07/04/2001
"Bobby!" Lucas waves me over from across the football field. His arm wrapped around Addys shoulder as always. Our tight nit group has been together since we were in diapers. Adaline joined in middle school when her family moved to our small little town of Decherd, Tennessee. Her father took over as coach of the football and baseball teams and her mom made her mark as an ER doctor.
"Happy 4th man." We exchange pleasantries. Addy and Lucas had been away this summer for the senior trip. Being that Camden and myself had graduated already this past April and had spent the majority of the summer preparing for going away to college.
"Any chance you can keep tabs on this little troublemaker? Her father and is manning the BBQ pit and her mother is pulling an extra shift at the ER." Adaline had shuffled off to the snow cone vendor ignoring us. She'd always been reserved. Friendly and quiet. She had the perfect bubbly personality.
"Yeah, but why. You are ditching her?" He gave me an evil wink and a deep smile.
"I got a date with Dana behind the bleachers man." He patted my back as we both laughed, and he took off for his rendezvous. Addy made her way back to me with a blue and a red snow cone, rolling her eyes at the vanishing figure that had been standing beside me not seconds ago. "Is that for little old me?" I patted my chest and faked a look of shock giving my best effort to make her smile last longer.
"Nope both are mine" winking at me and nudging my arm as she handed me my favorite red frozen substance.
07/26/2001.
"Get your butt in gear Blake. You owe me 10 more before I even consider letting you run a drill!" Coach snapped at me as I ran the bleachers for being late to practice. Camden laughing as he ran right along with me.
"Which Blake do you think he's talking to?"
"Probably the ugly one." Dalton said behind us before smacking us both in the back and sprinting through the both of us.
08/17/2001.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Adaline, Lucas, and my mother screamed as me and Camden walked in the front door. Spending the last few days home before our classes start. Addy walked over and gave us both a kiss on the cheek. Shed made it a tradition. Her eyes met mine and a light blush peaked onto her cheeks before she looked away again. She's so cute when she blushes.
08/30/2001.
I am waiting for Adaline outside the school beside Camden. We'd made a surprise visit home and decided we'd pick her up. As we watched the front of the school the kids started to pile out in groups. A lone little raven-haired girl dressed in a light blue sun dress and one of my old button ups stalked out with her headphones in. Always ignoring the world. Completely oblivious to her surroundings. I give Camden a wink as she slowly makes her way toward the bus directly across from where we parked. Kneeling down beside the Jeep, Camden sneaking to the opposing side. Just as she gets right to the back of the Jeep, we both jump out and tackle her, pulling her to where she's cradled in our arms. She lets off a scream and all the kids around burst into laughs and whistles. When she looks up and realizes it's us, she gives the brightest smile I've ever seen. 'God, I miss seeing her every day.'
09/09/2001
"Robert Arron Blake!" My mother screams from down the hall.
'Shit' Addy and Camden look at me trying to suppress their laughter.
"Yes Ma" I yell looking down at the monopoly bored trying to decide what to buy next. Suddenly she storms into the den and slams a piece of paper down on the coffee table beside the game.
"Care to explain this letter I received from your Coach, stating you have yet to choose your final major and if you don't then he'll be forced to bench you? "I glanced over at it then shrugged and crumpled it up.
"I got time Ma', calm down. I'm just weighing my options.", She lets off a deep annoyed sigh and storms out. Leaving a trail of derogatory phases behind in whispers under her breath.
"Dude, I thought you chose months ago." Camden shakes his head the smacks my back "what happened to you wanting to major in Architecture or whatever the rock study shit is you used to drone on about." I just chuckled and shook my head at his attempt at big words. My twin is smart but more of a brute smart. He knows enough to get by with decent grades but not enough to be top of any class. Adaline made sure to keep me in the library at all hours while I studied for my SAT and college entrance exam, so I have more weighing on my shoulders.
