That Summer (Part One) by Lauren Crossley

slowly. Its gradual but I finally start
to feel my body give to its exhaustion and relax, drifting off into a restless
and agitated sleep.
    The
piercing sound coming from my phone wakes me up several hours later. I sit up
in bed, dazed and confused, taking a few moments to figure out where I am and
what time of day it is. I quickly realise it’s already night time when I
realise how dark it is outside and fumble for my phone with one eye open. It’s
at the bottom of my school bag and it takes me a while to find it, growing
increasingly frustrated by the second.  
    “Hello?”
    My
throat is so dry that my voice sounds hoarse. I try clearing my throat but it’s
no use, the one thing I really need right now is a glass of water.
    “Serena,
are you ok? Where are you?” Lisa asks me, almost frantic.
    I
can imagine her pacing back and forth in her bedroom, wondering why she hasn’t
heard from me since I decided to leave college early.
    “Lisa,
I’m ok.” I assure her, slowly getting out of bed. “I’ve been asleep since I got
home and just woken up.”
    “I’ve
been so worried about you.” She admits, exhaling loudly.
    “There
really is no need. You know how tired I was at school earlier, all I wanted to
do was come home and take a nap.” I remind her, making my way into the
bathroom.
    “Serena,
that’s not what I’m talking about.” She murmurs softly. “I’m talking about what
happened with Cole.”
    I
freeze at the mention of his name, putting down the empty glass I had reached
for in the bathroom cupboard.
    “H-how
do you even know about that?”
    “Look,
I don’t quite know how to tell you this but I also know that you would rather
hear it from me than anybody else.”
    “Tell
me what? What are you talking about?” I demand harshly, overwhelmed by my fear
and apprehension.
    I
have no idea what she’s going to say to me but also know I must prepare myself
for whatever it is that has caused my best friend to be so anxious.
    “Rumours
are flying and everyone is talking about it. People are saying that you and
Cole are in some sort of secret relationship, that you have been seeing each
other since the beginning of the school year.”
    “That’s
nonsense!” I exclaim loudly, unable to believe that the people from school
would actually believe that someone like Cole would be interested in me.
    “I
know it is but that’s not the worst of what they’re saying…” She explains,
leaving her sentence unfinished.
    “Go
on.” I urge her, closing my eyes.
    “Serena,
Cole has been arrested. He’s also been suspended from college until further
notice. They’re going to hold an official meeting where they decide whether or
not he should be excluded permanently.”
    “But why ?” I protest strongly. “Because he chose to stick up for me? Because
he stopped Jonathan from hurting me? What did he do that was so terrible?”
    “He
put him in the hospital, Serena. Jonathan was picked up in an ambulance and
Cole in a police car. It’s serious.” She pauses for a few seconds. “Cole is in
a lot of trouble.”
    I
fall to my knees on the bathroom floor, tightening the firm grip I already have
on my phone.
    “Because
of me.” I whisper, needing time to process the full extent of everything Lisa
has just told me.
    “No!
None of this is your fault and that’s why I wanted to call you before you heard
news of anything from anyone else.” She says firmly.
    “What
are people saying?”
    “That’s
not important. You know the truth and that’s all that matters.”
    I
know she’s trying to comfort me but none of it is working. I’m responsible for
all of this and now Cole is the one who will pay the price for it.
    “I
can’t believe this… I can’t believe any of this.” I mumble incoherently,
desperately trying to stop my unshed tears from falling.
    “Listen,
I’ll be there in five minutes, ok? I don’t want you to be alone right now.”
    “No!
I’m fine. Please don’t come over.” I beg