Chapter Text
Summer picked up her board to walk back to her and her mom Margot’s new house from the beach, tired after going for longer than normal. Surfing hard usually cleared her mind, but apparently not today.
Summer had gotten what she came for at the beginning of the summer, being with her best friend since childhood, but she wasn’t as satisfied as she expected. Her relationship with Ari felt good in the moment, but there were some things that still didn’t quite feel right. On top of all that, she felt like her inner turmoil was starting to affect her surfing.
Seeing Bax again at the beach confirmed her chemistry with him, and the blue board still racked in the garage was a daily reminder of what might have been. Summer had been feeling restless ever since. She hadn’t expected him to stay in the area for the rest of the summer or how much it would complicate her feelings.
The obvious solution to her problem was to hunt down Poppy.
“Everything is easier over an açaí bowl,” Poppy grinned at her best friend.
“So true,” Summer felt slightly better already, digging into hers.
“You’re acting weird lately though, what’s going on? Is everything good with Ari?”
Summer sighed. “I honestly don’t know where to start. I feel like i have everything i dreamed of this summer: doing well at nationals, all my friends back, and being with Ari finally.” Her mood had been totally off from how she should be feeling.
“I feel like there’s a but coming though,” Poppy propped her feet up on the extra chair at their table. “What you’re saying sounds good but you don’t quite believe it mate.”
“Yeah that’s the thing,” Summer paused, trying to figure out how to explain her feelings. “ I feel like i’m not loving things the way i thought i would. And i feel like things are off between me and Ari. I can’t stop wondering if he would have actually believed me if he wasn’t forced to.”
“Yeah it’s a bit strange for sure. He should have trusted you about Wren. Honestly we all should have.” Poppy could sympathize with Summer, it was a lot to think about for her friend. “I’m seeing Ari tomorrow, maybe talking things through will help. I’ll see if i can figure out where his head is at.”
“Yeah, I hope so. I just hope nothing else happens to make me more confused about the situation.” Summer sighed again, feeling dramatic.
Poppy laughed and raised her eyebrows, “Maybe someone will happen. Someone cute with pink hair.”
“I wouldn’t be suprised,” Summer couldn’t help but feel on edge. “I keep running into Baxter. I need to stay strong though! Ari is a good guy.”
“We all love Ari, but i feel like you should feel a lot more strongly about him, especially since things are so fresh,” Poppy drained the rest of her drink and picked at the last bites of her bowl.
“Who knows,” Summer looked at her friend. “ I feel better letting it out at least. We will see what happens.”
“All we can do.” Poppy toasted her now empty water cup with Summer’s before tossing it out.
—-
Summer had hoped for peace, but Baxter appeared even sooner than she had expected. Just minutes later she bumped into him leaving Poppy’s’ family surf shop.
“Excuse you,” Baxter’s stupidly blue eyes danced at her, and his wide grin betraying his teasing.
Summer caught herself before she was too thrown off. It was time to be casual. “What’s up Baxter? What are you doing here?” Was this some kind of sign?
“Just hanging,” He leaned over her against the fence. “I actually just finished talking to Manu about helping with surf lessons. I figured I might be able to put all this talent to good use.”
“That’s sweet,” Summer forced herself to smile back at him. Of course he was going to be doing something totally cute with kids right where she would see him all the time. Poppy was going to laugh at how right she was.
This summer was already off to an interesting start.