The Summer I Found Myself by By: Michelle Stone (latest ebook reader .TXT) 📕

hiding him?” Shelly asked as she swatted my arm.
“I met him over at Dylan’s. He was the one who helped me find you.” I said dryly.
“Oh, well, he’s cute.” She said as we both turned toward the fire. “Do you think he likes me?” She asked as she turned toward me grinning.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you just ask him?” I blurted out.
“That’s a great idea.” Shelly said as she finished her drink off, walking toward where Mariah was sitting.
Oh no. Why did I just say that? What if Mike likes her more? Why don’t you just walk over there and tell her how you feel? I thought.
I knew I wouldn’t though.
I chugged the rest of my drink no matter how much it burned going down. I have to tell her. I have to.
I walked over to where Mariah was filling up Shelly’s cup and I politely stuck my cup out as she filled it up and mixed it for me. I immediately started sucking it down when she gave it back to me. I started to feel really good. And all of a sudden I was walking up to everyone in sight and talking to them. Then I looked over and saw Mike standing there and decided to walk over to him.
“hey, your looking happy.” He said.
“I am, I am feeling really happy.” I said smiling from ear to ear.
“That’s good. So, where are you and Shelly sleeping tonight?” he asked.
“I really don’t know. And at this point I’m too happy to even care.” I said laughing.
“Well, Jason has an extra bedroom here. I can sleep on the couch and you two can sleep in there.” He said with that cute half smile.
“Wow, that’s really nice of you.” I replied. “Why did you move here?”
“I was getting into some bad things back home. Decided I needed a change of scene.” He said staring off somewhere.
“Oh hey you guys.” Shelly popped up sipping on her drink and stumbling a little bit.
I looked over and smiled.
“So, Mike found us somewhere to sleep.” I pronounced.
“If It’s anywhere by you, I’m game.” She said slyly toward Mike.
“I’m sorry but I’ll be sleeping on the couch.” He said casually.
“Bummer, would have been fun.” She said.
“Well, I’m going to go play some beer pong. Do you want to come with me Mike?” I asked boldly.
“Sure, maybe we can play on the same team.” He smiled down at me.
Mike and I walked toward the beer pong table with Shelly following behind.
Mike asked one of the guys who had next on the game and he replied back with nobody yet.
“I want to play.” Shelly whined leaning into Mike.
“Well you can play with Macy if you want.” Mike said looking away.
“No, that’s too bad. I was really hoping I could play on your team.” Shelly said batting her eyes.
“well, Mike, If you want you and Shelly can play first then I can play next game?” I said trying not to roll my eyes at Shelly.
“That would be great.” Shelly interrupted.
“Okay, I guess.” Mike replied not looking too happy.
Shelly threw the first cup and missed making it too far over the cups. The team across them sank the first cup and missed the second. Mike was up and sank the cup then Shelly missed.
“So, Macy, do you play any sports?” Mike asked turning his attention to me.
“I don’t. I’m pretty uncoordinated.” I replied back. I glanced over at Shelly and she seemed pretty uninterested in the game now that Mike wasn’t really talking to her.
“hey, Macy.” She said. “Do you just want to take my place? I think I’m going to go find Mariah to have her refill my cup.”
“No problem.” I replied.
Shelly walked away and I walked up to take her place. It was mine and Mike’s turn and we both immediately sunk the cups. A bunch of onlookers came over to watch the game as the winning team across from us began to lose. Every time they sank a cup me and Mike would switch turns drinking the beer. It was so much worse than the drink me and Shelly were getting from Mariah.
After about 20 minutes of playing the game we had at least 30 people crowding around us. People were yelling, screaming, and chanting. I felt as if I was playing basketball for the Celtics and I'm up to make a free throw.
We had one more cup, as did the other team. Finally, me and Mike both took our turns and on the last shot he made it. Everyone started screaming. But the game isn't over yet. If the other team can sink the last two cups then They win. Everyone watched as they were up. They both took there shot and missed each time. Me and Mike turn to face each other and gave a high five.
I lifted up my last remaining cup full of beer and downed it as fast as I could.
***
I woke up the next morning with my head hurting from and my mouth extremely dry. I rolled over on the bed and started to look around. The room had the fake wood paneling and the blanket I had draped over myself was some kind of fur. I hurriedly pushed it off me and saw Shelly laying next to me in Bed. She rolled over and her eyes opened and blinked a few times.
“Your up.” I said.
“Yea, for the moment.” She rolled back over and stretched.
We both got up and found our shoes and put them on. I walked out in the kitchen and I grabbed a glass full of water and gulped it down. My head hurt so bad and I was so dehydrated. I needed food in my stomach fast too. I went and met shelly out by her car.
“So, that was fun last night.” Shelly said with a smirk.
“Yea, it was.” I said thinking back to Mike and how he had admitted to me last night that he liked me.
“So, that kid you were talking to all night, you like him?” She said with a smile.
“I think so.” I admitted while looking down at the ground smiling.
“Well, I think my stomach might explode if I don’t eat something. I am so hungry.” Shelly laughed.
After me and Shelly stopped by Speed & Shop, our local gas station, to get some nachos and water she dropped me off at home. I went up to my room and laid down on the bed.
I can’t believe how much fun the previous night was. For once I was talking to people and I wasn’t even shy about it. I decided to go and sit out on my roof. I could see Shelly’s house perfectly from my room.
Shelly and I have been friends since before I could remember. One time her mom made cookies for us, and almost burned down the kitchen. She wasn’t exactly the handiest cook, but she was nice and always ordered pizza for us when we asked. All of my best memories are with Shelly. Like the time she asked out Jake Nelson for me and when he said no punched him right in the nose causing her to get suspended. She always had my back.

