The Last

y red Volkswagen bug made its way al

he two-storey wood and brick structure as if

then she had no plans of ever visiting the lake house again, but now that the house was being sold in two months, sh

ed a hip on the door and sig

the lake house with her parents learning how to sw

h she had secured with a barrette and started opening the back door of her car. She pulled t

e rang. She reached into the pocket of her wh

e yet?" a concerne

reds of times. I'm fine." Valerie stated as sh

er senior and even though he'd never come right out and flirted with her, his concern towar

still being so new, I just wanted to make

dn't constantly need the reminder that her parents were dead. They were coming to see

. I'll call you if I need anything okay?" She tried to c

nevertheless a

on. Tak

ack into her pocket, before crossing the t

ctly like she

nd watching movies. Behind the living room was the dining area and to its right, the huge kitchen, her mother's favorite place. The four bedrooms were upstairs, with Vale

window over-looking the lake. She reached out and opened the window to let the fresh air in. The only thin

d a break from the job that was starting to grind at her. The constant, high stress, monotonous job with her over-zealous boss was starting to beco

again and the sparkling w

wimsuit. She changed quickly and grabbed a towel from the closet in the hallway that w

the cabinet and headed out back where the lake shimmered against the mid-day sun. The b

r sun block. When she was completely covered, she deposited her bik

ntil the sun-block was dry, but she was so tired fr

m the lake nearby. The weather was a bit cooler, as the sun was no longer shinin

e water as he did his laps. She didn't think that there was anyone out here for miles. Even though t

e lake when the swimmer

ted his body out of the water and sl

stance, so he changed his directi

ld of his body, which was clad only in navy board shorts. His hair was dark and cut

surprised, stopping on

g on his eyes which were a startling emer

e was wet and that she was wearing only a pale, yellow bikini that left little to the

owned the house nearest

the loud music and snuck out to get a closer look and that's when she came across Kade. He was in a camping tent close to the lake reading a book with a flashlight.

flashlight. Valerie cocked a

ogeyman?" she jibed as she crawle

her denim shorts

Kade shouted at her, clearly embarrassed. "Don'

She said crossing her legs and drawing her knees up to he

're annoying me." He moved his long, skinny bo

rt that had a grape juice stain on the sleeve. Prob

e party?" she asked,

een year old boy to her. Didn

ver there?" She pointed

and pushed his hai

on't take a h

ged and c

ok to face her and noticed from the art work th

the comic aw

ou know about comic books

ie si

u company for a while. You d

inted his chin in the direction of the crowded

h a sad, lonely boy and she wasn't sure w

d be friends." She got up to leave

dness in her voice. "I guess you can stay." He m

ont of them again and

nd plopped back dow

g on the day's adventures. Whether it was searching for buried treasure, which Val strongly believed was in the nearb

sad when the summer ended and they each headed home, w

would have it, Kade's father died of a massive heart attack before th

on her feet, shaking h

." He exclaimed, still holding onto her hand, "It's been

if she still couldn't beli

ummer you know." She said somberly. " I di

r hand gently

eally difficult time and my mom co

derst

r shoulders and started wal

er later? We can grill s

him ske

can actually cook?" She

er a shee

r stuff you've got to worry about."

'd love to." She turn

k and flashed her a smile, before he

g back, feeling a familiar sens