August

The blue ribbon flowed through her hair, cascading against the waves of her long brown hair. “It’s August now” she said to the boy beside her, as she leaned on his chest. He caressed her tan shoulder and replied, “yep” with a disappointed smile on his lips. That summer had gone by so fast, what had seemed like the beginning of forever was reluctantly coming to a close. School would begin in two weeks. Their relationship would end in two weeks. Barrett and Madeline would be over. “Let’s go do something fun,” Barrett finally said, standing up and letting Madeline off of him. “The boardwalk?” “Sure.” Madeline said as Barrett pulled her up from the sand. Even though school was looming, nothing seemed to change about the Georgia shoreline. The sunset still glowed, the water was still warm, and the boardwalk was just as appealing as ever. Although, it wasn’t the shops with their glossy windows, and coolers full of Spongebob popsicles that enamored the vacationing teens. Below the aged wooden planks was what really mattered. Madeline’s red Toyota pulled up to her mother’s driveway. “Stay here B,” she said leaning over to the passenger seat, with a perfectly manicured finger to her lips, and keys jingling in the other hand. As Madeline walked up the brick driveway of her home, she could faintly see her mother clicking on her laptop at the countertop, as classical music flowed from a Youtube playlist on the TV. She glanced around at the ornate details of her front door before turning her key in the ancient lock. The pillars holding up her home had been standing through 4 generations of her family, and when Madeline finally walked in, the red wood floors still smelled like her great aunt’s christmas fruit cake, even though it was summer. “Well, hello honey,” her mother said with a sigh as she removed her reading glasses. “Hey mom.” Madeline replied with a half hearted smile on her face. “Nice of you to come back in time for dinner.” On the counter rested a piece of salmon and broccoli, but by the smell of the house, she could tell that her plate would probably be cold by now. She touched it to be sure. “I didn’t know you wanted to eat together.” Her mother scoffed, “Of course I wanted to eat dinner with my only daughter. It’s a shame she doesn’t even bother to check her text messages on the phone that I pay so much for.” She grimaced and pushed her glasses back on her nose. “I ate at Terry’s,” Madeline lied, well sort of. She did eat dinner at her best friend’s house, just, not exactly with her best friend. “I see,” her mother mumbled. “Well, put that in the fridge and change into something comfortable, I booked us tickets for the cinema’s showing of Romeo + Juliet.” Madeline groaned at the thought of staying with her mother, when there was only two weeks left to be with Barrett! “Mom, I can’t, I already made plans!” “Oh, please! With Terry? I’m not cancelling these tickets, you have all year to hang out with your friends, you can spend one night with me at the cinema.” “But–” “No ‘buts’. Cancel with Terry and be ready to leave with me in an hour.”

“Fine, but can I at least run over to her house to grab my sweatpants? I forgot them from our sleepover last night.” She half lied again, but what else was she supposed to do? She needed to say goodbye to Barrett... and of course not let him suffocate in her car overnight. “Go for it, but be back in an hour!” “I will!” Madeline yelled, already halfway out the door. As she jogged up to her car, Madeline saw her boyfriend bobbing his messy, dirty blonde mop of hair to one of her CDs. God, she loved how cute he looked dancing along. By the rhythm of his movements, it seemed to be Enema of the State. “...and I know it must be lateeeee...” “...been gone since yesterday...” Madeline sang in response to Barrett’s off-key notes. “Hey Mads! Are we all set to go to the boardwalk?” “Well actually,” she frowned as she turned down the volume, “My mom is making me go to the cinema with her, and I don’t think I can get out of this one.” She slung her arm over the passenger seat to back out of the driveway. He cleared his throat as he ran his bitten fingernails through his hair. Madeline explained to him how she had an hour before needing to be back home. “Can you meet up with me after the movie?” Barrett said eagerly. His energy reminded her so much of a golden retriever, one thing that she had always adored about him. “I’m not sure–” “Please! I’ll make it worth your while,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Okay, fine. But I do need to swing by your house to see Terry.” Before Madeline spent most of her summer days with Barrett, she could often be spotted with her best friend Theresa, or as called by literally everyone, Terry. They had been going to school together since kindergarten, and though they couldn’t be further opposites, somehow they had managed to be friends longer than Terry’s father’s numerous engagements. Terry’s father most recently married Mary, Barrett’s mother, 2 years ago. Although Terry initially disagreed with the idea of Madeline and Barrett’s relationship, after witnessing both of them pine over each other for what seemed like ages, she agreed to let them date, and help keep their relationship a secret from the mothers. Mary and Madeline’s mother, Daphne, grew up together in this very town. Similar to Terry and Madeline, they too, were seemingly inseparable. That is, until they had some sort of disagreement during their pregnancies. They never disclosed what it was about, not to their friends, spouses, or children, but whatever it was, it abruptly ended their friendship. Ever since, they haven’t seen each other, and Madeline and Barrett have had to keep their relationship under wraps. “Terry Beary!” Madeline called from the mudroom of her best friend’s and boyfriend’s home. “She’s downstairs, Madeline,” Mary called from the living room. “Thanks Ms. Harrison” Madeline said with a blush arising on her cheeks. Typically Mary was at the country club this time of day. Nonetheless, Madeline shrugged it off and slammed the door to the basement behind her. Meanwhile, Barrett kicked off his shoes in a messy pile by the door, and sat down next to his mother, who was working on her summer project of reading Jane Austen’s entire portfolio. As of right now, she was roughly three-fourths of the way through Mansfield Park. “Mom, do I have to go away to Mathew’s Charter again this school year?”

