Chapter 44

Take me my summer girl

~Nathaniel's Lyric Journal

"Happy birthday to you," a chorus of people sang out loud.

Elise blew out the candles on her chocolate cake before she smiled in front of the Mrs. Montez's flashing camera.

I wasn't sure how Sabrina and her mother was able to pull off an elaborate party. They must've already planned this ahead of time because so many people came for the party to be created on short notice. When I texted Sabrina about Elise's request for a chocolate cake, she reassured me that there was no need for me to tell her anything.

Streamers and balloons were surrounding the backyard. Music was blasting through someone's IPhone though I wasn't sure who. Gifts were neatly stacked on one side of the table and a variety of snacks and appetizers on the other side.

"Isn't this party great?" David came up behind me, slapping my back with excitement.

I turned to look at his grinning face.

I nodded. "Yeah. It is."

Because it was true. We both turned to watch Elise.

Elise wanted something low-key. Seeing her hugging friends and chattering away at speeds I never witnessed before, I knew she was pleased. Her bruises disappeared from her face, most likely covered with make up though I could see the area was still swollen up close.

"Elise looks good," David observed, echoing my own thoughts. "How are you feeling, bro?"

I smiled.

"Great."

She came up to me, immediately reaching for a hug.

"Hey there, Yankee," she greeted me, having the silliest smile on her face I have seen. I hand wrapped around her to waist to pull her close. She didn't object, her body snug against mine.

"Hola, princesa," I greeted back, looking at her dress that fell over her knees. It was hugging her figure like memory form, showing off every curve. "Have I mentioned that you should wear dresses more often?"

She chuckled.

"Maybe once or twice," she flirted back, going up her tippy-toes for a kiss. "If you tell me your favorite color, I will buy a dress in it for you to see."

I pulled her close for another sweet kiss, my hand running down the small of her back.

"Lucky for you, blue is my favorite color," I informed me with a grin, feeling goofy myself.

I didn't want to tell her that I only said blue was my favorite color because of the floral blue dress that was wrapped around her body effortlessly. Her hair was down in its usual waves, that deep golden color that I could never take my eyes off of.

Feeling myself getting too horny at a public birthday party, I pulled her slightly away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a short figure walking up to me.

"What do you think of the party, Nate?" Sabrina's mother asked me in her slight accent. I looked down at the smiling woman who was almost six or more inches shorter than me. From the tone in her voice, Sabrina must've told her about my request for the party.

So I smiled and said, "It's great, Mrs. Montez. You planned a great party."

Elise and Sabrina's mom chatted for a bit, my mind only in tune to Elise's voice as her voice passed through my mind like a song that never got old. I watched her face brighten, comfortable in Sabrina's home and mother. This was the first time I saw them talk, and from the way Mrs. Montez looks at her, it was almost like family.

Elise's head shifted in one direction and her eyes widened. Mrs. Montez followed her line of focus before she returned her eyes back on Elise.

"I think someone is here for you, niña?" she only said, watching Elise's warily.

I turned to see Angela was standing by the entrance of the gate. She looked at me and waved weakly.

"Don't worry. This will be over fast," I said out loud.

Elise nodded, walking towards the entrance of the gate with me behind her.

"Angela?" Elise called out for her, confusion evident in her voice. She opened the gate to let Angela in. "What are you doing here?"

Elise's voice was warily. I stood next to Elise, reaching out for a hand. Angela had a few bags in her hands, which she put on the ground. I wanted to tell Angela to piss off, but I kept my mouth shut.

This was Elise's battle.

"Hey," Angela greeted us awkward. "I was wondering if I could talk to Elise alone."

She changed her posture by crossing her arms and began to fidget under her basic white t-shirt and jeans. She wasn't wearing any excessive make up like she usually did. Her brown eyes that usually had something in mind looked dull and her hair was tied up into some messy hairdo.

Elise didn't look hostile. Her face looked guarded, her posture was mirroring Angela's but her face didn't seem dull: it was full of energy and anticipation.

"Anything you can say to me, you can say to him," Elise responded back softly.

Angela sighed loudly. She rubbed her tired eyes, and her mouth was taut before she started to speak.

"I just wanted to say sorry for how I treated you. I felt terrible for the way I treated you in that home," she began. Elise froze at her apology. I was glaring at Angela, trying to figure out how she treated Elise inside the house. From the sound of it, not very well.

