Finding Summerland - Excerpt 8

Finding Summerland    

 

 **EXCERPT 8

In this excerpt Wesley sees Olivia again. It is there first encounter since meeting, and he begins to realize how connected he feels to her.........he just doesn't know why yet. To read earlier excepts....search the tag #SampleSunday.

Taken from Chapter 7- Surrender

She was a sight, standing there. I was speechless. I had never  seen her without wet hair and both times she had been swallowed up in over sized clothes. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It dawned on me what she might look like if she were actually trying.

“Wesley…everything alright?”

“You look beautiful,” I stuttered back. Her disposition changed, and she smiled shyly.

“Ohh.”

“I made some hot water. Would you like some tea?” I offered awkwardly. Trying to recover.

“I don’t think I’ve ever tried tea. Do you like it?”

“It’s good for warming up, otherwise no, I can’t really say I’m a tea guy,” I told her honestly, laughing a little because I was still so nervous.

“Perfect.”

I poured a mug and stirred in a big teaspoon of sugar. I handed it to her and we headed to the living room. Once she had gotten settled in she took a sip.

“Mmm, you’re right Wesley. It is warm.”

I loved the way she said my name. Usually only teachers and my Mother called me by my full name, which meant I was in trouble. The kids in school all knew to call me Wes. But coming from her lips it sounded perfect.

“Are you hungry or anything?” Not sure what should happen next. There were so many things I wanted to ask. I just wanted to know her.

“I ate earlier.”

“Me too. I was trying to keep myself busy,” I admitted; saying too much accidentally.

“Busy from what?” she seemed interested enough to make me feel a little better about the blunder.

“You wanna know the truth?”

“What else is there?” she looked perplexed. She had such a different way of looking at the world. Like she hadn’t been corrupted or damaged like the rest of us.

“I’ve been thinking about you practically non stop since we met last night. It’s been driving me crazy waiting to see you again.” I was surprised how good it felt to say it out loud.

She smiled a little but didn’t respond. It was like she was torn about it. Or about me. She was giving me mixed signals.

“I couldn’t wait to see you either,” she said finally, seeming almost sad.

What could possibly be wrong…why did she seem so torn? I thought to myself. I hoped she wasn’t engaged or promised for an arranged marriage or something. We were obviously from two different worlds.

“Olivia, what’s wrong?” I feared what she may say, but was dying to hear it anyway.

“Nothing’s wrong....” she was careful choosing her next words, “I don’t know how to describe it. Everything is right for the first time and I don’t understand it. Why now?”

Her face was conflicted. Maybe she was more like me than I thought. Something was definitely happening between us. I’d never felt this way about anyone, or anything before.

“I don’t know what’s happening either, but I trust it,” I said with absolute conviction.

I took her hand, holding it for the first time with meaning. We stopped talking and she left her hand in mine. It felt like it was meant to be there. A perfect fit. I didn’t feel like I needed anything. Just me and her, right here, right now was enough.

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As You Wish...: Excerpt, Trailer & Review with Paige Bleu

As You Wish...: Excerpt, Trailer & Review with Paige Bleu: My Guest ~ Paige Bleu  Excerpt from Finding Summerland That night as I slipped off to sleep, I thought of Olivia… I saw us st...

Merry Christmas Girls & Boys........

I realize I haven't blogged in a while. I mean, I've blogged my excerpts pretty religiously on Sundays...but short of that...I've been vacant.

We made it through the "Mayan Apocalypse"...Christmas is right around the corner, with the promise of a Bright New Year to follow. I'm feeling inspired again...Alive again

Promise and magic is on the air of each breath I take....so I'm breathing it in. Listening to that still small voice.....existing to learn

Come January, I will be back to re-writes and edits of 'LivEternal', Volume 2, 'The Ameryn Chronicles'....I am so excited to get back into writing and bathing myself in lovely words...sleepless nights of passion & conflict. I live for moments like those. And of course...I will be dropping samples and excerpts then too....so Thank You for all your patience, Love & support.

In the meantime....

I wish you all the Merriest of Christmas's, the Happiest of Holidays, and the Brightest of New Year's and New Beginnings....

