We Can't Forget Last Summer

"John!" I hissed, "you take longer than me. We need to be there in three minutes."

When I got no response, I shook my head and ran a hand threw my hair. I muttered a curse under my breath before stepping into John's kitchen and opening the fridge. After grabbing a water bottle, opening it and taking a sip I started to hear footsteps come from down the hallway. John appeared in the kitchen door frame, striking a pose.

"Beauty takes time, Carson." He raised his eyebrows at me.

"Well if that's true I would have expected you to look a little more decent than that." My eyes scanned his body up and down, observing his black jeans and white loose-fitted tank top.

His jaw dropped, "Fuck you."

"Fuck you."

A smile crept onto my boyfriend's lips. He took several steps forward, his eyes narrowing in on me as he snuck his hand around my waist. Pulling me in, I could smell my shampoo on him. I made a face, then chuckled softly.

He stopped abruptly, "What?"

"Have you been using my shampoo?"

He shrugged, "I ran out of my own and had no other option."

"Okay."

"Why?" He asked, "Does it make my hair look weird?"

"No, it's just that you smell like strawberries." I replied.

He threw his head back and groaned, "Dammit."

I placed a hand on his cheek, "What?"

"In other words you're saying I smell like a girl."

I broke from his embrace and walked towards the front door. I opened it a crack, then turned back around to him. "I guess I am. Now let's go."

"You just insulted me. What makes you think I want to go with you?"

I leaned against the door, "Because if you don't go with me you're not going to get free beer."

He nodded his head and reached over onto the counter to grab his keys, "Good point. Let's bounce!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There's something really funny and something really magnificent about how everyone comes with stories. Everyone has some sort of background that define us in some way. We rub off of what we grow up around. Even I, a person who suffered from a not too enjoyable childhood can admit that some part of my parents is hidden in me. There is no doubt in my mind, especially since sometimes when I hear my voice I'm instantly reminded of my mother.

But the bad stuff isn't what matters. It's the good stuff. The good stories we've collected through our lifetime. As John and I pulled up in front of Taylor's parents house I couldn't help but think about how Taylor never really told me about this side of her life. She never said anything about climbing the rather large oak tree next to the house. She never told me about sitting on her front porch watching the sun go down. She never talked around falling off her bike in the driveway and breaking her arm. Nothing about this house ever came up in conversation. Which makes me think, does anyone ever know the full you? Every little thing that happens to you? Every single specific detail? No one could possibly know and there's something wildly upsetting about that.

I turn to look a John for a moment. He's looking at the beautiful brown house with the perfectly groomed grass cascading in front of it. No matter how much I want John to know who I am, he won't know me fully. There are going to be thing he doesn't realize and as upsetting as that is, there is something wonderful about it.

It's surprise. We will always have surprise in our lives. He's going to come home from tour after months of being away to inform me of something new that happened and I'm sure I'll have news of my own. And somewhere along the lines, news from our past will unfold and one of us will be surprised. And it won't get typical.

We stepped out of his car and made our way to the front door. Before we could even knock, the door opened, exposing a smiling Taylor. She was glowing and laughing already. I hugged her tightly and John gave her a hug as well.

"Come in! Come in!"

We followed her inside the house, which was pretty much vacant, and then into the backyard which was a full swing party. I noticed a banner hanging from two trees in the backyard that read: Good Luck Taylor!

"You guys help yourselves. I'll be back in a few minutes." Taylor, who wore a flowing blue dress, walked back into the house.

"I see your Aunt over there." John said, taking me by the hand and walking over to a table next to Taylor's pool.

Sarah saw us in clear view before I saw her. She stood up from her seat and gave John a big hug, kissing him on the cheek. She did the same to me. "How are you two?"

"We're great!" John replied.

"Oh, good! And how was tour? Your mother said you got back-what? Two weeks ago?"

John nodded his head, "Just about. It was a lot of fun."

"That's fantastic. But now you've stolen my Carson from me," She grinned, "Your mother and I had her all to ourselves while you were gone."

