CHAPTER 1
Summer
“Hurry up”! I was shouting at my sister because my flight was in three hours, and it takes two hours to reach the airport. “I’m almost done, relax!” Hailey shouted.” Ughhhhhh….!” I exhaled. Hailey was the kind of person who just had to look good for everything, even if we were just going out to get food or anything not worth dressing up for. She believes that she will find her true love or something like that anywhere, so she must look good. “I don’t get the reason as to why you are dressing up, you are the one dropping me off at the airport,” I told her. “Mhaaaaaa.” She exhaled. “I have told you this at least a thousand times, I have hope that my…….” “Ya ya, Prince Charming is waiting for you out there. “I stopped her before she could continue and waste more time. I know this. After all, after we moved out of my aunt’s place, we decided to rent an apartment together because we wanted our own space. We were twins, and she knew me best, so I agreed. But I’m now moving to LA, and she is going to have to look for a new roommate. I know she will find one because, come on, it’s Hailey we are talking about. Everyone loves her. “Ok, I’m finally done.” Hailey came running down the stairs and pulled my arm for us to enter her car.
“Are you ever going to give up on this Prince Charming theory of yours?” I asked her, smiling.
“No, never, not until I find him.” She said back.
I just smiled back and kept quiet, and Hailey, being Hailey, knew that something was wrong. “Ok, spill it. I know something’s wrong.” She said.
“Nothing’s wrong.” I tried to sound convincing, but I knew I wasn’t. She gave me an eye, and I just looked outside the window and hoped that she would let it go. But she didn’t. She stopped the car. “What the hell!” I shouted at her.
“Summer, we’re twins, you know when something is wrong with me, and I know when something is wrong with you, and right now something is wrong.” She said, and I knew I had to tell her or else we would just stay here until I did.
“Ok, ok, I.....just don’t know how you are so hopeful that you will find your right guy......you know. I just think that it is a waste of time looking.” After what happened with you know who, I gave up on the whole fantasy of finding your true love after what that son of a bitch did to me. After we broke up, I was broken and depressed, so I had to go for therapy, and it helped me a lot. I didn’t forget what he did to me, but I put it behind me. I think that is one of the reasons I’m moving because I won’t have to see him again. I started dating again, but none of them were serious. I made sure not to be too close. I don’t want to be hurt again.
“I guess it’s just who I am. I have hope that everything will work out,” she chuckled, “just like dad did.....I guess it’s my way of carrying on his legacy or something.... I know it’s stupid.” She looked down. Hailey was such a hopeful and joyful person. She was always there to make sure that everyone was okay, even if she was fighting her own battles. She got me through my breakup and one of the worst times of my life…the day our parents died.
I looked at her and held her hand. “It’s okay, I understand, and it’s not stupid. I think it’s sweet and honorable that you keep our parents in your heart.”
“Look I know what Rafael did to you was fucked up, but I think it’s time for you to fully move on and forget about him. He’s not worth it.” She told me, and I know she was right. I had to move on from him. I just gave her a polite smile.
“And who knows, maybe you will meet someone new in LA.” She looked at me, smiled, and started the car. I just nudged her shoulder, and we spent the rest of the car ride listening to music and singing along. We finally reached the airport, and Hailey was helping me with my bags. Once we got all the bags out, I was shocked to see my friends waiting for me.
“Hey guys, what are all you losers doing here?” I said with a wide smile.
“We couldn’t let you leave without saying one last goodbye,” one of my friends said and hugged me. I hugged her back.
“Awwwwww you guys are so sweet, I love you,” I said as we all went in for a group hug. I finally let go when I realized I was going to be late. They all went back to the van they came with, and I was left with the two most important people in my life, my sister and best friend. I knew saying goodbye to them was going to be hard.
I walked over to my best friend, Nate, and just hugged him, and I didn’t want to let go. Nate was my best friend since we were young, and we grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and it was obvious we would become best friends too. So, when they died, we felt the same pain. His parents supported us when they died, and Nate were there for each other always.
“I still can’t believe you are not coming with me,” I said when I finally let go of the hug. He was supposed to come with me to LA We were going to move in together. Nate was a musician; he loved singing and dancing. His dream was to get a record deal at UMG, the biggest record company in LA, but he told me that they retracted their offer and that they were not looking for fresh voices at that time. This completely changed our plans. I wasn’t going to live with my best friend, and I was leaving him behind. Since we already bought the house and couldn’t sell it, I had to look for a roommate when I arrived, which would be hard since I wouldn’t know anyone.
“I know, but we made a plan, remember. We face time as much as possible, and every Sunday, we give each other updates on our lives,” he said
“Ya, I know, but it won’t be the same,” I whined back.
He looked at me and just hugged me and said, “We’ll make it work, darling, we always make it work.” I just smiled. We broke the hug, and I tried my best to fight back the tears that wanted to come out.
“I love you, you know that, right?” He spoke.
“Oh, I know, how could you not I said, smiling, trying to brighten the mood, and it worked because he just shook his head and smiled back, and I looked at him.
“I love you, too, Nathaniel.” I know he hates the name, but I had to say for old times’ sake.
“Bye, Sunshine.” He knows I hate that name. I just laughed, too.
“Bye, Nate,” I said, and he turned to walk to the van.
I now had to say bye to my twin, but we said our official goodbyes the night before because we knew if we decided to say them now, we wouldn’t leave.
“Don’t change on me, little sister. Now I know you are going to become a famous designer, just don’t forget about me,” she said with tears forming in her eyes.
“First of all, you are only five minutes older than I,” I chuckled. “And second of all, I could never forget you, I love you too damn much.” I laughed to prevent the tears from coming out.
“Awwwww, I love you too, Summ.” We hugged and let go when they were calling the passengers.
I was finally walking to the entrance, and I heard all my friends and my sister shouting bye. Some people would be ashamed by this, but I got used to it and turned around and waved to them goodbye.
******
I finally finished checking in, and I was now waiting to get on the plane. I had like an hour before takeoff, so I decided to go to the duty-free shop and buy something to eat while I was on the plane. I saw Nate’s favorite candy, and I just had to buy it and send him a picture since he was trying to get off candy. I also bought a neck pillow because I knew it would be a long flight. I decided to take the night flight so that I would arrive early in the morning the next day and freshen myself up at a hotel, and take a cab to meet the moving trucks on my way to my new house. My plane was called out and I had to get on. I took my seat and just relaxed and pinched myself to see if this was all a dream, but it wasn’t. I am going to own my fashion store, and my work will finally be seen.