Mary placed her book face down on the couch, “Of course you have to Barrett, boarding school is the best thing for your future. It keeps you focused and on a strict schedule. Plus, if you've been going there for the past three years, you might as well round off your senior year at MC too!” Barrett sighed, his mother did have a point. He had spent the past few years nearly perfecting his highschool transcript. Doing soccer, robotics, having high A’s, and being on the track to valedictorian, was great. But strict scheduling, and being hyper focused all the time, seemed to make Barrett feel like the worst version of himself. Sure, from the outside he was perfect, but from mid August to May, he was constantly on edge, as if any mistake he made would ruin his life. It was truly this past summer that made him finally feel free. Meeting and getting to spend time with Madeline had completely changed him for the better, and going back to Mathews Charter would be like trying to fit into a shirt from his freshman year... seemingly impossible. Just then he heard a scream from his stepsister in the basement. Barrett’s mother had already slipped her book back on to her lap, so Barrett decided to go down to the basement and figure out what was going on. “Give them to me!” Madeline laughed as she was trying to pry her sweatpants from Terry’s grasp. “Rahh, never!” Terry shrieked. Barrett gave a chuckle before Madeline noticed that he was standing in the doorway. She ran over to him and kissed him on the cheek before complaining to him how she did truly need her sweatpants back before going to the cinema. “Fine I’ll give them back,” Terry conceded. Her messy blonde bob and blue eyes standing directly in contrast with Madeline’s long, neat, brown hair and green eyes. But somehow, despite their physical differences, their clothing styles were still the exact same. By the time Madeline had changed into the sweatpants, there was only 15 minutes before she needed to get home. So she said goodbye to Terry, who was now wearing a dirty pair of jean shorts, and Barrett walked Madeline to her red Toyota. “I wish I didn’t have to go to the cinema,” Madeline said, holding hands with her boyfriend. “I know,” Barrett glanced down and squeezed his girlfriend’s hands. “But you did promise to meet me after the movie.” She sighed and smiled, “I do remember that.” “Meet under the boardwalk, say... ten o’clock?” “Of course.” She reached up to give him one final kiss before starting the car and heading to her mother’s. Madeline glanced at her phone screen. It read 9:48. The movie finished 5 minutes ago, but her mom was in no rush to leave their seats and subsequently use the restroom, which had a line that would probably last at least fifteen more minutes. She need to leave soon if she was going to meet Barrett on time. “Mom, I really need to pee, I think I’m gonna try and find a bathroom at one of the shops around here,” Madeline looked around anxiously and crossed her legs to make her story a bit more convincing. “Fine, but while you’re at it, try to swing by that 24/7 coffee shop and pick up some donuts. They’ll typically give you some free ones if its the end of the day and you don’t act too rudely.” “Sounds good” Madeline replied. She stepped out of the bathroom line and converted into a jog once she was out of her mother’s sight. 9:50. Madeline would need to book it in order to make it to Barrett in time.

“Thanks for driving me to pick up coffee, Barrett.” Mary said to her son. Even though it was quite late, Barrett's mother was determined to finish her book, and caffeine at ten o’clock was just the kick she needed. “Well, you do pay for my gas. It’s the least I can do,” Barrett said, not sharing the real reason he was so eager to drive his mom to the 24/7 coffee shop. “And don’t worry hun, I’ll make sure to pick up some of those donuts you like. They always give out some free ones at the end of the day, as long as you’re sure to tip!” Barrett smiled, “Thanks, Mom. While you’re waiting, I think I’m gonna take a stroll on the beach, if thats okay.” “Sure, honey,” His mom replied. With the conformation he needed, they headed their seperate ways. “There you are!” Madeline called from under the boardwalk. She ran up to Barrett and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist for a long, slow, kiss. When they finally let go of each other, they sat in the sand, watching the waves crash on to the moonlit shore. It seemed that nothing could be more perfect. Minutes passed before either of them checked their phones, what was the rush? Both of them needed to soak up the next two weeks as much as they could, and holding each other for the time being seemed like the best way to do that. “Hey, Mads?” Barrett said. “Hey, B,” Madeline grinned. “I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while but, um,” “‘Um’ what B?” “I love you” he blurted. A look of mild shock crossed over Madeline’s face. Barrett turned away and scratched the back of his head out of embarrassment. “You don’t have to say it back, I just wanted to you–” “I love you too” She interrupted. “What?” “I said I love you too!” “You mean it?” Barrett nearly yelled, but he couldn’t help it, he was overjoyed. “Absolutely” Madeline beamed. Barrett stood up and spun his girlfriend around. When he put her down, Madeline leaned in for a kiss. God, life couldn’t be more perfect. “BARRETT?” “MADELINE?” The mothers screamed in unison. Mortified, they abruptly pulled their children apart. “Mom,” Barrett cried to his mom, “Your petty argument with Daphne is stupid, you can’t keep me and Madeline apart because of it!” “Madeline, how come you didn’t tell me that you were dating this boy? Is Barrett who you’ve been sneaking around with all summer?” Daphne furiously exclaimed. Both of the mothers looked horrified, and though they hadn’t met in years, they both seemed to be thinking the exact same thing.

“Yes, I have been dating Barrett all summer mom, but I agree with him. Why does your relationship have to affect ours?” The mothers locked eyes, and Mary nodded to Daphne. “Its because you two are half siblings.” Madeline looked like she was about to faint, and Barrett didn’t look much different. The waves that had once seemed calm and soothing, now sounded like battle cries and cymbals. How had the night gone from near perfection, to utter chaos? “Barrett, I cheated on your ‘Dad’ with your biological father.” “And Madeline as you know, your father and I briefly dated in 2007.” It all made sense. Their mother’s falling out, everything logistically made sense, but internally, everything just felt so wrong. Madeline and Barrett looked at each other for the first time since hearing the news, and instantly broke down in tears. Their worlds flipped. Their hearts were broken. And though sooner than expected, their relationship, was over.