This chapter made me tear up a bit because this is the last of the actual episode. Half came from the episode and half came from my imagination of what happened next.
I honestly thought that everyone looked good in the "Summer of Rooney" camp shirts. The yellow and orange colors go nicely with everyone. Can I get one?
Chapter 2: Better Than Stereo
Since Parker and I were leaving for the BioDome next week, he had invited me for what his mom called "Summer of Rooney" but instead of taking place during the summer, they had one night because everyone else was leaving to go somewhere else the next day. Parker and I were leaving for Bolivia in a week. Maddie was leaving for New Orleans to build tiny houses (thanks to me and Willow). Liv was leaving for New York to star on Broadway. Joey was going on tour to do stand-up comedy in a week. They were all chasing their dreams and none of them were spending it in LA.
We were all to meet at the beach, wearing Mrs Rooney's custom-made "Summer of Rooney" shirts. It's not like I don't mind. I really don't. I never really went to a summer camp before and spending the night with the people closest to me truly made our last night in LA special.
The night ended with a bonfire. We were all seated around it with Parker to my left and his Aunt Dena to my right. Mrs Rooney decided to end with everyone spilling their secrets. I learned quite a bit. I learned Mrs Rooney's secret job, Willow and Diggie's real name, Ruby wants a boyfriend, Dena doesn't like yoga, Joey's secret obsession, and Liv's secret penpal. The only thing I really wanted to learn was Parker's middle name. I had always wanted to know it.
Maddie announced that Liv had "thoroughly ruined" the game. She suggested that she sing while Diggie played along with the guitar. I recognized the tune to the theme song to a show I now watch. It's called "Bits and Pieces." It's a binge-worthy show. We all listened as Liv sang.
I'm up with the sunshine
I lace up my high-tops
Slam dunk, ready or not
Yeah, show me what you got
I'm under the spotlight
I dare you, come on then follow
You dance to your own beat
I'll sing the melody
My chin was resting on my right palm when Parker reached out and took my left hand in his right. We intertwined fingers and I just grinned. Did he really want our relationship to start out like this? It all felt so romantic!
When you say, "Yeah," I'll say "No."
When you say, "Stop," all I wanna do is go, go, go!
You (you) the other half of me (me)
The half I'll never be-e
The half that drives me crazy
You (you) the better half of me (me)
The half I'll always need (need)
We all know
We're better in stereo
We all started tearing up because that night would be the last night that we were all together for a long time. Parker and I decided to get up and take a walk along the beach, my hand still in his.
"I can't believe that we're leaving so soon," Parker confessed.
"I know. It seems like only yesterday when you and Joey came to BOOMS." I still remembered that day. Our teacher called him "Pucker" and BOOMS was introduced to Falcon for the first time.
"Yeah… Time does go by so fast. Where did all that go?" All I wanted right then was for time to freeze (or at least slow down) because I honestly didn't want the night to end. I was walking along a beach with Parker, holding his hand, with the moon shining brightly above us. It felt like something out of a teen romance movie.
We spotted a bench and decided to sit down, facing the ocean. It was a warm night and it was almost pitch dark out, with only the light of the moon to see each other. We sat there for a few minutes in silence before Parker noticed my expression on my face. "Val? Are you okay?" I looked at him and from what I could see, his face showed concern and worry. He was worried about me and that was just plain beautiful.
"It's just…" How should I say it? "We are going to Bolivia in a week for a whole school year to live in a Mars BioDome. I've never been away from home for that long. What if we don't do well and don't end up going to Mars? What if we start freaking out under pressure and they kick us out? I'm scared, Parker." I had my arms wrapped around his waist as his hand was stroking my long, brown locks.
"Shhh. It's okay, Val. I'm scared too. But you know what? We are going to be fine, we are going to do well and end up on Mars." I looked up at him.
"How could you be so sure?"
"Because I'll make sure of it. You'll have me with you, every step of the way. We'll be the best looking couple in the BioDome." Wasn't that what he told me that morning in the Chemistry Lab?
"Couple?" My ears perked up and my head raised from it's previous state of being against his chest. Our eyes met and I looked into his bright brown eyes.
"Yeah. Couple." Then he kissed me…on my cheek, but I still blushed. After a few silent moments, I rested my head on his shoulder and his arm was wrapped around my body. I knew right then that everything was going to be okay as long as I was with Parker. In Parker's arms, I felt safe and secure. We looked out onto the ocean water with the brightly lit moon reflecting off of it. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah. I could stay like this forever"
"Me too." It was perfect. The sounds of the ocean coming up to the sandy beach, only to retreat back from where it came from was very soothing that I feel asleep on Parker's shoulder.
Okay, I have a habit of having Val sleep on Parker's shoulder. I'm not entirely sure where that came from but I'm a huge romantic and I find a girl resting her head on a guy's shoulder and then falling asleep is absolutely adorable.
I also have a thing for moonlight walks on the beach. I also find that so romantic. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic.
