Austin's POV
"You have got to be kidding me!" I yelled out in frustration.
"You're going and that's final!" My mom replied.
"But both of you know that I just stay over at Dez's house while you guys are down there," I pleaded with her.
"Isn't about time that we do something again as a family?" My dad chipped in. "I mean you only have one more year until you're gone for college".
"Since when have you and mom actually cared about spending time with me?" I questioned back.
Let me back track a little bit. You see every year my parents always go down to Gatlinburg right at the beginning of summer. When I was young, I would go with them and I used to have a really fun time. However, since my parents and I have grown apart, I haven't gone with them.
Instead of being trapped in a large cabin for two weeks with a bunch of grown-ups, I instead spend two weeks with my best friend Dez. His parents have never minded and consider me to be more of a son to them than my own parents are. For two weeks, I start off my summer with a bang doing all sorts of stupid teenage stuff with him.
Those two weeks are the time that I look forward to every year. During those two weeks I didn't have to deal with the stupidity of my parents. Apparently this summer though, my parents couldn't even let me have that.
"This is so stupid!" I continued on. "I'm going to be stuck in a room full of complete strangers that I don't even remember, I'm going to have nothing fun to do because you're version of fun is completely different than mine, and I'm going to have no one my age down there to hang out with."
"Well there is someone your age that is going to be down there," My dad answered back.
"Really?" I replied back with a dose of sarcasm. In all honesty though this did catch my attention. I couldn't remember anyone by age ever being down there besides Trish, but she always threatened me so I stayed well clear of her path.
"Yeah, don't the Dawson's have a girl the same age as Austin?" My mom added on to my dad's remark.
"Of course, don't you remember Ally? She wasn't there last year because she was on that Honors trip with the University of Stanford," My dad said.
"Stanford" I thought to myself. "Sounds like a nerd already."
"That's right Mike. How could I forget such a smart young lady like Ally? She is honestly one of the nicest teenagers that I have ever met," My mom said making the connection.
"Plus, she is so responsible. Never does anything that could get her into trouble," My dad said making it sound like he rather have her as a child than me.
"Great. Sounds just like the person I would LOVE to hang out with," I said making sure I emphasizing the word love. I mean I didn't mind the fact that she was smart, but I can't stand to hang around people that are so boring, and Ally fit the short description well.
With that I left the house though the front door not caring what my parents thought. At the moment I was so frustrated that it wasn't healthy, and during times like these there was only one person that I could go to.
Ally's POV
I am so happy right now! School just left out and of course I got all A's on all of my final exams. With the end of another year in the classroom comes summer! While I might be really smart, I don't think there is any kid out there that doesn't enjoy summer break. I mean sure I love to learn, but it is always nice to take a break and do want I want to do.
Also, with the end of summer break comes the two week trip to Gatlinburg, one of my favorite places ever. This year is going to be especially fun because I haven't been there in two years! Last year, Instead of going down there with my parents and Trish, I was accepted into the Future Leaders High School program at the University of Stanford. While the program was fun and I got to meet a lot of great people, nothing could replace the memories I have had with my best friend.
All this, and thinking about what we were going to do once we were on vacation swam around in my brain as I entered the house.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home!" I yelled into the confined air of the house.
"Downstairs sweetie," My father yelled to me.
I left my backpack on the kitchen table, and made the short journey to the basement.
"What's up Allygator?" My dad asked while embracing me for a hug.
"Oh nothing much, except that I'm a senior now!" I said with great pride
"I know and just one year away from college!" My mom squealed with great excitement.
Being a senior in high school was great and all, but at the moment I was much more excited about the trip.
"I can't wait until I see Trish in a couple of days! I think we're gonna go to Cades Cove and then maybe a hike up the mountain and-" I stopped mid-sentence to see that my parents were giving me saddened looks. "What? Is everything okay?"
"Trish's family isn't going to be able to make this year honey. Their business isn't doing too well and they can't afford to close it for two weeks on vacation. They said they were really sorry and that they were trying their best to be able to go, but they just made the decision today that they can't. I'm really sorry."
For a moment it took me a while to comprehend what my mom told me, but after I realized what she said, I became a little depressed. At first I was mad that Trish didn't tell me that she wasn't going to be able to make it, but then I remembered that my mom said that her family just made the decision today.
Trish probably didn't tell me because in all honesty she probably thought that she was going to be able to go. It must be more of a heart break to her to find out that she wouldn't be able to see me. That would make it now three years before we would see each other face to face again.
"It's okay, I understand what you guys are saying" I replied with a fake smile. In all honesty it killed me inside to know that I missed the chance to see my best friend again.
"I know it must be hard on you just to find out now," My dad told me
"But, on the bright side, there is going to be another person your age down there this year." My mom said with a hint of a smile.
My ears perked up at that, "Really? That's great! Who is it?"
"His name is Austin. He is Mike and Mimi's son, you remember the Moons right?"
"Of course I remember the Moons! They are such nice people!" I almost yelled across the basement. "Have you ever met him before?" I said asking about Austin.
"Nope, and all we really know about him is that he is a star point guard on his school's basketball team and that while is parents are down on vacation with us is that he stays at his best friend's house," My mom replied back to me.
"Sounds like a cool guy." I said to both my parents. I excused myself from the basement and went upstairs to start packing. Usually I don't hang out with any of the jocks, so this is going to be a new experience for me. All I hope is that he likes exploring caves and hiking up mountains.
Hopefully we are able to become friends, or at the very least get along with each other. If not, this is going to be the longest two weeks of summer that I have ever dealt with.