Season's Change - Summer

Excerpt

Chapter One

My alarm sounded as I tried to adjust to the morning light peering through my window. I wished more than anything I could sleep in a little while longer, but I smelled what suspiciously smelled like bacon cooking downstairs and wondered what all the fuss was about. Melissa never cooked a big breakfast on a school day. As I dragged myself out of bed, I suddenly remembered why she would care to get up and cook me breakfast.

I imagined others would think today was important to me, but I knew it wasn't. In all honesty, I hadn't been waiting for this particular day since I was little or anything. I could understand the excitement surrounding a sixteenth birthday where one would get the freedom of the road or an eighteenth birthday where one would become an adult. No, emancipation would have to wait another year—today was only my seventeenth birthday.

I got out of bed and picked out my favorite outfit. It'd be nice if I were a beanpole and could fit my scrawny behind into anything of my choosing. Such was not the case. But my favorite outfit was a green dress with just the right accessories. Frilly necklaces and earrings tended to draw the eye away from my curvy assets, which was always a plus. Also, my blue eyes sometimes changed to green depending on what I was wearing, which usually happened when I wore this dress. That was another plus.

But I wasn't dressing up because I was excited about today being my birthday. Or because today was the last day of school before summer break and I knew it would be difficult to escape the hordes of cameras, although being immortalized in photographs provided some incentive. The real reason I donned my favorite dress was because today the seniors who'd just graduated would be back at school for the annual parade and float contest.

Translation: Don Davis would be there.

"Happy birthday, Season!" Melissa yelled to me as I walked down the stairs.

Season Crete. What a name. I didn't know any other girls named Season—Melissa told me it was a family name. But I just assumed my parents wanted to pay homage to the hippie era. Too bad I wasn't seventeen then, when girls weren't expected to have the bodies of adolescent boys. I had hips and boobs. If I turned a guy's head, he wasn't looking at my face, wouldn't know my eye color if it were purple. And most of the girls acted like I was fat, but I usually had the last laugh when I was happy eating real food and they were sucking celery sticks at lunch.

"Thanks, Melissa." I tried to stifle a groan and feigned a smile at the acknowledgement. "I'm more excited about today being the last day of school; I'm so ready for summer break."

Even though I couldn't wait for summer, it wasn't my most favorite time of the year. Who loved the sweltering heat? Not me. That was for sure. And the humidity—yuck! Summertime in the South was no place for a girl with naturally frizzy hair.

"Aren't you very pretty this morning! Your mom loved the color green."

"I know." I shrugged as I continued to walk down the stairs, avoiding eye contact and hoping Melissa's mention of my mom wouldn't lead into a generic story about her. Melissa meant well. She and my mom and Laurel's mom had been friends. When our parents had died, she'd taken Laurel and me in to raise us. Since I just was a baby when that had happened, Melissa often told me stories to help me feel close to my mom on occasions like this. I had enjoyed some of the tales over the years, but mostly, they were just generic nonsense that I'd heard a thousand times.

"So are you and Chloe going shopping? It is a birthday tradition." Melissa chuckled as she finished cooking breakfast, and I made my way to the kitchen table beside her.

"You know Chloe will make a shopping tradition out of any occasion." I laughed. "But there's a new pair of Christian Louboutin shoes which are hard to find that she's been going on and on about. We'll be on the hunt for those."

Chloe Shannon had been my best friend for many years. She was one of those girls who came from money and lots of it. Being the fashionista that she was, she always wore the latest trends and rarely wore the same outfit the same way.

"I know you said you didn't want a party, but I'm making a cake. Tell Chloe to come in with you after you finish shopping and have a piece."

If a homemade cake was all I'd have to endure, then I was all for that. "Okay, sounds great," I said as I inhaled my breakfast.

Melissa cleaned the kitchen while I grabbed my car keys. "You girls have fun tonight. And try to be excited about your birthday, Season. You only turn seventeen once."

Before I had a chance to respond, the phone rang. Melissa picked it up and read the caller ID, a somber expression on her face that disappeared so fast I almost didn't catch it. "It's Laurel. Probably just wants to talk about her summer classes."

I nodded as I hurried outside and jumped into my car, too excited to take my time getting to school.
The campus wasn't far from my house, but the drive was still long enough for the butterflies in my stomach to multiply more than I'd thought was possible. I couldn't wait to see Don! Graduation had been two weeks ago, so I'd hardly seen him. I knew I had it bad for him, but I couldn't help it. He was just so outgoing and charming, my insides melted every time he gave me any attention. Not to mention he was unbelievably gorgeous. Not that looks mattered to me, much. But the way he looked should have been considered a sin. He was tall, with dark-blond hair and piercing blue eyes. It was as if he stepped out of my own personal fairytale.

