Summer Lovin

Chatper 3: Sweet Caroline

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor." – Eleanor Roosevelt

Enjoy! Please comment and vote -Renee 

I wake up to the RV movie. My glasses fall on my face hitting my eye. "Ow!" my eyes start watering while I bonk my head on the top of the bunk. " Good morning dork," Bethany says handing me a Starbucks. " How long have we been on the road?" I question scooting over for Beth. I take a sip of my caramel cookie crunch. "Only for about an hour. Jeremy said we had to stop at Starbucks." I crawl off my bed grabbing my phone and sending a text to my mom. 

I always like to text her when we are on the road and where we are at. Our parents weren't too keen on us traveling across the country without some sort of parental eye. But now we have Jackson, he's an adult. 

"Where are Dillon and Jackson?" I ask sitting down in the passenger seat propping my feet on the dashboard. "They are in the car behind us," Sammy says at the wheel driving ahead of slow cars. Driving the RV is pretty easy on the highway. But turning is super hard and I feel like I'm going to hit something. I look at the GPS, "7 more hours!"  I wine leaning the chair back to get comfortable. I look at the cars in front of me and search for different license plates. 

"Why are there so many California license plates," I groan throwing my notebook over my seat. Farlo comes overlaying his head in my lap. "You'll keep me amused right Farlo," At that moment Jeremy calls for him. Farlo runs back to Jermey on the couch cuddle in the cubby hole he made with his legs. "You trader,"  I whisper under my breath. Sammy turns the radio up. Betha strides up to the front plugging in her Bluetooth. "Yoy at least got to listen to good music,"  I let out a giggle as Pompeii plays. 

After another two excruciating hours later we finally stopped at a rest stop. I hop out of the Rv and stretch my body. I feel a hand gently grab my hand from behind me. " Hey mads," Dillon says squeezing my hand tightly. " I was gonna say good morning to you but you were asleep," I walk into the truck stop heading to the vending machine.  Jackosn and Sammy come in talking about the best route to get to Arizona. "If we take this highway we will get stuck in traffic," Jackson explains pushing the button for a candy bar. "So we take the scenic route." 

"The Gps says to stay on the highway so we are staying on the highway,"  I block out the rest of the conversation and continue my search for a good bag of chips. " Oh s**t!" Jackson says running out of the building. Dillon turns around his mouth agape. 

The Subaru they were driving is now being toad away down the highway. "What the hell is wrong with you," He says shouting into the phone angrily. Dillon groans beside me. "Stupid asshole," 

Jackson comes back in kicking the air. "Our father wanted the car back," he says sitting down on the ground looking defeated. "Couldn't even give us money let alone a car." I look towards my friends. The room is filled with awkward silence and confusing looks. "Sounds like you guys need a ride," Sammy says smirking. Jackson glares at her, Sammy's smile falters as she looks down at her converse. 

"Yeah, still got the room." Jackson stands up leaving for the Rv. "Jack gets like this when things don't go his way. Blame his OCD," Dillon states looking towards Jackson. "Welp we better get your stuff loaded up and keep driving," Jeremy cuts in walking out the door. We all head to the Rv filling back up with snacks in hand. Bethany throws her legs off the couch pointing the camera at us. "Be careful Jackson is in a mood," I warn sitting next to her. Farlo comes in walking with his chew toy in his mouth. I pet his head feeling his soft fur against my palm. "Okay guys since someone is grumpy today we're gonna take a break," Beth says stopping her life she started on i********:. 

Jackson and Dillon come stomping in with their stuff laying it back on their beds. "So what do you guys do to pass time in here," Dillon asks sitting next to me. His arm sneaks out around my head to lay on the back of the couch. "Well, Sammy usually drives and we listen to music on the radio or Beth's Bluetooth. Jeremy and I play hangman while Beth updates her social media," I say as Sammy starts the engine. The music begins to play as we pull out of the truck stop. Jackson sits down next to Beth looking out the window intently.  

