"Breakfast is ready, Lyra!" hollered Uncle Tom from the kitchen.
"I'll be down in a sec." I responded back. Living on the coast of Key West, Florida makes everything humid, so it takes me longer to get ready. We also have to have fans, AC, or windows on or open 24/7. Also, working a part time job at our flower shop called "Florist Days", and going to high school, and surfing as a sport really runs you down. I ran down the cold tile stairs for not being used, until I reached the granite kitchen. A floor above the shop.
"Did you get up late or something?" asked Aunt Sabine playfully.
"Or what," I responded as I was pulling my chair out so I could sit down in my assigned spot.
"Or what must've taken long," said Uncle Tom as he finished cooking, turned off the stove, and set breakfast for us. They both took a seat, and looked at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Don't you know that today is a special day, Lily?" asked Aunt Sabine.
"It's only the first day of my senior year in high school. Not that special." I said while filling my plate with breakfast food. Uncle Tom really outdid himself today. Every kind of breakfast food was on the table.
"It's still special," responded Uncle Tom.
"Meh," I said with my mouth full.
"Are you happy that you get to see all your friends again?" asked Aunt Sabine while spreading grape jelly on her toast.
"I mean... I guess. I saw most of them during summer, though." I answered.
"True, but you can spend more time with them, and they might share classes with you." Uncle Tom said, stating the obvious, of course.
"Yeah," I said, done with all my food. I stood up and walked to the kitchen and put my silverware in the dishwasher. "Do you mind if I bike to school today?" I asked out of the blue.
"Sure Lily," responded Aunt Sabine.
"Thanks. Well I gotta go. Don't want to be late." I grabbed my school stuff. "Bye, love you."
"Love you too," they both said.
Lily is a nickname my Aunt gave me a while back. I closed the door and headed to school. I always love to bike through town. Everyone is so close to everyone and friendly, that every time I bike through town, I feel this happiness in me while people wave or say "hi" as I pass by them. Biking clears my head, or gives me fresh humid air to breathe. Once I got to school I was greeted by a big, long, tight hug from Kori.
"I missed you so much!" she said, still holding me.
"You saw me a week ago," I responded.
"7 days without my bestie is 7 years. You need to get that through your head." she said while letting go, poking my cheek, then putting her hands on her hips.
"Okay then." I simply said.
"Hey, Lyr," Shon said. I've known him since we were in diapers. He's always been there for me. Us Evergarden's and the Bougainvillea's are like family. We spend so much time together that we think we could actually be related.
"Hey," I said back, waving slightly. His bronze eyes looked kind and gentle. His brown-red hair flowing in the smooth humid wind. His strong, yet kind and gentle figure and his perfect manner, and a bonus because I'm the youngest in my group of friends, but I still have to laugh because Kori is still younger than me. We always had each other's backs in Mario Bros, Minecraft, and real life. Then it all went downhill.
"Hey it's Fish Bait in the club!" shouted Ian from across the school lot.
"Oh brother, here we go," I said under my breath.
"Hey Ian, how's it going?" Shon asked as they did their 5 minute handshake.
"Great bro!" he said. "How's it goin' for ya Fish Bait?" he said, putting his arm around my shoulder like a little brother.
"Great, thanks," I said uncomfortably. Ian is the clown, really. His light blond hair, and his chocolate brown eyes, with his strong, tanned, and funny manner and figure just make him that kind of guy. He's also the one dating Kori. I don't hate him, it's just that sometimes he can be on my level and really annoying, but I still love him as a friend.
"And how's it goin' for you?" he asked Kori, giving her a hug.
"Great, I'm glad to see everyone again."
While they were doing that I started walking to the open doors. Teens going in and talking to each other everywhere. Senior year here I come.
"Hey where you going?" Shon asked while jogging to catch up to me.
"I'm going to see my classes and a fresh new start to our last year here."
"Anything could happen this year, ya know?"
"Yeah, you could find yourself a girlfriend. Everyone has eyes for you."
"Ya think?"
"Definitely.'' Even though we know each other so well, I just can't date him. I do love him, but if I do date him, things could go wrong and… or if it goes right... He just deserves the right person, he earned it. As I approached the doors and received my class assignments, our group got back together. It was surprising to see all of us in the same classes. For every single one of them. I guess that's what happens for Senior year, and when the teachers know how close we are.
"Aww yeah man, we all have the same thing!" Ian said, almost shouting. He and Shon high fived while Kori and I hugged. We were all happy about this arrangement. My phone buzzed. I checked it and it was my Aunt. I read it, and my heart dropped. They're going out of town for the month, why? I have a competition coming up, and I have to run the shop the whole time?
"Everything okay Lyr?" Shon asked, seeing my sudden change in happiness.
"Not really, but I'll figure it out later, class is about to start." I said avoiding the problem and starting to head to Math class.
"What happened to her?" Asked Ian and Kori together.
