Summertime Nostalgia Novels & Stories

"Who wants what?" We placed our orders, and Ariana and Devon volunteered to brave the food truck lines. The rest of us settled into a comfortable conversation about nothing important: favorite beaches, worst sunburn stories, childhood summer memories. "Remember that summer we went to Coney Island and you got so sunburned you couldn't wear a bra for a week?" Hazel reminded me, giggling. I groaned. "Don't remind me. I had to wear band t-shirts to my internship." "Corporate rebellion at its finest," Nathaniel laughed.

Under the stars, the wealthy held pool parties that echoed with laughter; even the old community hall saw its share of dance nights with confetti. If you ask Autumn what the best summer of her life was, she’d tell you it was the one right after her friends and Calvin’s college graduation. Mahdfel was buzzing—music spilling from open windows, the scent of barbecue drifting down Main Street, everyone waving as you passed. It felt like you could walk straight into any backyard and find someone ready to hand you a plate of food or pull you into a game of cards.

# FLASHBACK It was summer, one of the four Earth's seasons, that goes after spring and foreshadows Autumn. Kevin glanced at the trees bearing fruits and feels Summer is the best season ever. The warmth and everything make it perfect. No wonder most families like to go on vacation during summer. He went back to the mirror for the umpteenth time checking himself out again. He was dressed in a checkered shirt themed with a pair of blue jeans and black shoes. His mind kept beating fast, trying not to lose his focus on one of the important things he wanted to do today. He noticed a little pimple on the upper part of his head and that alone makes him feel he is not perfect.

Summer giggled and squeezed my hand tighter, reveling in the love and laughter that filled our evening stroll. Inside the ice cream parlor, Hollis made all of us sit at a table as he went to order our favorite flavors. Summer’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly anticipated her scoop of mint chocolate chip. “Thank you; it’s because Daddy brought us here,” she said sweetly, making my heart swell with pride. “You guys never had a family outing like this before,” I asked, shocked, and Summer shook her head, her smile widening. “Nope, this is the best day ever,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with happiness. I brushed her hair out of her face and couldn’t help but feel grateful for th

“Uh-huh and your point, miss I-am-not-a-virgin-anymore? When was the last time all three of us went clubbing?” The silence made Summer purse her lips, her curly hair falling across her shoulders as she gave both of us a pointed look. “Can’t we stay in and watch Heath Ledger serenade Julia Stiles while stuffing our face with carbs?” Emma considered it for a moment. I was giving her my best puppy eye look while Summer was offering her best smirk. It was an unfair advantage because I must have looked constipated while she looked like a goddess. “Summer is right.” I groaned, but Emma continued, “We haven’t celebrated in a while. It should be fun.”

The ranch might be a mess but with Mitchell Brand there I'm in the right place. Stay tuned. Autumn No one had ever told her South Central Texas was hotter than any place in hell. Even with the air conditioner on-and thank god it was a new one-Autumn Kelley still felt beads of perspiration on her skin. She swiped at her forehead with her arm and brushed back the few strands of honey-blonde hair that had come loose from the ponytail holder. Bypass, Texas had turned out to be just that, a wide place in the road that people passed by, little more than an intersection with a combination gas station-general store-diner.

Jamal has decided to throw us a barbeque party, and Natasha dropped by about half of an hour ago. I step out feeling okay with myself, and it’s all that matters. The patio is literary on fire and the alluring smell of grilled ribs, Korean style, catches my nostrils. Ooh, baby I love your ways . . . Bob Marley's voice fills the air, urging my lips to move in synch. It quickly makes me think of 'Jumanji' when Ruby fought the enemies while dancing the song. I like sweet reggae, and you can't go wrong with the combination of Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson.

As much as my emotions get the better of me sometimes, I can’t imagine not being able to feel any at all. It must be so hollow to go through the motions of daily life without feeling the emotions that go along with them. A memory of the last summer festival crossed my mind. It was one of the ones where Beau played, if I remember correctly. Rebecca and I cleared our schedules for the night, watching him play while eating to our stomach's delight. The memory stirs up a bittersweet feeling of nostalgia. Music was such a big part of Beau. It was as if the notes themselves wove into his soul, creating the threads of his being.

Anna pressed her lips together in a smile and set the watch on the table. “I’ll pass. I don’t have a thing for being wiretapped.” My hand stiffened. She sat down across from me and propped her chin on her hand as she asked with a smile, “Dr. Summer, did you enjoy the show last night? I even brought my purse into the bedroom on purpose so you could hear more clearly. Oh, but there were probably some parts that you missed. After all, John doesn’t just like to do it in the bedroom. He enjoys other places even more.”

She looked up, caught me smiling, and smiled. That was it. That was the moment I was done for. Twenty one years old and this is what my life had become. Locked in my room on the first week of summer, curtains drawn, laptop open, completely feral over a woman I could never have. Dad was at work. Laura was somewhere in the house being loud about it. And Nicole was always the problem.