The Summer Heartache

The Danger in Vemosagua

The air was slightly chilly as Primavera stepped out of the car for the first time in hours. While Prima wasn't exactly sure this was were she wanted to be, she was glad she belonged somewhere. She stared up at the huge house that was to be her new home. Her adoptive parents smiled at her as they saw the look of awe on Prima's face. All the houses surrounding her were huge. The lawns were perfectly trimmed. The windows were sparkling with the fading sunset behind them.

"What do you think of Vemosagua, Primavera?" Jim asked her. She did not want to call him her father but they preferred that she call them Mom and Dad.

"It's gorgeous, Dad," Prima grabbed her small suitcase and stepped towards the door. Kelley smiled at her as they carried boxes in. When she entered the Great Room of the house she gasped. It was vast with a 16 foot ceiling. What was most startling was the huge bay window that overlooked the ocean which was quite tranquil at the time.

"Isn't it breathtaking?" Kelley asked in a low whisper.

"I think that's an understatement," Prima replied. She beamed at Kelley and walked toward the window until she was so close she touched the glass. It all seemed so perfect. Why this rotten feeling in her stomach. It felt as though something dark was lurking just beyond the glass. Primavera frowned because all she could see was the peaceful water lulling in and out on the sand dunes.

"Primavera! Come help with these boxes!" Jim yelled from outside. Prima tore her eyes away from the window and walked outside. Standing outside with her parents were four other people. An older man and woman and two teenagers just around Prima's age turned to look at her. "This our new daughter Primavera," Jim continued introducing her. Prima smiled at them.

"What kind of name is that?" The teenage girl asked, chuckling.

"My birth mother gave it to me," Prima answered. "Right before she died." This stopped the girl's chuckling at once. The teenage boy sneered at the girl and extended his hand.

"My name's Mikey Way," He said with a warm smile. "And this, I'm sorry to say, is my friend Alexandria Watts. But you can call her Alex." Prima liked this boy even though his friend seemed slightly rude.

"You can call me Prima," She replied, shaking Alex's hand as well. "So are you two the only teenagers around here?"

"Oh, of course not," Alex replied. "My parents and I live across the street. Mikey just happened to be over at the time you arrived so he decided to come with us. You're lucky. School ends in two weeks which means you'll have to enroll next year. You get a longer summer break than us."

"What can I say? I guess I just have the gift of great timing." Prima joked as she glanced out at the ocean once more. Mikey giggled.

"Tomorrow's Saturday though." He said, excitement in his eyes. "It would be awesome if we could show you around the town so you could get to know everybody."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Prima exclaimed.

"I thought we were going down to the docks tomorrow, Mikey?" Alexandria complained, glaring at him.

"Oh, we always go to the docks," Mikey sighed. "I think we can make an exception just this once." Alexandria huffed and crossed her arms.

"I guess so," she whined.

"I'm sorry," Prima started. "Are you two dating?"

"Oh no, of course not," Mikey replied, answering the question too quickly for Alex's liking.

"Right," Prima said. "Well, it was nice meeting you both but I really must get back to unpacking."

"Of course," Mikey said. "We'll see you tomorrow around noon?"

"Sounds good," Prima answered as she turned to leave with a couple boxes. Jim approached her as she set the boxes down in the kitchen.

"Did you make some new friends?" he asked.

"Yes," Prima answered indifferently. "They seemed nice, I guess. They invited me for a tour of the town tomorrow."

"That's great," Jim smiled. "I knew you'd make friends quickly here. Everything's going to be perfect."

"If you say so," Prima responded.

"It'll all be wonderful. Just wait and see," He kissed her wavy, light brown hair and walked out.

Later that night when Primavera was brushing her hair in her huge bedroom she looked out on the beach and saw a group of teenagers laughing and talking as they walked along the shore. Prima had all she ever wanted and yet it still seemed creepy. There was danger just around the corner. Prima was always very perceptive and there was something about Vemosagua that was intimidating. Something that fifteen-year old, emerald eyed Primavera was not willing to go up against. She turned out her light and climbed in the bed. Maybe she'd feel better in the morning.