EXTRAORDINARY WAY

CHAPTER 18

The frosty air sent tingling sensation on my skin as Summer Hathaway and I walk out of Dewey's apartment. I can feel it in the air, snow is about to come. I suppressed a smile when I heard the preppy band manager complained about the cold. She was wearing her gray scarf tightly around her neck and her school hat was pulled down so much it almost reached her ears. She blew on her hands before shoving them on her coat's pocket. I did the same.

"Come on, this way."

I followed her down the curb to where her white SUV was parked. We got in and she started the car. With a slight purr, we were moving. Summer driving was a very interesting thing. She held both hands on the wheel like all her academic grades depended on it. She moved her eyes on all three mirrors in perfect synchronization and does a perfect turn when she needs to. I gave her the instructions towards my house and she drove in silence as I sat on the passenger seat looking out the window. The low humming of the Beatle's Hey Jude flowed in the back ground. I thought about the things that happened today, especially my talk with Ella after Western Civics. She took it pretty well and was sort of happy when I told her about Zack's words the other night.

"So? He likes you. And you sort of get nervous around him because he's too sweet, meaning you like him too." She implied. I smiled at her analytical way of thinking things. "So what's the prob?" She asked.

"I didn't say there was a problem."

"Did he ask you out?" I shook my head and Ella gave me a confused look.

"I think he's waiting for my response. I didn't actually give him an answer that night." I remember the moment and blushed as the memory made it's way through my mind for the hundredth time today. "Or at least a heads up if I feel the same way." I concluded.

"Well? You do, don't you?" She looked at me intently, I stared back. "You don't?" I smiled.

"I do." Talking more to my self than her. "At least I think I do."

"Then you should ask him out." She chirped.

"Ask him out?"

"Yeah, trust me. One date with the guy and you'll know for sure that you like him." She said with an appreciative smile. "Plus I think he'll enjoy the fact that you would wanna hangout with him."

"Well of course, he's awesome to be around with." I told her. It's true. On my first day of being Summer's assistant, Zack has been the nicest guy in the group and I was instantly drawn to his come-what-may attitude. He's genuinely nice and sweet to everyone. To others he may seem like a stiff, quiet guy but once you get to know him, he's pretty fun underneath. He loves music, his guitar and that passion that he has to play and write songs. Plus, when he looks at at me I feel, dazed. Those brown eyes that were mostly covered with dark hair, were so light and warm.

"Hey." Coming back to reality, I returned my gaze to Ella. "So you'll do it?"

I nodded. "Yeah I'll do it."

"Good." She cheered. "I think he likes you because of your weird personality."

"Weird how?" I asked and she just laughed.

The conversation kept going inside head for a minute longer until I dazed out of it as I heard Summer mumbling something. I turn to look, and she was lightly singing along with the song playing on the radio. By the refrain I caught myself singing along with her too. The two of us left band practice early today to try and finish up all the things that the manager needs to accomplish before the show. Dewey knew about our sleep over and allowed us to leave early. Actually, he was a little too happy that we were leaving, Summer confronted him about that and of course the mentor denied it. It was fun to watch. I waved goodbye to the band before heading to the door.

Zack followed me to the hall to ask where were going, I told him the whole thing. He was glad I was hanging with Summer, even if it was a work night. I was thinking of asking him out that moment, I was about too but lost all confidence when my heart went 360 degrees. The brunette boy stepped forward to fix my school hat, and in such close proximity I couldn't speak. All the while he had a small smile lingering on his slightly pink lips. We just stared at each other until the door opened and Summer stepped out. She took in our expression and just blinked. Zack bid her goodbye and went inside in one fluid motion. Summer gave me a long knowing stare before walking pass me and heading for the stairs. She still hadn't asked me about it, even after we sang along in her car.

She parked her SUV in front of our house, taking in the scenery as we both got out of the car. It was a quiet street with plenty of bricked apartment buildings. Our house was very different though, it was like a Sampaguita among the Roses. It was structured differently with a white facade and curtain wall in front. Slab roofs and metal terraces with metal baluster graced the third floor and because all the windows were tinted, the interior of the building is a complete mystery except for those who live in it.

"Wow." Summer exhaled. While shutting her car door. "You live here?"

"Yeah, this is my house." I told her walking up the steps of the porch. I waited for Summer to come.

"This whole building? This whole building is your house?" She asked, surprised. "Your parents must be Artists or something." She commented as she neared me.

"Close. My father's an Architect." She then nodded in understanding. "Mom's a realtor." I added. She took another look around the porch and the small garden in front.

"That explains it. It's unusual and so modern." She said admiringly. "So light and pretty." She turned to me with a knowing stare. "I think your Mom's home." She told me as she tilted her head toward the red car parked next to her SUV.

"No she's not."

"That's not hers?" She asked in confusion.

"No um . . . it's mine." I said before opening the front door. Leaving her with yet another mystery that she would probably mull over all evening. I was hoping she would ask me about Zack already, but she still hasn't. And now she'll do the same about the car thing. I suppressed a sigh when we entered the foyer. Janine run up the foyer in time to see me and Summer taking off our coat.

"Good afternoon Ladies." She greeted with a kind smile. "And you must be Summer, I'm Janine the head maid of the house." Summer happily shook her hand and told her how beautiful the house is. "Well, I'm sure Mr. Montez would appreciate that. Give me your coats and I'll just call you ladies when it's time for supper." She gestured. "Have a productive evening." She told us as we climbed the stairs.

"She's really nice." Summer said.

"Yeah, she is." I agreed, having complete respect for the woman who took the role of being my parent most of the time.

"Your home is really unique." She said as we walk towards my room which was located by the end of the corridor on the third floor. "Somehow it explains so much about you." She added with a tone of suspicion. I smirked before opening the door to my room. I stayed at the door as she entered, wide eyed before letting go of her bag and dropping it on the floor.

"Ohh my. . . God." She breathed.

It was too long so i divided the Sleep over chap in to two. Is the story going alright for you? i think it had a lot of twist that you didn't expect. But trust me, as the story goes on. . . your questions and confusions will be cleared out.

KATE :]

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