Chapter Text
Summer groggily opened her eyes. Well, it was time for the day to start whether she wanted it to or not. She smacked the button on her alarm to make it turn off, and slipped out from beneath her blanket. She walked over to her closet and perused the various shirts she had in there. She settled for a lightweight black cardigan and white dress shirt. She also grabbed a brown skirt, and some white tights from her dresser.
Summer popped some pills into her mouth before she went out into the dining room. She was greeted with the familiar sight of her mother cooking breakfast. “Good morning Summer, did you sleep well?”
Summer sat down at the dining room table and shrugged, “Eh. I slept alright.”
Summer’s mother put some eggs and bacon onto two different plates, “Are you excited? It’s your last day of this school year.”
“Oh yeah.. I forgot it is..” Summer mumbled.
A plate of bacon and eggs was placed right in front of Summer, “I also have a surprise for you after school, ok? So get excited!”
What..? Her mom was gonna try and surprise her again? The last time that happened her mom had shoved Summer off into the arms of some random delinquents, hoping that she could “Make friends”. Summer can still smell the ashes sometimes.. Summer shuddered. At least Austin was cool.
Summer groaned, “Ugghhh mom.. Why? This isn’t gonna be like last time is it?”
Summer’s mom sat her breakfast on the table and sat down, “No sweetie, that was a mistake. I’m not going to do that a second time..”
Summer started eating her breakfast. Occasionally her mother would shoot her questions, which she answered as swiftly, and in as little words as possible. Summer didn’t really like to talk all that much. It’s still more than she used to, since she actually likes the sound of her voice now but she’d still rather avoid it.
Her mother always finished quickly, since she had to rush to work. Summer didn’t really mind though. She’d rather eat most of her breakfast alone anyway. When she finished she put her dishes in the sink, grabbed her backpack, and began the walk to school through the city.
“Ayyy Summer!” Called the rambunctious voice from behind her.
“Hey Austin.”
Austin gave her a grin that, while to others might be uncomfortable, she and Austin’s friends knew that he was just really bad at smiling. “How ya been? It’s been a while.”
Summer gave him a small smile back, “It’s been alright. It’s the last day of school before summer break.”
Austin rolled his eyes, “I don’t know why you keep going there.” Austin pointed at himself with his thumb, ” You could just stop like me!”
“Ok.. First off, I want to get into a good college so I can get a job in the future. Secondly, you didn’t ‘stop going’, you got expelled.”
Austin chuckled, “What’s the difference?”
Summer continued walking as she reached the grounds of the highschool, Austin still behind her. “Austin, are you sure you should be following me here? Last time you did this the school started yelling about how you were ‘corrupting the youth with your devious ways’”
Austin groaned, “Ugh.. fine. I’ll see ya later, ok Summer?”
Summer waved him goodbye, “Bye Austin.”
Summer walked into the school and carefully weaved her way through all the students hanging out in the hallways before class started. If she messed this up then someone might want to talk to her, and she’s already talked to Austin AND her mother today. So she’s not really feeling up to it.
Summer sits down in her math class. Eventually the bell rings and the students who thought that the bell wouldn’t matter on the last day of school before summer were thoroughly disappointed when they got counted as tardy. It’s not like anything would be happening at school today, So who could blame them?
The rest of the school day flew by like usual. Well not really usual since it was mostly just teachers saying their goodbyes and wishing students a good break. She had to talk about what she would be doing for her break which she always answered with a resounding “I don’t know.” All of the teachers looked annoyed when she did that.
When Summer got back home her mother was there.. Shouldn’t she still be at work? Does this have to do with the surprise..? “Mom.. shouldn’t you be at work..?”
Summer’s mom smiled at her, “Nope, I got off early so I could give you your surprise!”
Dread filled Summer’s body, “W-What’s the surprise..?”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been talking to one of my old friends..”
Summer looked at her mother with fear plastered across her face, “F-From where…?”
Summer’s mom looked at the floor with a bit of guilt on her face, “Faraway..”
Summer winced internally as she heard the name of that town, “No..”
“You’ll need to pack your things, ok? You’ll be spending your break there..”
“NO!” Summer slammed her fist on the table. “I never want to see that place again!”
Summer’s mom spoke sadly, “I’m sorry.. But I think you should go back for a bit.. It might be good for you..” She pauses for a moment, “I know you still miss your old friends too..”
Summer glared at her for a while, before she eventually spoke up. “Who would I be staying with..?”
“You’d be staying with Kim and Vance’s mother.. She'll be coming to pick you up soon..”
Summer knew she’d have to go and her mother won't change her mind. At least Summer won't have to see.. Them again.. Or at least, not interact with them. Summer didn’t say anything as she packed up some of her clothes, pills and toiletries. She took her suitcase full of her belongings and left without saying goodbye to her mother. A lady with red glasses was stood just outside, she looked like she was ready to knock.
“Are you Summer? My name is Patricia. Your mother told me you’d be spending the summer with me in Faraway.” The red glasses lady said.
Summer nodded and the two walked to the parking lot. Patricia didn’t really talk to her much for some reason, most likely she didn’t want to upset Summer who was already quite frustrated about this ‘surprise’. They both got in the car and began the long drive to Faraway. Slowly the many skyscrapers and high rises faded and were replaced by trees, hills and empty fields. The silence was pleasant.
At least it was until Patricia decided to break it, “So Summer.. Sorry for asking but..” Patricia looks nervous as she cuts herself off.
Summer grunts out a “hm..?” in response, as she stared out the side window.
“Didn't you used to be Sunny..?”