"That's all you wanted to say?" Elise responded mutely, no emotion was given away.

Angela shook her head.

"No," she answered. "I'm truly sorry for my horrible personality. I also wanted to say thank you for reporting that asshole to the cops."

Elise stiffened at her thanks.

"What did you say?" Elise asked hoarsely.

Tears started to appear on Angela's face. Despite her wiping them away, more tears slipped out of her eyes. She choked up, forcing her to take several deep breaths before she could speak again.

"Before he did all of that to you, he use to do it to me too," Angela started to sob, her hands repeatedly running over her face to remove the tears that always keep reappearing. "It was awful. When he met your mom and you...he stopped. He did stop, and it was the best few years of my life. He didn't do anything, and it was the closest I had to a happy family."

She took another deep breath. Elise's hand tightened under my own, my fingers slightly aching from her grip. Elise was silent, watching Angela with shock and something else I couldn't decipher.

"When your mom died, he began again," Angela whispered, her head hung low with shame. "The only difference this time was that he did it to you instead of me."

Tears started to appear on Elise's face. Her lower lip was trembling and her body was slightly shaking. Angela's face looked the same but she managed to continue.

"I wanted it to stop. I swear, Elise I didn't want him doing that to you. I tried to stand up to him at the beginning, but he just punishes me for trying to help you. I was so scared and afraid. I was a coward to do anything," Angela started to cry. Elise let go to my hand to put a hand on her shoulder.

Elise croaked, "It's okay."

She shook her head furiously. "I should've supported you. I always try to leave the house because I couldn't face what was happening. I couldn't be nice to you in front of him, but I tried as much as I could around the house. I'm so sorry, Elise," she sobbed loudly.

Elise reached out to pat Angela's arm with sympathy. Angela looked up at her, red-eyed and blotchy. Elise let go of my hand to hug Angela. Her eyes widened at Elise's hug before she hugged her back hard as two survivors were bonding over the same battle.

Angela pulled away to look at me. "I'm sorry for everything as well. I wasn't trying to get in the way of your relationship with her. I just didn't want him to find out."

Any last remnants of resentment disappeared with her apology. I nodded with sympathy, feeling pain for what she had to go through.

"No hard feelings, Angela," I said. "Where are you going now?"

She shrugged, rubbing her arms awkwardly. She turned back to Elise.

"I'm going to Aunt Flora's house," she answered. Elise nodded. I stayed quiet as I didn't know who the hell was Aunt Flora.

"That isn't far from here," Elise said with an uneasy optimistic smile.

Angela nodded her head.

"It's half an hour away. Close enough to visit here but far enough where I can be at peace," Angela explained with a happy sigh with adding any additional information. Since I have met Angela Becker, this was the first time I have seen her relaxed.

She picked up the plastic bags from the ground, and handed them all for Elise.

"I doubt you wanted to come back to that house so I got all of your sketchbooks and art supplies out of the house," Angela explained, gesturing to the several bags hanging off of Elise's hands.

Elise immediately clutched the bags closer to her, her mouth partially open from surprise.

"Thank you. I didn't even think about that," Elise whispered to herself, looking at the bags with a strong surge of energy. She looked up at Angela with a smile. "Thank you for everything."

Angela faintly smiled.

"Thank you for saving me. I'm sorry that I couldn't before for the both of us," Angela repeated again, her body still slightly trembling.

"He was a bad, manipulative man. We are safe now," Elise responded.

Elise reached out for a hug, holding Angela's trembling body one more time before she pulled back. Despite the strength I could see on her face and relaxed body, her face looked pained. Her smile disappeared and her eyes were slowly becoming hollow, like this conversation was pulling the life away from her.

"I need to go back and pack some things before I go, but I wanted to see you. Happy birthday," Angela said before she turned around to walk away. We watched her silently drive away in her car, no other words were said.

Elise watched the car until it could no longer be seen. She stared at the empty space a while longer before she picked up the plastic bags slowly of the only items she had from her house.

"I'm going to put these in my room," she announced, gesturing to the bags.

I nodded at her quiet declaration, sensing something off on her tone.

"Let's go then. I have a surprise for you anyways," I said.

She pulled back. "Are you trying to make a pass?"

