Chapter 10: Reminiscing and Forgetting

I stared at my cell phone as I tried to think of something to reply back to Brenton. I let out a sigh as I took my eyes off the phone.

A slight breeze made its appearance, lifting my brown hair off my shoulders as I sat on a wooden chair I pulled out onto my small balcony. I stared across at the side of my neighbor's house; the bare wall with it's own balcony.

I still can't believe Alex is now my next door neighbor.

I looked down at my cell phone and quickly typed back a reply.

Me: California's great. :)

I didn't want Brenton thinking I was missing him; now that I knew he went out on a date with Christine. I couldn't deny that attraction I felt for Brenton and the fact that I allowed myself to fall for him; but I also couldn't deny the bitterness I felt for him at that moment. What the heck? I thought he liked me.

I looked away from my cell phone to see that the sun was setting and a hint of blue made its appearance in the sky; alerting night was coming. I love how summer days are long. I turned on my iPod nano and plugged the ear buds in my ears as I leaned against my chair, trying to enjoy the warm night.

"I love how in the summer, the nights are warm," I mused as I looked around at the festival, taking in the families and teenage groups and little kids laughing and joking around—enjoying the Summer Festival.

"Yeah, pretty cool."

"Ooh, there's cotton candy," I said excitedly as my eyes stared at the cotton candy booth as a worker held a stick of pink cotton candy.

He laughed at my randomness as he suggested sarcastically, "Well, let's go then."

I followed beside him over to the cotton candy booth. He ordered the cotton candy and handed it to me as he paid for it.

"Here, have some," I offered after eating a piece of the cotton candy. He ripped a piece off and stuck it in his mouth.

"Ooh, we definitely have to go on that ride," I stated as I leaned my head back to take in the full view of the ride, The Chicago Loop. Screams were heard from the ride as the riders were trapped in the seats as the ride spun in a circle. I watched the ride pause at the top of the circle, suspending the riders upside down. After what felt like way too long, the ride continued in its circular path. The ride was like a clock, spinning the passengers clockwise, then counterclockwise up in the air.

"You sure you can handle that ride?" he leaned down to ask into my ear, teasingly.
"Oh, please," I scoffed as I tore my eyes away from the ride and up into his blue-grey eyes. "You know I love roller coasters. I'm just worried you can't handle it."

He scoffed and said confidently, "No need to worry about me."

"Then let's get in line," I suggested with a smile as I started walking over to the line for Chicago Loop. He followed behind me just as I expected. We stopped in line, trying to finish the cotton candy before we reached the front.

"You have the tickets right? Four tickets for each of us," I informed as I read the hand-written sign posted near the front of the line. I looked up at him to see him pulling out a ticket sheet from his pocket.

"We're going to be riding rides all night," he laughed as he showed the many ticket sheets we bought. His blue-grey, carefree eyes diverted from the tickets in his hands to stare right into my brown eyes.

My cell phone vibrated in my lap, pulling myself out of my reminiscing from two years ago. I blinked my eyes a few times, considering I let my eyes close as I played my memory in my head.

I opened my cell phone to see that Brenton texted back.

Brenton: That's great. Hey, mind if I call you right now?

Me: Sure

I sent the text, waiting for him to call. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know why he wanted to call. I'm so confused, I don't know if he likes me or not—not anymore now that I know about that date he went on.

My phone vibrated alerting me that Brenton was calling. I took a deep breath and after the second or third ring I picked up.

"Hey," I greeted casually. Don't get sucked in. Don't fall for him.
"Hey Sienna," Brenton's smooth voice came over the phone. I mentally groaned. Hearing his voice was only going to make it harder for me to just think of him as just a friend.

"Hey," I said again. My eyes stared across at my neighbor's empty balcony.

"So, what have you been doing over in sunny California?" I could just imagine that smile of his.

"Hung out with my older brother and his friend. Also met one of my old friends," I stated vaguely; not at all wanting to confess how pathetic I was for staying in the house since I've got here.

"That's cool. So, didn't you say you had a best friend over there? That last time we talked you said something like you weren't hanging out with her," Brenton informed me with a hint of curiosity and concern.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought that he actually remembered; I thought he'd forget that bit of information I told him the other day, because he was too distracted with Christine yelling at him in the background to join her and his friends in the pool.

