Prologue: Summer Before Junior Year pt. 1

You know it's funny how things turn out sometimes. They say your time in High School is supposed to be some of the best years of your life. But what they should say is your time in high school will be some of the most confusing, exhilarating, mind blowing, horrible, exhausting and exciting years of your life.

Am I confusing you? Well let me start over.

Hi my names Ginger Foutley and this is a story about my junior year in High School, the year my life changed dramatically. But maybe we should start at the beginning: The summer before my junior year.

Fifteen-year-old Ginger Foutley was on her way to her summer job at Sheltered Shrubs Veterinarian Hospital. She'd gotten the job shortly after school ended that year. It paid well, she had the weekends off and it was a nice distraction from her summer vacation, which was pretty boring she had to admit.

Dodie was off at cheer camp for the summer and Macy was at band camp. Even Carl had plans, after a fire accident in the school lab, Dave suggested signing Carl up for an organized sport, football. Lois thought it was the craziest idea she'd ever heard. There was no way Carl would be interested in playing football. So you can imagine her surprise when he was very interested. So much so that they signed him up for football camp and he left a week after school ended.

Orion was still in Sheltered Shrubs working at a fast food restaurant in the mall to save up money to buy a new car. He worked a lot of weekends so Ginger barely saw him. She did run into Darren every now and then when she was at the hospital earlier in the summer to visit Dr. Dave and her mom who had just given birth to her new baby sister Erin. Darren was there when he sprained his wrist just after school ended. He was supposed to attend football camp too but due to his wrist he had to stay home. When it got better he took a job with his brother, whom was home from college for the summer, at the local mechanic shop.

Ginger walked into the Vets and the animals greeted her kindly. She loved animals, which is why she was so happy when she got this job, plus the vet was really a nice animal loving woman herself.

"Hey Dr. Bryant." She greeted warmly.

"Good morning Ginger, would you mind taking Snuffles for a walk" she asked kindly.

"Sure thing Doc" said Ginger going to the cage where Snuffles was. He was a golden retriever puppy whom a family had adopted but couldn't keep him anymore. Ginger hoped that some family would adopt him soon, but she'd gotten kind of attached to the little fella, he'd gotten attached to her too. As soon as she opened his caged he jumped on her with his little legs and licked her palm as she bent down to pet him.

"Hey there little guy, ready to go for a walk?" she asked smiling as she clipped the leash on him. He wagged his tail happily as they left the vet for the sidewalk. "Be back in a little while," said Ginger to the vet as she closed the door behind her.

After walking Lucky, she'd named him, she filed some paper work greeted some customers and patients and assisted with some check ups, it was time for lunch. She locked up as Dr. Bryant often ate lunch in her office, then she made her way to the mall to meet Orion for lunch.

The mall was just a few blocks away and she was there in no time. She walked to the food court, where Orion was very busy assisting customers with their orders. Ginger went over to the Salad House a place where they only sold salads and lunchmeat sandwiches and bought her self a salad and a bottle of water. She sat down at a table where Orion could see her and waited, he'd be on lunch break in about 10 minutes.

She was surprised to see him walking over to her in five minutes with no food in hand she stood up and kissed him on the cheek and he gave her a hug.

"Hey babe we're gonna have to reschedule lunch, Tara called out sick again so we're a little short staffed" he said apologetically.

"Oh, well ok," she said grabbing a sandwich she'd bought him at the salad place. "Here I bought you this," she said handing it to him he smiled at her. "Make sure you eat alright," she said smiling. He kissed her on the cheek.

"You're the best babe, and I will" he said before walking back over to the fast food place. She smiled at him as she watched him go, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Since they'd been working for almost a month now, they hadn't really spent much time together. She was starting to miss him a lot. She put her salad and bottle of water in a bag and headed out the mall. She figured she'd just eat back at the office with Dr. Bryant.

"Hey Ginger," she heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw Darren Patterson running up to her with his own lunch in his hand. He stopped in front of her a little short of breath because he was across the street when he'd seen her.

She smiled at him, he still looked the same, just a little taller and his hair was a little longer.

"Hey Darren, what are you doing over here" she asked casually. The two hadn't really spoken since her moms wedding but remained casual with each other. Darren even invited Ginger and the girls to his birthday party back in May but Ginger declined. It was no secret that Simone Darren's on again off again girlfriend didn't like her and she didn't want to make anything uncomfortable.

"Just picking up some lunch, are you headed somewhere," he asked. Since her moms wedding a year and a half ago he'd realized that he was still in love with Ginger. But he didn't know how she felt about him, not after their horrible break up, plus he still had Simone to consider. But all in all he really missed her friendship, that's why he invited her and the girls to his party. Dodie and Macy showed up which made him very happy, but he couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes when she didn't turn up with them.

He knew Simone picked up on it and had her suspicions but she never brought it up, something he was thankful for. He did his best to make her happy, but things just weren't the same after the wedding and they both new that. Simone had such an explosive personality, one minute they were happy then the next she was upset about something asking for them to take a break. And they did which made Darren very happy though he would never admit that. Then she'd come crying back and he couldn't turn away a crying girl. She was at cheer camp this summer something he was happy for a little time apart was just what he needed, though he'd never let her know that.

