We Can't Forget Last Summer

"So, do you think you'll be going to the fair tonight?" Aunt Sara asked me while pulling out a carton of milk from the refrigerator. She walked over to the table and poured some into my bowl full of fruit loops.

"Thanks," I smiled at her and quickly scooped the colorful shaped O's in my spoon and took a bite. I wiped my mouth and swallowed before answering. "Um, yeah. I think I'll go."

"Oh, good!" Sara smiled widely. "It's always so much fun. Plus, there is this local band that has played it for the past few years. Apparently, they're quite popular."

I instantly thought of Jared's band and how he said that they were performing. Aunt Sara's statement made me curious and eager to find out whether they were good or not.

"Are you going?" I asked, swallowing some more fruit loops.

"Yes I am. The woman across the street, Ann Marie is a close friend of mine. She runs a booth at the fair that I help out with."

"That's nice. What booth?" Quite honestly, as bad as it sounds, I wasn't all that interested. I was just trying to make conversation. Although I had only been here for a day, I already noticed then when things died and settled down, Sara got this look in here eyes. She was clearly upset and I couldn't help but think she was remembering Uncle Rich.

"She sells arrangements of flowers. They're so wonderful and gorgeous. I'll bring home a bouquet for you. I need to fill this empty vase, anyway." Aunt Sara placed an empty, glass vase in the center of the kitchen table that I was sitting at.

I laughed lightly and continued eating. My mind started to wander back to the band Jared was in. I finished eating and made my way to my room. I fell down on my unmade bed and curled back into it.

It occurred to me right then that this really wasn't a punishment. My parents sent me down here thinking that I would be miserable, or at least hoping I would be miserable this summer. But here I am, lying down on this beautiful, comfy, cotton bed at eleven o'clock in the morning without a care in the world.

I snuggled more and wrapped a pillow in my arms. I imagined what my summer back at home would be like. Now, that would be terrible. Me hanging out with my fake friends and my fake parents- disgusting.

I may not have made any friends, but hell, I had my brother and my aunt, they were enough for me.

I wasn't in Nevada anymore and that idea gave me a comforting feeling inside. Aunt Sara offered me a job at Uncle Rich's local music store, so that would be my income for the time being since I wasn't going to school.

Before my Uncle Rich died, he owned a small music shop where you could buy CDs, records, guitars, amps, and really anything music related. After he died, the shop was left in Aunt Sara's hands. Since she isn't as into music as Uncle Rich was, she has difficulty running the store. She offered me the job right away, which I gladly accepted.

I got up from the bed and decided to take a shower. I stepped into the steamy water that heated my body. I stayed in there for a lot longer than necessary, but it was worth it.

After getting out, I decided to straighten my hair. After doing so, I changed into black skinny jeans, a purple and black striped v-neck and my black combat/cowboy boots. I smiled down at the shoes. Aunt Sara gave them to me yesterday and I couldn't wait to get into them and show them off.

About an hour later, I was ready to head to the fair. I knew there was a chance of me being absolutely bored due to the fact I basically had no friends, but I had hope. Still, I dreaded the idea of being bored out of my mind.

Aunt Sara had already left with her friend Ann Marie. She had two cars; her ford camry and then Uncle Rich's old, dirty orange ford pickup.

I loved the pickup. There was something about it that made me smile. When Carter and I were younger he put us in the back and drive us around town.

Sara allowed me to drive in the pickup. I slid in and started driving down the street. The fair was located on these empty grounds in the middle of nowhere..... which was basically all of Arizona.

I slid in Ivory's album Goodnight, Goodbye and hit play. Music filled the car and I could feel myself relax.

For whatever reason, my mind wandered to the boy that had blocked me from exiting Carter's apartment building yesterday. The second I caught myself laughing at the incident, I clamped a hand over my mouth. "Shit." I mumbled.

The guys was a complete dick. There was no need for me to be laughing at his damn antics. I shook my head and rolled my eyes, despite no one being around.

I found myself approaching the fair ground and slid into a nearby parking spot. I got out of the car after cutting the engine.

Sighing, I began walking onto the fair grounds. I placed my black Ray Bands on the tip of my nose and slid them upward. It was extremely hot out and I found myself constantly running a hand through my long, chocolate brown hair. I was conscious of the unfamiliar and curious stares around me.

It was like High School. I was the 'new' girl. The girl that did something bad to get sent here. Although I'm not sure how, everyone knew. I already knew it. I was the mystery girl that showed up at Carter Thomas' apartment yesterday. The girl that despite being rich and given everything and anything, managed to fuck up my life.

I'm a fuck up. I already knew; just like all these people who didn't know me. I walked past girls whispering and guys pointing. I kept staring forward though, ignoring the stares.

I guess some of the kids knew me. I had spent vacations here at one point. When I was younger I could have met them on a playground and they probably met my ridiculous, hypocritical parents. They who my Uncle was. They knew that he died and that I wasn't suppose to show up here anymore. They knew I was obviously here for a reason; and not a good one.

I wasn't paying attention anymore. I was too aware of those who were around me. Suddenly, I bumped into a tall figure. I quickly muttered a "Sorry." before stalking off.

The person, a guy, caught my wrist and pulled me back. "Hey! Hold on a minute."

I turned around to come face to face with him once again. I groaned aloud and shook my head. "Great." I mumbled.

"We meet again!" He cheered, smiling widely. His Ray Bands quickly fell to the tip of his nose and I finally caught a glimpse of his eyes. The green peered into me and I found myself biting my lip.

I quickly snapped out of the trance, shaking my head lightly in the process.

"We have the same sunglasses too! Look at that!" He chuckled, pulling mine off my face and comparing them to his.

My mouth fell open. I grabbed the glasses back and shover them on my face. "Don't you know personal boundaries?" I snapped.

He shrugged. "No, I like being up close and personal." He poked his face inches from mine.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes and backed away. Once again, he grabbed my wrist. "Whoa there, girl."

I shook his hand free and furrowed my brow. "Why must you grabbed me by the wrist? Do you not see how violent that action is? If you must touch me- which I advise you not to because I'm this close to calling some buff guys over to beat the crap out of you-" I held up a small section of my two fingers, exposing them to be only about five centimeters apart. "Couldn't you at least just grab my hand? It's much kinder, gentler, less-aggressive gesture. Maybe if you had done so in the first place I wouldn't be as much as a bitch to you."

The boy pulled his sunglasses up and rested them on his head. His eyes went wide and his mouth parted for a moment.

Speechless. Good.

I quickly strutted away as a short boy that I recognized from outside of Carter's apartment and in the white van yesterday walked up to the tall boy.

I walked up to the nearest booth to buy a bottle of water. After doing so, I noticed the two of them still standing there, eyeing me. I turned away from them, slightly blushing.

"Who is that?" I overheard the tall, skinny kid ask his relatively short friend.

I found myself stifling a grin. I bit my lip and waited for an answer.

"Oh man, that's Carson Thomas. Her parents shipped her off here after punching some girl right in the kisser."

The tall guy chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of girl."

Oh, if he only knew.

I shook my head, grinning and walked away from the two of them feeling slightly proud and victorious.

I couldn't help but wonder how his short friend knew about me, but then again, I felt as if everyone already knew why I was.

But who was I kidding? I already knew Carter had many curious friends here in Tempe. He probably told them, who told their family and friends, who told whoever was left.