Summer After High School

Chapter Five

Keith groaned when he managed to crack open his eyes. “It’s too god-damn bright,” he moaned throwing covers over his head. “Too bright.” His head was pounding, and trying to recall exactly what he did last night wasn’t helping. “Bloody hell,” he dragged himself out of bed and found Sarah picking at her food.

“Well look who’s finally up,” Sarah grinned as Keith slumped in his chair.

“I feel horrible. What exactly happened last night?”

Sarah shoved the rest of her eggs at Keith. “Well where should I start? You were clowning around with some pretty girls and drank a lot. Then we left and you tried to go off looking for your sheep. Then Rita followed you and dragged you back while you serenaded her.”

Keith snorted, “I serenaded Rita? Yeah, sure.”

“Unfortunately it’s true,” Rita came in. “Let me tell you one thing, it wasn’t very pleasant.”

“Oh you guys leave him alone, he had a rough night last night,” Sam cheerfully poked Rita in the ribs.

“He puked in your shoes last night.”

Sam looked at Keith, “Dude that’s disgusting. You’re owe me new shoes.”

Keith slumped over and groaned.

Sarah glanced in the mirror and looked over at Rita and Jenny who were eating candy and going through her magazines. “Do you guys think I’m fat?”

Rita looked up, surprised, “What? No, where’d you get that idea from?”

“A few guys said so at the party,” Sarah said trying to sound casual.

“Well they are a bunch of ass holes, you look great, all muscle,” remarked Jenny looking up from an article, How to Catch Your Dream Guy.

Sarah nodded, and they went back to reading. “You guys just say that because you’re skinny,” she whispered so they couldn’t hear. With one last look in the mirror she turned her attention back to them. “So what about you Jenny? How was he?”

Jenny turned bright red, “Great, he’s like the perfect guy or something.”

Rita giggled, “She’s totally head over heals. I don’t think she’s anywhere near here.”

Sarah laughed, “That’s my girl.”

Jenny rolled off the bed, “You know, I don’t have to take this abuse, I’m going to finish getting ready.”

Waiting until Jenny rounded the corner, Rita turned towards Sarah, “Well look at that? Did you expect her to fall for someone that hard?”

“Nope.”

“Hey want the last candy bar? It’s your favorite.”

Sarah hesitating, staring at the fattening chocolate, “I’m not really that hungry actually.”

“Suit yourself.”

Tim paced the floor in the empty stairwell, “Jenny, I know we’ve been great friends for a long time. We’ve been friends even in preschool and you see, I’ve always felt more. No, no, Jenny, I think I’m in love with you. Oh, god hell no.” He turned around and bumped into Jenny, “Oh my god, Jenny, what a surprise, I didn’t mean it.”

“Mean what?” Jenny glanced at Tim suspiciously.

“Nothing.”

“Come on seriously.”

“Well, best friend,” he added hastily, “I was thinking we should go canoeing on that very nice river about a half mile away. You know, to see the great outdoors,” he added lamely, silently cursing himself.

“Gee, Tim, that sounds great, but I already got a sort of date with Greg. Rain check?”
He shrugged carefree, “Uhm, sure, no problem, I’ll drag Sam along I guess.”

“Cool, you’ll probably do better with him than weak old me,” with that Jenny jumped downstairs and left.

“Great.” He muttered to himself bitterly.

Keith ambled past him, still green, “Dude, I’m trying to remember all of what I did last night, care to fill a guy in?”

Tim snorted, “You tried to do a strip tease then fell on your face.”

“Was that before or after I ran around and made out with a rubber ducky?”

“Before, I think. Dude, if you couldn’t handle it one night, what makes you think you can last a whole entire summer?”

“Hey,” he grumbled getting defensive, “I can.”

“Whatever,” Tim wandered off towards the kitchen.

Keith rolled his eyes and pulled out his cell phone, “Wow, that’s a lot of messages,” he grinned and started to listen to them.

“Keithy bear, this is Michelle-”

“That’s way to creepy,” Keith mumbled skipping it.

“Dude, we are so going to rock together, catch you later, Morgan.”

“Hey Keith, it’s Megan my number is 1-755-349-8774, call me.”

“What the hell is with all the M’s?” Keith sighed.

“Hello Mr. Horton, this is Georgia Tech, and we are calling on behalf of your financial status. I’m afraid if you don’t take the scholarship test at the end of summer we cannot accept you. I’m sorry for this inconvenience.”

He wasn’t aware of the phone dropping onto the floor. He didn’t even remember letting go of it. The only thought that ran through his mind was “I’m screwed.”

He was still standing there hand holding empty air when Rita trooped into the kitchen. “What on earth are you doing Keith?”

He blinked, and turned his head, “What?”

“I asked, what are you doing,” Rita helped herself to a beer and grabbed Keith one. “You seem, shell shocked.”

Keith sat down and drained his beer, “I’m screwed.”

“Ok, about what?”

“My college called, if I don’t win this scholarship, I won’t be able to attend.”

Rita whistled, “Ouch, so what’re you going to do?”

“I guess party less, study more. Great summer right?”

Rita sighed, “Keith, what subject?”

“What?”

“The scholarship.”

“Chemistry.”

“Wow, that’s your worst one.”
“Don’t have to tell me.”

Rita was quiet for a few minutes. “Keith, if you need help, a tutor, I’ll help you out.”

“You’d do that?”

“Yeah, just no serenading me.”

Keith grinned, “I can handle that.”

They shook on it.

A million apologies for the long delay, please don’t hurt me! I blame school and senior year, what can I say? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, now each character has their own story to go with…yeah!