Summer Nights by Shawna Whalen (uplifting book club books .TXT) 📕

am, butterflies hit me even before talking to a boy I liked.

Last October I went to the University Park Mall with my friend Kate and met up with a boy I liked then. His name was Donovan. He was so cute and I liked him so much. But it was the whole distance thing again.

My cheeks were on fire the whole time we were together in the mall. Kate had left us for a moment, potty break, and we were silent. I wasn’t trying to ignore him; I just didn’t know what to do. I’m so inexperienced.

Every time he started a topic, apparently I would end it. When I left, we hugged for a moment, it felt good, but I still regret not looking back as I left. I haven’t spoken to him since then.

The vibration of my phone brought me back to the laughing girls behind me. I heard one deep laugh, Ha-ha Greg.

"How about tonight?" he asked. I always turned everything down. I replied with an "I wish." Almost too quickly he replied. "Why not?" I wavered. "I’m at my friend’s house; pool party."

"Mmmm." I imagine smacking him, he’s such a pervert, but I laughed. The message continued, "So. Where? I’ll come over…If that’s okay?"

Wavering again. My stomach was turning; in a good way. Without wanting to speak, I texted Tracy. "Hey asking Ashley if Aaron can come over, pwease!"

I heard her laugh behind me and whisper to Ashley. Tracy texted back, "She said she doesn’t know because of her parents." Dang it.

"Well, we’ll be at the front of the driveway anyways. :)" Tracy’s fingers tapped her phone again, "She said okay and wants to know how old he is. What should I tell her?"

I was wavering a lot tonight. First on my outfit and now everything else. "Tell her…he’s 21, because he is. Lol"

Footsteps approached behind me. “Shawna.” Ashley spoke. She leaned next to me, hanging over the chair. “It’s okay, but if my mom asks, he’s 18. Kay?” I nodded and signed “Thank you.”

I texted Aaron the address to Ashley’s house, he told me he knew where it was when I told him how to get here. My stomach was on 7th heaven as he said, "Okay, on my way. I’ll see you soon, beautiful."

Of course, we sent pictures back and forth a couple times over the past few months of texting each other. And we only spoke twice over the phone. His voice was like stirring sweet, sweet sugar into coffee or tea. I will not mention what it did to me.

My smile was huge; I could feel it wearing into my skin. I wasn’t aware of anyone around me anymore. Her voice scared me out of my reverie. “Shawana why are you smiling so big?”

My head snapped to Tracy’s face, my grin never leaving. “He’s coming.”

It felt like longer, but in 15 minutes Aaron texted me, "I’m here…I think lol." My heart dropped to my stomach and fluttered.

“Tracy,” I called, she turned her head to me. “He’s here. Come with me?” I gave her the biggest puppy dog eyes ever. But I already knew she would. She’d promised me that whenever Aaron and I hung out that if I needed her, she would come with me.
She nodded and slowly I got out of the chair.

While I was waiting, I dried off more and had changed back into my jeans and my favorite pink v-neck shirt.
I took silent deep breaths as we walked out of the pool area and down the driveway. I saw a car, which was not mine parked on the street. Thump thump.

A body stood, back to us, on the driver’s side of the car. His arms were crossed; I noticed he checked his phone about 5 times since we approached. Maybe he was nervous too.

I grabbed Tracy’s arm silently and whispered, “Tracy, I don’t if I can do this. I’m scared and nervous.”

She rubbed my forearm soothingly, “Yes you can. I’m here if you need me.” I kept nodding, trying to understand that she was right. Tracy was always right, always

.

She waited back a few feet as I continued walking toward the pale blue car. I put on my best poker face and acted as if I knew what the fuck I was doing. Like hell I did.

I leaned on the opposite side of the car from his, resting my arms on the hood. I lightly tapped the hood with my middle finger nail. He quickly turned around, thump, thump thump, thump.

My heart went wild.

We caught eyes; I gasped and stared in awe. His eyes were beautiful, but they didn’t hold mine long. His smile was the most lit up thing on his face right now. I was thankful that I was still leaning against the car; otherwise my knees would’ve given out. I’d finally felt the need to think, I’m weak in the knees because of this boy.

Aaron walked around the car, I was instantly self conscious. Forcing myself to do so, I pushed away from the car, but I leaned my back to it now.

He stood in front of me, we were still both silent. What was I supposed to say? Shyly, I finally spoke. “Hi.” I looked up at him through my dark eyelashes.

“Hey.” His voice made tingles down my spine. Wanting to get this awkwardness over with, my thoughts came aloud. “Can we skip the awkward stage?” I laughed nervously.

He laughed with me, this might be going my way

, and nodded. Silence still surrounded us. I could faintly hear my friends in the back by the pool still laughing. My eyes left Aaron’s face for a split second and I realized Tracy had left. Damn her!

