CHAPTER FOUR

❝Mama❞

Pink, Maigo, and I lay together on the ground in one side as the boys, Ash and Cole, sat on the other side of the field.

I lay on the middle, Pink on the right, and Maigo on the left.

"So, Ade," Pink twirled her pink locks then ran her hands down to the minty area. "What have you been up to? It's been almost a month since summer began."

"Uh."

We were filled with silence.

Pink narrowed her eyes. "Are you for real? Even Maigo does something."

"Of course I do." Maigo stated, glaring at her. Pink held her hands up. Maigo's the one person you don't want to mess with. Even if you're a red-belt.

"Well, what have you been doing?" I asked Pink.

Pink turned to face me. "My cousin visited and is staying near my house. They'll be staying for the summer, and he says he'll probably be attending the high school here."

"That's cool."

"He's also planning on attending a summer camp, like I am. I invited the others to join too and they're thinking about it! Right, Maigo?"

"No."

"Cold!" Pink gave her a petulant look. "Please?"

"Oh God, just stop."

Pink grinned. Her mint eyes sparkled as she looked at me. "How about it? It'll be much more fun than staying in your house, and it's actually free!"

No.

"I'll think about it." I heard myself say.

~LATER~

I arrived late that night.

Maigo and Ash had already gone home a few minutes before. Since Cole and Pink lived near each other, Cole waited for Pink as she talked to me.

Pink had pulled me over at the end of the party. "There will be a meeting tomorrow at nine sharp. I'll be waiting so you better at least come."

"But—"

"Happy birthday once again!" She hugged me and went to join walking with Cole. They both waved at me goodbye, leaving me staring at the bag of gifts each of them has given to me.

I sighed as I pushed the red wooden door to my house. The lights were all off but one, which was on the living room.

I flinched, remembering I had a (literally) caked appearance on. Then I realized I had changed clothes, courtesy of Pink, shortly after my friends had caked me. 

"Hello?" My voice echoed throughout the house walls. It was so eerie and silent, it sent a cold shiver down my spine.

"Adelaide?" My mom called from the living room. She was sitting on her workplace, doing some paper works. The only source of light in the room was from her table lamp.

I came up to her and hugged her from behind. "You need to rest."

"Happy birthday, dear." She kissed me on the cheek. Her brown hair was tied to a slightly messed-up ponytail. Her violet eyes seemed so dull and layers of dark circles were marked under her eyes. "I'm really sorry we couldn't celebrate your birthday."

I shook my head. "No. I understand you and dad have a lot you need to do for work these days."

"I'm glad you're my daughter." Mom smiled. "Did you have fun with your friends?"

I nodded and she turned around and ruffled my hair. "See? Getting out of the house for once wasn't so bad. You should do this more often."

"Uh, yeah," I scratched my head. "Pink invited me to come to this meeting tomorrow for a camp..?"

Mom raised an eyebrow. "Then go! As long as you're not stuck in your house, glued to your devices, I'm perfectly fine with it."

I sighed, for what seemed like the millionth time that day. "The camp apparently is a daily thing for at least about a month and a half, and it starts early in the morning, mom."

"If you're worrying about the finance, your dad and I will have that covered."

No. I'm just too lazy to wake up.

Summer Lie #4: When you sort of want to go somewhere but then you're also too lazy to go.

"No... It's actually free. But—"

"Then even better!" Mom exclaimed. She turned towards her working table and picked up a stack of papers. I can feel the lecture coming up already. "Go explore the outside world. Life is too short to be spent just indoors. When you're given the opportunity to go out, then grab it."

"Spare me." I groaned. "I'll go."

She smiled. "Goodnight, dear."

I kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight."

With that, I made my way upstairs and threw myself on my plush bed. I didn't realize how tired I was until I felt gravity forcing my eyes to shut close.

~The next day~

My morning went better than yesterday. I was able to wake up early with a decent mood, which almost never happens. Athena seemed to also be in a good mood so she didn't mind driving me to the camp. Perhaps her mixer did go well despite her being a little late.

I arrived at the camp and immediately spotted Pink, waiting at the entrance. 

"Pink!"

Her mint eyes lit up when she saw me, and waved. "Ade!"

I ran towards her and we gave each other a hug. She looked at me excitedly. "Come on, the meeting's about to start!" 

She walked in front as I followed her. 

When we entered the inside of the camp, it was slightly crowded, I almost had a panic attack. People ranging the ages of about fourteen to nineteen were everywhere.

I lowered my head, afraid I would see anyone from my school that I knew.

Even though barely anyone except my friends know me there. 

We were half-way near this big stage in the middle of the field when I bumped to someone.

I looked up to see boy wearing a navy blue cap over his hair, a blue cardigan over a black and white striped long sleeve. He had ripped jeans and a white pair of Keds.

"I'm sorry." I muttered. I was about to walk past him but then stopped when I realized this dude gave me an odd and familiar vibe.

It wasn't exactly his fashion sense that caught my attention. I mean, they did seem aesthetic and quite a familiar taste to someone I think I knew. 

It was summer and he was all wrapped up. I didn't know what he was thinking.

Then he took his hat off.

Leaves of different colors fell from the wind's blow and his soft, short slightly curly disheveled hair windswept. It was a good shade of pastel pink.

His silver eyes glinted as they looked straight into my heliotrope eyes.

My tongue tasted foul, and we both said in bitter unison;

"You."

❀ *:･ﾟ❀ *:･ﾟ❀ *:･ﾟ❀ *:･ﾟ❀

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TO BE CONTINUED~