{I Want What You Have - Willamette Stone}
... I was head-to-toe dressed up in other stuff, now I know my other clothes ain't good enough...
----
May 25th
"Welcome to the annual Beaumont Family Fun day!" Tim's suave voice boomed through the speakers of the outdoor stage as numerous families signed up for the latest day time event of the summer.
It had been hell on earth since the incident with Benjamin in the ballroom a few nights before, which Dad had played down to Tim, Clara and Benjamin as me feeling 'unwell.' The real reason was not discussed and as per usual was swept under the rug. Although I had attempted to apologise, I knew that the only way that the family fun day was going to be somewhat bearable would be if Bodhi and I could have ditched the entire event. Bodhi was not surprisingly hungover and still somewhat groggy, but Mom cheerily signed the family up for the events, dubbing her current torture method 'family bonding.'
"Hey, Avalina," Benjamin snuck up behind me, his golden hair practically glowing in the late morning sun. "You ready for Family Fun Day?"
"As I'll ever be," I feigned an energetic smile.
"I'll find you later. Good luck!" He squeezed my arm as he left, noted by my Mom, who gave me two thumbs up to signal her approval at his small intimate gesture.
----
Races and games consumed the entire day while the sun loomed over us. There were relays and quizzes, and all in all the Bennett's were keeping up pretty well with the other families, most of whom could be compared to the Von Trapp's, more of a well-oiled machine than an actual family.
By late evening it was time for the final event: The Talent Show. Elliot, being head entertainer, stood on the stage discussing the rules of the final event. One family member was to be elected as a representative to display a talent that could make or break a family's chance of winning.
While I made a mental note of the sight of Elliot's light brown curls under the stage lights, Bodhi, a little more alive than earlier, grabbed my wrist and yanked my arm into the air.
"Ava is the representative for our team!" He cooed loudly.
I could have killed him. I could have ended his existence at that moment as every head turned to stare at Bodhi and I, his loud, brash voice and unfazed attitude having gathered some distasteful stares from the multiple Von Trapp clans. Elliot, who was taking names, scribbled down my name on his clipboard with a charismatic grin and I knew that with the Beaumonts watching, my parents were in no mood to get me out of this.
"Let's begin."
----
My stomach was doing flips. I wanted to throw up or run away or persuade Cady to take my place. I couldn't do this.
"Come on I know you can do this. We will definitely win if you get up there." He pushed me, encouraging me like he always used to.
"I'm scared Bo, there are people..." I tried to breathe, tugging on my cardigan sleeves.
"They aren't half as talented as you."
Glancing over to the judges' table, the Beaumonts watched a poor boy juggle like his life depended on it while his family watched from the wings. Tim and Clara smiled through their boredom and Benjamin scribbled notes on his clipboard. On Tim's left-hand side was Elliot, who, despite being the head entertainer, appeared bored as the boy finished his act, the crowd applauding him. Elliot looked so uncomfortable sitting with the Beaumonts as he sat at the end of the table, but with Tim sitting beside him, his smug grin plastered on his clean-shaven face, I'm not entirely surprised.
"Last up we have Ava Bennett." Elliot smiled down at the clipboard, and Bodhi nudged me in the ribs as I slowly made my way to the stage.
My heart was in my throat as I could see each family stare, hoping I'd fail so they'd have their own hopes of winning. I was trying to control everything. My shaking. My dry throat. My fears of losing and embarrassing my family even further.
"I'm going to be playing the p-piano."
My voice, despite a slight stammer, was steady as I tried to speak clearly into the microphone. There was one thought that I hadn't anticipated running through my conscious mind as the lights blinded me. I wanted to impress Elliot.
Bodhi clapped his hands loudly from the side of the stage, spurring me on. I focused on the thought of his physical closeness and the safety it brought me as the music began, and I faded out of reality, lost in the reverie of the music. I was submerged in the moment of what I once loved doing most. Performing. Under the lights of the outdoor stage, I could faintly make out the judges, and a gleaming smile at the end of the table.
----
"I can't believe we won!" Dad exclaimed, holding the small trophy in his hands proudly. He hugged me tightly, the strangeness of his warmth towards me evident in my reluctance to hug him back as it scarcely registered in my brain before he let me go.
"You were fantastic, Avalina. Really, I had no idea you had it in you." Clara smiled over to me, her warm green eyes soaking up the smile I returned to her as the Bennett's stood with the judges in the sunset.
"I knew she could. From the way she picked up dancing, I was sure there was a lot more to her than meets the eye." Elliot nudged me playfully as I looked up to meet his gaze, so blue and clear against the pink and orange tones of the late setting sun.
"Shouldn't you be organising the evening entertainment?" Tim cut in. "You are employed as the head entertainer."
His words belittled Elliot so unnecessarily, and I felt compelled to defend him. Still, I was like a dog on a leash with my parents around, especially around the almighty Beaumonts.
I was treading on thin ice with Dad and knew I had to make it up to him after almost ruining everything with Benjamin and my panic attack, so I kept my mouth shut. Elliot nodded curtly, leaving us to head back to the main building. My eyes followed him as the excitement in the circle faded with his parting, and as he walked farther and farther away, there was a pang in my chest. I wanted to follow him. Not in a creepy, binoculars, hiding in trees following, but I yearned to get to know him, and being near him like we were moments before.
The Beaumonts said their farewells for the night as we headed back to the cabin for a 'family night in' in celebration of our 'Family Fun Day' victory. It came to the fork in the path, and as I gazed up to the lights of the main building, I realised that as much as being in the sanctity of the cabin, away from the other families was an appealing offer, I had other things and other people on my mind.
"Going somewhere?" Dad enquired, the trophy still glued to his palm.
His hug earlier may have shown affection, but in his eyes, I saw he was still not quite ready to forget the humiliation I caused for him in the ballroom. I couldn't tell him about my sudden inclination to make friends with Elliot. My family had an agenda, a strategic plan, and I was just a mere piece that needed to be moved around.
"Benjamin... He... Said he was going to meet me." I lied.
I knew it was the only way I would be allowed some leniency, but Bodhi could see straight past my facade, winking at me to show he had my back. It was something we always did, but usually, I was always the one covering for Bodhi.
"Oh, why didn't you just say so?" Mom chimed in. She shooed me off in the direction of the main building. I had made my bed, and I was prepared to lie in it. I was off on my own strategic mission.
To find Elliot.
----
YOU ARE READING
Summer Rain
Teen Fiction"Together we were like summer rain. Rare and indescribable until you feel it for yourself..." When Avalina Bennett and her family spent the summer at the Beaumont Country Club, she was sure her summer had been ruined before it even started. Her br...