"Just to go eat lunch," she said

"Oh well I'm headed to the park, just down the street, do you wanna join me" he asked hopefully. Ginger thought about it, she hadn't really assessed her feelings for her old flame but she knew that they had been really good friends once and hoped they could get that back once again.

"Sure" she said motioning for him to lead the way. He smiled at her and started walking. They stopped at a picnic table in the park; it was a lovely day outside.

The sun was shining brightly, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and there was a nice cool breeze where Darren had chosen to sit.

"It's a lovely day huh?" said Ginger enjoying the cool breeze on this hot summer day. She took her salad out and began to eat it.

"Yea it really is" said Darren taking out his cheeseburger and fries. "So I hadn't really gotten to talk to you at all," he said taking a bite out of his burger.

"Yea we've both been really busy and all" she said sipping from her bottle of water.

"So I invited you to my party, why didn't you come" she cleared her throat. Darren was always pretty straightforward.

"I wasn't really feeling well that night" she lied. Darren could see right through it.

"Well I really wished you were there," said Darren

"Really" she asked smiling

"Yeah, I mean you only turn 16 once right" he said eating some fries. Her smile fell a little.

"Yea I guess you're right"

"Speaking of sixteen you've got a birthday coming up right," he asked

"Fourth of July, how could I ever forget," she said sarcastically.

"Hey that's a very important day in history," he said knowingly.

"I suppose"

"So what do you have planned?" he asked finishing off his cheeseburger.

"Nothing really, with Macy and Dodie being gone, I guess I'll just hang out with Orion once he gets off work" she said casually missing the angry look that passed Darren's face.

"Right, you're still with him huh?" he asked eating his fries.

"Yea, you're still with Simone right"

"Yea I guess," he said sadly

"Whoa what does that mean?" said Ginger taken aback. Every time she saw them, they seemed happy and in love.

"Well I feel like something's missing, Simone's cool and all but something just doesn't feel right anymore, you know what I mean." He said sighing.

"Yea actually I do," she said sighing herself thinking of Orion. They obviously hadn't gotten to the point where Darren and Simone were but she felt like that point was quickly approaching.

"This isn't weird is it" he asked a little scared.

"Weird what do you mean"

"You know me and you talking about our current relationships" he asked.

"No actually, it's not, it's nice to have someone to talk too since everyone else is away" he nodded and she smiled. "Plus we were really good friends once, I'd really like to get back to that place" she said sincerely.

"Yeah me too" he agreed, smiling at her as he did so. Friends was a start he thought.

Since that day Ginger and Darren did start hanging out more often, and he was forced to realize why he fell in love with her in the first place. Each time she had something planned with Orion and he cancelled, which was more often than not, they'd spend time together. They'd go to the movies, bowling, bike riding and all sorts of things.

It was getting harder to control himself around her. And the closer they got the further away he and Simone got. From cheer camp she could only write and call him twice a week. He was always out with Ginger when she called and had a lot of unopened letters from her. He was starting to feel guilty.

Ginger for her part was feeling a little confused by it all. Orion was always working he barely had days off or any time to spend with her and the more time she spent with Darren the less she thought about Orion, it was starting to worry her.

She pushed those thoughts aside though. Her birthday was coming up and Orion was getting off early to spend time with her. She figured once they spent some time together then things would go back to normal. She read letters from both Dodie and Macy and wrote them back. She neglected to tell them about her friendship with Darren, she figured they would find out when they came back anyway, but something else kept her from telling them, though she would never admit it.

She woke up on the day of her sixteenth birthday feeling refreshed. Her birthday was on a Saturday this year so she didn't have to work, plus it was a holiday. Dave and Lois took off work today so they could spend Ginger's birthday together as a family. They were all in the kitchen fixing Lois was fixing Ginger's birthday breakfast and Dave was feeding Erin.

"Good morning kido" said Lois as she fried the bacon.

"Morning mom, Dr. Dave" said Ginger as she walked pass the giggly Erin whom she kissed on the cheek.

"Happy Birthday Ginger" said Dave as he handed her the gift he and her mom bought for her.

"Thanks" she said smiling.

"Carl mailed you a card, I got it in the mail with his letter yesterday, its in the living room" said her mom. Wow Carl mailed her something, usually all she got for her birthday from him was a "So you're getting older huh?" and that's it.

"Ok mom thanks"

"Sixteen, I can't believe it, seems like just yesterday I was changing your diapers, now look at you" said Lois getting teary eyed as she placed a plate in front of Ginger.

"Oh mom don't get yourself all worked up," said Ginger as she started to dig in.

"I won't, I won't and I know your friends are away and Orion's working so we're gonna do our best to make this birthday as special as it should be promise" said Lois as she kissed Ginger on the cheek.

"Thanks mom"

The phone rang and Ginger went to go get it.

"Hello"

"Hey Ginge happy birthday" said Darren on the other line.