I chuckled. "You wish. It's an actual gift because it's your birthday today."

She looked at me suspiciously one more time before nodding.

"Follow me upstairs."

She crossed the yard to enter the house through the backdoor. A few seconds later, I followed through the same way, picking up my gift for her that I kept hidden in the back table.

The house was empty when I went up the stairs. When I walked up to the top of the stairs, I saw Elise standing in front of a doorway nearby before she walked into the room. I followed through, shutting the door quietly behind her.

"Welcome to my room," she said, dropping the plastic bags close to the front door.

I looked around. The room was simple sized queen bed with white sheets over it. There was white chest and cabinets around the room with a desk in the corner. There was a few clothes that were folded neatly on the bed, probably Sabrina's since Elise didn't get anything from the house.

"It's nice," I commented, dropping my gift on the ground.

Elise took a few steps forward, pressing her body softly against mine.

"You look good today," she complimented me, wrapping her hands around my hips before she kissed me.

I leaned in eagerly, kissing her back. I didn't know what she found fascinating about my white button down and dark shorts, but I wasn't complaining if she liked them.

Our bodies pressed harder, but I saw her wince so I pulled away.

"How do you feel?" I asked her concerned, touching the area where I once saw the bruise. It felt puffy under my finger tips, and when I pressed on it gingerly she grimaced at the pain.

"I'm okay. I'm glad that I finally have my art supplies back," she commented sadly. She gestured to the white walls. "This room needs some color."

I looked at the white walls to notice how austere the room was. I nodded my head with agreement.

"I mean with everything else that happened. How do you feel?" I asked her.

She silently looked at me before shrugging off my question.

Instead she kissed my cheek.

"Let's not focus on that. I just feel happy, and I'm not sure how long that feeling is going to last," she answered instead, running her fingers through her hair with frustration. She scanned the floor before her eyes narrowed at the object by my foot. "You brought your guitar," she observed, gesturing to my guitar case that was by my feet.

I pulled back from her to open the case on the ground. I pulled out my notebook, flipping through the pages until I saw Summer Girl scribbled on top of the page before I reached down to pull out my guitar.

I haven't sung since everything that happened with David weeks ago. While I felt nervous, my fingers were itching the minute that I made eye contact with the guitar.

"This is your gift. This is going to be rusty, but I put some work on it," I explained it a little embarrassingly. I wrote before, but I never actually performed them, especially in front of the girl.

When I pulled up my guitar close to me, her eyes widened when she saw me positioning my hands.

Elise sat on the bed in front of me, watching me. She was scanning the page that I opened in front of me before looking at me with a smile growing on her face when she realized her gift was a song.

I took a deep breath, before I played the tune on the guitar that I practiced many times in my head before finding the chords on the guitar.

Take me my summer girl.

Don't leave me so far behind

Say that you need me.

Take me by your side.

My fingers were strumming on the guitar without any thought, familiar with the chord combinations I have played frequently over the course of several weeks. Elise was sitting on the bed with silence.

You feel the same way about me

But how did I expect this to be

With you so far away from me

Can I join you my summer girl?

I peaked up for a moment to Elise whose shock turn into a grin. It gave me the confident to sing louder.

Watching me like the way you do

Will you be there when September comes?

The sun from your golden hair

The gleam in your smile.

And you feel the same way about me

But how did I expect this to be

With you so far away from me.

Can I hold you my summer girl?

Take me my summer girl.

Don't leave me so far behind

Say that you need me.

Take me by your side.

You feel the same way about me

But how did I expect this to be

With you so far away from me

Can I join you my summer girl?

When I stopped, Elise didn't say anything. My throat was dry from singing in front of her, and my heart was beating loud as I awaited her response. I put my guitar on the bed and shut my notebook before she could peak at other lyrics that I wrote.

"It's okay if you don't like it. I know it needs some work-" I began to save face before she finally commented.

"Don't," she demanded, looking at me with the biggest smile I might have seen from her. "You...you have an amazing voice. Thank you for letting me hear it."

She pushed my guitar farther on the bed before she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you for letting me join you, my summer girl."

Author's Note: Two chapters left! Thank you for those who are still sticking to this story. Definitely need to rewrite some of these scenes but I feel myself struggling to finish this story when I am so close!