A Summer to Remember Hollywood Heights
Beach Home C-1
Eddie will narrate parts of this story.
("After School ended, summer was my favorite season. Going to the home my parents purchased by the beach for our family vacations was something my parents Max and Katy Duran needed to do for us. They were famous musicians back in the mid 1980's. They purchased this place to get away from their busy schedules. I loved going there as a kid, it was our get-away after school ended for me each year. My teenage years were a lot of fun too. I wanted to do what my parents had done for so long, I wanted to perform. My dad taught me how to play the guitar, another thing happened! I started to notice girls a lot more, there was a beach home across from ours, a family bought that home, they would spend their summers every year at their beach house too.
That's where I met Loren Tate, she was beautiful, long brown hair that shined beautifully when the sun caught sight of her locks. Her big hazel eyes caught my attention, it was easy to get lost in her orbs because her eyes sparkled like a full moon at night.")
"I love it Eddie." Loren said.
"I think I'm getting better at this." Eddie adds while strumming his fingers through the guitar cords.
"This is Melissa Sanders, my best friend." Loren looks at Mel and back to Eddie.
"Hi Eddie." Mel teases, she looks at Loren. "You're right, he's so cute."
("I could tell Loren was caught off guard, if looks could kill, she would have zapped Mel to outer space. She was definitely blushing. I loved that I had that effect on her. Spending summers at the beach house became a yearly thing. That's why summer was my favorite season because we'd spend time together, Loren, Mel and I became the best of friends. Even though we head home before school starts in the fall, we've stayed in touch. The following summer my best friend Ian joined us at our beach home. While we were there, Loren's parents joined us every afternoon for cook outs. We would grill burgers, hotdogs, and chicken. Later in the evening after swimming at the beach for hours we'd pick on the leftovers. Ian and I would play basketball, every time I'd turn to look for Loren, she was perched on the arm of the large stairs that lead to our homes. Our eyes met and Loren smiled, I love how the sun kissed her tan body beautifully, she was 16 at the time and the most beautiful girl I've ever set my eyes on. I was suddenly hit by a basketball.")
"Hey, you're supposed to throw the ball in the basket!" Eddie yells at Ian.
"Pay attention, instead of playing ball, you're staring at who knows what." Ian laughs out loud.
Eddie throws the ball at Ian. Ian narrows his eyes at Eddie. "If you like her then tell her."
"What are you talking about?" Eddie wonders.
"You know what I mean Duran, I know you like her." Ian states.
"I don't know if she feels the same way about me." Eddie adds.
"I know she likes you too, I've caught her looking at you too." Ian adds.
("I don't know what happened to me, I met Loren when she was 13, I was 15. The moment we met, I know we had a connection, from top to bottom she makes my heart skip a beat, her eyes say so much when she looks at me, Ian is right, she likes me as much as I like her.")
"Earth to Eddie." Ian says while bouncing the ball in front of Eddie.
"What do you want Ian? I am not bringing you here anymore!" Eddie says.
"You should tell her how you feel; it's written all over your face Duran." Ian adds.
("Our parents calling out to us brings us back to the beach house, there are burgers grilling and French fries cooking in the air fryer.")
"Are we going to play board games?" Mel asks.
"It's a great idea." Loren adds.
She looks at Eddie, he smiles back. "Sure, what do we play?"
"What about monopoly?" Ian questions.
Mel looks at Eddie. "I don't think Eddie likes that game."
"It's fine but it takes forever to end." Eddie adds with a smirk.
"Let's get the game and when we're bored, we can stop." Loren adds.
("We walked inside to get the board game, Loren's hair brushed against my arm, it took every bit of will power to stop me from intertwining my hand with hers. She definitely has my heart. We brought the game out to the deck to play, watching Loren sit across from me was very hard, her hair kept blowing into her face, there was a piece of hair fluttering everywhere every time the wind blew, I kept my fingers glued to my side, I wanted to tuck that piece of hair behind her ears, that meant I would touch her face, I don't think I could stop myself from caressing her soft face.")
"Hey Eddie it's your turn." Mel yells, Ian looks at me. "You have to concentrate Duran, no wonder you're losing, you're not paying attention."
"I'm fine." Eddie was quick to say.
Later that evening.
"You should talk to Eddie." Mel tells Loren.
"Why do you keep insisting we talk?" Loren asks.
"Because I am sure he will be able to figure out how you feel about him, it's obvious you're in love with him."
Loren sighs. "Of course I love him, I haven't stop thinking about him since day one, I don't know what happened! He's so sweet and attentive, he has this special way of looking at me that I can't explain." Loren adds
"You have to do something Lo, he's starting his music career, I hear Max and Katy tell your parents that Jake is setting up a few shows for him to perform, you know get his feet wet."
"He's going to be the most amazing Rock Star in the whole world." Loren sighs.
Mel smiles. "Oh my God Loren, the way you talk about him, you are in love with him."
"It's a great feeling Mel, I love summer because we get to spend three months in this beach area, and I get to see him, I heard him playing the other night, he will be as successful as his parents were."
"I know he will." Mel hugs her bestie.
A few weeks later, everyone is packing to go back home, Eddie walks into his home, he sees his mom hugging Nora.
"Is everything ok?" Eddie asks.
Nora looks at him; tears stream down her cheeks. "Trent left last night."
("I wasn't sure what she meant, then it became clear that Trent walked out on his family, I couldn't understand! How do you walk out on your family? Then it hit me, where is Loren?")
"Is Loren here?" Eddie asks Nora.
"She ran out of the house, she's not answering her phone." Nora tells Eddie.
("At that moment I knew where she was, I had to find her, she couldn't be alone at a time like this. I took off and ran towards the area of the beach where Loren loved to sit and enjoy the view of the waves clashing against the shore when the sun was beginning to set. I stopped when I reached the area, there she was, sitting by the shore while the waves crashed against her body. I could tell she was crying, I hated to see her hurting this much, why would Trent do this to his family?")
"Loren." She looks at Eddie; tears are streaming down her cheeks. "He left us Eddie, he doesn't love us anymore." Loren said with so much sadness.
Eddie walks towards her and holds her softly in his arms, Loren sobs quietly.
"I am so sorry Loren." Eddie cradles her in his arms, she looks at him.
"Thank you for being here."
("And then it happened, I looked at her, trying not to betray my feelings, not wanting to take advantage of this frail moment, I leaned into her, her beautiful hazel eyes staring while I finally touched her lips, a kiss I've wanted for so long.")
End of chapter!