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 4th
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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Peace~Paige
BTW...Finding Summerland...available NoW $2.99
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Thanks for sharing...Peace