Sun Soaked Season - Chalen D. (best e reader for academics .txt) 📗

told Me to leave you alone, but I wanted to give this to you. It's from your Dad. He was going to give it to you fro your birthday. When His office was cleaned out They gave Me this to give to you, but you Where always running from me."
I took the Wrapped gift and card.
"Uh, Thanks."
"Goodnight Dakota."
I sat on My bed and opened the card.
-Happy eighteenth birthday! You are now able to do what ever the hell you want! (Don't tell your Mom I said that.) I want you to know that I love you, no matter how much you wonder if I do or Not. I was never good at showing you it, But I do. I want you to do something for Me. I want you to carry Me with you in what ever you do. You have no idea how beautiful you are to Me. And Even though We're having a new Baby, your still My favorite. By the way Surprise! I would of told you earlier but you have a lot of things to sort out. You have to make things right with your brothers, and yes even your Mother. At least try for Me okay? Anyway, I hope you like your gift. I love you Dakota. Love Dad-
I set the card aside and opened the gift to a book. The writer caught My eye. In bold Letters Was Mark and Dakota Mortin. I flipped it over and Scanned the back. The main girl's name was Stevie. I sighed and opened the book. - If you always pick apart the good you'll only have the bad to live with.-
I turned the page and began to read. I finished the book and put it in My top drawer under My clothes. I went down stairs as Mom was drinking Coffee.
"We need to talk." I said.
"Alright." She said as I sat down.
"I get the whole falling out of love thing, cause I've done it before, but I told them I didn't cheat. You where on His side, instead of ours on the court date-"
"Because I felt guilty to sit on Your Dad's side. I felt like I let him down in some way. I didn't have the chance to let Him go."
"I was wrong on how I hated you. As Much As I wanted to hate you I couldn't. Then I thought about you sitting on His side and I hated you for it. I have know Right to Hate you. Right now I just need a clean slate. Do you think you can forgive Me for being an ass?"
"The number one think a Mother is able to give is Forgiveness."
"Things are going to Be different. You have to earn My trust and respect."
"I know."
"I have to go back. I made My peace with you and the boys. I don't have time to hate you. I have to get My life together cause There's no way in hell I'm going to be left with the bad things."
"Yeah, Tell me about it." She laughed a little. "I'm going to Be better I promise. Just don't leave until tomorrow. It's late."
"Goodnight Mom."
"I love you Dakota."
"I know you do." I left the kitchen and went up stairs.
I looked into Jason's room to See Him sleeping. Prestly's eyes opened when I walked In.
"Just wanted to say goodnight."
I reached for His door.
"Do you want to Sleep in Here with me?" He asked. "Please?"
I crawled in next to Him and put My head on his Chest.
"You leaving in the morning aren't you?"
"Yeah." I muttered. "I have to Make things right with everyone."
"If it helps I'm not mad at you, and I don't hate you."
"I love you Prestly. Your strong."
"I try to Be. Jason doesn't hate you either."
"You should sleep."
"You should to. You have to drive tomorrow."
"Your right. Night."
"Night." He kissed My forehead.
~***~
I dropped My bag By the door and kicked off My shoes. I dropped My jacket on My bag and walked to the bed. Levi was on top of the blankets wearing Pj bottoms. I changed into the shirt and got into Bed. When I woke up Levi was sitting in a chair by the bed. He took a drink out of a beer bottle.
"I drove you to drink?"
He took another drink watching Me. I covered My eyes with the heels of My hands. I heard the bottle hit the side table and the blankets where tossed off of Me. Levi layed on top of Me His weight pressing Me into the bed.
"Why'd you leave Me? Isn't My love enough for you?"
"Of course it is."
"No it's not. You wouldn't leave if it was. I guess sometimes love isn't enough." He sniffed.
"Levi, I didn't leave you, I just went to visit My family."
"Why didn't you tell Me?"
"Your drunk."
"I don't know why you like to drink. It just makes Me feel sad. Dakota-"
"Levi?" I shook His arm. "Levi?"
I grabbed the blanket and tossed it over us. I played with his hair until I fell asleep again. When I woke up He was still laying on Me. I itched My face and He moaned.
"Please Don't Move."
"Is it your head?"
"Mm Hm."
"Do you want Me to-"
"Just stay still, please."
"Can I ask you something then?"
"Every time you talk it shakes My head."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
I stroked His head as He laced our fingers.
"You can ask, just talk slowly."
"Do you really think I don't love you?"
"Dakota-"
"Just answer. What can I do to make you see I love you?"
"Take care of Me." He moaned and laughed a little.
"Done." I stroked His Hair.
He got off of Me and I went to the store. When I came Back in He was sleeping. I got a cup of water and sat on the edge of the bed. I stroked His face and He caught My hand. It took everything I had not to jump.
"Thank you."
"For what?" I asked, holding out some pills and the cup.
"For loving Me."
I leaned forward and kissed Him softly, "Your welcome."
