Summer slowly awoke from her sleep, rolling over in her overly sized bed that sat in her perfectly decorated master bedroom. She stretched her toes towards the end of the bed and her hands to the top as she groaned and her joints snapped awake. Relaxing again on the bed, she looked over at the clock and realized it was just 8:30 a.m. That meant they had just 4 hours to go until Marissa had to get on that big plane and head off towards Newport. Sitting up, she twisted and hung her legs over the side of her bed. Her toes barely scraped the hard wood floor it was propped up so high. She smiled, remembering how when they first got it Jake had to practically push her up there. She had always wanted a bed like this though, with its huge headboard and big pilars on the corners- it made her feel important. Like a princess.
Hopping off the edge, she grabbed up her long pink robe and tied it tight around her waist before quietly creeping out of her room and into the hallway. She heard the soft sound of the television going in the living room and knew Aiden was already up, but when she walked past the guest bedroom with the door propped open, Marissa was still asleep. Tip-toeing, she headed into the room, staring in concern at her best friends sleeping form. She was pretty skinny, but she had always been pretty skinny. But now there were dark circles under her eyes and she was paler then ever. Marissa was always so stressed, running around trying to raise that little boy all by herself. She had definitely done an amazing job, but she had almost forgotten to look out for herself in the process.
The little patter of bare feet quickly approaching startled Summer out of her thoughts. Hurriedly, she headed into the hallway to cut off Aiden from waking up his mom. She decided she'd let Marissa sleep in, she deserved it. Plus with all the stress she was about to face.. she needed it.
"Morning Aid," she whispered out as she gently shut the door behind her. He stopped abruptly in front of her, rubbing at his tired eyes. She smiled at him- he just looked so cute. He had on little baggy dark blue plaid pajama pants and a grey New York Yankees t-shirt that hung loosely on his tiny little frame. His hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions, making Summer wonder if he had put moose in it.
"Hi Aunt Summer," he tried to whisper back at her, but his voice almost seemed louder than his normal tone, just crackilier. "Is my mom up?" Summer shook her head as she moved up and put her hand on his back, leading him back out towards the living room. She stopped once she felt she was out of earshot of the guest room and knelt down next to him.
"So Aiden, you didnt happen to raid the fridge yet for breakfast did you?"
"No," he told her, shaking his head. She smiled at him, trying to fix his hair as he answered. "Thats why I was getting Mommy."
"Well," Summer started right as he pushed her hands away from his hair, frustrated. He wanted to do it himself and began running his tiny fingers through his locks as she continued. "How about me and you go out to eat breakfast?"
"Oo! oh!" he called out loudly, making Summer try and sush him as he rambled on excitedly, "Can I get pancakes? And bacon and eggs and.."
"Aid," she interrupted him in harsh whisper, trying to stop him before he got too loud, "You can get anything you want, we just have to be quiet so Mommy can sleep, ok?" He nodded vigorously as he ran his finger across his lips, pretending to zip them shut, making Summer giggle to herself. "Okay, well I'm going to go get you some clothes, and then we'll get changed and we'll go." She got up from her kneeling position and headed off towards the guest room leaving the little boy behind. Just when she got the door open, his loud whisper screeched out through the hall making her shut the door quickly and turn back.
"What is it sweetie?" she asked him as he walked next to her and looked up at her.
"Maybe I could ice cream?" he whispered out innocently, his hand clasped behind his back as he swayed back and forth, his face covered in a sweet smile. Summer let out a defeated sigh as she shook her head and smiled hesitantly at him. Why did that kid have to be so cute?
"Okay." He was about to yell out in joy when she brought her finger to her lips, reminding him he had to be quiet. Once again, he zipped his lips shut before running off towards the living room, finally allowing Summer to go in and get him clothes.
A couple of hours later, Summer and Aiden re-entered the house, just as Marissa came out holding her and Aiden's bags. She set them down on the kitchen table before kneeling down to Aiden's level and holding out her hands to pull him into hug.
"Mommy!" he yelped out excitedly at the top of his lungs as he charged at her, jumping into her arms so hard she fell back onto her back. She giggled at him as she wrapped her and tight around his little body. He let his arms fall against the ground, not able to hug back because of the ground that rested underneath her back.
"Did you and Aunt Summer have fun this morning?" she asked as she released him from the hug. He nodded as moved so he was sitting on her stomach, bouncing on her torso and making her groan as she tried to hold up his shoulders some she he couldnt land on her so hard as he talked.
"Yeah, me and Summer had lots of fun. We went down to this place by the water and she got me ice cream.." his voice bounced and shook everytime he landed on her stomach, but Marissa laughed at how fast and jumble his words were. Obviously the ice cream had affected his mood. She raised her eyebrows at Aiden surprised and he giggled at her.
"Ice cream? For breakfast?" She asked, faking astonishment at him.
"Hey thanks for selling me out buddy," Summer called out out to him as she set her purse down next to Marissa and Aiden's bags on the table. "That was supposed to be our little secret.." she grunted out jokingly as she walked by and ruffled his blond locks with her hands.