Love to all, my inspirers...comedians...and friends

I couldn't do what I do without you

Peace~
Paige

Finding Summerland - Excerpt 7

Finding Summerland    

 **EXCERPT 7

In this excerpt Wesley meets the mysterious Olivia for the first time. This will be the beginning of an entire new paradigm for Wes.....and neither can prepare them for what comes next. To read earlier excepts....search the tag #SampleSunday.

Taken from Chapter 6 - Angel

She didn’t say anything back, but turned and started walking back to the driftwood where I’d been sitting. She sat down on the log, burying her feet in the sand, wiggling her toes around like I had. I sat next to her…my stomach doing somersaults inside.

We stared up at the stars. Silent, but connected. Like we were both players in some cosmic ballet. I felt like I’d found an old friend from some place I used to know.

She pointed out pictures in the sky. Things I’d never noticed before. Like looking through a new lens, everything with her was interesting. From the stories she shared, to the way she viewed the world. I had never met anyone quite like Olivia. 

We stayed up talking until the sun began to peak up from the horizon…reminding us of how long we’d been there. Time; the great thief was approaching, and I wasn’t ready. I had never talked so much in my life. It came so naturally with her. I felt like I could be real. No walls. No boundaries. Just a boy and girl, brought together by chance. Today I was just Wesley.

It felt cleansing, shedding the cloak of what I was supposed to be, what was expected...or demanded. She had no notions of any of that. We were simply here.

I didn’t ever want it to end. But of course it wouldn’t be that simple. We looked at each other under the illumination of the fiery orange sunrise, both knowing the time had come. She began to stand, her legs covered in a dusty grey film, closing her eyes to feel the warmth of the brilliant glow light up her face. 

“I should probably get back.” She said, still gazing over the mirrored water.

I turned to look at her. I didn’t want to let her go…like it had all been a dream. I was afraid of not finding her again. Her immense blue eyes stared back at me. She was surreal. I was so distracted, I couldn’t remember what I was planning on saying to make her stay. She started walking away.

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'Finding Summerland' - Excerpt 6

Finding Summerland    

 **EXCERPT 6 

In this scene Wes has just agreed to throwing a party at the beach house over Spring Break with his best buddy Wyatt....as he thinks of returning to the house (the first tine since Channing's disappearance) he begins reminiscing over his relationship with Channing, and how he and Wyatt met. To read earlier excerpts, search the tag #SampleSunday.

Taken from Chapter 5 - Reminiscent

I was actually kinda looking forward to Spring break. Even with all the people around, it might be the change I needed. Maybe there was something to what Wyatt said. I had been holding out for some unrealistic idea of love. I hadn’t really given anyone a chance. Had never let anyone get past my wall.

When Channing was around, I would hang out with him and his friends. He was always the star. That worked for us. It was enough that we were together. I could blend in while he shined. I was shy and disconnected. He had a way of drawing me out.

I didn’t start speaking until I was 4. Channing was the only one I would talk too…and never when anyone was around. My parents were sure he was making it up. They took me to all kinds of therapists, specialist, child psychologists, doctors…even psychiatrists. None of them could figure out what was 'wrong' with me.

School made no sense—nothing made sense. I had been labeled everything from dyslexic, to autistic. My mind was sharp and clear, but not in the way that was accepted. It was like being trapped in my own 'special' world. They hired me a private tutor, hoping to help me catch up. God forbid anyone discover me being different. Nothing seemed to help. It was like I was some sort of pariah. A blemish in a bastian of perfects.

I faked my way through 'mainstream' classes with help from Wyatt, and some charitable contributions from my father’s corporation, that some would have considered bribes. I was just a kid, trying to sort it all out. Not being able to talk about anything. Stuck in a world where I was expected to be larger than life, with an older brother who was.

He was my rock.

When I started school, a kid teased me for the way I talked. My stuttering never went unnoticed long and Channing knew how sensitive I was about it. He kicked his ass and gave him a bloody nose, before the kid even knew what was happening. It was that fast.

His dad threatened to sue, then mysteriously dropped the whole thing. It was rumored some of our dad’s thugs threatened him. The whole thing was outrageous of course.

