Always You by Lizzie Morton
Five
It’s early evening when we finally resurface, something I rarely do, but by Sophie and Zoe’s laziness standards this is nothing. For them working is a means to get by, and life is for socializing with friends, getting wasted and sleeping hung-over days away. We live our lives in hugely different lanes, but it’s what works for us.
Congregating in my parents’ kitchen and snacking on junk food, I give them a rundown on my plans while I’m back in Brooklyn for the summer.
“… so, Shaun dropped me a message on Facebook saying he’d seen that I was going to be back in Brooklyn. He said there was a job available, that the hours were flexible, and he would love to work with me.”
I finish, grabbing a handful of chips and shoving them in my mouth.
“You mean he would love to work in you,” Zoe snorts under her breath.
I reply. “He’s Sam’s older brother …”
“Who has always had a crush on you, just like most guys have since we were teenagers. Just because you were too shy to notice them, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
“That’s because she’s gorgeous.”
The grin that spreads over my face is instantaneous as my dad enters the kitchen, walking over to the stool I’m sitting on at the center island. He wraps me up in a warm hug and says, “Now, who has a crush on my little girl this time?”
“Come on, Dad!” I pull away, shove him jokingly to emphasize my point. “I’m not your ‘little’ girl anymore. And no one has a crush on me.”
Not wanting to miss an opportunity to cause me some form of embarrassment, Zoe says, “It’s Shaun. Sam’s brother who owns the bar Riffs over in Williamsburg.”
“I know the one,” he nods. “Great place for getting spotted. Always full of new music talent.”
“He offered me a job behind the bar over the summer. It’s super flexible which means I can work it around my photography jobs. Plus, I get to control how much alcohol these two are allowed at the same time.”
I wink and he smiles. I’m poking the bear with the stick, or whatever the saying is. Judging by how Zoe and Sophie are gaping at me open mouthed, it’s working.
“If you shit on my parade, Abby, I swear to God, we are no longer BFF’s. There are some things that friendship just can’t survive and cutting off my beer tap is one of them.” says Zoe wide-eyed.
I can’t stifle my laugh. She’s being ridiculous.
“Zo, chill,” I say. “Do you really think I’d be able to get in the way of you and alcohol? You’re a lost cause.”
All I get in return is a “hmmmf.” She begins shoveling food in her mouth and ignores me. She doesn’t believe I was joking about supervising her nights out over the summer and is miffed.
“So, when do you start at the bar?” asks dad, steering the conversation away from what has quickly become a sore subject.
“I’ve a couple of photo shoots set up over the next few days. I said I’d go to the bar to discuss it once they’re out of the way and I’ve settled back in.”
“Sounds great, honey. Your mother will be back in a few days. Her work is hectic at the moment, but you can catch up with her then.”
Dad leaves later for an event in Manhattan and I spend the rest of the night binging on Netflix and takeout with Sophie and Zoe.
I crawl into bed later, when the girls finally leave, and let out a content sigh. This is the most relaxed I’ve felt in months. In particular in the past twenty-four hours. Seeing Jake was a minor hiccup.
Brooklyn is part of New York, one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world. We don’t have to be around each other if we don’t want, and the city can help make an easy job of that.
***
6 years earlier
Normally I hate the end of summer vacation. I love being on my own, taking photos, spending time with Sophie and Zoe and no one else. The thought of being thrust back into the cliques and daily drama of high school life, usually fills me with dread, but not this summer. Because of him I feel like a different person. I feel stronger, more confident, and excited for life in new ways.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve ended up in a fight with my parents over my cellphone bill. But damn if I care, I can’t get enough of him. We’ve spent the summer talking, getting closer, and now it feels like I know him better than I know myself.
Without realizing, he’s gotten under the skin of the shy girl that barely spoke to anyone. He’s become my rock, my everything. Sometimes, on days where I’m so happy I feel like I might explode, when we’ve caught rare moments alone together and he’s really looked at me, I’ve dared to let myself believe that I’m his everything too.
It’s been one of those long, hot, perfect days that I thought nothing could ruin. But as I look over at Jake, I see he’s standing close to Zoe and insecurity creeps in. She leans in towards him, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulder as she giggles at something he says, and I feel a huge stab of jealousy.
I continue watching them and my mind races with a million different thoughts. Does she like him too? She knew how I was starting to feel about him. I love her like a sister, but she’s so confident in her own skin, especially around guys. I wish they looked at me with the longing that they do her.
The memories of what had the making to be a perfect day feel tainted, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
Jake always feels close, but not quite in my grasp. Today, I don’t have it in me to fight. So, I do what Abby does best, I turn and walk away.
