired her assertiveness. Just deeply loathed how the rest of her personality was formed.
When I didn't reply, she scanned my face shortly. "You're pretty," she nonchalantly said. "Too pretty to be here. What are you? Visiting from the city or something? Are you rich?"
"Kenna!" Someone yelled behind me.
I turned and saw a blonde boy with baby blue eyes jogging towards us. He ran a hand through his brown-rooted hair. With a decently angered glare, he grabbed the teenage girl's arm and said, "Can you not bother people and get a move on. Mom's been looking for you everywhere."
Who I assumed was Kenna, rolled her eyes, snatching her arm from his grip. I gazed up at the blonde boy, and he briefly glanced at me. In the quick second our eyes locked, I managed to conclude he was attractive.
Kenna spat, "Niall, shut up. I'm grown."
"You're thirteen, Kenna. And mom goes crazy if you disappear like that. Now, let's go." Niall ordered her. He only glanced at me without a word and they walked away, with that thirteen year-old still holding my cherries.
chapter note: so that's the first chapter :) vote and comment if you liked