Falling for Summer (14 page)

Nat grabs it from Rachel’s hand and looks it over.

“What is it?” From the clenching of his jaws and frown on his face, I know it’s something upsetting.

“It’s an article about the Academy, written a few months ago, about how the Academy won Best Acting Camp. There’s a picture of Aunt Sookie and you, Summer, standing in front of the school,” Rachel says.

“What’s wrong with that?” I ask, hoping Rachel will just say it.

Nat is fingering the edges of the article, and he lifts it up to smell it. “This paper’s doused with gasoline.” He frowns. “Not that long ago. I’d say maybe an hour ago. The smell is still strong.”

Rachel bites her lips and say, “And that’s not all. I found a lighter nearby it.”

“Whoever had this, was planning on starting a fire…a large one, for sure,” Nat says.

“At the Academy,” I add. A shiver runs down my spine. “With you and the kids inside.”

Rachel looks pissed. “You know, right? What kind of a sick bastard would be trying to arson the place with a class of young kids in there?”

Nat looks pissed, too, as he reaches into the pocket of his pants to pull out his phone. “Someone who is very dangerous and don’t care if he’s caught…arson in broad daylight. With some kind of personal vendetta against the school or Aunt Sookie or even you, Summer. Either way, it leads to one goal…”

“To shut down the Academy,” I realize. “Even if they have to kill someone to do.” It’s too much. All of this hatred, bullying, vandalism, and now attempted murder is too much. It’s one thing to have lost Aunt Sookie, but for someone or some group to try to erase her legacy by all of this, then it’s too much. The stress of it physically wears me down, and all I can do at this moment is start crying.

Chapter
15

Nat

R
achel goes up to Summer and hugs her as she begins wailing. My heart breaks for Summer, hearing her cry like that, but it’s the kind that is a long time coming. She needs to get it out…all that she feels, including Aunt Sookie’s death.

How much can a girl handle? She’s been through so much. Seeing Summer cry like that doesn’t make me think she’s weak. Seeing her cry, letting all the negative hurtful emotions she’s been holding inside, out, makes me think how strong she really is. She knows how to survive this. She’ll get past this, just like she’s gotten past other things before. But right now, if Rachel hasn’t gone up to her to hug her, I would be all over it. I would be all over Summer.

“It’s okay,” Rachel tells Summer. “No one was hurt. I must’ve scared him away before he could have pull something like that.”

So what if Rachel is hugging Summer. I know it sounds hokey, but Rachel’s my sister, and Summer is the girl I love so…I go up to them and hug them. It’s awkward at first, but it makes all of us feel better. “Summer,” I say against her hair on the top of her head, “You’re not alone in all this. Aunt Sookie is family, and she made all of us promise to watch out for each other and the Academy.”

“So, you can’t possibly think this is all about you, Summer,” Rachel says. “That’s not fair. This is about all of us.”

That gets a small smile from Summer. She wipes her face with her hands. “Thanks for that, Rach…Nat?”

I’m about to say something nice, but my phone rings. It’s from the team back at Donovan Dynamics.

“What’s up?” I ask Timothy.

“Good news! We traced some of the strongest leads we have on the cyber-bullies to real individuals. Most of them are located in the neighborhood close to the school.”

“That’s very good news.”

“So the next steps are to pursue them in court or to do nothing,” Timothy says, “if you want them to stop, and make them think twice about bullying Summer again, I’d go after them alright.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Chapter
16

Summer

D
rew is supposed to show up last night, but he is under the gun to finish the rest of his high school workload before he can graduate early.

“Hey, Summer,” he calls. “How’s it like at the Pad without me?” He sounds upbeat, but there is a hint of longing in his voice.

“Horrible,” I say. “What can I say, Drew. I wish you’re here.”

“If you only knew how much I want to be there with you, Summer.” He lets out a frustrated groan. “I have one more paper to turn in before I can take off for vacation. Mr. Reber promise to grade it as soon as he can so it counts for this semester’s work instead of next.” His voice lifts and he sounds upbeat again. “I’m almost getting there! Just one more paper, and I’ll be officially done with high school and starting college early at USC!”

“I’m so happy for you, Drew,” I say. “You make me so proud.”

