The Summer Solstice ~ Enchanted by K.K. Allen

Almost everyone my age has one of these
things but I’ve never needed one. Given the new circumstances, living in a new
home with new guardians, I can understand the need.
    Charlotte and I part ways from the car and I aim
for the bookstore. My curiosity was spiked when Rose brought up my birthday.
All this talk about the Summer Solstice intrigues me. What is the big deal with
my birthday and why does Rose feel the need to celebrate it?
    I’m deep in thought as I cross the street towards
the bookstore when a sporty, red Audi slams on their breaks in front of me,
allowing a bicycle to pass by. “Sorry!” I hear a girl’s voice from the drivers
seat as her blonde hair streaks by me. Another blonde hoots beside her. I roll
my eyes but then catch sight of the bicycle.
    It would be nice to have my bicycle again. Apollo
Beach would be the perfect place to ride it. The bicycle that I had back home
is still in storage, along with all other items from the apartment I shared
with my mother. I’m not ready to go through everything yet.
    “I’m looking for some information on the Summer Solstice.
How cultures have celebrated the Solstice and why. Do you think you can help me
find something like that?” I ask the first sales person I see.
    The man smiles and leads me to a special section
near Fiction named Mythologies. I thank him and scour the S’s for anything that
can feed my curiosity. By the time I’m done, I’ve picked out three books.
    Once the books are purchased and bagged, I head for
the door. I round the first corner, meanwhile digging through my purse for my
phone to call Charlotte.
    Suddenly I’m plowing headfirst into a moving
target. The blow stings, and I stumble backwards before apologizing.
    “I wasn’t looking.”
    “I’m sorry, that was my fault.”
    “No, I should have been paying attention.” I say,
so flustered that I don’t even realize whom I’m speaking to until the apologies
are done and I’ve looked up at him. An overwhelming sense of alertness comes
over me. My pulse begins to quicken.
    We smile at each other in recognition, though I’m
not sure if I’m happy to see this boy again. When we first met, it was under
such strange circumstances.
    “Are we going to meet like this every time?” He
jokes with me.
    I groan. “I really hope not. I am sorry though. I
was trying to find my phone…”
    “It’s okay if you are doing these things on purpose
just to talk to me.” His eyes glimmer as he teases me. He’s friendly. My
reaction is clear as my cheeks flush over.
    The silence lingers longer than I’m comfortable
with so I let out a small laugh. “You’re onto me.”
    The strange boy smiles before looking down in his
hands. I follow his gaze to see that my books have landed there. Or maybe they
fell out of the bag he picked them up. Funny, I didn’t notice. “What’s the
fascination with the Solstice? Can’t be a school project, classes haven’t
started yet.”
    He looks at me curiously now. I take the books from
him, stuffing them back into the bag and shrug. “It’s nothing, just bored I
guess.”
    His eyes tell me he doesn’t believe me. “People
aren’t usually curious about the Solstice. At least I’ve never met anyone that
is. So you were bored, huh?”
    I allow my eyes to meet his and hesitate. I don’t
know this boy at all and here I am faced with his criticism. “My birthday is on
the Summer Solstice. I don’t know what the fascination is but it means a lot to
Rose so I thought I’d do my homework. She’s into all this Greek Mythology
stuff. Maybe I’ll understand her obsession.”
    He makes a face and nods. “Greek mythology?”
    “What?” I ask him, curiously.
    He shrugs and gives me a boyishly handsome smile
that melts me down to my toes. “I’ve always associated the Summer Solstice with
Wiccans.”
    He must see my puzzled expression because he adds.
“Witchcraft.” Then he holds up a book. “Where do you think this all comes from?
It’s