"Prologue: Disappointments & Departures"
(A/N: Hey guys! :) First of all, thanks for clicking my little fanfic here! This is my first fanfic, my first story here, and I'm both nervous and excited. So please, drop a review and give a favourite if you're intrigued. Short and sweet to start off with, but things WILL get interesting, I promise! I would really love to hear from you, with advice about this site and this story and such. Thanks guys!)
My name is Austin Moon. Like the giant rock in the sky. I had always thought that the moon was somehow a night light, but her wise words taught me that the moon was in fact a rock that reflects the light of the sun.
Just one of the many things she taught me.
I'm not here to tell you that I'm an idiot and know next to nothing. You're probably aware of that already. What I'm here to tell you is the story of a girl, and how her story and mine entwined and made two singular stories whole.
I'm not good with the whole 'inspirational lyrics' thing yet, but I'm working on it. Perhaps you could pretend to wipe a tear and applaud my efforts at trying to stir emotion. Maybe I'll get better. Much like the moon, my lyrics are something she's helping me with.
So, in the fashion of all interesting tales, our story starts right here. As elusive as an eclipse, this story begins as rain pelted down on the sun struck city of Miami.
Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if I was a merman. Life would be terrible without the joys of burgers and pancakes, the pleasures of video games. Sea life would even leave you deprived of music. But then again, you can talk to fish, swim all the time and earn yourself a glorious tan.
Well, that's what I guessed anyway. I didn't really know any mermen who I could fact check with.
These startling thoughts arose as I was lifting musty boxes from a cupboard in the art room, to a cupboard downstairs. It was the last day of school, as we were all headed out for spring break. My best friend and I opted for merriment rather than our period six class. Long story short, we were caught. Now while the rest of Marino High were packing out to the streets, Elliot and I were heaving impossibly weighty boxes to 'disclosed locations' to aid our art teacher, Mr. Burrows. An inspired punishment indeed.
A hideous painting of a mermaid hung loosely from a nail next to the door. The artist had a very demeaning approach to sea life – the mermaid looked absolutely miserable. Nevertheless, a mermaid's trouble wasn't my problem.
With another box fixated within my grasp, I hauled the goods across the blue linoleum. The pasty fluorescent lights flickered as Elliot followed my trail, a stream of rain pouring down each window we passed.
"If we were to get a punishment, at least it's in the art room." Elliot articulated to no one in particular.
We reached the small inventory room at the base of the staircase, and piled it. The boxes accumulated much more space than we accounted for, and it was a squeeze to get into the room, let alone ensuring all the paints and brushes didn't explode onto the next victim to open the door.
"I'm so excited for spring break man, it's all finally happening for us!" Elliot beamed, as he dropped his box to the ground with a thud.
"It ought to be promising, now that you and Kira are a thing. Hopefully I'll finally get my chance with Cassidy." My hazel eyes reflected off a window, and my lips curled upwards at the thought.
"Video games, late nights and sleep ins. Plus Trent's party will be wicked!"
"We still hate Trent, right?" I questioned dubiously.
"Hell yeah man, but you know it's gonna be the biggest party of the year?" Elliot quizzed as he arched an eyebrow.
"Definitely, Mr. Baskett. Hella off the hook, L.O.L., swag, so dope!"
Our eyes widened as we saw middle aged Mr. Burrows, arms folded and knitted sweater crinkled. Boy, he didn't understand modern lingo. I didn't even understand it.
"This isn't leisure time, gentlemen. Your vacation is yet to begin and until all these boxes have been moved, you're not going anywhere. So get a move on! I want to go get a coffee." With that, he escorted us out of the room and back up the stairs. Elliot and I shared a mischievous glance, grinning as we simultaneously whispered 'cheers to the best break ever!'
This was going to be the worst break ever!
My plate was still piled with food, instead of blurring motions which was normally all that's seen when I eat. I poked the broccoli with my silverware, tossing it to and fro on my plate. I never really liked broccoli. Oh who was I kidding, I didn't really like vegetables.
"I'm sorry things aren't going the way you thought Austin, but it will be great!" My mother piped enthusiastically.
I sat opposite to my parents at the dining table, as their eyes tried to warm me up to the idea. It would take much more than a look to even get me to comprehend the idea.
"Look son," my father began, resting his hand on the table, "this year has been stressful for us. Our business has faltered, the market has been up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down..." my father droned on, his arm wormed up and down while he spoke.
"Uh, dad?" I questioned his sanity, as I gingerly placed a potato in my mouth.
"Oh, right. Anyways, the point is son that your mother and I have been working very hard. We need a break, a holiday, a vacation. So we chose a place we could all enjoy!" He smiled gleefully.
They chose a lake. A lake in North Carolina, far away from here. Or was it North Dakota? Wisconsin? Okay, geography wasn't my strongest point, but I did know this infamous lake was situated very far from here. I was not going to get to meet up with Elliot, or have my chance with Cassidy – instead, I was going to be spending my time at a large body of water that was honestly a glorified puddle.
The rest of that evening passed in a blur. I had to break the news to Elliot, and it was melancholy. We were mourning for the vacation we were never going to have. Deep in the pit of my stomach, it actually felt like someone had died.
My parents tried cooking dessert, but their efforts were futile. Sure, I still ate it, but I didn't enjoy it. Instead of tasting like ice cream, it flavoured of bitter lemons and rotten candy. It left an acidic trail down my throat.
I knew for a fact that I wasn't going to enjoy anything about this vacation.
Then again, I didn't know she'd be there yet.
(A/N: You made it to the end of the prologue. Gold star for you! :D If you're still here, I hoped you enjoyed what little taste I left here for you to savour. I don't know how often I should update, but I know it will be pretty soon. A few days, perhaps? Maybe a week? I don't know yet ahah. But please, leave a review and tell me what you think!
By the way, the cover was a hasty thing so I'll make a better one when I can. :P
So yes, what did you think of this chapter? Do you like my approach to Austin thus far? And how different do you think life for Austin is, with Elliot being his best friend? Do you think it would have worked out in the long run?
So anyways, here we are. Thanks for reading up 'til here, but until next time, adios! :) xx)