You Belong with Me

Summer Hates

As I looked at the reflection in the mirror, I can't seem to recognize the girl I see. She looks just like me, but different. I shook my head to clear any negative thoughts and try to force a smile. 

"It's your first day of being a senior. Be happy!" I said to myself still looking at the mirror.

I put on my denim blue jacket over my white tank top that matches my jeans. Lastly, slip on my white converse on and grab my bag to head downstairs. I was greeted by Miho at the end of the stairs. "Hello, cutie." I scratch her head. Miho is my pet golden retriever (I don't really consider her as a pet, she's more like my baby.) My dad adopted her a month after mom died.

I saw my dad in the kitchen sitting with a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other, he saw me as I walk in.

"Good Morning." He smiled as he put his coffee down.

"Good Morning, dad." I smiled back and pull a seat next to him at the table.

"Sleep well?" He asks now folding his newspaper.

"Yes." I answered while I mouthed a piece of bacon. He looked at me with worry. "I'm fine, it has been a month since it happened. I'm okay now, see." I put on the biggest smile that I could just to prove to him I'm alright.

My dad and I are close even before Mom died, I had always been a Daddy's Girl. Mom died when I was 8 from cancer. He was so broken from the tragic loss, but he endured the pain for me. He tried his best to not make me feel incomplete, especially now that I only have him. He never once missed any of my events even though his schedule is unpredictable being the town's Sheriff, and I admire him for that. 

He knows almost everything about my life, well almost everything. He knows that Lance and I broke up a month ago during the Summer Festival dance. I told him that the reason for the breakup was just a heated conversation that sparked into a big fight, which was a total lie. The truth was I caught my freaking boyfriend with his tongue deep in another girl's throat. Just thinking about it makes me puke the bacon I just ate.

My dad was at the precinct when Lance went by our house the next day after I caught him cheating on me. I thought he would try to explain what happened that night. Try to explain that the girl went onto him and he could not pull away when I saw them together. I know it might sound stupid but what if that really happened but I was wrong, so wrong to hope.

(FLASHBACK)

"I think we need space." the words left his mouth like it was nothing.

My eyes widen in shock from hearing those words. "I was expecting more like an apology, rather than that." I said. "But okay." I said nodding with my hands resting on my hips. 

"You-you understand?" A smile curving on his lips. I huff at how I ridiculously hoped of a stupid explanation and apology from him. 

"You don't need to ask for space." I told him. 

"I just really need to-" I cut him from continuing what he was going to say.

"Because I'm breaking up with you." I said with a raised brow. "We are through. I don't want to see your lying face ever again."  I opened the door for him. "Now, get out." 

He stepped outside, I was about to close the door when I remembered something. "Wait." I told him. I walk up to him and slap him. He flinched which made me know it must have hurt so much. "Go to hell."  I told him one last time and slam the door shut behind me. 

(END OF FLASHBACK)

***

A knock on the back kitchen door brought me back to reality. My best friend Zoe entered the room. "Good Morning!" Zoe greeted as she pulls a chair opposite to where I'm sitting, then takes a piece of bacon and shove it in her mouth. Zoe's usual barge in the early morning is already normal in our household. She lives right next door with her parents and a younger brother. My dad and her dad are best friends since they were young. Zoe and I might be fated to be best friends like our fathers. 

"You're here early Zoe. Does your mom know you already left?" Dad asks sipping on his coffee.

"I woke up a little early. I told Mom I'm having breakfast here." She answers as she takes another piece of bacon. "Do you have milk?" She asks. 

"Just admit you couldn't sleep last night for being too excited for the first day of being a senior." I tease with a smirk. She kicked me under the table. I stick a tongue out at her. 

"Just get me some milk." She taps my empty glass demandingly. 

"Go back to your house and get yourself your milk." I raised my brow at him eating my scrambled eggs. She rolls her eyes at me and gets up with the glass on her hand to the fridge. 

Dad's phone lit up, he reads the text then quickly stands and he takes his empty cup and plate to the sink. "I need to go." He says.

"Problem?" I ask him.

"I need to go to the precinct, there had been a break-in in some house downtown. I got to check the details." He explains while fixing his uniform under his coat.

"Just be careful." I reminded him.

"I will." He nodded. "Have a great first day in school." He kisses the top of my head before grabbing his car keys. "You too, Zoe." He glances toward Zoe drinking her milk.