John wrapped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me lightly. "Aw, I'm sorry about that."

My Aunt waved her hand, "Oh shush, it's just fine." He eyes flickered over to a spot in the yard, "Carson, I see Rod over there. He looks a bit lost."

I turned around. Rod was standing there with a wrapped gift in his hands. I sighed heavily, "I'll go get him. Be right back."

Rod looked like an intimidated, lost puppy. The closer I got to him, I was able to decipher the fear in his eyes. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "Rodney, Rodney, Rodney, what the hell are you doing here?"

He wouldn't even look at me, "I had to say goodbye. I have to tell her."

"Tell her....goodbye?" I asked.

"Yes and no."

I raised and eyebrow, the sighed. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. A month ago things blew up. Taylor came clean to Carter and the two broke up. Taylor also came clean to Rod, confessing her true feelings which were that she didn't actually have any.

"You know she doesn't want you here, Rod."

He looked at me, his eyes dead. "I don't know what I'm suppose to do with myself. I didn't come here looking for this. I didn't come here looking for anything really. Either way, I found something and I don't even care if she doesn't feel the same way. If I don't say it I'm never going to get over her."

Another heavy sigh escaped my lips. "I really can't help either of you. I want to. But I can't."

"I know that. I don't expect you to help."

After several moments of silence, I found myself letting out a stiff laugh. Rod looked up at me, "What?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. It's just something about this place."

"Arizona?"

"Yeah. Arizona. Tempe."

"What about it?"

I looked at my friend closely, examining his love-stricken eyes. He had changed-but not changed. He embodied himself in a different light.

"It sort of brings out who you really are. The real person inside of you."

I came to Tempe last summer hard headed, steaming with anger, and pretty much acting like a cocky bitch. But when I left? I left as myself. I left as the girl I lost years ago. And Rod? Rod wasn't the womanizer he appeared to be. He wasn't the feisty, quick joker he always looked like. He was an actual person who felt things deeply. And here was that person right in front of me.

He took in a sharp breath, "I can see that."

My eyes flickered to the box in his hands. "What is that?"

He cracked a small smile, "I got her a stethoscope. I'm not sure if it's a professional one or not, but I figured it'd be a nice going away present."

I smiled, "She'll love it."

"I hope so." He started forward to the house in search of Taylor. Just before he stepped inside, Rod turned to me, "Thanks for bringing me here, Carson."

I shrugged, "Thanks for coming with me."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

About an hour later the rest of the guys from The Maine arrived. It started to get darker out and a small bonfire was lit outside. Most of the older adults moved inside, but the rest of us, including Taylor stayed outside surrounding the fire. Naturally, John sat next to me, playing with my fingers and occasionally kissing me on the cheek.

Most of us joked around and the guys informed Taylor, Rod and I of some tour antics that went down. I took notice to Rod sitting about two people over from Taylor. For a moment, he caught me eye and I gave him a reassuring smile. In response, he smiled. I knew he was hurting. I knew he had to be dying right now, but Rod was a trooper. He was strong.

Apparently, John noticed as well.

"Rod, how's your job at the hotel?'

Rod shrugged, letting out a heavy breath, "Same old, same old. Pretty awesome tips, though."

I watched on as John's eyes flickered from Pat to Jared's, the two of them then nodding their heads in approval. "Well, we have a business proposition for you."

Rod raised an eyebrow curiously. "Oh yeah?"

John nodded his head, "Yeah. You see, we need an assistant tour manager and after talking it over with the rest of the crew we have come to the conclusion that you would be the perfect fit."

"Oh," Rod hesitated for a moment, "am I-am I qualified for that?"

John shrugged, "If you're good with a walkie talkie and ordering people around then yes."

His eyes lit up, "I do like ordering people around."

John smiled, flashing his white teeth. "So how about it?"