Chapter 4

It is the perfect summer day out. It’s not too hot outside. I started getting antsy sitting on the roof like I was missing out on something. I got up and brushed off my shorts. I climbed back in my room and took a quick shower and changed.
I looked at myself in the mirror and decided a little makeup couldn’t hurt so I brushed on some foundation and put on some eyeliner. It couldn’t hurt to put some mascara on so I did, and when I looked at myself again I could see I was changing. I liked it.
I ran down the stairs and went into the kitchen where my mom was at and she looked over at me.
“What’s the occasion Macy?” My mom asked.
“There isn’t one. I just felt like doing my makeup today.” I glanced at her as I pulled a granola bar out of the cupboard.
“Well, you certainly look very pretty and mature.” She said smiling.
“Thanks mom, I think.” I said glancing away uneasily. “So mom, do you think I can borrow the keys? I really don’t want to sit around all day at the house. I’m thinking about spending an afternoon at the beach.”
“Well, I don’t know. You’ve barely had any real time driving alone since you got your license. Is Shelly going with you?” She asked
“I’m pretty sure.” I laughed a little.
“Well, alright. Don’t stay too late and take your cell phone so I can get a hold of you if I need the car alright?” She said handing over the keys.
“Thanks mom. I’ll see you a little later.” I kissed her cheek and walked out to the car. I pulled out of the driveway and drove over to Shelly’s house around the block.
As I got to the top of her stairs I had a sudden feeling coming over me that maybe she was too busy or would have other plans with Mariah. I quickly pushed the thoughts out of my head as I knocked and her mom called out to come in.
“Hey, is Shelly upstairs?” I asked politely.
“Yea, I think so.” She replied.
I walked up the stairs and opened the door and she was sitting at her desk doing her makeup completely dressed.
“Hey, I got the keys to my moms car. Do you want to come with me cruising or something?” I asked.
“Wow, I can’t believe she actually let you borrow it.” She gaped at me from the mirror.
“Yea, She said when she saw me today that I looked very ‘mature and pretty’ and then handed over the keys. It’s kind of making me nervous.” I said as I laughed.
“Alright, well I have to be home around 8.” She said as she glanced at the clock on her bedside table that read 1:22.
“What’s at 8?” I said as the unsettling feeling came over me again.
“Well, last night I met this guy named Carter. He is really cute.” She said as she turned around in her chair to face me. “We were talking and then started making out, right? Well, he asked for my number so he could see me again and about an hour ago he called and wants to take me to the movies tonight. I guess he can’t get enough of me.” She said laughing.
“Wow” My stomach clenched up. “why didn’t you tell me this morning in the car?”
“Well, I was going to but my head started hurting so bad that it was the only thing I could think about. So, I just wanted to get out of there quick and get some Advil in me.”
“Oh” The feeling went away. “Well that’s cool. I’ll have you back before then.” I smiled. “I’m thinking we can head out to Fort Raine to go shopping and hang out at the beach.”
“Its sounds good to me. Hang on a second while I finish my hair,” She said running her flat iron through her hair.
We left her house and were driving on the now busy streets on Greenville, Georgia. People were blaring their stereos and car horns were honking. Eventually we made