When Summer Ends by Katy Wormald (the speed reading book txt) 📕

Chapter One


"Jodie Rose Harper, get out of there right now!" My mother yelled for the 100th time, pulling on the door handle frantically.

"Mum, I've already told you, I'm not in the closet!" I shouted back at her, doing my best to pull the handle for inside so she couldn't get me out.

"Fine. Have it your way!" She said in a condescending tone to me. I sat there for a few seconds while I heard her walking away. What the hell? Had I really won that easily? Just as i was about the leave my underground hiding place (which is actually just my closet and isn't really under ground either, huh...I should probably stop calling it that) when I realised that this was most likely her plan to get me to come out, so I sat back down for a few minutes replaying the morning's events.


Earlier that morning....

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock ringing at the side of me. I rummaged around on the side table trying to find the dreaded thing, while doing my best not to leave my warm covers. I finally found it and looked at the time. 5:30AM what the hell? Arrgh I hate this time of morning, I pushed the button on the top of the clock to stop the horrible ringing, after a few pushes and it still not working I decided it was best to murder the alarm clock, since it wasn't working any more, I threw it to a wall in the far corner of my bedroom. With one last low beep my alarm clock had died. I closed my eyes and snuggled back into my bed, smiling with the satisfaction you get from killing an inanimate object. I was just drifting back to sleep when my light turned on.

"Get out of bed now, you've already slept in and your aunt Marissa is expecting you in a couple of hours!" She said in a frantic, shrill voice. She threw my covers off of my bed and left in a quick blur. I laid there for a few seconds trying to get my still sleeping brain to register what my mum had just said.

"Now I said!" She screamed again from outside of my bedroom. How she knew I still sleeping I do not know. I jumped out of bed quickly, hoping to avoid another one person conversation with my insane mother.

I grabbed a clean set of clothes that I had put out last night and set off towards my bathroom. I jumped inside my shower and ran the water as hot as it would go, I quickly washed my hair and body and jumped back out of the shower a few minutes later. I wrapped my hair up in a towel and dressed out of my pajamas and into my clean clothes. I brushed my teeth and grabbed my hair dryer from out of the cupboard, walking back into my bedroom. I sat on the foot of my bed and half dried my hair. I would have done it properly if I wern't short for time and wern't so tiered. But hey,that's what I get for staying up late watching 'How I met your mother'.

I put my hair into a french braid and then put my hair dryer into my my backpack which was on the floor next to me. Since I was staying with my aunt Marissa for the summer I had packed most of my wardrobe, but I had decided to pack all of my most essential items into a backpack that I would keep on me at all times- just in case something happened to it. So far it was packed with my phone charger, make-up, hair brush, straighteners a spare pair of flat shoes and now my hair dryer. I pulled out my make-up bag and carefully put on some eye liner and mascara.Then put it back into my backpack.

I stood up and looked in the mirror, I was quite pleased to see that I didn't look as bad as I felt, I was dressed in a pair of tan trousers, a light brown tee shirt and a large brown belt, with a large cream over tee to keep me warm. I glanced down at my watch to see what the time was. Bloody hell 6:15 already! I grabbed my bags, and my phone and ran down the stairs. I dropped my luggage next to the door and grabbed the box of Kellogg's cereal box. I was sat on the counter eating the cereal straight from the box when my dad walked in.

"Hey oldie" I said to him as I jumped down from the counter, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"Hey kiddo, all set for your trip?"

"Yeah, got it all packed, do you think mum will let me come home early if I really hate it there Dad?" I asked him hopefully. My dad had always been a kind man, he was quite tall, about 6'2 with short brown hair. Mum had always said he was very good looking when he was younger- and I guess I could see why she thought it. He had always kept himself in very good shape, exercising daily, shaving every other day and wearing smart clothes. Admittedly he had quite a few laughter wrinkles and some forming around his eyes. I had always been my dads little angel, and since I was an only child I got most of his attention, he would always put me and mum before his work, as a restaurant owner.