Rod shrugged, taking in a deep breath. He thought for a moment, biting his lower lip. For a quick second, his eyes switched over to Taylor who was smiling sweetly at him. Then his eyes fell on me and his expression changed. His eyes went soft as well as his jaw.

He didn't want to leave me alone.

The thought alone made my stomach twist.

I nodded my head at him reassuringly. He cocked his head to the left as he watched me do so. My friends would be gone and my boyfriend would be gone- that's what he was thinking. He knew me too well and he knew that watching him leave also would be hard for me. But this wasn't about me. This was about Rod being able to do something that not all people can experience. He can see the world. Therefore, he needs to do it.

I gave him the happiest smile my lips could form to reassure him once more. I nodded my head and mouthed the words, "Do it."

He licked his lips, sitting up straight. "Sure. I'd love to."

"Awesome!" John said.

Garrett clapped a hand down on Rod's shoulder, "You'll love it. We have a blast."

He nodded his head and laughed, "I can't wait!"

Looking over at Taylor, I could tell that she was happy. She was leaving people who were happy. She didn't have any loose strings.

As the night carried on, we shared stories of our first experiences. We came up on the topic when Garrett confessed that he thought John was gay when they first met. Kennedy went on to agree. Soon everyone was telling each other what they originally thought of the other.

"I think we all know what I thought of John." I laughed.

The group erupted in laughter. Rod held out his hands, "Wait up! I wasn't here when that happened. I wanna know."

"Okay, well," I looked over at John who was giving me the stupidest smile I've ever seen. I shook my head and continued on, "Basically, John wolf-whistled at me and I gave him the finger. Then we had a series of run ins and I hated him. A lot."

He wrapped an arm around me, "And I thought she was the finest piece of ass this town had ever seen."

I elbowed him in the rib.

"Hold up!" Garrett pointed at John. "Alright, maybe you did think that. But please! There was a lot more than that."

I nodded my head, looking at him, "Even I knew."

"Knew what?" John asked, his smile falling slightly due to his confusion.

"You came into the store one day, not knowing that I worked there, and started talking about me to the guys."

His eyebrows lifted in amusement, "And you heard?"

I smiled, laughing, "You talked about how different I was and how you thought I was cool."

John pressed his lips together, stifling a smile, "And you just thought I was a dick the whole time."

I nodded my head, "Pretty much."

He now wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled my head to his chest. I pulled away and once again, elbowed him in the ribs. He held his rib cage and groaned, "Jeez."

As the night slowly unfolded and eventually came to an end, I watched each one of my friends leave Taylor's house. I couldn't help but think about how a year ago now I was just meeting them. A year ago I didn't know Rod and I didn't know John would end up being my boyfriend. All I knew was that the rest of my life seemed to be empty.

And here I stand now with a job and friends and a life ahead of me free of my parents.

Hugging Taylor goodbye was brutal. When she clung to me tightly I felt slightly woozy. I hugged her back and told I would call her every day. She told me she would visit. Just as I walked out of Taylor's arms, I was taken by John's.

"Would you like to stay at my place tonight?" He asked as we drove home.

I smiled, "You know I normally wood, but now since you're taking Rod away from me I'm going to have to spend some extra time with him."

He grinned, "Ah, I see. Fair enough. Maybe I'll come over tomorrow when he's at work." He winked.

John and I arrived back at the apartment complex about five minutes later. Just as we got to my apartment's door, I pressed my back up to the wall and John stood in front of me. He placed his hands on my cheeks and gave me a delicate and soft kiss on the lips. His fingers gently touched my cheek as he tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ear.

"A year ago I would have never expected this." He whispered. I chose not to respond. Instead he just went on, "I was such an idiot. I thought being a dick was going to help me get you. But in reality, when we went on that trip to California and I was just myself, I think that's when I realized I actually stood a chance."

I placed a hand on his cheek, smiling softly, "You always had a chance. I was too much of a pisser to admit it."

He pecked me on the lips softly, then took a step back. "I'm glad you didn't tell me that then."

I nodded my head, "I'm glad too."