Aaron’s eyes followed mine. “What’s wrong?” he asked. I shook my head, “Nothing, it’s just…my friend left…” I trailed off.

His eyes lit up on fire, “Well that’s good.” So a split second, once more, I was kind of scared, but behind the fire was passion. I just stared at him and a seductive side came over me, “Why is that?”

“Because then I couldn’t do this…” his eyes blazed mine and his face became closer. I could smell him, Mmmm AXE

, and his breath was minty. It was like he knew this was going to happen, I smiled.

When his lips touched mine, my knees wobbled and I almost fell over. His arms found my waist to steady me and mine were wrapped around the back of his neck; pulling him closer.

He was everywhere. The heat was everywhere. This was just like Eclipse

, the scene where Jacob kisses Bella; exactly like this. But unlike Bella, I didn’t think this was wrong, it felt so right.

We pulled away slowly. And then he gave me three small pecks on the tip of my lips. My eyes were still closed when he spoke. “I’ve wanted to do that. I hope it was okay…”

My eyes snapped open. “Of course it was okay,” I wasn’t sure how I found my voice. “It was better than okay. I’ve been wanting to too.”

He smiled and grabbed my hand. We walked up the driveway, hand in hand.

Ashley had set up the bonfire pit in the middle of the flat driveway. She had lit it too.

Tracy invited Truman; Ashley had her boyfriend over too. Cassandra had hurried to invite Chris, without a doubt, he showed within minutes; they’re meant for each other.

It was barely 7:30 when Erin and Tyler showed up. They’d come from his brother’s wedding. Erin was still dressed in her wedding reception dress; it was pretty with purple and white, but the green sweater did not go together. I giggled, but stifled it.

As Aaron and I walked up the driveway, Tracy giggled; I glared but hid my face. They’d set out a couple two-seated lounge couches, Aaron and I raced to the first one and had a laughing bit.

Erin and Tyler took the next couch, Truman finally arrived; him and Tracy took the last one. I was thankful Jenna and Greg had left already; along with Chandra. With Ashley’s boyfriend, Mark got there; everyone was settled and giggling with the “boys”.

I was proud to call Aaron a part of the group, finally.

The fire was warm, but Aaron was warmer. We sat next to each other while Erin, Tracy and Ashley cuddled with Tyler, Truman and Mark.

Eventually, I relaxed as Aaron placed his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close. I could feel Tracy’s eyes on me but I resisted looking; my eyes didn’t leave the fire.

It was a cool night, blankets and boys were used to keep us girls warm. The making of S’mores took place, as usual. Aaron leaned close to my ear to whisper, “I miss S’mores.” I giggled and looked at him, he was completely serious and that made me laugh more.

Tracy and Truman were in their own little bubble, but my laughing brought her out and she began laughing with me. We always laughed for no reason, panting to breathe and tears rolling.

I was shaking with laughter when Aaron snuck a kiss on my cheek. His lips caught a stray tear running down my skin. I smiled.

I heard Tracy, Ashley, Cassandra and Erin, in unison say, “Awe!” My cheeks were immediately flushed; I blushed and hid my face in Aaron’s shoulder. Bad move, they repeated, “Awe!” again.

The night went on. Curling up in his arms, it was warm. He wrapped one over my shoulder and pulled me closer; as if we couldn’t get any closer.
I was thankful my mom let me use the car for the night; I was to be home before 11. I could lie in Aaron’s arms forever.

Soon the fire died out, we tried and retried to light it, but it didn’t cooperate. Stupid fire.

But Aaron kept me warm, always squeezing me closer and resting his chin on my head.

For once, I was actually happy, but I knew that would soon end when we would part.

We were all chilled out, relaxing and laughing when the rain hit Tracy on the forehead and she complained. We tossed it over our shoulders and brushed it off as nothing. But we were wrong, and Tracy didn’t let us forget it.

“See! I told you!” she screamed as we tried to grab the chairs and drag them into the garage. I laughed the whole time, Tracy was crazy…funny.

The boys took over and us girls stood back and watched them use their muscle. I laughed when Chris accidently dropped the other end of a couch him and Aaron were carrying on his toe. He screamed like a girl and we all laughed, even Aaron did. He fit in perfectly with us, I was happy.

Ashley ran inside to grab towels for everyone to dry off with. I wasn’t too wet, I had a blanket over me and Aaron; I couldn’t say much for the blanket though.

It was freezing out now, we begged Ashley to go inside and sit in the basement. She finally agreed and checked to see if anyone was awake, it was near 9 and her grandparents were out like a light. She snuck us in and we went to the basement.

I grabbed Aaron’s hand and pulled him along. Giggling the whole way down, we finally made it to Ashley’s basement. It didn’t help the heat