"Yeah, apparently Melody is at camp for like two weeks so I won't be seeing her until then," I answered with a saddened tone I couldn't disguise.

"It's just two weeks. Besides you said you met your old friend again. You'll have fun over there," Brenton reassured me with a convincing tone.

I closed my eyes, wondering why he had to be so concerned and caring over the phone. He's just making it harder for me to get over him and stay bitter towards him.

"So, what have you been doing?" I asked, wondering if he'd mention the whole date with Christine.

"Nothing much," he laughed. "I'm telling you the truth. It's so boring over here with you across the continent."

I let out a laugh, suddenly forgetting my mission to make Brenton confess about his date. "Why do you have to say that? Across the continent makes me feel as if I'm farther away than I really am."

"Well, it's true. You are far away," he said with confidence. "What time is it over there anyways?"

"Um…it's wow… 9:30," I said surprised as I checked the time. I suddenly realized that the sky has darkened dramatically; night has arrived.

"Oh my gosh. It's like 12:30 over there. What are you doing up this late Brenton?" I asked shocked.

"I can't go to sleep," he answered with a laugh. "Wow, so you're three hours before me huh?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yup. It's so weird. I've been waking up like 7:00 here and I end up sleeping early over here because of the whole time change," I explained, suddenly forgetting I was supposed to be bitter towards Brenton.

Brenton chuckled into the phone. I was instantly picturing Brenton in his room with his phone by his ear. His brown hair sticking up in places and those hazel eyes of his; and those lips he kissed me with that night….

"So, I still don't know why you're spending the summer over in California. You end up finding out from your parents?" Brenton asked in a bit of a whisper.

"Yeah, my parents have this whole business thing over the summer where they have to go to Europe for their business meetings. I obviously couldn't stay back in New York by myself so they sent me over here to stay with my brother," I explained with an eye roll.

I let out a laugh and pointed out, "Why are you talking so quietly?"

"Did you just forget?" Brenton laughed quietly. "It's like past midnight over here and I don't want to wake up my parents and little sister."

I let out a laugh, "Oh yeah. I forgot."

"That's a surprise," Brenton said sarcastically.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" I demanded with a laugh.

"You can be forgetful and oblivious sometimes, you know that?"

"No I'm not," I argued.

"Uh, yes you are," Brenton laughed.

"Whatever," I muttered, causing Brenton to laugh again.

"So, you at home?" Brenton asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I'm out on my little balcony right now. I love how I don't get cold during the summer over here. It's nice out right now though it's like 9:30," I let out a laugh.

"That's pretty cool."

We stayed on the phone in a comfortable silence for a few moments as we listened to each other breath. I leaned my chair on the back two legs as I suddenly felt like wanting to go back to New York.

"I miss you," Brenton admitted in a whisper.

"What?" I asked in a low voice too. Did I just hear what I think he said? I sat up in my chair with my back straight, my attention alert.

"I wish you were here," Brenton admitted with a light sigh. "It sucks you had to leave like the next day," he said, referring to the day after Ally's party that I had to leave.

My heart squeezed and an overwhelming feeling washed over me. He misses me.

"You still there?" Brenton asked concerned.

"Yeah," I whispered in a daze, "Still here."

"Sienna," Seth's booming voice shattered the silence—startling me. I turned around in my chair to see him entering my bedroom.

"What?" I asked, a bit annoyed as I placed my cell phone towards my chest so Brenton couldn't hear. Did he not know he was interrupting a moment? Seth turned to see that I was out on my balcony.

"Noah and I are going out to a party. We're staying out late so don't get into trouble," Seth informed me.

"Got 'cha," I smiled up at him and turned around in my chair, staring back at the balcony door of my neighbor's house. I heard Seth mutter something but soon left my bedroom.

"Sorry about that, it was my brother," I said into the phone, placing it back onto my ear.

"No problem," Brenton said with a smile evident in his voice. "You know, you never talk about your brother."

And just like that, our conversation that had veered into something sort of serious and probably an open discussion for our feelings for each other and what we were exactly—had turned into a normal conversation.