"I don't know, but let's catch up to her for class." Shon said with worry. The bell rang.
"Hey Lyr, what's up?" Shon asked, coming to our lunch table.
"Yeah you acted weird this morning," pointed out Kori.
"Did ya crush break up with ya or somethin'?" Asked Ian, trying to lighten the mood.
Kori hit him, and he rubbed the spot where she did.
"No, it's just…."
"Just what?" pestered Shon.
"It's just that I have that surfing competition coming up, and my "parents" are out of town for work or something." I said I was losing my appetite.
"For how long?" Kori asked.
"A month," I said, putting aside my food.
"A month!" shouted Ian while standing up and slamming his hands on the table, making a scene.
"Yeah," I said flatly.
"Do you need help with anything at home?" Shon kindly asked. Giving me that caring look in his eyes.
"I don't know. Maybe you guys can come to my house at 6 or something to see if I need anything?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry Lyly, but Ian and I have a date night tonight. I'm sorry." Kori said apologetically, putting her hand on my arm.
"It's fine." I said.
"I'll go. I'll bring Coen too." Shon said. Coen is Shon's and Kori's little brother. He's about 8 and looks exactly like Shon, only smaller and almost has reddish orange hair, and I always babysit him because Shon's parents got divorced and his father left, and his mother isn't doing too well with the whole arrangement.
"You sure?" I asked knowing I'll be in my swimsuit for surf practice tonight.
"Yeah I have no plans." Shon agreed knowingly.
"Okay 6 it is then. Thanks Shon."
"Anytime." He gave that look of his, his caring kind protective look. He always made me feel safe when he was around. No one made me feel what I felt when Shon was around. There was this one time where we were riding bikes and he went too fast down hill, and fell off his bike. I ran to help him, there were only a few scratches and barely any blood, but I felt like he was going to die. I was so scared because I didn't know what to do, or how to help, and my crying didn't help either. I thought I was going to lose him. Now looking back on how dramatic I was it was kinda funny. That's why I don't want to date him because if things go wrong it will change us, and if things go right….. he deserves someone he chooses though. Who am I to play God, right? The bell rang, forcing me out of my thoughts.
School is back in session.
"I can drive you home," Shon asked.
"Oh no you don't need to, I won't even go home right away."
"Where will you go?"
"Surfing practice. I'll go there once I change."
"Well I can drop you off and watch you then," Shon added, not backing down.
"What about my bike and Coen?"
"We'll get him on our way home, and we can put your bike in the back," Shon planned.
"Okay then. Just let me go change." I said as I ran to the bathrooms.
"Okay I'll wait by my car," he said, heading to it. I put on my floral bikini, and put my sun clothes on top of them. Then I headed to his car only to see him talking with a group of girls. I hid behind a wall to give him time to talk to them. I was wondering why I was hiding anyway, it's not like I'm his girlfriend or anything, so why does it matter? 5 minutes later I got a text.
"Are ya ready yet?" It was Shon.
"Coming." I texted back. I emerged from my hiding spot that I didn't know why I was hiding in the first place, and walked to his car. He already had my bike in the back, and my board.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." I said.
"Oh it's fine. I had to deal with some girls, so you were good."
"What was it about?" I asked wondering if he would tell me or not, because I know it wasn't my business.
"They asked me out…"
"And?"
"I said no. I have someone better in mind to date. I didn't even know them." Shon said gladly. He started the car and looked at me. With a smile in his eyes.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready." I answered.
"We're here!" Shon exclaimed as he pulled into the parking lot. I took my feet off the dashboard, and took the earphones out of my ears.
"Thanks for the ride. Do you want money for the gas?"
"Oh no. This was a favor anyway, you just go to your practice, and I'll watch from here."
"Okay." I said opening the door and grabbed my surfboard from the back. I took off my sun clothes and threw them into the open window to my seat, and my flip flops as well. I ran to my section of the beach for practice. Once I left, Shon left to get Coen and Curtis, his dog. Curtis is a Newfoundland breed, and he's 3 years old. He got back during the middle of practice because I saw him and Coen and Curtis on the beach watching me. Once I finished Coen ran to me and hugged my legs. I returned the hug and patted his head.
"That was so cool Lyra! You are the best surfer ever!"
"Thanks little Coen."
"Yeah that was pretty good." Shon said, walking alongside Curtis.
"Hey boy, how are you?" I asked Curtis as I petted him.
"I think he's ready to cool down." Shon said.
"Oh right. Dinner's on me. Let's get some, and then go to my house!" I planned on getting my surfboard and putting it in the trunk.
"Okay then," Shon agreed, putting Curtis and Coen in the back seats. I closed the back and put on my sun clothes and got in my seat.
"Where do you want to eat?" Shon asked, looking at Coen.
"Chick-fil-a!"
"Okay the, works for me." I said. We went to Chick-fil-a and ordered our food, and headed to my house.