Eve Summertime Saga Novels & Stories

"O-Of course. We're friends." Satisfied with my response, Bethany finally let go of my arm and followed me inside. I opened the door, but the office was pitch-black. "Dad, these are the friends I mentioned, the ones coming to work here for the summer," I said cautiously. Before I could introduce them, they pushed past me and crowded into the room. "Hello, Mr. Parker. We're here for the summer jobs. May I know what the pay is like? Is ten thousand dollars a month okay? Oh, and I'm not really into factory work. Can I get an office job instead?"

The hairs on my neck stood erect as I heard the heavy footfalls coming closer. My skin tingled and my eyes prickled with tears. I let out short breaths when my lungs burned for air. A tear slipped from my eye as I turned my head slowly to see who was behind me. At that moment, I felt a sharp prick to the other side of my neck and I turned the other way, swatting my arm, but in a matter of seconds, I felt immensely tired and sleepy.

Sieghal replied, still with eyes closed. He could feel the grass beneath him. While Helbert felt the strong wind on his face, Sieghal found peace in the rustling grass. As the sun set, he realized that darkness and emptiness were closing in, just like when he left Theo and his dad to go far away from the shoreline.

The clock chimed. At the last toll, the embers collapsed, and the grate was cold. Isabelle lifted the serpent key—a replica of the latch’s eye and slipped it into the sketchbook’s spine. With a hushed click, the book’s cover sprung forward, revealing a shallow cavity. Inside lay a folded parchment sealed with crimson wax: the Ember Circle’s original charter—and a second, smaller key of burnished silver.

“Summer, did you bump your head somewhere? Have you forgotten the people you were talking about have known you since you were three?” “Forget it, you won't understand,” she sighed and turned to her husband. “Tell me you understand, love.” “I do.” I coughed, “Liar.” Ethan's glare lacked heat as he tried not to laugh. Summer huffed like she had given up on us. “I don't know what I did to suffer like this.” “Let's just focus on the meeting darling,” Ethan said, petting her gently. “Alright.” I opened my notepad. “First things first, are we doing an all out event or just a family affair?”

Then my phone, on silent in my blazer pocket, started vibrating with the energy of someone who had been told no phones and had decided that did not apply to them. I shifted slightly and angled the screen just enough to read it under the desk. Tyler, in our group chat: *SUMMER WINTERS.* *SUMMER ELISE WINTERS.* *You have exactly thirty seconds to explain yourself before I combust.* Then Ruby: *I HEARD. I WAS IN MATHS AND I HEARD.* *SUMMER. MY GIRL. MY QUEEN. MY ENTIRE REASON FOR BEING AT THIS SCHOOL.* Then Tyler again: *I'm actually upset that I missed it I hate myself*

Yet somehow… my mind still drifted toward a stubborn eighteen-year-old girl with pink bandages and reckless eyes. Ava. Even after three days away from her, she still found a way into my thoughts like she belonged there. And that was the real problem. I exhaled sharply and grabbed the whiskey bottle from the table, pouring another glass. Outside, Pasadena glittered beneath the night sky. Beautiful. But inside the hotel suite, I already knew the truth. This summer was becoming dangerous in ways I never expected.

"I can be Spider-Man and Batman? Best day ever!" He turned and bolted up the stairs two at a time, already lost in his own joy, completely unaware of the storm gathering beneath our roof. Alone in the hallway, my fingers drifted to the pendant resting against my collarbone, the one I had worn every single day for ten years. I didn't need to look at it to know the words engraved across its surface. 'Next summer, find me if you can.' I had written that promise for me and Miguel, believing it was the beginning of a love story.