Under the Summer Sky, Michelle Stone [good book club books txt] 📗

back behind the wheel. I sat there and waited for Brady to climb in next to me. I sat there staring out the window as he was putting his seat belt on. I turned on the car and started to drive back to the house.
I pulled up and got out and handed my mother the things I picked up for her. Today was stressful and the day was still in full bloom.
I went upstairs to my bedroom and pulled out my laptop. I noticed I had a friend request. I looked at the picture and instantly recognized the bright red lipstick lips and the name ‘Star Jacobs’ below the picture. I accepted her immediately. In her profile picture she was wearing a pair of cut of shorts with a halter top that had floral print all over it. The whole shirt had a vintage look. I loved it. Almost as soon as I accepted her I got an Instant Message from her.
‘Star Jacobs’ Hey, What’s up?
‘Myra Anderson’ Hey, not much. You?
‘Star Jacobs’ There is a party tonight I thought that maybe you would want to come and join me again? If you want.
‘Myra Anderson’ Actually, that sounds fun.
‘Star Jacobs’ Great. Where do you live?
‘Star Jacobs’ That way you won’t have to walk. I can just swing by and get you.
After giving her the address and a few questions later, I finally shut my laptop full of hope. Maybe this summer won’t be so bad. I’ve already made a friend.
I walked downstairs thinking about what tonight might bring me when I ran, face first into Brady. Looking up at him, holding my head where it connected with his shoulder, I realized how much taller than me he is.
“Geez Myra. Why not look where you’re going next time?” he said half chuckling. I looked at him and then around to see if my parents were anywhere in sight. “Hey, do you want to go to a party tonight?” he looked at me then glanced around and replied “Yea, is it at the same place tonight?”
“I honestly don’t know. Star is coming to pick me up.” He scrunched up his nose at the name. “Is that the girl with the bright red lipstick?” he asked. “Yea, so what?” I replied. “I heard she was a dike.” He forced that last word out like he calling me a bitch. Brady is never one to swear that much. “Your point is what exactly?” I asked confused. I then said “What? You’re a homophobic now or what?” He shrugged it off and then said “What time is she going to be here?” “She said she was going to come and pick me up around 9. I’ll just tell mom that we are going to a bon fire at her parents’ house or something. That will buy us until about midnight.” Now, the only thing I have to do is try and find a cute outfit to wear. But first I needed a cigarette.
I started walking down the beach with my pack of cigarettes in my pocket and my iPod on full blast.
My parents didn’t know I smoked. They might have an idea, with me going for random walks all the time and smelling like smoke every day. No matter how bad I come home smelling like an ashtray they just ignore it. I think maybe they’re scared to admit that their little girl, who used to be so smart, took up the habit. I try to quit, but when they’re being difficult it’s the only thing that keeps me sane.
After I got far enough away I pulled out my pack and lit one up. I savored the way it felt going into my lungs as my heart beating started getting slower. I finally felt at ease. I sat there and smoked my cigarette down to the butt and stubbed it out. I sat on the beach for a couple more minutes before standing up and brushing off my bottom. The rocks made little indents in my hand.
I walked back up to the house and then saw my mom and rehearsed in my head what I was going to ask her. “Hey mom.” I said nervously. She looked up from the book she had on her lap. It was like she never moved since this morning after breakfast. “Hey Myra, How’s it going?” she said as she smiled up at me. “I met this girl in town, named Star, and she wanted to know…” “Her name is Star?” my mother asked half giggling. “Well, yea, anyways, she asked me if Brady and I wanted to come over tonight for like a little movie night she has at her house every other weekend and I kind of already told her we would go.” My mother stared out into the sky as she thought about what I was saying. I can just see her processing it in her thoughts. My mother had a weird way of thinking about things. She often looked out into space and you lost her. One thing I’ve learned is that if she starts daydreaming for more than a minute then you lost her in her train of thoughts. “Yea, its fine” she finally said.
I went and found Brady, who was sitting on the beach, and told him the good news. “I wonder if Sandy is going to be there. I really don’t want to face her.” He laughed. “Why? I thought you were excited about seeing her? You guys had ‘so much fun’, remember?” I chuckled. He looked up at me and finished “I kind of left her in the back of a pick-up naked.” I laughed as I thought about it.