After I pulled into the lot I parked next to Chloe's car, spotted her chatting with some other classmates, and made my way to her.

"Happy birthday!" she yelled and waved to me before I had a chance to even reach her.

"Thanks. Where're Kim and Emma?" I searched, half-interested, as I asked.

Kim Smart and Emma Fritz were best friends who attached themselves to whomever they felt was popular at any given moment. They were the typical vain, skinny, teenaged chicks, thinking they were hot stuff. Emma wasn't so bad. Kim, however, made up for any cruelty that Emma lacked. Since Chloe was obviously the richest girl in school, Kim tried latching onto her like a starved leech. I was just an unfortunate nuisance they had to endure, but I pretended I was oblivious just the same.

"They're hanging out with the seniors."

"You mean spying on the seniors."

"Oh, please, Season. You know the seniors win this thing every year. Not that the girls care. They're over there because Don's showing off his new graduation present." She wagged her eyebrows.
Of course. Obviously, I wasn't the only girl in school eager to ogle one last time. I frowned at her, shaking my head.

"He got a new car as a graduation present . . . um . . . He's been showing it to everyone," Chloe continued, trying to ease my concern. Yeah, she knew I was obsessed with him.

"Look, Chloe. I know Don is not, nor has he ever been, more than just a friend." He was out of my league. Heck, he was out of everyone's league.

"There's nothing wrong with liking someone, Season. I've liked lots of guys."

"Yeah, but you get to date the guys you like," I said as we made our way to the crowd of people forming around the seniors and their decorated cars.

When Don came into view, I gasped. I couldn't help myself. There he was, with his head cocked to the side, flashing his beautiful smile and showing some of his perfect teeth. My palms started sweating, and my heart took off. He was wearing a fitted, blue, button-down shirt with the top few buttons unfastened. He leaned against his new, dark blue Camaro as if he hadn't a care in the world. Blue car, blue shirt, blue eyes, against a clear blue sky. He seemed to blend in perfectly with this beautiful day.

Chloe glanced my way when she heard my gasp, probably to make sure I was still breathing. I grimaced at the impossibility of my luck when I met her gaze, and we continued walking toward the seniors' cars.

"Hey Kim. Hey Emma," I said, trying to avoid eye contact with Don because Kim was hanging all over him like a dang wet noodle. She had a boyfriend, for crying out loud!

"Hi Season," Emma responded as Kim rolled her eyes and immediately diverted her attention to Chloe. At least she'd let go of Don.

"Don't you look fabulous, girl!" Kim screeched as she grabbed Chloe by the arm and gawked at her designer threads. "What's the occasion? I mean, don't get me wrong, you always dress hot, but this outfit is to die for!"

"It's Season's birthday." Chloe grinned and winked at me. "It's a day for celebration."

"It sure is." The masculine voice was unmistakable. I could pick it out in a crowded room full of whispers. "Happy birthday, Season."

"Thanks, Don." I turned and smiled as our gazes met, hoping I didn't come off as a star-struck idiot. "Nice car."

"Thanks. My parents promised me a new car when I graduated, but I didn't expect something like this."

"Ah." I apparently couldn't form a more coherent response.

"So . . . do you have any plans for your birthday?"

"Um, not really. I mean, Chloe and I are going shopping after school, and Melissa's baking me a cake."

"Well, you look stunning," he said as he took in my green dress. "That color really brings out the green in your eyes. They're so beautiful."

"Thank you." He noticed my eyes! And he flirted! Don't think anything of it. He's nice to everyone, I reminded myself. "Er, you look nice today, too."

"You look nice every day, but thank you."

Whoa.

"Season," Chloe interrupted. "We need to get ready for the parade."

"Oh, okay." Thank the heavens I didn't have time to process what Don just said and make more out of it than what it truly was.

Don smiled at me and took a step closer. My heart tried to break free from my chest, and I felt blood rushing to my face.

"I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Season," Don whispered to me in such a sincere manner that made me feel as if we were the only two people in the parking lot. He stroked my arm as he stepped even closer in a move that I was sure to end in a hug.

Oh no. I froze on the outside. On the inside, I was screaming in anticipation. Sure, Don had hugged me before, but I never got used to it.

He held me in his strong embrace for a brief couple of seconds, and, somehow, I managed to move my numb arms from my side to around his back before he stepped away.

"Good luck on your float," I said to Don to try and distract myself from the wonderful smell of his skin as I started to turn toward Chloe. "You'll need it. Ours is awesome."

"You, too." He laughed and winked as I walked away.

I stared at the ground as I mentally made the effort to make my feet move but I could feel Chloe's gaze on me.

"You know, he doesn't act that way around just anyone."

