As the days went by I found them like the day I arrived. Michelle and Travis went to hang out with their friends with promises to spend time with me. I just kept telling them ok that I loved them. Shellie smiled telling me the same as she walked out the door wearing very provocative clothing. Mom kept telling me Michelle had a life of her own since she became a adult. I nodding just agreeing with her. I kept my sadness back as I missed my sister’s hugs and talks. Those first few days and weeks of June was mostly mom and I. We spent time with Chris, Selena, Tiffany, and their parents. We had family group time going to the beach since we lived in San Francisco. It was nice playing volley ball the guys against the gals. Mom and Ellie laughed as Tiffany collided into me as I tried to spike the ball. Everyone started laughing as I landed on my ass. It was moments like that which made the summer wonderful.
The weeks past as my birthday was just around the corner. Michelle and Travis kept dodging me for some reason making me feel that much sadder. Mom took it upon herself to keep me happy by spending time with me. I told her if there were things she needed to do just do them. My mother placed her hands on each side of my face saying the only thing she had to do was spend time with her bright blue eyed baby boy. I smiled to those words telling her how I loved her as she said the same.
The days went by as I find it’s Thursday which means my birthday. My friends and their mothers starts showing up around 1 p.m. to enjoy the day. All the fathers are still at work as Ellie tells me Mike, Nate, and Ricky will be by after. I nod as my mom tells us teenagers to go have fun while the mothers talk. Tiffany blushes as she goes to change as does Selena. It’s only minutes later Chris, Tiffany, Selena, and I are in the back enjoying the swimming pool as our mothers lounge out watching us. They talk which becomes brings on the gossip about some day time talk show. The day is enjoyable being around those that are here to celebrate it with me. As Chris, Selena, Tiffany and I sit on the sides of the pool. Tiffany takes my right hand in her left. I turn to look into her eyes as her smile shows. I give a smile back wondering why she is showing me so much affection. I still haven’t figured her out, but feel a warmth from her I have never felt before. Our friendship has grew stronger the past few years, but still I wonder what it is she wants from me. As the evening comes Michelle and Travis hang out as Mike, Nate, and Ricky show up. The main party begins with a bbq and gift opening for me. The gifts were nice as Mom gave me a locket that held a picture of her and I within it. Tiffany gave me a black onyx ring with a eagle embedded on the onyx. I smiled at the ring as Tiffany placed it on my right ring finger. All the other gifts I received were nice as was the first. After all the gifts were opened it was time to eat as it was around 6 p.m. Which also around that moment Michelle and Travis left telling me Happy Birthday while walking out the door. Everyone heard the door shut while looking at the sadness that came to my face. This was the first birthday that they didn’t stay. Mom placed her left hand on my arm getting my attention as those that were like family watched on.
“ Heath I am sorry about your sister and brother, but you have family here that love you. So please don’t let them ruin the rest of what is your day.” My mom tells me as I nod giving her a small smile
“ Heath your mom is right. We love you as we feel your our own child.” Kiko tells me making everyone nod
“ Thank you everyone as you all have been there for me as a family.” I respond getting smiles all around
The rest of the evening as well as the night go by nicely. After my extended family left, mom sat me on the couch as she sat next to me. We talked about the rest of the month I had before having to leave for school again.
After a few weeks of being with my mother and very little time with my siblings. It was time again to leave for my second home. Mom wanted to spend that morning with me alone. She made me a big breakfast before we had to meet the others at the airport. It was just my mother and I which I had grown getting use to. Once breakfast was done and ate, I helped clean up. My stuff was already in the car thanks to Travis for some odd reason. As mom and I were leaving Michelle and Travis gave me a weak hug as they left early to Trey and Keisha’s for the day. Mom looked at me asking if I was ok in which I just shrugged making our way to her car.
Once to the airport my mother and I met up to my friends and their parents. Tiffany had my ticket already in hand for me showing a smile. She came over to mom and I giving mom a hug before giving me one tight.
“ You ready Heath hun?” Tiffany asked as I nodded.
Mom grabbed my hand turning me to her smiling while looking in my eyes.
“ Heath honey I want you to know I am proud of you. I love you so very much always remember that. And if you ever need me call I will be there for you always.” She tells me as I get pulled into a hug after.
“ I love you to mom and always will.” I tell my mother with tears telling her how i felt as I return the hug she had given me.
After mom gives me a kiss on my forehead she breaks the hug. The mothers come over to hug me each before comforting my mother. Kiko looks at me as Tiffany takes my right hand in her left.
“ Heath son don’t worry about Maggie. We will help her stay happy while you are gone as always. Have a safe trip honey.” Kiko tells me as I nod turning to be led by Tiffany
I turn my head back to see mom crying with a smile showing her strength that fails. I watch as her arms go around Kiko and Verna who nods with a smile to me. Tiffany and I make it to the plane as we have the past few years. And again we sit side by side holding hands which I have gotten use to. Leaning back in the chair to wait for the plane to take off. I think of how this summer vacation went and hope next years is a lot better with maybe my whole family spending time with me. I closed my eyes as the plane started moving as I squeezed Tiffany’s hand. I was still not use to flying, but with Tiffany by me she helped get my mind off the plane. I heard Chris and Selena talk up a storm about their summer which I blocked out in the end. Once the plane took off I found myself asleep without a care in the world as my dreams came and went.
It was our last school year before we started high school. It was also around that time when I started to notice a girl watching me. I had seen her a few times while at lunch across the room at a table by herself. I kept thinking of who she was until I remembered her name was Jasmine. She was shy that much I knew. It was like she was watching me everyday. I didn’t know what to think at times when she would come around me. She wouldn’t say anything exactly to me as her eyes did the talking for her. I noticed one day on the outside of her notebook my name with a heart around it. At first I thought there might of been another Heath in the school, but I was wrong as I asked around. When Jasmine would walk by I kept Tiffany from staring at the notebook by starting some random conversation. I think Jasmine knew, but didn’t care who saw the heart with my name. I wanted to confront her, but didn’t think it was really necessary as it was just a teenager thing. As the weeks and months went by two things occurred. One was around Christmas when I opened my locker to find a letter. The letter was wrote in a friendly, but loving way. The person told me they had been watching me from afar with hopes to be in my arms. I stood there looking around to make sure Tiffany or Selena didn’t try to read over my shoulders. I looked back to the letter continuing to read what for some reason sent a warm cascading ripple to my heart. At the bottom I notice my name surrounded by a heart. I folded the letter up placing it in the back of my locker so no one could see it besides me. The second thing happened on Valentine day, but this time I was in Chris and my room when a envelope was pushed under the door. I heard footsteps run away as I made my way to the door. I opened it to see no one around. I shut the door before picking the envelope up. Making my way to my bed I opened it up just to pull the letter out. I sat on my bed and started reading the letter. I was wide eyed at to what it stated.