Brady and I walked back up to the house and both went to get ready. Brady finished getting ready in like 5 minutes whereas it took me about 20. I changed into a pair of ripped up jeans and a Banter Freight t-shirt, my favorite band. I decided I was going to go dark in my make-up and did my eye shadow accordingly. By the time I was ready I looked at the clock on my bed side table and realized that it was close to 8 o’clock.
I went downstairs and my dad, Robin, was already at the grill making some hamburgers. I sat down at the picnic table in the yard next to the fire pit which was going full force while Brady was roasting some marshmallows. My dad came to the table and laid down a plate of burgers with my mother, carol, following close behind with all the trimmings for a great cookout night. I loaded up my burger and went to sink down into it when someone pulled up in the drive way. I looked over and my heart started skipping beats when I realized that Star was early. Way early. I stood up and walked over to her car which was the first time I laid eyes on the pink Volkswagen beetle. I walked over to the window and she said “Hey, are you guys ready?” I looked at her and looked back at my burger and family sitting down on the table and felt a low grumbling in my stomach. ‘I am so hungry’ I thought. Obviously hearing my stomach she added “Go ahead and finish dinner. I will just wait for you to finish eating.” I asked “are you going to come and join us? You should if you want.” She smiled and I realized that she was so pretty. One of the most attractive girls I have ever met. “Sure.” She turned her car off and walked up to the table with me. “Mom, this is Star. She’s the friend I met uptown today.” My mother looked at her.
“Hi, my name is Carol, this is my husband Robin.” She got up and shook her hand. My mother was so old fashioned. She always keeps to her southern values. “Hi, it’s so nice to meet you.” Star said smiling as my mom handed her a plate and she started helping herself. “So, Star,” My mother said as she looked up from her plate, “How long have you lived here in Breighton?” Star looked up from her plate and replied “Well, my mother grew up in this town and after thinking that she only wanted out; she saw it fitting for me to grow up here as well.” Stars fingers under the table brushed on mine and I felt my face blush. ‘What is wrong with me’ I thought. She’s a girl. I shook it off and finally we were all done eating.
Brady and I piled up in Star’s beetle as she started it up. We pulled out of the drive-way and down a few winding roads. We finally came up to a little cabin back in the woods with a few people already parked and standing around a little fire roasting some hot dogs. We all got out and Star said “This is my friend Nolan’s house. His parents own like three properties all over Breighton, and the one that they aren’t using Nolan holds parties or bonfires at.”
All three of us walked over to a boy who was setting up a table with a pyramid of cups on either side of the table. The table was right on a deck underneath a string of lights. The sun was shining across the yard. “What is this?” Brady asked pointing to the table with the cups. The boy was wearing a shirt with a robot on it and had hair that was straightened. He looked at Brady like he had two heads. Nolan looked down at the ground and then shook his head. “Have you never heard of Beer Pong?” Nolan asked. Brady replied “I saw it on TV once but never actually played it.” Nolan’s eyes went wide. “Do you drink often at parties?” Nolan asked. Brady replied “All the time. Nobody’s actually played it though.”
I looked at Brady and I shrugged at him. I piped up “I’ve never played it either.” Nolan then yelled over at the bonfire for a couple people to come over and play some pong. They walked over and grabbed a couple ping pong balls out of a cup off to the side. I walked up and looked into the cups. Each one was filled up about half way full of beer. Star came and joined me next to the table as they started shooting to see which team went first. Nolan made the first cup and got the balls. He handed one to the guy next to him and they tossed the balls up in the air aiming for the cups. Nolan made it but his team members’ ball went way over. One of the guy’s on the opposite teams took the ball out and chugged the beer in the cup that Nolan made. Then the opposite team missed both balls. I watched Brady as he intently watched the game.
After about 15 minutes of watching the game Nolan’s team finally made all cups and won the game. Brady looked at Nolan and then said “Hey, my names Brady and this is my sister Myra.” Nolan looked at me and smiled and then stuck out his hand for Brady take and then took mine and kissed the top of it lightly. Star giggled next to me as I pulled my Hand back and wiped it off on the back of my pants. Nolan then showed us to a line of about 4 30 gallon coolers filled to the brim with ice and