This is one of the ideas that have lodged into my brain and refuses to leave. This chapter is rather short compared to most chapters I write but it definitely sets up the story. I think I'm going to focus on this one for a while since I really love where I want to go with this but once this is done, I'll get back to focusing on some of the other stories I'm working on. Although, I have decided to just go with whatever ideas pop into my head so I make no promises... Anyway, here's chapter one of That Summer and I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I've actually managed to save up 5 dollars this week but somehow I doubt that'd be enough to buy the rights to the show...so no, not mine
Chapter One – The Summer of My Life
June 20th
Casey sank low into the couch and against her nature, propped her tired, aching feet up on the coffee table. She was absolutely miserable. Here it was, the final summer before she goes off to college, and where was she? Stuck at home, working a horrible job, her family off enjoying the beautiful European scenery without her, her friends off doing their own pre-college adventures, again, without her. And the worst part of all was that it was all her fault.
Derek's mom, Abby, had invited the McDonald-Venturi clan to come visit her in Europe for the summer. Her job required her to do some traveling over the summer and she thought they might enjoy seeing some of the classic sights of Europe with stops in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and finally back to Spain. Surprisingly, Nora and George had immediately agreed. They quickly made arrangements so they could still do some work through video conferences and the internet that would allow them to be off in Europe pretty much for two months. Casey had been absolutely beside herself. She had been dying to see Europe and here was her chance for a European vacation right before college. It was the dream summer.
Or at least it was until her friends brought up the idea of a cross country road trip. Just her, Em, Sheldon, Sam, Trevor, Ralph, Max and a few others. Oh and Derek. But she wasn't going to let that get to her. It was the adventure of a lifetime. Something she'd tell her kids and grandkids about. Suddenly Europe was something she could do almost any summer but who knew when their whole group would get to do something like this again if ever.
And so plans were made, routes marked on the maps, money was saved up. Everything looked set to go. And then came time for graduation. And the group hit its first roadblock, which, looking back on it now, Casey realized she should have seen it as a sign of things to come. Derek had decided his senior year was a year to coast. This resulted in Derek failing a couple tests in his grade 12 chemistry class and failing to turn a couple papers for his grade 12 English class. Thus Derek had failed grade 12 English and chemistry and thus Derek was several credits short of graduating and would need to take summer classes if he wanted to walk across the stage with everyone else. Needless to say, no road trip for Derek. Which also translated into a few people declaring they weren't going if Derek wasn't going. Not that Casey minded since the people who'd dropped out of the trip weren't people she particularly knew or cared about.
The trip was still on and despite the loss of a few people, still seemed on track. Then they hit the next couple of roadblocks. Trevor was accepted into a summer art program he could not pass up. Ralph found out his financial aid wasn't going to cover dorms so he instead found several part time jobs so he could spend his summer working like a dog to pay for it. Sam, realizing it was down to just two couples and him, bowed out and decided to go with his family on their planned vacation after all.
Casey, disappointed the group had shrunk so much, was still rather psyched to be off on a road trip with her best friend and her boyfriend. Until, just days before the trip, after the family had left for a glorious summer in Europe, Max decided it was time to propose. Casey, as touched and as moved as she was, couldn't bring herself to accept. Max ended the relationship and backed out of the trip to lick his wounds and Casey, not wanting to be the sole third wheel and damper on what should be a memorable summer, backed out to let Em and Sheldon have a romantic summer trip for two.
So, not knowing what else to do, Casey found a job working at a chic little clothing boutique and waved off Sheldon and Emily when it was time for them to leave.
And here she was, finishing another grueling 8 hour shift, tired, depressed, bored out of her mind, and lonely. And the only other person left behind was the last person in the world she wanted to be stuck with.
Slam! Casey didn't bother to swivel her head to face the individual who'd rudely shoved open the door and slammed it shut. He let his heavy book bag drop loudly at the base of the stairs and trudged groggily towards the comfy recliner. He sank in and loudly plopped his feet on the table.
"What's for dinner?" he demanded then turned on the TV, effectively blocking her out.
It was going to be a long summer.