My head popped up. "What are you talking about, Chloe? He's just being polite. You know he's a kind person. He heard you mention my birthday, so being the caring gentleman that he is, he acknowledged it." I looked away from her, hoping she would drop it. The last thing I needed was for her to feed my frenzied crush.

"Whatever, Season." She shook her head and grabbed my arm, so I would pay attention to this nonsense. "I've noticed the way he looks at you. He's not just being nice."

"Chloe, please don't do this."

"Fine." She smiled. "Only because it's your birthday." Thankfully, she dropped it, but knowing Chloe, she would find a way to revisit this conversation later.

* * * * *

"So are you buying red shoes to match your red car?" I asked as Chloe and I pulled out of my driveway after dropping off my car. Her BMW convertible was something to envy. It was candy apple-red with black leather seats. Top of the line, like everything else in her life.

"Ha, ha. I have a specific outfit in mind those red shoes will go great with. I had to order them. I love living here, but a fashion Mecca, Arkansas does not make."

After parking, we went right to the department store holding the designer brand she sought. I stayed back, staring at the shoes on the wall while she made her purchase. They were all so trendy and so expensive, and I wondered what it would be like to pick up a new pair of shoes, regardless of the cost, for the sole purpose of wearing them with just one outfit. At least we wore the same shoe size, I thought with a chuckle.

"How about we hit the MAC counter?" Chloe asked as she walked over to me, new shoes in hand. "I want to try out the summer color collection."

"Sure. Then I want to fill out some applications for a summer job." Chloe came from money; I didn't, so earning some cash seemed like the smart thing to do.

We spent a good hour testing out different shades of lipstick, but Chloe was being quiet. So quiet it was odd and totally unlike her.

"What?" I finally asked, staring at her with an arched eyebrow.

"What, what?"

"I know you. You're not saying much, so you either have something on your mind or something up your sleeve."

She sighed and leaned against the makeup counter. "I know it's your birthday, so I wasn't going to bring it up today—"

"Oh no," I mumbled. I knew exactly where she was going with this.

"I love you, hon, so I have to tell you I really think there's something going on with Don."

Might as well get this over with now. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how he's never seriously dated anyone?"

"So?"

"I've been watching him for a while now, and from what I've seen, it seems like he pays special attention to you."

"You've lost your ever-lovin' mind!" I stared at her in disbelief. "Don has always been just a friend, Chloe."

His grandma lived next door to me, so we grew up together. Of course I wanted to be more than just friends with him. Sometimes we'd hang out in groups, going to the movies or parties, so he'd had plenty of opportunities to make a move, but he'd never made any attempt to be more than just friends. And not just with me. He'd never gone out with any of the girls from school. Sure, he'd come to dances with beautiful girls who looked like they belonged in his league, and he'd never brought the same girl twice. He obviously had a stash of ladies on the side ripe for his picking. And I knew Chloe was aware of these facts, too.

"Chill out, Season. I'm just saying when I noticed your little crush wasn't so little anymore, I started paying closer attention, and after watching him, I think his feelings might be a little stronger than just friendship feelings."

I walked away from her, heading for the parking lot.

"Look, I know this is hard for you to believe, and if I thought for one minute it couldn't be true, there's no way I'd even mention this to you. But school's out now, and I don't like the idea of letting this opportunity slip by you."

I whirled, facing her. "Opportunity? What are you talking about? Do you expect me to . . . what . . . pick up the phone and call him? Or just stalk him to the point that he has to get a restraining order for me?"

"You're being silly. I'm just saying that life is too short, carpe diem."

Okay, yeah, sure. I'd seize the day. Right after I seized Chloe some sense.

We made it to her car and left without any other discussion about Don. And excluding Chloe's nonsense about him, today had been a nearly perfect birthday. Nearly, because my mom was still gone. I didn't think about her much, but holidays and birthdays always seemed to bring her to the forefront of my mind. Since I didn't have any memories of her, I thought about some of the stories Melissa had told me. Now, some of the generic stories didn't seem so inconsequential.

When we arrived at my house, we walked toward the porch while I fumbled in my purse for my house key. Then I unlocked and opened the door, flipping on the living room light as I stepped in.

"Surprise!"

The living room was full of people. Mostly friends, but some of Melissa's coworkers, too. Wow. A surprise birthday party. That was what was really on Chloe's mind. I wondered if she just brought up Don to distract me. Sneaky chick! My face burned and I knew I was blushing as I faced her.

"You must be the one behind this! I can't believe it." My heart was pounding from the initial shock, but I was able to form a shaky smile on my face.

"Guilty." She smirked.

I scanned the room again, thrilled to see all the beaming faces, and then froze. There in the corner of the room stood the last person I expected to see.

It was Don.