Page 49 of Five Summers

“Sort of. I write the lyrics and some music while Ace takes care of the sound, beat, and melody.”

“Oh, I totally forgot to ask. So, what's the name of your band?” Poppy asks, casually wiping her fingers on her napkin.

“Ace came up with Broken Oasis. You know, because we both come from broken homes. He thought of it because we're in search of a place where our music can take us. It's like a chill spot, a better life, our own little oasis.”

“I really like it. It’s a perfect fit for the vision you have for yourself, both now and in the future.”

“Yeah, it is,” I add. “So what about you? Are you gonna chase your music dreams too?”

“I really want to go for it, but I’m not sure how to approach it. I'm thinking of studying child psychology. You know, so I understand how music benefits children with disabilities. I know I'll never hear the end of it when my mom finds out.”

“But it’s your life, not hers.” I pause for a second, pondering how to approach the subject without upsetting her. “Have you ever considered searching for your dad?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know what to do.” Her eyes briefly show a hint of pain, making me question whether I should’ve mentioned it. “I’ve tried looking him up online. I found a few photos of his band, but there’s not much else there to go on. There’s no recent information. Only what has always been online. He hasn’t been on Facebook for years, but still, it didn’t stop me from sending him a message. But that was two years ago, and it is still sitting there unread. It’s like he vanished off the face of the earth.”

“If I could see my mom again, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Poppy, I hope that one day you find him.”

“Thanks. I hope so too,”

She raises her milkshake to her mouth, finishing it off before placing it back on the table.

I glance over at her plate and notice that she has finished her burger, leaving only a handful of fries behind.

“I can’t eat another bite,” she says, sliding the plate towards me and offering the remaining fries.

I accept her offer of leftover fries and we settle comfortably in the booth, chatting effortlessly.

Our conversations range from discussing our favorite bands to sharing how we handle the loss of our parents. We share funny stories, laugh, and occasionally get teary-eyed. It’s crazy how well we connect despite only meeting a few weeks ago. The longer we talk, the more we open up about our hopes, dreams, and struggles. In this booth, we can let our guard down and be ourselves without judgment.

It's only when a new server comes over and asks for our table that I realize how fast time has gone by. It’s past four o’clock, and Ace is waiting for me.

We hastily make our way out of the restaurant and jump into Poppy’s car, ready to hit the road.

In ten minutes, Poppy reaches Ace’s house and parks the car by the curb. I don’t go just yet. I can’t quite put it into words, but I don’t want this day to end.

The soft hum of the engine serves as a gentle reminder it’s time to leave. I open the passenger’s door and start to get out, but then pause and face Poppy.

“Do you want to come inside and see what we’ve been working on?” I ask.

“Thanks, but maybe another time,” she says. “I think it's time for me to go home and face the music, so to say.”

“I wanted to ask you something at the booth, but I didn’t get the chance. And I don’t want you to get mad at me when I ask.”

“Okay… what is it?”

“I want to know why you're still a virgin, or is that bullshit, too?” I pause, waiting for her to tell me to fuck off, but she maintains her gaze ahead, staring out through the windshield.

“I told you this the other night, Xander.” She looks down at her hands in her lap. “It’s because no boy has ever shown an interest in me like that.”

I'm clueless about what to say, so I get out of the car and crouch down to look at Poppy. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

She simply nods.

I close the car door and walk up the driveway towards the garage in the back. While I continue walking, the noise of Poppy’s car gradually fades out as it drives away.

Chapter seventeen

Xander

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