Chapter 3: May 23, 2012

Summer

That Monday, I had attended school in Sydney. Sunday night, Ash and I had walked my school schedule three times and I was almost positive that I had it down. First was Creative Writing with Mr. Beasley and second was Biology with Mr. Jagpal. Then we had a fifteen minute break, and then I headed to Physical Education with Mr. Stassi. After PE was Algebra with Mrs. Palmer, and then we had lunch. After lunch was Concert Choir with Mrs. Ferris., and then World History with Mrs. Robinson.

By lunchtime, I was worn out. The school system in Sydney was different than Perth, and I was having trouble keeping up with my classes, even though it was only my first day back. During break, Ash, the boys and I all net in the quad outside the school and we met there again for lunch. Together we walked to the cafeteria where we received and ate our lunches. We sat at a circular table near the doors where the traffic flow was thinner than the middle. Calum and Ash were engaged in a conversation; their heads were bent together and their voices were hushed. Michael was hunched over his phone with his ear buds in. Luke turned to me with a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Guess it's really just us," I said with a shrug.

"Looks like. So what class do you have next?" Luke gestured to the schedule that I had slipped into the cover of my binder.

"Choir," I sighed nervously. I loved singing, but not in front of people. I had hoped that this class would change that.

"With Mrs. Ferris?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"I have that class, too," He chuckled.

"Really?" I laughed. "You don't seem like the type to take a choir class,"

"You don't either. I mean, I didn't even know you sing,"

"Well… I don't like to in front of people," I shrugged.

"Oh. Then you're going to hate this class."

"Why?"

"Mrs. Ferris makes every newcomer stand up and sing a solo. Plus, you have to sing either a solo or in a small group every week," Michael mumbled.

"Oh. Well," I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Are you an alto?" Luke implored. Calum and Ashton laughed, their conversation over, and turned back to the rest of the group.

"No, but I'm not a soprano either. I'm kinda the monkey in the middle."

"Ah. Don't worry. There's plenty like that in our class." Luke smiled at me, and I grinned back.

During World History, I sat next to a bleached-blonde girl with heavy eye makeup and an AC/DC t-shirt. Every time she moved, the leather jacket she wore squeaked and pissed off everyone in the room. Myself included. Mrs. Robinson, our teacher, asked her to take the jacket off. She did, but then commenced to snap her gum every time Mrs. Robinson turned her back. I tried to ignore her and take as many notes as possible, but wound up being totally distracted by this girl.

After the bell rang and dismissed everyone, I packed my things slowly and managed to slip out of the classroom without anyone trying to strike up a conversation with me. I was almost to the front doors that led to the parking lot when the gum girl caught up to me.

"Hi," She snapped her gum again. "I'm Tabitha. You're new right?"

"Summer. And yeah. I'm new."

"Whoa. Cool accent. Are you American?"

"Yeah," I said again as we neared the double doors.

"That's sweet. So, anyway, today at lunch I saw you hanging out with Lucas Hemmings and his gang,"

"Yeah. What about them?" I pushed the heavy door open and cringed in the sudden sunlight. I was almost knocked over by the ever steady stream of students eager to get home.

"How do you know them?"

"Why do you care?" I looked at her, and her gaze dropped.

"I don't. Not really. Not about all of them," Her gaze flicked back up to mine. We came to a stop at the edge of the sidewalk. I glanced around the parking lot and spotted Ash, Luke, Michael and Calum sitting in Ash's car, waiting for me. Ashton was drumming his fingers against the steering wheel and pounding his head along to whatever rock music he had playing form the car stereo.

"So which one of them do you like?" I fidgeted, keen on getting into the car and going home.

"Well. We just met. I'm not comfortable-"

"Then may I go? Sorry, but I have a ton of homework to do," I cut her off impatiently.

"Yeah. Of course. I'll see you in class tomorrow." She smiled softly and I waved as I stepped off the curb and made my way toward the car. As I climbed into the passenger seat, Ash put the car into gear and backed out of the parking space. Luke leaned forward and tapped me on the shoulder.

"Were you talking to Tabitha Smith?" He asked.

"Yeah. Why?" I gave him a small smile.

"I was just wondering." He sat back in his seat and gazed out the window.

Ashton and I exchanged knowing looks as he peeled out of the lot.

After the stressful first day of school, I went straight up to my room to finish the mound homework I had left. It took me approximately two-and-a-half hours to finish my English and math homework collectively. I pushed the rest of it aside and took a break. I slid off my bed and trotted down the stairs to grab a water bottle. Anne was sitting at the kitchen table reading a fat novel and looked up when I came into the room.

"So? What was the envelope all about?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

"What envelope?" My brow furrowed as I opened the fridge and swiped a bottle from the door.

"The one I gave you three days ago. You didn't open it?" A smile spread across her lips.

"No. I completely forgot. I'll go do it now," I shrugged and galloped back up the stairs. Back in my room with the door closed, I retrieved the envelope and turned it over a few times. No return address, just ours. I cocked an eyebrow as I opened it.

The rather large envelope contained one small piece of paper and a 4"x3" picture. I pulled the articles out and looked at the photo first. It depicted me as a small child in the arms of a man who looked like he was in his late twenties. I put the photo down and opened the letter. I recognized the handwriting immediately. I smiled at Melissa's sloppy script. The letter read:

Dear Summer,

Since, you can probably already tell whose handwriting this is, I'm not signing my name until the end. However, I have some pretty large news, so you might wanna sit down. Here it is:

Your father's alive, and I know where he is.

He's in prison. I met with him and he's being released in two months for very much improved behavior. Oh, and he was put in jail for stealing, I think he said, ten cars. So for grand theft auto.

Anyway darling. He told them about you, and how you've been in foster care since you were young, and they're letting him take you back to the United States. You only have a few months left with the Irwins. Make them count, sweetie.

I know that this is sudden and probably not what you want to do, but it's for the best. This way you'll be home in the US, you'll be with family, and I really think you'll be happy. Your father's a good man, Summer. I promise you. And the stories your mum told you about him weren't all true. I can't enclose them in this letter, for this was just an informatory document, but the next time we meet, I will tell you all about it.

I'd take you to see him in prison so you can dictate his personality for yourself, but he's in Perth. Guess you should've stayed, huh? Oh, well. I miss you, Summer, and hope you're well.

Sincerely,

Melissa

I stared at the paper in my hands. They're letting him take me back to the US? What if I didn't want to go back? What if I didn't want to leave the country with a man I didn't even know? What if I was already happy? What if-

The door opened. "So what is it?" Anne poked her head in and I held the paper wordlessly out to her. She read it quickly and then made a small, disappointed noise.

"Oh, Summer." She sat next to me on the bed.

"I don't wanna leave," I said quietly. "I don't wanna be with this man. I don't even know him." I reached for the picture again and held it in between Anne and I. We studied the photo silently. "He's not my father." I whispered.

"Honey, but he is. I know it's hard to trust people you don't know, but this will be good for you. I promise," She brushed hair behind my ear. 'Where are you from in the US, anyway?"

"Um, Sacramento. It's the capitol of California."

"Is that where you'll be going?"

"Probably," I looked away from Anne and out the window. "Hopefully."

I know it's short, and I'm sorry. I've been fucking busy. And I'm gonna be away from a computer for three days while I'm travelling to and fro a family reunion, so. Thanks for reading. Please review! :)