Maybe Next Summer by Melissa Scheer (best electronic book reader .TXT) 📖

“Nathan!” I screamed, flailing in his arms as he held me to his chest, spinning me around in the ocean. He was going to drop me in even though I was protesting against it. I could see it coming, his eyes had that glint they always had when he was about to piss me off.
“Kylie!” he chuckled back, dunking me in. “See? Not so bad, right?”
I charged for him and he just stood there, letting me tackle him. “That was not very nice.”
“I know,” he grinned the stupid grin that he always did. That grin could get him anything he wanted, I was sure of it. “But you'll get over it.”
I scoffed, getting off of him even though we both knew it was true. Nathan and I, we weren't an item. In fact, we hardly saw each other throughout the year, but for three weeks when both of our families went on vacation together, we were magical.
And, I'll admit, he would've been the perfect boyfriend, except he lived on the other side of the country. I was from New York and he was from Arizona, and even if we were this perfect during summer, we both were afraid of that next step. It'd be too hard to be together when we were so far apart. Therefore, we never really tried.
“Oh, please,” he rolled his eyes as I hid my smile from him, letting him face my back. “You aren't actually mad.”
“And you know that how?” I made my voice cold as I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“Because, I know you.”
I shrugged, sitting down on the sand. That was a good enough reason for me. I patted the spot next to me as he sat down, looking out at the water.
He shuffled, turning to me. “Remember when you were afraid to go in the ocean? It was the very first summer we came here.”
“Yeah,” I laughed, looking up at him. “Then somebody threw my Barbie in there to make me go in. I could've drowned!”
“I would've saved you,” he wrapped his arm around me. I leaned into him as he told another story. This is what we always did on our last night here, and while I was used to it, it didn't make things any easier knowing it'd be an entire year before I saw him again.
I grabbed his hand, playing with his fingers. “Remember when you beat up that kid because he was making fun of me?”
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “That was completely worth it.”
“Except we couldn't go to the ocean at all because we were grounded half of the vacation.”
“It wasn't really grounded when we were together the entire time. I mean, if I'm with you I'm having fun,” he squeezed me a little.
“Even when we got into that fight?”
“Even then. You're the most fun, most entertaining, most amazing, funniest girl I've ever met.”
I laughed, shaking my head at how carried away he had just gotten with all of his compliments. “You're okay too.”
He sighed, pulling us apart and making us instead face each other. “I need to tell you something.”
“Shoot.”
Nathan looked down, before biting his lip and looking back up at me. “I'm not coming back next summer.”
“What? Why not? You have to! We've always came here together!” I was ready to get on my hands and knees for him, begging that he came back again. I'd convince his parents, pay for it, anything! I just wanted him to be here. Be with me. Even if it was for three weeks, it was enough for me. Better than nothing.
“I joined the army a few months ago,” he let out in one breath, acting as if he was getting some secret off of his chest. “I go to the training next month. They hope to have me out and fighting in January.”
I shook my head, tears falling down. “No. No, you said you were going to college, and-”
“I'm sorry,” he whispered, standing up as I did the same. “It's only for a few years, though-”
“Unless you get shot! What then, Nathan? What if you don't make it back?” I screamed.
He stared at me unsure for a few seconds before shaking his head and pulling me into a hug. How can he just leave? It wasn't fair. We'd been on vacation together since we were ten, and now we couldn't because he's going to go risk his life. I always knew he was going to make a difference and that he wanted to change a life, but I didn't think he mean the army.
I felt his body start shaking too and I realized he was crying. I pulled away, nodding. “Okay. But you need to promise you'll come back here some day. I'm going to wait for you, Nathan. I swear, I will. I'll come here every summer until I die if I have to.”
“I swear on my grave that I'll come back for you,” he took a deep breath. “I'd go anywhere for you.”
I nodded, giving him another hug. Knowing that could've been the last hug I would ever give him.
That was three years ago. Three entire summers ago. And here I was, sitting on the beach alone again. I've been waiting for him for awhile, but I know that he'll come back eventually. I can feel it in my heart. One day, I'd be sitting here and he'd waltz right up and tell me everything was okay. He'd make me feel alive again. Until then, I'll keep waiting. He was worth the wait.
I gazed at the all the people walking the beach. It seemed like everybody had somebody to enjoy their vacation with but me. But, that was okay, because one day, he'll come back for me. He promised. I sigh, looking down at the one letter he'd wrote me. I didn't have the strength to write back. I still didn't. I need to see him. Time was running out.
I stood up once I realized it was dark and he wasn't here this summer. One day he'll come. He had to. He was too perfect for anything to have happened to him. Looking out the window, I gaze at the beach again, remembering how many memories we had together. The memories that I kept holding on to.
Maybe next summer.

Publication Date: 07-07-2010

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