I feel a pull on my wrist. Dillon pulls the hair tie off my wrist and begins twisting it between his fingers. My stomach fills with butterflies as I try to avert my eyes somewhere else. Jeremy takes a seat up front bringing Farlo with him. 

BEEP BEEP BEEP

A timer goes off and everyone looks startled other than Jackson and Dillon. "Oh, Dill it's time for your medication." Dillon stills looking wide-eyed at Jackson. " Whats the medication for?" I ask. Dillon's face goes grim then returns to its natural state. "I  have these really bad headaches. So my doctor prescribed some meds for me, no big deal," Dillon finishes standing up to go take them. Jackson slumps back in his seat watching Dillon. 

 3 hours later 

"Finally Whoot whoot," Jermey shouts in the driver's seat. After driving for another 3 hours we headed into Arizona. Jackson was right about the traffic. We'd probably still be in Califonia if not for his scenic route. Sammy started feeling sick from driving for a while so she's laying down in the back. I think everyone's in a grumpy mood thanks to Jeremy and his obnoxious singing. 

"SWEET CAROLINE! BUM BUM BUM!" 

"Holy s**t Jeremy shut up or I'll throw all this water on you," Bethany said standing up with her water bottle. Jeremey shuts up looking back at us hopefully seeing the annoyed expression on our faces. 

After another excruciating hour, we finally get to the trailer park. There are only a few camper and trailer here which means plenty of room for our big home. I look out to the bike trails and lake. You can just barely see the Canyons from where we are staying. Jeremy pulls the Rv into position as we all head out to hook up the plumbing and electricity. 

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The water from the shower steams up the mirror as more steam fills the room. I look back at the lock to make sure it's secure. I get in the shower as the warm water falls down on my head. I grab my Maui hair care shampoo since I'm 'That girl'. My legs ache from the constant sitting for hours on end. My headache that was forming goes away as I massage the shampoo into my head. 

I hear a knock on the door that startles me. "Occupied," I yell feeling my anxiety flare. I quickly wash the shampoo out of my hair and replace it with a conditioner. My nerves start to settle again. I finish washing my body and step out of the shower. I check the lock wants again and it is still okay. Stupid paranoia. I get dressed in some pajama shorts, a light blue tank top, some Nike socks, and my heydudes. The sunset shines on my face as I walk back to the Rv. Farlo is out on his leash playing in the stream. Bethany is having a mini photoshoot with her camera. 

She looks hella fierce with her sharp glare at her camera. Jeremy and Sammy are making flower crowns with dandelions. I wish I was that crafty but I'm sadly not.  I notice Jackson throwing the ball to Farlo while Dillon is sitting pulling grass from the ground. I whistle over at him hoping to get his attention. "Hey cute thang," I say sound really cringe. I bite my lip and start my walk over to Dillon. I again lookout to the canyon hoping to see it up closer soon. I stumble over my feet. I prepare myself for impact shutting my eyes and silently praying it won't leave me with scruff marks. 

"Maddison be careful," Dillon says catching me before I can fall. My hands fall to his arms which feel really hard. Oh my goodness I sound like a freak. " Mads you okay, you kinda blanked there for a second," he says smiling at me. "Yep I'm fine," I smile back at him. "So when did your headaches start?" I ask. 

"Maybe a few months ago. Like I said no big deal," he swats his hand in the air. "We actually were trying to get money from my father to help with the headaches," Dillon sweeps his hair back out of his eyes. He looks at me for a while before continuing. "Our mom is an addict in and out of rehab," My eyes widen. "My parents divorced because my dad cheated. He moved to California without even saying goodbye. I went for a yearly check to come to found out I have a br-," He didn't finish his sentence. He stayed quiet for a while looking out into the area. 

"We needed money to pay for the medication and doctor visits," he finishes pulling my hands into his. "We barely are living and that car was the only thing we had,"

"You don't have to talk about it anymore," I say rubbing his hand. He gives me a light smile. "You are a good listener," He says. I giggle smiling at him.