Same Old, Same Old ⇻ The Summer I Turned Pretty

↞ Prologue ↠

Elenora, or most commonly known as Elle, was born in West London in the UK. Her mum was born in Leicester and her dad was born in London, but both grew up in Grenada, got married and moved to London for a new life where they had four children; she is the youngest. 

When Elle was twenty, she and a couple of friends took a summer trip to Cousins in the US. That is where she met Susannah and Laurel who was with their own group of friends. The two group of friends met on a night out and continued to meet up throughout the trip.

Susannah and Laurel took a liking to Elle the most and they wanted to keep in contact with her when she returned to England. 

When Elle was twenty five, she met Tyler whom she dated on and off for a couple of years before they broke up for good. Unfortunately, that break up left Elle with a bun in the oven. At first, she was scared, she did not know how to be a mum or if she wanted to be one. If she ever changed her mind about kids, she wanted it to be because of a man she thought was worth her love. Now that she was pregnant, she was confused.

Luckily, Elle had her parents to support her, even Tyler agreed to be there for her and the baby. She was still unsure about having the baby until the nurse placed her newborn child on her chest seconds after the birth. Elle looked at the crying baby who instantly stopped when she touched her mother's skin. In that moment, the young mother's world shifted. All Elle wanted to do was be a better woman for her daughter, to be the best mother she could be for baby Abigail. 

When Abby was around the age of one, Elle met Giovani, or more known as Gio, whom she started to date. Gio was Italian, born in Manchester UK, but grew up in Sicily, Italy. He moved to London on a scholarship for university and decided to stay to do his masters degree which is when his siblings followed him to London. Gio has tanned skin, neatly kept brown curly hair, and light brown eyes. Elle was hesitant because she had a daughter to prioritise, but Gio opened his heart to both girls. He accepted Abby, but made sure to move the relationship at what Elle felt was comfortable for her and her child.

Three years later, they got married and Gio became Abby's step dad. A year later, Abby got a baby sister named Josie (Josette) whom she adored, then a baby brother four years after named Kai (Malachi). Abby knew that Gio was not her birth father, but she loved him like he was. Tyler was there for Abby as much as he could be, but it decreased over time when he got involved with drugs and alcohol.

When Abby was a year old, her and her mother spent their first summer at the Fisher's beach house in Cousins. Elle was surprised to get the invite, but happily accepted. It was one of her favourite summers; it had reconnecting with her close friends, watching the children of her close friends play with her daughter, and having fun in the sun. Elle wished every summer to be just like this, and her wish came. As the years went by, the memories became fonder. Soon Josie joined in the fun and then Kai.

At thirteen years old, Abby got her first job as the local babysitter in the neighbourhood. She would go to school with kids in the morning when their parents had early shifts, help them after school with their homework, or spend the weekend when parents needed a break. It excited her to have her own money to spend, but her (step)dad taught her how to save for the future.

In the early year when Abby was fourteen, her birth father, Tyler, passed away from a drug overdose. A mixture of anger and grief filled her heart. Around the time of the funeral, Gio was offered a job promotion, but it was based in Boston. Elle and Gio debated about it before they agreed it was a great idea, a fresh start for the family, especially for Abby. 

After discussing it with the kids, it was decided, the family was moving, and by the end of the school term in mid July (UK school term dates), the Allegro's flat was empty, their essential belongings were shipped off to Boston waiting in their new home. As much as it was going to be terrifying, Elle was happy that she'd be closer to her best friends. The Fisher's were a twenty minute drive and the Conklin's were a five and a half hour drive. 

They still visit their families in England for Christmas and a week or two at the start of the summer, but Boston was their new home.