Dog Days of Summer (finished)
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:05 pm
[Author's Note]Thought I'd play around with a different approach for (part of) Emily Jane's back story. It was only meant to be a vignette, but it's kinda grown over the last couple of days... Any constructive criticism/feedback welcome [/Note]
June 18th
"So, everything's ready, right? This is going to be soooo much fun." They were words I didn't hear spoken, by a girl I couldn't see, and they ruined my life. Again.
June 13th
Dear Diary,
It's finally here. Tomorrow's the big day, I'm so excited I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep a single a single wink... the last day of school, my last day in Junior High and two whole months of freedom from homework and tests and classes... Freeeedommm!!! Ooops, sorry, not sorry, guess I was too loud... the witch has put her foot down... laters!
E
June 14th
Dear Diary,
I can not freaking believe it... he asked me! He left it right until the end of the day too, the fink... C said I should have made him wait for an answer but come on, it's Taylor freaking Monroe... with those eyes, and the pouty lips... he's so drool worthy!!! It's my first high school party too, so thank god for C (Bryan asked her too, natch, they're just sooo perrrrfect together). Me and my besty are hitting the mall, manis & pedis, maybe I'll find something cute for the party. Gotta shower, laters!
E
June 17th
Dear Diary,
Did you miss me? C and me have been hanging out, but I'll make it up to you, promise... not tomorrow tho, tomorrow it's paaaaaaarty time... and my first ever date! Well not a date date, le sigh, it's only a silly welcome to Cardinal High (goooo firedogs!). C said it's tradition for the seniors to invite an incoming freshman for some reason, whatevers, I just hope things are more fun this year, last year must have been pretty dull, C said she could barely remember a thing about it.
Oh yeah... I can't believe I let C talk me into buying that bikini, it's sexy as heck, but don't want to give daddy a heart attack! He'll realise I'm growing up one of these days, right? (if you're reading this daddy, shame on you, and it's not thaaat bad, honest)... but I'm not taking it anyway, the electric blue one piece with the cut outs is H.O.T... gonna put a smile on T's face for sure.
OK, gonna try and sleep... want to be fresh for tomorrow, laters!
E
June 18th
#Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough# - Pink's voice blared from my alarm clock as I lay staring at the ceiling, not quite ready to force my way from my cocoon, I threw my hand out, trying to slap the snooze button... again... it may be summer but my body hasn't realised that yet and I've been laying here awake for what feels like hours.
I groaned, it looked like my lie in was officially over when my hand knocked the alarm from the bedside table, Pink's voice grew muffled but it was loud enough that the witch would be up and in my face if I didn't do something about it. Cursing my clumsiness I killed the radio and headed for the bathroom.
Once upon a time twenty minutes would have been enough, a quick scrub, some lotion and a spritz of deodorant, and I would have called it good... but no more, I was determined that the quiet, bookish girl with braces and lifeless hair was gone for good. High school was going to be a fresh start with a brand new me... and today I was going to take the first step and show the world the brand new me.
Forty minutes later and I was and ready to go, not that I had anywhere to go, yet... a quick look at the clock, returned to its proper place, told me I still had a few hours to kill before Case'd be arriving. I had my learner's permit, sure, but holding my breath waiting on permission to use 'his' car would probably be fatal... the evil bitch just didn't want me to have any freedom I'm sure - it's not like my step-brother was going to actually use it, the damn thing had been collecting dust ever since he moved away to college last year!
No, I told myself, you're not going to let them spoil today... think about the party... the pool... the boys... A slow smile crept across my face as I allowed the thoughts of the party to chase away the last of my step-induced-grumpiness, my steps were light as I waltzed into the kitchen, snagged an apple and slipped out onto the patio unnoticed.
Headphones on and feet up, I fell back into The Inheritance Games - losing myself in the world of Avery Grambs and Hawthorne House. So sue me... I never said I was going to give up books completely, and let's face it, they're much better company than pretty much everyone else in this house!