He took the pills.
"Do you want Me to run you a bath or make you some food?"
"I want you to lay with Me."
I stretched out beside Him.
"You won't break Me."
When I put My head on his chest He was relaxed, and not stiff like normal. He knew. Finally.
"There's a bonfire tonight."
"Mm-Hm."
"Do you want to go?"
"I'd rather stay in bed with you."
"Who knows, it could Be fun." He moved some hair from My face.
"Did you just say fun?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll go if you want to."
"I want to."
"I'll go. Are you tired?"
"No."
"Does your head still hurt?"
"A little."
I grabbed The blanket and covered both of Us.
"Can I ask you something."
"If you talk slowly." I smiled.
"Are you done running?"
"Yeah." I sighed. "I'm done."
"Do I get to Keep you?"
"As long as you want Me."
"That could Be forever."
"So let it be forever." I said. "I don't care. I can love you forever."
"Yeah. Same Here." He kissed My head.
"Dakota." Cam smiled handing Me a cup.
"Leave Me alone Or I'll find Levi."
"Whoa whoa! Calm down I just want to Be friends. No need to get crazy on Me."
"I don't drink anymore."
"Oh Yeah I heard about that. Come on One cup isn't going to kill you."
"Back Off Dude."
Stark took My hand and Lead Me to the truck where the keg was.
"You seem to be always saving Me from Cam."
"He seems to not understand that your taken." Stark said, putting Me on the truck Next to Tori.
"Hey." Tori handed Me her cup. "Oh Sorry."
"It's okay." I told Her. "Where's Sam."
"I'm Here."
The truck door opened and Sam jumped out. She Half jumped half got Help from Stark onto the end of the tuck.
"So How's the no drinking thing going?"
"It's fine."
"You know It's pretty risky coming to a Bonfire."
"It's fine."
"Are you sure."
"Let Her have fun Sam." Tori said, from My other side.
"So Where's Levi?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. We got Here and I lost Him."
"There He is." Tori pointed to Levi and Cam.
"Is it just Me or is Cam being extra annoying today?" Sam asked.
"It's not just you." I muttered.
"Cam Told Me something yesterday guys."
We both looked at Tori.
"He really likes You Sam-"
"Whoa!" I laughed.
"No!" Sam said.
"He's just shy and doesn't know how to tell you, so He asked me to tell you."
"What are you going to do?" I asked trying to not laugh.
"I'm Not going to Do anything. You are."
"Me? Why Me?"
"Your going to tell Levi to tell Cam to leave Me alone."
"Why Me?"
"Cause Your My friend and that's what friends do."
"Alright Fine."
"I'll Come To." Tori said.
"No!" Sam grabbed Her arm before she could jump down. "Your staying Here. No way are you getting in Dakota's way."
"I'll take Stark." I jumped down.
I dragged Stark over to Levi. I pulled Levi down to Me.
"Tell Cam to leave Sam alone. She just wants to Be friends."
"Why Me?"
"Cause you love Me."
I kissed Him, and pulled On Stark's jacket. We walked back over to the truck.
"Did you tell Him?" Sam asked.
"Yes."
"Good." She let go of Tori's wrist.
"Cam! Sam said she-"
Me and Sam lunged at Tori making Her quiet. Stark stretched Behind Me to black everyone's view.
"I'm going to let you go. Your not going to say anything about Cam." Sam said.
We let Tori go.
"We all know that you have a crush on Cam." Tori said.
"No I don't. Cam's a jerk."
"So you think He's cute?"
"Your supposed to be on My side!" Sam hit My arm.
"So you do Have a crush on Him." Stark said.
"Just His looks."
"So If He was nice You'd try to date Him?" Tori asked.
"I don't know Maybe."
I slipped away.
"Where's Levi?"
"He went to get some more drift wood."
"Good. I need to talk to You."
"Levi told Me Sam doesn't like you."
"Wrong answer." I flicked His forehead. "She likes you but won't date you cause Your a jerk."
"So I have to Be nice?"
"Yes?"
"But If I be myself I could get hurt."
"Wait your nice?"
"Come on Dakota. It's not like I'm a jerk for real." He snorted.
"Cam No one want's to get hurt. If you pick apart the good you'll only have the bad to deal with."
"Who said that?"
"A very wise Man."
"What should I do?"
"talk to Her."
"Not with Tori around. She scares Me."
"I'll Get Sam Alone. Then you can talk to her. Start off By telling Her your not a jerk all the time."
I walked over to the truck. I grabbed Sam's arm and Pulled Her to a log.
"What are we Doing-"
"Hey Sam Could I talk to you for a second?"
Sam grabbed My arm so I sat back down.
"About what?" She asked.
I looked at Stark and mouthed Help.
"Hey Dakota! Come Here!" Stark waved me over.
"I'll be back."
I got up and Cam took My spot. I walked to Tori and Stark.
"They're laughing. What did you do?" Tori asked.
"Turns out Cam isn't a