"Thanks" said Ginger smiling on the other end of the receiver.

"So what do you got planned," he asked casually.

"Just spending the day with my family and then going to meet Orion later" said Ginger.

"Oh" said Darren trying to hide the disappointment in his voice "Well lemme know when you get back in with your folks so I can drop your gifts off."

"Thanks Darren, but you didn't have to buy me anything," said Ginger surprised.

"Hey like I said you only turn sixteen once right, I'll see you later" he said

"Ok bye" she replied hanging up the phone smiling to herself.

"Hey Ginge," he mom said, "Come in here and eat so we can go"

"Coming mom" said Ginger

The Foutley-Dave family spent the day at various places; they passed the downtown area where they would be shooting fireworks that night. She and Orion were going tonight to watch them for her birthday. Ginger received calls from Dodie and Macy throughout the day wishing her a happy birthday she even got an email from Courtney, but no call or text from Orion. It was starting to get to her, they arrived home and Erin was already sleeping. Dave took her upstairs and put her in the crib while Lois ran a hot bath for herself and soaked her aching feet.

The phone rang again and Ginger got it.

"Hello"

"Hey beautiful, happy birthday" said Orion.

"Hey, I was wondering when you would call" she said happily.

"Sorry about that, we've just been really busy all day"

"No problem, better late than never, plus you'll make it up to me tonight" she said smiling.

"Yea about that. Frank needs me to work overtime tonight and I could really use the money Ginge I'm really close to having enough for the down payment," he said hopefully.

"But Orion it's my birthday, you know the thing that only comes around once a year" she said stressing the last part.

"I know babe and I promise I'll make it up to you"

"Fine" she said sighing.

"Thanks Ginge I knew you would understand, oh and happy birthday again, I gotta go, I'll call you later ok"

"Ok talk to you later Orion" she said hanging up. She went up to her room and laid down, so much for sweet sixteen.

About an hour later there was a knock on her door, she went to open it and Darren was standing on the other side.

"Darren what are you doing here" she asked noticing that he was holding a small bag in his hands.

"Well it was getting late and when you didn't call I figured you'd already gone out with Orion so I just came to drop this off" he said placing the gift on her dresser "But your mom told me you were up here, what happened I thought you were going out with Orion tonight?" he asked

"Well I was supposed to but he has to work," she said sighing and sitting down on her bed. Darren walked over and stood in front of her.

"Well that sucks, so what are you gonna do"

"I was supposed to go watch the fireworks tonight, but I guess I'll just stay here and watch some movies." She said sighing.

"No you won't, let's go"

"Huh?" she asked looking up at him for the first time. "Let's go where"

"Let's go watch those fireworks, we don't have to go down town, we can see them perfectly well from the park" She thought about it and they could but she really didn't feel like going anywhere. "Just ask your mom for a blanket we'll go to my house and make some sandwiches and go watch the fireworks." He suggested.

"That's really sweet Darren, but I really don't feel like going anywhere" she said laying back down.

"Come on Ginge you only turn sixteen once right, when you have your kids and they turn sixteen do you really want to tell them that you spent your sixteenth birthday lying in bed" he asked sarcastically.

"Well no but…"

"Good, you get ready and I'll get your bike from the garage"

"You're not gonna let this go are you" she asked.

"Nope" he said already walking out the door "Don't forget the blanket" he yelled upstairs. She smiled and grabbed a blanket off of her bed right away.

They got to the park around 8:30 it was already getting dark. The fireworks show was to begin at around 9. They picked a spot up on a hill underneath an oak tree and Darren set up the blanket and grabbed the sandwiches. Ginger put her bike down and sat down next to him and grabbed her shoulders it was a little chilly tonight, she should've warn a sweater. Darren noticed and immediately took off his football jacket.

"Here take this," he said wrapping it around her.

"Thanks but won't you be cold" she said snuggling into it

"Nah, I'll be fine," he said eating his sandwich. She grabbed his hand and he looked at her as he felt a jolt of electricity pass through his body

"Thanks for this Darren, it really means a lot to me," she said sincerely looking him in the eyes.

"Hey what are friends for" he said laughing nervously as he finished his sandwich. He offered her one but she said she wasn't hungry yet. The fireworks began and all he could do was focus on how beautiful she looked in the moon light. He was glad she was so into them or else she would've noticed him staring every now and then.

"Wow aren't they beautiful" she asked mesmerized.

"Yeah, you are" he said staring at her fully.

"Huh?" she asked turning to face him. She didn't know how close their faces were until she turned to him. They were both leaning in as if a magnetic force was pulling them. They were almost there just a little closer. Darren couldn't believe this was about to happen, until her phone went off. She snapped out of her trance and looked down at it. It was Orion.

"Um I gotta go" she said standing up quickly

"But the show isn't over yet" he said standing up too.

"I know…I just, I can't be here right now," she said hopping on her bike quickly and speeding down the hill.

"But Ginger, my…jacket," he said silently. He sat back down and watched the rest of the fireworks as he ate another sandwich. They'd almost kissed and he couldn't have been happier. But Ginger couldn't be more confused.