The Summer That Changed Everything Novels & Stories

The wind was biting, yet he was wearing only a thin layer of clothes. He shouted toward the phone, “Ruthie, this was a bet I made using you back then, and the loser had to jump into the lake. I know I did you wrong, so I’m giving all those wagers back to you now.” Someone tried to stop him. “Finn, that bet was made in the middle of summer! The water’s freezing now. You can’t do this!” Before his friends could convince him otherwise, Finn had jumped in. I hung up at that point. I felt nothing stirring inside me. I just found it ridiculous. He wanted to prove how guilty he felt, but I had stopped caring about all of that long ago.

His heavy breathing turned icy as he said, “Why bring her up? She’s nothing but a tag-along lapdog.” That night, my tears wouldn’t stop. Summer’s revenge grew increasingly vicious. After lending my luck to Shawn, my own fortune went down the drain. I kept bumping into Summer at every corner. When I returned home trembling after being bullied, Shawn would look at me in disgust. “How many times have I told you? Why do you keep provoking Summie? “You deserve it, getting hurt like this.” Shawn was a changed person after meeting Summer. He was no longer the big brother I trusted, the one who’d sneak me ham sandwiches.

It was cheap, featuring a few kittens on the cover. "Just this?" Bella nodded. "Mommy will like it too." Her preferences naturally included me now. Like a young plant sprouting new branches, she was instinctively reaching toward the warmth of the love that nurtured her. As Alfred paid at the checkout, his fingers were slightly stiff. These tiny, ordinary moments had tightly stitched up the sense of security Bella lost. There was no place for him in this new life, and he had no right to force his way in. That evening, Alfred and I walked along the riverbank.

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.

That was until the third night, during the college talent showcase. When Maya and Wayne were performing some cheesy love duet on stage, I stormed on and snatched the microphone from their hands. Facing the entire student body and the college administrators, I said, “I’m reporting Maya Summers by name. She wasn’t working as a waitress at that bar; she was selling herself. And I’m also reporting Wayne Grey for gambling and for selling an animal.”

"Poor Martha, battling sickness from childbirth and now suffering this betrayal. What a tragedy!" They pelted me with sunflower seed shells, their venomous remarks echoing down the street. I wheeled around, ready to fire back, when a sugary voice cut through. "Honey!" A Porsche pulled up, revealing Martha inside. "I knew you'd swing by," she continued. "I bought you a new tie. Come home with me and try it on." Expressionless, I climbed into the back seat and glanced at the tie. The flashy label glared back at me. I grabbed it and flicked it out the window without a second thought.

I’m alive, I’m breathing, and yes, I’m still talking too much because I would actually go insane if I stayed quiet for even a minute. Damon says I could outtalk the Moon itself and he’s probably right, but whatever. Now let’s talk. You know that movie that’s been trending lately..The Summer I Turned Pretty? Cute title, right? Sweet little coming-of-age kind of thing. Well, mine wasn’t like that. Mine was the summer everything changed. And when I say everything, I mean my heart, my life, my entire soul. Damon Thornvale. My man. My Alpha. My absolute headache and the reason I can’t look at another guy without laughing because, hello, how could I, after him?

I hesitated before adding, “He’s my first enemy, and he’ll always be my enemy. He’s the reason I never got to feel my parents’ love. The only time I saw them again was when they were dead.” Before Raymond could respond, Bella’s scream cut through the room. We ran inside to find her tossing and turning, caught in a nightmare. I hurried to her side, stroking her hair gently. “Mummy’s here, baby. Relax. It’s okay, I’m here.” Her little body slowly calmed under my touch, and she drifted back to sleep. I sat beside her for a moment, my thoughts lingering on everything I’d just said. ***** TWO MONTHS AFTER “Mom, why am I changing my school all of a sudden?” Bella asked, her small voice breaking th

I’ve spent years living next door to him. Years watching him become someone I barely recognize. That’s what hurts. Not that Beckett acted like Beckett. That part is expected. What hurts is remembering there was a time when he wasn’t. A memory flashes through my mind before I can stop it. Summer. Middle school. The two of us racing our bikes down the street while his dad yelled at us to slow down. I immediately shove the memory away. No. That doesn’t matter anymore. People change. Beckett certainly did.