"I doubt it kid, she's kinda made her mind up on this one, she reckons it'll help you break free of this 'rebellious stage', as she call it. I'll keep at her about it though, and I got you this- so it won't be all bad. Just try and save some. eh?" My dad said smiling and passing me a small envelope. He would occasionally do this, normally when my mother would make me do somethings like this. I didn't open it- I already knew he would have put some money inside it for me. We both knew not to tell mum anything. I said thank you quietly to him and kissed his cheek again, before skipping out of the room to put the envelope of money into my bag.

"Jodie...were setting of in two minutes!" My mum shouted from the living room. I frantically looked around the room for some place to hide. Yeah, I know im 16, and you would have thought that I'd have grown out of hiding from my parents, but I guess I just haven't...My dad pointed to the closet and I mouthed 'thank you' to my dad before climbing in.

Back to the present...

I stood from the floor where I had been crouched and walked back and forth until my leg regained consciousness. I heard foot steps coming back toward the door , but no talking. I looked at the door in confinement for a few seconds. Why was it shaking slightly? Why was it making that weird noise? I took a step closer to it, trying to inspect what was going on before I actually realised.

"Mum, are you taking the door off?!" I screamed at her in horror! How psychotic does someone have to be? Just keep shouting like any normal woman would!

"I told you to come out. Are you going to?" She said, while stopping unscrewing the door from its hinges.

"Yes...I'll come out..." I said opening the door. I pulled the handle and opened it just enough so I could peek out. I looked at my mum to see what the expression was, she was smiling, but I knew it was an act, when I come out of the closet I was going to get screamed at. I decided to man up and face it, so I quickly opened the door and ran to jump on my dads back- hoping somehow she would'nt see me. She did though...

"Get down, say goodbye, and get in the car...please?" She said in a fake sweet voice. Never the less though I got down and kissed my dad goodbye.

"Bye daddy, I love you loads. I'll call you when I get to aunt Marissa's." I said hugging him tightly.

"I love you too kiddo. Oh, and nice try- you held out longer than normal this time." He said smiling and kissing my head.

"Come on then, off we go." I said trying to be cheerful, but failing miserably. I walked towards my mums car and grabbed my bags. My dad helped me put them into the boot, and with a final goodbye me and my mum were off.

"Don't look so sad hun, its only for the summer." My mum said in a loving voice, grabbing my hand to hold it.

" I know, I just don't want to go...I'll miss my friends." I replied looking out of the window as we sped out of my town.

"Well, me and dad will miss you, darling." My mum said with tears pricking in her eyes, I looked at my reflection and found mine looking the same. I turned again to look out the window- just in time for when the first tear fell down my cheek.

"Good, 'cos I'm gunna miss you as well." I replied. Neither of us spoke again before we reached my aunts.

Three hours later...

"Jodie, wake up hun...were here." My mum said softly beside me as she gently shook me. I guess I must have fallen asleep on the ride over here. I yawned and slowly opened my eyes. It took a few seconds to see where I was because the sun was shining so brightly, I rubbed my eyes and sat up. CRAP! I shouted as I banged my head on the car, I rubbed my head and get out of the car cursing. I was half expecting mum to start shouting at me for cursing but when I looked around her and my aunt Marissa were both stood laughing. I laughed sarcastically back at them.

"Yeah, very mature guys..." I muttered as I went around the back of the car to get my bags.

"Oh come here Jode, I haven't seen you for so long!" Aunt Marissa said while she grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me into a hug.

"I still don't like being called Jode, you know" I said flatly back at her.

"Hahaha, I know! hahaha!" She laughed while prodding me in the stomach with her finger.

Wow, I thought, this summer is going to be long!

"Come here hunny, I'm getting back off now love, I've got some work to do." My mum said while walking over to hug me. "Be good, and I mean it." She whispered in my ear. I nodded my head and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

With that we all said our goodbyes and mum left- leaving me and aunt Marissa alone. We both stood there awkwardly for a couple of minutes before I broke the tension.

"So, where shall I put my bags?" I asked her, picking up the last of my bags.

"Come on Jode, I'll show you" She said winking at me. God I hope she stops calling me Jode!

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