Page 52 of Five Summers

“What? You want to go there now?” she responds.

“Yeah, why not? You were going there anyway before. Why not show me?”

With a nod, Poppy activates the indicator and swiftly changes direction.

We spend the next ten minutes passing through vibrant streets on our journey. She drives the car into a narrow lane. It’s clear that it’s not frequently used, given the overgrown weeds. As we drive on the dusty road, a cloud of dust trails behind us.

Poppy finds a hidden spot among the towering trees to park. The peaceful atmosphere instantly soothes my senses. I observe neighboring houses with wooden fences, which adds a sense of safety to their surroundings. Even though I’m far away, I can’t help but wonder if my desperate screams would reach someone’s ears.

Still, in this secret spot, we stay hidden and secluded from the outside world.

“How did you find this place?” I ask, glancing around as Poppy turns off the car.

“About six months ago I found it when I was just driving around, feeling bored.”

“How often do you come here?”

“Not that often.”

“When was the last time you came here?”

“Oh… about three weeks ago.”

“Why? What happened three weeks ago?” I inquire, my voice tinged with curiosity.

“My mom and I’d also had a shit day at school,” she responds, her words carrying a touch of sorrow.

I wonder if Jade was the reason her day was shit.

Poppy opens the car door wide, the hinges creaking loudly.

From the passenger seat, I observe her through the windshield as she moves towards the front of the car. Enticed by the warm afternoon sun, she sits on the car’s hood.

Driven by an irresistible force, I open the passenger’s door and join her. As I sit beside her on the car’s hood, I feelthe sun’s gentle warmth soak into my black t-shirt and jeans. I stay silent and captivated by her presence, observing as she continues to stare at the horizon. The way the sun sets, casting a radiant orange glow on her face, immediately captures my focus. It enhances her beauty, turning her into a breathtaking masterpiece.

As soon as she catches me staring, I swiftly avert my eyes and pull out my pack of cigarettes, lighting one. As I take a slow drag, I admire the tranquil view in front of me.

Poppy grabs my cigarette, and her lips curl around it, releasing a faint trail of smoke.

I can’t help but smirk as I eagerly await her cough, just like she did last time. To my surprise, she doesn’t. Instead, she keeps her cool and takes another drag, then passes it back to me.

“Are you going to tell me what happened? And spare me the excuses, Xander. I know a musician like you wouldn’t just walk away from a jam session for no reason, especially when it means so much to you,” she says, gazing out at the scenery.

Damn, it’s almost like this girl has the ability to read my mind or has a deeper understanding of me than I previously thought. I take a drag from my cigarette to collect my thoughts and stall for time.

“Ace took Jade there, so we could mess around with her before we started.” I can’t believe I’m actually telling her this. But what I do notice is that Poppy tenses up as soon as I mention Jade’s name. Could it be that Jade’s nagging and annoying voice is bothering me more than usual because of her influence on Poppy?

“So, what’s the problem with that? I mean, you usually hang out with Jade.”

I hold the cigarette out for her to grab. “I didn’t want to fool around with her, I just wanted to practice,” I explain. “What if we only get one chance to show a talent scout that we’re differentfrom all the others trying to get discovered. I just want us to stand out.”

“But you do, Xander.”

“But you haven’t even seen us perform yet.”

“No, but I’ve seen how you become one with your music. You have a special talent that usually takes years to develop. Believe me, Xander, you’re destined for greatness.”

“You always say that,” I respond, raising an eyebrow.

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