I looked up when a long shadow fell across the page to see C's looking down at me, fighting the grin that was trying to force her lips up. I grinned sheepishly when my back and neck popped and crackled like a string of firecrackers as I stretched, not having meant to read quite that long.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," I said with a smile, "I just couldn't put it down, ok? Gimme five and I'm good to go..."
Case dropped my already packed bag on my lap with a shake of her head.
"Or not," I laughed, I guess she really did know me too well. "looks like I'm ready now!"
Casey cranked the stereo up loud the moment the car started moving, we couldn't talk, well not and be heard - but what was there to say? We were soon singing along at the top of our voices, if you can call the noise we were making singing. It didn't feel like any time had passed at all as we pulled through the gates to the park's lot.
Casey looked around for the perfect parking spot. I don't know why she bothered, there were plenty of spaces - our entire school could fit in this lot, twice over! The stereo fell silent as the engine died. I was halfway out of the car before I realised Case hadn't moved, hadn't even undone her belt.
"Come on," I chided, "if it's as dull as last year we can always slip away early, yeah?"
Her eyes lifted to mine, a weird look on her face that slowly morphed into a bitter smile, "Yeah," she replied as a hand landed on my shoulder, "I guess... let's just try and have fun, K?".
"Looking good Em," Taylor's chocolatey smooth voice sent shivers down my spine as he twirled me round to face him, pulling me tight against his rock hard chest, "ready for some fun freshy?... Em?... Emily?"
Shit, was he talking to me, heat flooded my face and spread over my chest, as I looked back up to his face, his smirk letting me know he'd caught me staring, wondering if I could learn on those chiselled muscles.
"Play nicely Tay," Casey said, a sharp edge to her voice, "she's too nice for you."
Taylor only snorted in reply, but he did let me go. I turned, ready to ask Casey what was up, but glance was enough for me to guess why she was looking glum. She was looking awkwardly around, searching for the fink who'd apparently decided to stand her up.
"C'mon C," I said, trying to sound positive, "maybe he's inside already, right Tay?"
Casey didn't reply, but she didn't resist when I looped my arm through hers and pulled her along with Tay and me towards the music we could already hear.
June 18th
"So, everything's ready, right? This is going to be soooo much fun." They were words I didn't hear spoken, by a girl I couldn't see, and they ruined my life. Again.
June 13th
Dear Diary,
It's finally here. Tomorrow's the big day, I'm so excited I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep a single a single wink... the last day of school, my last day in Junior High and two whole months of freedom from homework and tests and classes... Freeeedommm!!! Ooops, sorry, not sorry, guess I was too loud... the witch has put her foot down... laters!
E
June 14th
Dear Diary,
I can not freaking believe it... he asked me! He left it right until the end of the day too, the fink... C said I should have made him wait for an answer but come on, it's Taylor freaking Monroe... with those eyes, and the pouty lips... he's so drool worthy!!! It's my first high school party too, so thank god for C (Bryan asked her too, natch, they're just sooo perrrrfect together). Me and my besty are hitting the mall, manis & pedis, maybe I'll find something cute for the party. Gotta shower, laters!
E
June 17th
Dear Diary,
Did you miss me? C and me have been hanging out, but I'll make it up to you, promise... not tomorrow tho, tomorrow it's paaaaaaarty time... and my first ever date! Well not a date date, le sigh, it's only a silly welcome to Cardinal High (goooo firedogs!). C said it's tradition for the seniors to invite an incoming freshman for some reason, whatevers, I just hope things are more fun this year, last year must have been pretty dull, C said she could barely remember a thing about it.
Oh yeah... I can't believe I let C talk me into buying that bikini, it's sexy as heck, but don't want to give daddy a heart attack! He'll realise I'm growing up one of these days, right? (if you're reading this daddy, shame on you, and it's not thaaat bad, honest)... but I'm not taking it anyway, the electric blue one piece with the cut outs is H.O.T... gonna put a smile on T's face for sure.
OK, gonna try and sleep... want to be fresh for tomorrow, laters!
