Bethanie

Noah shrugged, “Hey, if you don’t need one, why trouble yourself. Most of the ones you can get when you’re in high school suck anyway. I can’t even sit in a Starbucks anymore I’m so sick of the place.”

“I swear, I only know one person at school who likes their job. Starbucks has got to be frustrating, right? Like, is it at least fun?”

“Damn you rich, white girls. Don’t have to work for shit.” Noah chuckled, shaking his head playfully.

B cracked a quick chuckle, rich was not a word she’d use to describe her family -- especially in a place like Heffes. “Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t pass senior year if I had a job. That’s a fact.”

“Why do you have to be so understanding all the time?”

“Just rolling with the punches. That, and I’m unemployed so I can’t say shit.”

“There’s plenty of stuff that proves going out is probably better and extreme seclusion is definitely harmful. I would rather stay in too, just something, I suppose. I don’t have a choice most of the time anyway, always something to do: church, work, tutoring. I’m not sure if I could understand documenting one’s life so frequently as you hoped, ironically cuts time out of your enjoyment. That does make sense about BuzzFeed, but still disappointed. Wouldn’t you be?”   

“You’ve got a pretty full plate with all that stuff, right? I mean, I do none of those things so I’m constantly just seeking out ways to fill my time, otherwise I end up just wandering around with no destination. Do you have much free time with all that? I-- It’s, like, your last chance to do crazy teenage things,” B nodded, a little too enthusiastically, in agreeance, “It makes me sad when I go to a gig or party and a ton of people are just on their phones instead of making memories. It’s about as disappointing as shitty journalism. Not that I actually care too much about it, personally.”

Well, see, temps would never go above 75. We both win.

We’ll just have to make a written complaint to Mother Nature so that we can have our mutually beneficial weather. 

“Yeah, well, my boss gave me some extra shifts. I feel bad for bailing though.”

“Got’ta get that money, I understand. Don’t feel bad, Noah, maybe the next one? There’s always another party.”

“Sorry, I have to take a rain check on tonight. I know I promised but…”

“Oh, I mean, that’s okay. Something else come up?”

In a perfect world, temperatures would never go above 75.

If it was a perfect world then we wouldn’t be in a drought either and I could use the slip ‘n’ slide I got given last year.

Mom threw out my Toms because apparently it isn’t okay to have holes over your toes.

Should’ve just said they were open toed. Fashion statement, you know?

“My mom’s boyfriend takes us there sometimes. My little sister is weirdly obsessed with it. Any lameness is countered by the deliciousness of the berries that you are allowed to consume. Where did you live before hand? Ah, see, I don’t burn. It’s the best.”

“Oh, how old’s your little sister? I can see that, I can see. Seattle, my whole life before here. Sometimes I forget I even lived anywhere before here, it’s just home now. You don’t? Jealous.”

It’s too hot to live. 

You can say that again! I’m so dehydrated right now.

So, who wants to go shopping or whatever? I need new shoes.

I’ll go. I totally wrecked my sneakers when I went hiking they other day, so I need some new shoes too.

“Have you been to that berry picking place like, half an hour away from here? It’s actually kinda fun in a lame way. It’s been such a nice summer, even if it’s a bit too hot. I’ve been spending all my non-working time at the beach.“

“There’s a berry picking place? No, I haven’t been -- I had no idea it existed. That sounds like so much fun though, despite the lameness. You’re right, too hot. I thought my first summer here last year was bad. I’ve tried to get down there a couple times but I always forget my sunscreen and end up like a tomato after an hour, it’s not great.”

“Social media sounds less appealing with each time it’s brought up. Obviously, I’d love to stay in touch with my graduating class but some folks barely reply to school project urgings on time, not sure they’d utilise well enough for actual communication. I came across Buzzfeed once, was trying to research something for a project too. No offence, but their grammar was terrible, what kind of journalism is that?”

“It takes away from things, or something. Like, I know so many people who would rather stay inside instead of going out and having fun. Each to their own. I didn’t even have twitter until I moved here and my friends back home insisted I keep them updated there - which I’ve failed at. That’s, I think, viral journalism. When they’ve got to pump things out constantly to keep people interested, quality drops. Right?”

“I’m definitely on team eating way too many berries. And team eating so many plums that your tongue turns sorta purple. So, I take it that summer’s been good to you?”

“I’m surprised my fingers aren't permanently stained. Yes! Purple tongue plum eating is when you know your day is the best. It has been, actually. Nothing beats a Heffes summer. That and I haven’t had to go back to Seattle to visit my family this whole time. How is yours going?”

“And what sort of things would those be?”

“If recent events tell me anything, my new things are accidentally breaking skateboards and eating so many berries that I feel sick. I could be the queen of both those things for now.”