"Aunt Summer, secrets are bad," Aiden let her know, his mood suddenly changing serious and he stopped bouncing on Marissa's stomach, as he remembered an episode of Sesame Street he had just recently seen. "They hurt people right here.." he said as he put his hand over his heart just like Ernie had.
"Oh my god," Summer muttered to herself more than anyone as her face pouted out like she was looking at a little puppy, "You are just the cutest thing ever.." Immediately he stuck his tongue out and twisted his face indisgust at her words.
"Aun Summer I'm not cute..." he corrected her as he climbed off of his mother, "Thats what girls are. I'm hassnome.."
"Handsome?" Marissa asked him gently as she moved to sit cross legged on the floor next to him, placing a hand on his back.
"Yeah, that. I'm handsome," he told them proudly as he walked over to the table and pulled out a chair to sit at. Marissa got up to stand as well, taking a seat in the chair next to Aiden. She reached over and brushed a few stray strands of hair of his forehead before moving her hand to rest on his shoulder.
"You excited to ride on the plane today baby?" she asked him gently, trying to get him ready for the whirlwind that was ahead of them. Hopefully it wouldnt put any stress on him at all. She was actually putting alot of faith in the fact that he wouldnt even care when he saw it was sunny all the time and he could play outside whenever he wanted. Especially after being cooped up after the cold, cold winter.
"I dont know.." he mumbled as his eyes followed his Aunt across the room as she moved to sit on the other side of him. He was scared of California. He would tell his mom that, but not in front of anyone but her. Not even his second favorite person in the world, Aunt Summer. His mommy was the only one he would cry too.
"You'll be fine Aid," Summer assured him as she pulled her chair up to the table and got settled in her seat. "Its like a carnival ride. Kind of like the Hammer one you wanted to ride last time." He nodded his head nervously before turning from Summer back to his mom.
"Can I go watch TV?" he asked her quietly, making her heart go out to him. She could tell he was really scared.
"Sure sweetie, but just for a little bit though. We gotta start driving to the airport soon." He quietly nodded and climbed off the seat. Marissa watched him as he walked into the living room and waited until she heard Spongebob ring out through the room before turning back to Summer and letting out a sigh.
"How are you doing?" Summer asked concerned as she shifted to take over Aiden's seat next to Marissa. She shook her head silently as she stared at the table. The truth was she wasnt sure how she was. She was scared out of her mind to be headed back to Newport, but then again, she knew it was the best thing for her and Aiden. She just wanted to get it over with. "You know, Newports not going to be as bad this time around for you." Marissa finally brought her eyes up to meet her best friends, looking at her like she was crazy.
"Really?" she asked astounded as she flopped back against the seat. "How do you know that?"
"Well all of the problems you had back then were caused by your parents and boys," Summer started to explain as she tilted her head at her best friend. "And now you and your mom have completely gotten over all your drama with eachother. And you've turned down every guy thats hit on you for the past few years so I dont really see there being a problem there," Summer let out a laugh at her last comment, as did Marissa as she felt some of the uneasiness slip out of her system. "Plus, you've got the only boy you really need right there with you."
Marissa smiled as she turned back to look at Aiden laying down on his stomach with his head proped up on his arms as he laughed at the TV. She let out a calming breath before turning back to Summer, smiling. "Thanks. You always know what to say to make me feel better, Sum."
"Well Coop, thats just what I'm here for," Summer retorted sarcastically as she got up off her chair and headed to the fridge in search of a water bottle. Marissa let out a heavy sigh, as she ran a hand over her face, feeling her eyes well up.
"God, Sum, what am I going to do without you?" Marissa asked her shakily just as Summer turned back towards the table.
"What am I going to do without you?" Summer asked right back, her own eyes welling up as she resumed her seat next to Marissa. They sat there in silence for a long moment, both of them trying to keep their emotions in check, before they simultaneously grabbed each other into a big embrace.
"I'm still going to be calling you all the time you know- driving you crazy," Marissa said as she pulled away and rubbed her hands the few tears that escaped her eyes.
"Yeah, and, well I'm coming to see you in a few weeks for your birthday, so it wont be that bad," Summer told her as she poked her finger at her tear duct, trying to remove the moisture before it even had a chance to harm her make up.
"You are?" Marissa asked, surprised at this new information. "Sum you dont have to if.."
"No arguments," Summer broke in, cutting her off mid-sentence, "I want to. Plus I havent missed your birthday since we were 5, so I do have to. Its like tradition." Marissa let out a reluctant laugh at her friend before turning to look at the clock and over to Aiden, before looking back at Summer.
"Maybe we should get going?" she suggested softly, and Summer nodded. Marissa got up off her chair and headed over towards the living room. "Hey, sweetie, I think we're going to get going.." Aiden let out a tired sigh, and Marissa hoped that meant he'd be able to sleep through the flight. He got up and she followed him over to where he had thrown his coat on the floor, helping him zip it up. As soon as he was all bundled up, Marissa grabbed on her jacket, as did Summer. She helped Aiden pull on his small backpack that he insisted on carrying as Marissa threw her bad over her shoulder. Grabbing up Aiden's hand, she wordlessly followed Summer down and out to her car, taking in the little patter of snow that was falling, even though it was April. She knew she was going to miss this place, but there was no turning back now.