So sorry for the long delay in updating! Thank you everyone who took the time to review, follow, and encourage me!
Enjoy!
Margo rolled over in bed, grabbing her blue cell phone with one hand. Checking the time, she sighed in contentment. The first day of summer vacation – she'd slept in till 8:30.
"1 new text message!" read her lock screen. Swiping her finger across the screen, Margo sleepily pressed "Messages".
Avery: Hey girl! Do you have plans today? Spencer, Joe, and I are going to meet at the skate park. If you come, there'll be an equal amount of guys and girls – besides the fact that you're my best friend! :)
Smiling, Margo typed back at lightning speed.
Me: Sounds fun! I'll ask Gru. Who's going to be your skate partner?
Avery: Joe already asked. :P
Me: You know he totally likes you… ;)
Avery: I HAVE a boyfriend!
Me: And why isn't Austin coming?
Avery: He's spending time with his older brother. Cameron just came home from college, remember?
Me: Oh yeah. Is he engaged yet?
Avery: Not yet, but I think he'll ask Kendall soon! :D
Me: (: Aww! I'll talk to you later as soon as I know if I can come!
Avery: Kk
Swinging out of bed, Margo opened her dresser, and reached for her favorite Lorax t-shirt. Then her hand paused. No, she wanted something different. It was the first day of summer – why be standard? Rummaging around, she found a black camisole. Pulling it on, she layered a red tank top on top of it, then pulled on a pair of light, faded bootcut jeans that came down just past her heels. The back hems on the bottom of the legs were ripped a little bit, but that just made them look more summery. Grabbing her red Converse, she pulled them on, then pulled her hair up into a ponytail, put her glasses on, and ran downstairs.
Gru was just placing a plate of biscuits on the table in front of her two younger sisters. He paused upon seeing her. "You look different."
"Do you like different?" Margo smiled a little.
He considered. "Maybe. It just makes you look older, dat's what I don't like. You're supposed to stay my keeten forever," Gru joked, but Margo saw the look in his eyes that meant he had been serious about every word.
Margo hugged him tightly. "I'll always be your kitten," she said brightly, stepping back.
Gru stared down at her for a minute, then snapped back to the reality that the younger two were present and – were those tears in his eyes?
"Ah, ha ha, I theenk I smell onions, does anyone smell onions? I do. I theenk, I should get back into the kitchen…!" Gru grinned sheepishly, and disappeared behind a cabinet door.
Edith watched, unimpressed, then continued eating her biscuit. Agnes giggled.
Grabbing a plate, Margo put two biscuits on it and ladled gravy onto them. Sitting down by Agnes, she dug in.
The two younger girls stared as Margo all but bolted the food, and put her empty plate in the sink before either of them finished.
"Hey Gru? Is it okay if I go hang out with Avery and some other friends at the skate park?"
"Oh. That's why you were in such a hurry." Edith stuck her tongue out at her playfully.
"Sure, sure – wait, what other friends?" Gru's voice came from the depths of the cabinet.
Margo sighed. "Just Joe and Spencer."
"Boys?!"
"No, Gru, I know two girls named Joe and Spencer." Margo rolled her eyes.
There was a pause. "Huh. Dat's weird."
A well aimed sofa pillow hit the cabinet door, slamming it shut behind Gru. "I was being sarcastic. Of course they're boys. Why does it matter?"
"Well," Gru's voice came, slightly muffled from inside the cabinet. "I just theenk…"
"Please? They're good guys. I promise I'll be fine, I have my phone if you want to call me."
Margo crossed her fingers as Gru hesitated.
"Okay, fine. But you'd better be safe!"
"I will! Thanks, love you!" Before her dad could change his mind, Margo dashed out the front door, grabbing her roller blades on the way.
Outside she did a mental victory dance as she strapped them on and stuffed her shoes into a gray messenger back which she then slung around her shoulder. Standing up, she pushed off, smiling as she felt the breeze flow around her arms. Skating was the best.
"Margo! Over here!"
Ten minutes later, Margo was at the park, and could see Avery waiving from where she was sitting on a stone wall next to Joe, who was between her and her brother, Spencer.
"Hey, guys!" Margo skated up and hopped onto the wall beside Avery. "I'm so glad it's officially summer vacation!"
"I know!" Avery exclaimed, her perfect black curls bouncing around her vivacious face. Margo was slightly jealous of Avery's perfect hair, sparkling green eyes, and pixie-like features, but the girl had an awesome personality to go with her good looks.
"Hey Margo," Spencer greeted. Nobody would ever be able to guess that Spencer and Avery were related his hair was light brown, and his build was slightly chubby.
"'Sup," Joe greeted, tossing hiss head of blonde hair, his blue eyes dancing playfully.
"Joe," Margo laughed. "Since when do you do the whole 'gangster' thing?"
Avery rolled her eyes. "Don't ask me. He'd been practicing all morning."
"Our couples skating is now beginning! Everybody who is not skating as a couple, please move off the main rink!" An announcement came over the park's loudspeaker. Music was playing loudly from speakers hooked onto a large oak. The main rink was a large, circular, smooth area where many skaters were already enjoying the summer morning.
"I guess that's you and me, Avery," Joe raised his eyebrows.
Avery laughed. "Coming!"
As the two sped off hand in hand, Margo giggled. "And she says they're just friends."
Spencer cleared his throat nervously. "Well. Um. Does that mean you want to – I mean since everyone else is out there, maybe you weren't thinking of going out there – with – with me?"
Startled, Margo stared at him through her glasses. He looked very nervous. "Uh, did you want me to?"
"Uh, um, uh…" The poor boy stuttered.
Margo felt her heart constrict. She didn't want to hurt him, but she had to tell the truth. "I wasn't going to, to be honest," she said softly, blushing and looking down. "I just hadn't thought about it I guess…"
"Oh!" Spencer shook his head. "It's not that. I just can't really skate yet."
Shocked, Margo stared at him, then a slow smile started and eventually she burst out laughing. "You were afraid that I wanted to?"
Laughing as well, Spencer nodded. "I'm really clumsy on these things."
Suddenly a slender figure about Margo's size zipped up. In a blur, he flashed by, moving the their hair with the breeze he created, and he spun to a stop just past Margo.
She stared. It was Antonio, on skates, in a black band t-shirt, gray jeans, and gorgeous hair and eyes as usual.
"May I?" He said in his accent, extending a hand towards her to lead her off the wall and out into the couples skating.
Margo's heart pounded rapidly. Hopping down from the wall, she stared into his eyes, a kaleidoscope of emotions running through her. As they got closer, she lifted her hand slowly towards his face.
He smiled slightly.
Slap!
Withdrawing her hand from slapping him across the cheek as hard as she could, Margo glared at him. "How dare you!" she shouted. Turning, she began to skate away. Spencer watched, stunned.
"Margo! Wait! I don't understand!" He called after her desperately. Dang it, why was that accent so cute? Pushing the thought from her head, she turned.
"You may have helped Edith and I yesterday, and I'm grateful. I was just starting to consider trusting you again as a friend. And then after all you did to me at your stupid party, you just come up thinking I'm going to fall head over heels and everything will be fine?!" Margo yelled, tears forming in her eyes. Antonio looked hurt and confused, but that didn't matter. She'd been hurt, confused, and broken hearted by the time he'd finished with her.
"Get away from me, Antonio," She hissed, then turned and skated away as fast as she could.
Hearing a gasp behind her, she turned just as she heard the clatter of Antonio's skates.
"Look out!" Antonio shouted, diving for her.
Pain.
Then blackness.
Tadaaa! Please review. :)