E
June 18th
#Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough# - Pink's voice blared from my alarm clock as I lay staring at the ceiling, not quite ready to force my way from my cocoon, I threw my hand out, trying to slap the snooze button... again... it may be summer but my body hasn't realised that yet and I've been laying here awake for what feels like hours.
I groaned, it looked like my lie in was officially over when my hand knocked the alarm from the bedside table, Pink's voice grew muffled but it was loud enough that the witch would be up and in my face if I didn't do something about it. Cursing my clumsiness I killed the radio and headed for the bathroom.
Once upon a time twenty minutes would have been enough, a quick scrub, some lotion and a spritz of deodorant, and I would have called it good... but no more, I was determined that the quiet, bookish girl with braces and lifeless hair was gone for good. High school was going to be a fresh start with a brand new me... and today I was going to take the first step and show the world the brand new me.
Forty minutes later and I was and ready to go, not that I had anywhere to go, yet... a quick look at the clock, returned to its proper place, told me I still had a few hours to kill before Case'd be arriving. I had my learner's permit, sure, but holding my breath waiting on permission to use 'his' car would probably be fatal... the evil bitch just didn't want me to have any freedom I'm sure - it's not like my step-brother was going to actually use it, the damn thing had been collecting dust ever since he moved away to college last year!
No, I told myself, you're not going to let them spoil today... think about the party... the pool... the boys... A slow smile crept across my face as I allowed the thoughts of the party to chase away the last of my step-induced-grumpiness, my steps were light as I waltzed into the kitchen, snagged an apple and slipped out onto the patio unnoticed.
Headphones on and feet up, I fell back into The Inheritance Games - losing myself in the world of Avery Grambs and Hawthorne House. So sue me... I never said I was going to give up books completely, and let's face it, they're much better company than pretty much everyone else in this house!
I looked up when a long shadow fell across the page to see C's looking down at me, fighting the grin that was trying to force her lips up. I grinned sheepishly when my back and neck popped and crackled like a string of firecrackers as I stretched, not having meant to read quite that long.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," I said with a smile, "I just couldn't put it down, ok? Gimme five and I'm good to go..."
Case dropped my already packed bag on my lap with a shake of her head.
"Or not," I laughed, I guess she really did know me too well. "looks like I'm ready now!"
Casey cranked the stereo up loud the moment the car started moving, we couldn't talk, well not and be heard - but what was there to say? We were soon singing along at the top of our voices, if you can call the noise we were making singing. It didn't feel like any time had passed at all as we pulled through the gates to the park's lot.
Casey looked around for the perfect parking spot. I don't know why she bothered, there were plenty of spaces - our entire school could fit in this lot, twice over! The stereo fell silent as the engine died. I was halfway out of the car before I realised Case hadn't moved, hadn't even undone her belt.
"Come on," I chided, "if it's as dull as last year we can always slip away early, yeah?"
Her eyes lifted to mine, a weird look on her face that slowly morphed into a bitter smile, "Yeah," she replied as a hand landed on my shoulder, "I guess... let's just try and have fun, K?".
"Looking good Em," Taylor's chocolatey smooth voice sent shivers down my spine as he twirled me round to face him, pulling me tight against his rock hard chest, "ready for some fun freshy?... Em?... Emily?"
Shit, was he talking to me, heat flooded my face and spread over my chest, as I looked back up to his face, his smirk letting me know he'd caught me staring, wondering if I could learn on those chiselled muscles.
"Play nicely Tay," Casey said, a sharp edge to her voice, "she's too nice for you."
Taylor only snorted in reply, but he did let me go. I turned, ready to ask Casey what was up, but glance was enough for me to guess why she was looking glum. She was looking awkwardly around, searching for the fink who'd apparently decided to stand her up.
"C'mon C," I said, trying to sound positive, "maybe he's inside already, right Tay?"
Casey didn't reply, but she didn't resist when I looped my arm through hers and pulled her along with Tay and me towards the music we could already hear.