“I hope so, Summer,” Drew says. “I’ve been working so hard to get here, to change, to become the guy you would be proud of.”

“Drew, how can you think I’m not proud of you the way you are?”

“But you just said…never mind,” Drew says. “I thought you and Rachel couldn’t stand what I’ve become…some kind of man-whore, right?”

“I didn’t say I’m not proud of you,” I argue back. “I’m just not proud of what you were doing with all those girls. It’d be different if you have something special with them, but it just seems you’re in it just for physical gratification.”

“Summer, that’s because there’s a kind of guy culture you’re too innocent to understand. I’m glad you don’t, because if you do…”

“I’d be one of the bad girls you whore with, right?” I ask. “What if that’s not so bad after all?”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you, Summer,” Drew says. “Listen, I’m a few pages away from being done with high school. I’m going to focus all my energy into it for the next couple of days, and then I’m packing up for the rest of the week, calling the movers, and hopefully by Christmas morning, I’ll be moving into the Pad.”

“That’ll be great!” I can’t contain my excitement about it.

“I have to in order to keep you sane. With all the craziness in your world, you have to have someone like me to keep you sane.”

“You sound just like someone I know right now,” I say.

“Nat?” Drew asks. “Well, that’s because there are some things…not all things, because I don’t always agree with him, that I admire and want to be like. Keeping a good head on his shoulders and being responsible are some of those traits I admire. Plus what Nat’s doing for you at Dad’s company working with Donovan Dynamics…it’s harder than it looks. He’s grown up a lot since summertime. All the stuff with Mom and Dad, Aunt Sookie, it’s made us grow up, hasn’t it?”

“Drew?”

“What?”

“Don’t ever think I’m not proud of you. Right now, I’m so proud of you, I want to reach into this phone, grab you, and kiss you.”

“Summer…” Drew’s voice is lower, and the light-hearted Drew is gone. “I know how much you still care for Nat, but I love you, too. I always will, and I’ll see you soon.”

He hangs up, and I’m left with my heart pounding. I’m getting close to Nat, so close, and that heated make out with him on the beach the other day…I want to get closer. Just being close to him is enough for me to react to him. He’s always been my hero, growing up. He hasn’t stopped. Nat has become much more like Drew, and Drew is starting to be more like Nat. I’m more confused about them now than during the summer. Now with Astor no longer pursuing me, maybe it will be clearer.

*****

Nat has scheduled me to meet with his company’s legal team, and we’re flying on his company’s private jet back to San Francisco for me to meet with them in person. They’re taking on the case of defending me against the cyber-bullies. “You need a heavy-hitter team behind you, Summer,” Nat says. “If it was just about a girl being bullied, it wouldn’t make much news, and unfortunately, even officials don’t take bullying in schools all that seriously until something drastic happens. We hope to change that, Summer,” Nat says.

“Celebrities standing up to bullying? How will that help? I’m associated with Astor. I’m sure if he makes a statement…”

“He can, and he should,” Nat says. “But the mentality of some of his crazed fans…it’ll only fuel their hate for you.” Nat is dressed in grey slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a silk light green tie with grey diagonal stripes. It’s the first time since I’ve seen him dressed up aside from when he wore all black at Aunt Sookie’s funeral. He looks so strong and tall, his biceps not so well-hidden underneath his sleeves. His outfit is definitely expensive, and with his hair combed back, away from his face, revealing his rock star features, he looks so sexy, I have a hard time concentrating on what he’s saying.

Nat sits down next to me on the plane, handing me a glass of soda. “We’re almost there, Summer. It’s a short flight, from LA to San Francisco. I wish I can do this more often so I can see you all the time.”

“Well, why don’t you?” I ask.

Nat looks at me, takes the glass out of my hand, and leans in to kiss me softly on the lips, his tongue slowly licking the contour of my lips where drops of the soda had fallen. “Hmm, you taste good,” he says.

I run my tongue over his lips and use it to open his mouth. Nat closes his eyes, and he grabs my face with both hands before he kisses me hard. I unbuckle my seatbelt and take his face in mine and match him kiss for kiss. My mouth guides me, and I can’t think of anything else except Nat and me, and this moment. How much more I want of him. How much I want to give him. We keep kissing like this for however long. It doesn’t matter. I’m lost in his kisses, in him, and all I want is to give in to whatever he wants.