That was the first of many altercations. We became a force to be reckoned with. As our reputation grew, kids stopped messing with me. They knew better. It was also how I met Wyatt. Katie was in my class and told him about what happened. She worshipped Channing like some sort of hero. All the girls did. I don’t know if it was sympathy, or if he saw me as a future ally, but he sat with me at lunch that day and we've been friends ever since.

Wyatt was popular even then.

He hadn’t grown into his looks yet, so he would get attention from pulling pranks. One time, he got suspended in 4^th grade for substituting a tuna sandwich with a mix of cat food and mayonnaise in Jim Daley’s lunch. Daley still gets harassed about it to this day.

Now he was more collected. He dressed in all the latest trends, like he picked his wardrobe straight off the hottest shows and runways. He was still a joker though. Even Channing would mess with him over his tendency to assimilate. Coming from Channing that was something. They were cut from the same cloth.

This weekend was a beginning at least. I had a fresh perspective and I was willing to try something new.

Channing would love this. A weekend with some voluptuous stranger. This was for him as much as it was for me. I needed to live. Channing would want that. I still felt like he was out there somewhere. I knew how unrealistic that seemed. But I still believed it. I could feel him. 

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'Finding Summerland' - Excerpt 5

Finding Summerland    

 **EXCERPT 5 

This scene is set right after Wes has gotten his tattoo & told his parents. Things are complicated with the family right now since Channing's disappearance....see how it goes. To read earlier excerpts, search the tag #SampleSunday.

Taken from Chapter 4 - Atonement

I felt guilty for upsetting her. I honestly expected that if anyone was going to be upset it would be him. That was tolerable for me—he was tough. My mother, on the other hand, was broken. It didn’t dawn on me that it would hurt her.

I didn't know what I should do to fix the situation. No good could come from me interrupting their discussion. Not that I was afraid of getting in trouble, I deserved that. At least they were talking, I reasoned. Maybe like me, they needed to feel something too. 

I headed upstairs to let them work it out. Hopefully mom would calm down soon. I walked into my room and grabbed Tess. Plopping down on the bed I pushed some pillows behind me, and settled back into them. Shutting my eyes, I began playing. 

I’d been working on this song for as long as I could remember. It was the first song I ever wrote, and it was still my favorite. A work forever 'in progress'. It was peaceful for me to write. Songs didn’t have opinions, or talk back. They were just created. Flawed and perfect…they just existed. I had written 100's of them, but I always came back to this one. Probably because it was my first. It was sentimental, familiar.
 
I kept playing, remembering the day I had gotten my guitar…

It was my 10th birthday and my parents threw a huge party. Everyone in my class was there. I hid most of the time, waiting for it to be over. I hated crowds. Once everyone had left, my mother found me, and gave me a package. It was a huge box and I wondered what it could be. I hadn’t asked for anything big.
When I opened it, I was surprised to see a hard black guitar case. I’d never played an instrument before, or had any interest in music, but my mother looked at me assuring and nudged. 

I undid the clasps and lifted the top, revealing the plush cobalt padding nestling a gorgeous cherry guitar, a single hummingbird engraved softly on the front. I was puzzled. It was beautiful to look at, and as I lifted it protectively out of it’s case it felt at home in my arms. But I didn’t know how to play. 

I sat for a minute just holding it. Feeling it out I guess. Then, nervous of disappointing my mother, I began to run my fingers over the strings unsure. The sounds began resonating through the room. From that moment I was hooked. I’ll never know what inspired her to buy it. Maybe it was nothing more than a novelty. Perhaps a mother’s intuition. Either way, it changed my life. 

She said that all good instruments needed a name, so I spit out the first name I could think of. A name that I loved. The only girl I ever had any feelings for. A pretty red head in my 1st grade class who had never even spoken to me. I’d watch her from my desk every year, up until last, when her father got transferred to Washington and she moved unexpectedly. 

Her name was Tessa Elizabeth Rhoden, Tess for short.

Since that day, I never went a day without playing. That guitar had gotten me through some of my darkest days when I was younger, and was still comforting to me now, with all the uncertainty surrounding me. As I listened to the song inside, I closed out the world and felt myself drifting off.

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BTW...Finding Summerland...available NoW $2.99

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