— II. TOURIST TOWN

QUICKLY HOPPING OFF THE TROLLY, 

i quickly made my way to the center of old orchard, feeling happiness consume me as i walked around the very familiar area, breathing in the salt air.

i stood on the sidewalk, taking in the surrounding area, looking dead ahead at the bookstore in front of me, knowing that at some point this summer i'd be there looking for something to read.

looking towards the beach, a wide grin spread across my face, before i started to speed walk to it, wanting nothing more than to go to the one place that actually felt like home to me.

once i had finally gotten to the edge of the sand, i stepped to the side seeing people bustling in and out of the entrance that was there. i quickly slipped off the pink crocs i had on, before running onto the sand and towards the ocean.

i felt like a little kid when i had finally reached the water after 10 months, missing the one thing that was an escape to me.

an escape away from everything i had going on in my life, an escape away from everything that made my head spin.

an escape away from life's problems itself.

there were more people than i expected in old orchard considering it was only the beginning of june, but then again, it was the weekend after memorial day and a lot of people were usually here.

but, needless to say as i walked down the shoreline, i didn't exactly have a care in the world, i was just happy to get away from my shitty hometown.

i was the only one who had gone downtown with colton going off to get grocerys for this week, and clem and nic doing god knows what. they didnt specify but i didn't want to bug them anyway. as long as i could go and they were safe, i didnt really care.

it had been awhile before i had reached the spot i was looking for, a spot that nobody in my family knew about.

the creek.

i had found it last year after walking the beach alone, and it was about a half an hour walk from the center, but it was worth it. i stood at the edge of the creek, watching kids run around, going boogie-boarding, the water rushing towards the ocean, and looking at the seashells the scattered the sand. 

it was absolutely gorgeous.

i crouched down, collecting some sea shells before sitting on sand, knowing i'd probably regret it  later but i didnt care. right now, i honestly just wanted to enjoy everything around me and think about everything that was going on in my mind.

what the hell was i going to do?

i had been kicked out of my house after my parents had been snooping through my room, and had found a piece of artwork with my sexuality on it.

i was terrified to tell anyone about it, especially after what had happened after clementine had come out as lesbian. i told nobody, not my friends, not clementine, and it was to never get word to my parents until i had moved out.

but it did, and it was one of the worst days of my life.

my mother and father were some of the worst people i could ever meet in my life. they were selfish, homophobic and used the excuse of 'its a sin, the bible said so.'  they had kicked out both of their daughters because of their sexuality and i hated it.

i hated them.

growing up, they had always made it a point for clementine and i to wear dresses and that we were going to find our prince charming's, the love of our lives and become amazing mothers. but i knew from a very young age that it was never going to happen.

i felt my phone buzz in my back pocket, giving me the signal that either clementine or colton wanted me back.

quickly picking up the phone, i started to walk back to the center, hoping to catch a trolly back.

"yes?"i questioned, and heard clementine chuckle.

"you coming back anytime soon? cole just came back and i dont know about you but im kind've hungry."clementine explained, and i smiled, running towards the entrance of the center.

"pick me up from the back entrance of the camp ground and i'll be back in ten."i suggested, putting back on my crocs, and heard nic laugh.

"be there in five."she mumbled, before hanging up the phone, making a small smile play on my lips as i ran towards the gate.

boy this was gonna be a good summer