“Take your seat and have your seatbelt on,” the captain’s voice comes over the radio. “We’re landing in 20 minutes.”

Nat kisses me long and slowly one more time, resting his lips on mine, as he says, “As much as I don’t want to stop this, we better do what the captain says”

“Hmm?” I’m on his lap, and my hands have unbuttoned his shirt to the point where I’m running my hands against his bare naked chest. I have my eyes closed, and my face is resting against his. It feels good, and it feels safe. Nat makes me feel safe. I don’t want to leave his arms or his body.

“I want to come back to Malibu to see you all the time,” Nat says when I’m back in my seat and securely seat belted, “to answer your question. But…” He looks at me, and there’s pain there. “I have obligations in San Fran. You know how that is. That would be different, though, if I have a reason, a good clear reason to come back often, though.”

As dazed as I am from kissing Nat, I know what he means. We have to be together. Seriously together, and exclusive. I know I love Nat. I’ve had a crush on him for so long. I dreamed of being with him for so long, but at the same time, I’m not sure if I can. There’s Drew, Mrs. Donovan, Astor…well, and…I don’t get a chance to think about that.

The flight gets bumpy, and I can feel the plane dip high and then low, due to turbulence as we land. In minutes, we’re on the ground, and taxiing to one of the private hangars.

When we disembark from the jet, a man in his early forties with dark wavy hair and grey eyes, greets me. “Hi, Summer?” He shakes my hand. “I’m Timothy Childs. I’m working with Nathaniel on your case. Pleasure to meet the woman we’re all rallying around. Here’s the rest of my team, and they’re as eager to meet you, too.”

“Hi, I’m Peter. Peter Lee,” a handsome young Asian man in his late twenties with spiky hair says. “So you’re Summer. Nat can’t stop talking about you. Glad to finally meet you.” He laughs. “Now that I’ve seen you in person, I know why you’re being hated on. If you don’t mind me saying this, you’re too pretty. Even prettier than the leading lady in Astor’s film. What’s her name? Oh, Lauren Banks. You’re a threat, and they don’t want you getting in the way of their fantasized ideal couple.”

“Yes, Peter has been working a lot on your case, Summer. He’s head researcher. A real genius and knows a lot about a lot of things,” Timothy says. “Last, but not least, is Mandy, our Publicist.”

A girl with shoulder-length straight brown hair, an oval face, and glasses walks up to me, and shakes my hand. “We’ll be able to do something about all this, Summer. I know you probably feel like the world is against you. That’s what the haters want you to think, when in reality, and as we’ve uncovered through our investigation, there’s only a handful of them, who knows how to use SEO and feeds and other marketing means, to make it look like there are a lot of haters hating you. Don’t worry, there are so many more people who care for you and the school than you know. I know. I’ve gathered evidence, and I’ve found a few of them to give testimonials.”

My face light up. I have been beaten down, and my self-esteem has taken a dive because of everything that’s happen to me. But now, it seems I have some hope.

Nat takes me by my arm and we enter the limo waiting for us, heading straight to Donovan Dynamics, where the legal team waits.

Chapter
17

Nat

A
fter the meeting at Donovan Dynamics, I wanted to take Summer out to eat at a nice restaurant overlooking the San Francisco Bay. It’s the kind of restaurant I imagined taking Summer to for her first visit. It’s a beautiful night, and she’s beautiful, wearing a white crepe dress that brings out her tan and clings gently to her curves. It’s a very lovely dress, but I want to tear it off her, to lick her skin, and make passionate love to her. I suggested the restaurant, but she smiles and says, “how about you take me to see your place? I’ve imagined over and over again your apartment near campus. I want to see it so I can place you when we talk.”

“Really?” I ask. “You’d rather forego the me wooing you at a fancy restaurant experience so you can see my place?”

“Why not?” Summer blushes. “You know where I live and everything about the place.”

“But we only have a few hours before I have to fly you home. I want to make the most of it.”

Summer places her hand on my chest and leans into me to kiss the tip of my nose and says, “I do, too.”