"Bye." Zoe waves him goodbye and so did I. After Dad left, Zoe won't stop asking me questions about Lance.

"Just shut up, Zoe." I told her with a growing annoyance. "I don't want to hear his name ever again." I stood up and take both our empty plates to the sink. 

"Well, you can't avoid him for the rest of your human life just like what you did for the rest of the summer." Zoe said with her hand placed on her hip.

"I could and I will continue to avoid him because I want to." I said while finishing up the dishes. 

"What if you see him in the hallway?" She stands next to me still with the topic. 

"I'll go the other way." I answered.

"What if you see him at the cafeteria?" She continues.

"Then I'll eat in the comfort room if I have too." I pat my hands dry.

"What if-" I did not let her finish what she was about to say.

"Zoe! Just stop." I put my hand over her mouth to stop her from saying another word. "Just stop. I'm letting go okay." I slowly take my hand away from her. "Thank you." I took my keys and backpack then head out to the door. 

She tried to say something again but I stop her with my palm near her face again. She purses her lips shut afraid. 

"I'm sorry. I just want you to be prepared if something happens." She apologizes walking behind me to my car.

"I'm okay, Zoe. I will not burst out to tears if I ever see him. I'm so over him." I assured her.

"I hope so." She sighs. 

****

I took a deep breath before going out of the car. Zoe looked at me with worry, I just nodded to let her know I was okay. A sudden memory came to me, this time last year Lance and I came to school holding each other's hand. I quickly push the memory away and hop out of the car.

Zoe went to the Registrar's office to get our class schedules as I wait for her outside. I heard stories from other students passing by telling their friends stories about how amazing their summer was. I suddenly became jealous, it reminded me how miserable my summer went. 

"Here you go." Zoe handing me my schedule. "Oh My God, we have 2 classes together - MATH and SPANISH..." clapping her hands like a 6-year-old kid. "Although I hate it them both."

"Spanish is alright, Mr. Gomez is actually funny." I said.

"You only say that because you find it funny that he spits on my face every time he speaks!" crossing her arms on her chest. I burst out laughing for what she just said. I just couldn't help but laugh when I remember that. "I will not ever sit on the front row ever again."

"No... then Spanish will not be funny anymore." I told her laughing.

"You are one hell of a great best friend." She rolls her eyes at me.

"I know, I know!" I said still was laughing.

"Let's just find our senior locker." She drag me to the hallways to search for our lockers. Sadly our lockers are far from each other. As I reach my new locker, I pinned in my combination but it wasn't opening. I pulled it as hard as I could but still no use. I tried and tried but it was somehow stuck. I was about to give up when someone punched it open.

"Than-" I turned to say Thank you but the person just walked past me, so I didn't have a chance to see who it was or say thank you.

I am currently putting some of my stuff inside my locker when Zoe came. "Sucks that are lockers are in a long-distance relationship... but on the brighter side, mine is next to a cute guy." She wiggles her brows at me. 

"Good for you then." I smiled. Zoe continues to talk about the guy she just met when a familiar figure entering the halls that caught my sudden attention. I saw Lance, his arms wrap around Nicky, The Boyfriend stealer. They are all flirty, whispering on each other's ears. Seeing him with her brought back the pain that I was trying to hold back deep inside. Zoe noticed my sudden change of expression, she averted her gaze to where I was staring, then she pulled me quickly away from the scene to the restroom.

"Maddie, are you okay?" She looks worried. I have my hand on my Mom's necklace, tears were voluntarily rolling down my cheeks. I can't believe I was being betrayed by my own tears. "Maddie?" Zoe softly rubbing my back.

"I thought that the pain was gone that I was okay, but I was wrong. It felt like my heart was being shattered into pieces all over again just by seeing them being together." I told her.

"Maddie, it is going to be okay but in the meantime, we can just conclude that he is such an Asshole!" she laughed a little - I know she's only trying to make me feel better. "He will soon realize how big of a loss you are to him."

"You think so?" I ask wiping my tears away.

"Definitely!" She nodded. "Now, repeat this after me. Lance is an ASSHOLE!"

"Lance is an asshole." I repeated.

"I can't hear you." She made it sound like from the opening of SpongeBob.

"An asshole! LANCE GILMORE IS A f*****g ASSHOLE!" I shouted and we both laugh. "Thank you." giving her a hug.

"I know I'm a way better friend than you." She hugs me back.

"Okay, I'll give you that." I only nodded.