"Yeah, well he's been living over here while I've been living over in New York. I guess you could say we sort of grew apart because of that."

"I see."

"Yeah, but once I came back we started to hang out with each other like how we were before. Sometimes he could get overprotective and a jerk," I let out a bitter laugh, remembering his stunt at Applebee's as he tried to intimidate Alex for no good reason.

"Well, that's what older brothers are for," Brenton laughed into the phone. "I guess I have to admit I'm overprotective of my thirteen year old sister."

"Yeah, well just don't be a jerk like my older brother," I laughed.

"Well, I can't make any promises. If some guy even looks at my sister I'll have to go into overprotective mode," Brenton teased.

"Oh gosh, now you sound like my brother Seth," I laughed.

"So, is your brother really overprotective?"

"Well, I guess you could say that. He doesn't jump on every guy I talk to which is a good thing but I guess he could have his moments."

"Hm…do you think he'll jump on me if he ever met me?"

I smiled slightly, wondering what Brenton was getting at.

"Well, I don't know," I said truthfully. "If he did then he'd try to intimidate you; that's for sure. I guess it just depends on what kind of relationship I have with that guy."

"Oh…" he trailed off, slightly intrigued.

I ended up briefly summarizing what Seth did to Alex tonight at Applebee's.

"You guys were staring at each other?" Brenton asked amused, referring to what Seth said about Alex and I staring at one another out in my backyard when we first figured out who the other was.

"We weren't staring," I argued.

"Right, so you were actually looking longingly into his eyes?" he teased.

"Uh, no," I laughed, shaking my head. "I don't know what Seth saw but he seemed to think he should be that protective brother at that moment. I just think he wanted an excuse to play that role since he hasn't been able to since I moved away."

"So you and this Alex guy were good friends back then?" Brenton asked curiously.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. Not that close but we hung out. He was the outgoing guy of the group," I explained with a shrug. Just then I heard a honk from the street. I stood up from my chair, leaned against my railing and peered down at the street in front of my house.

The car honked again and I rolled my eyes in irritation. I left my balcony and plopped myself onto my bed. I checked the clock on my nightstand; it read 11:15 PM.

"Brenton, it's late. It's like two o'clock over there. Aren't you tired now?"

Brenton sighed into the phone and admitted, "Yeah, it is a bit late."

"Yeah, it is and I'm getting tired. I still need to get used to California time. My body is still working in New York time." Though I was a bit sleepy, I still had the energy to stay up for some reason.

"Alright, well I'll let you go then so you could get some sleep."

I let out a laugh, "Alright well I talk to you later then?"

"Yeah, I'll call you later or something," Brenton promised into the phone. I let out a sigh, still confused with what kind of relationship Brenton and I had.

"Sure, bye Brenton."

"Don't forget about me," he joked.

"Hey, I'm not that forgetful," I laughed.

Brenton laughed before saying, "Alright. Bye Sienna."

I placed my cell on my nightstand when he hung up. I let out a breath before making my way down the stairs, flipping on the lights on the way.

I entered the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water before I plopped myself in the family room to turn on the television.

I was flipping through channels, when I heard a thump near my front door. I sat silent, turning off the television, to hear a ruffling noise outside my front door. I stood up from the couch, dropping the blanket I used to cover my shorts and tank top I was wearing.

I walked over to my front door and peeked through the peep hole to see that the car that was honking in my street was driving off now. I was about to turn away when I saw through the hole, a teenage guy bent over as he lifted the welcome mat in front of my door.

I swung open the door, confirming my assumption that the bronze haired teenage guy in front of my house was...Alex.

Author's Note:

Thank you guys so much for the five reviews and the many readers I get for this story!

I honestly have to say that this chapter wasn't even suppose to be here. I suddenly thought of this idea from who-knows-where but I'm super glad I added this in.

I guess after reading our reviews and debating with myself, I thought you guys would need a bit more time/chapters to get to know the characters before I add in any more into the story so you won't be too confused with all of Sienna's friends and what-not.

I liked this chapter and I hope you liked it too! You get some Brenton and a bit of reminiscing of that mystery guy from Sienna's past. And also as you can tell, Alex had made an unexpected appearance again! Ha.

Review because I can't wait to post up the next chapter!