Page 6 of Along Came Summer

I throw my head back and laugh with gusto, “The look on your face when you ran the ticket to the shop and the cashier told you that it was a fake card was priceless. Even if it were real, you’re underage.”

I can tell Mira is trying her best to keep from laughing and appearing annoyed, but the corners of her lips twitch where she's fighting back the urge to laugh. “Oh, well thanks for reminding me. I completely forgot that I'm still angry with you for that,” Mira utters a humph and crosses her arms over her chest again. “But don’t worry, revenge is a dish best served cold, King. And you’ll get served yours.”

I reach over and squeeze her button nose affectionately. “Well, it’s fortunate for me that I prefer cold food, so give it your best shot.” Mira smacks my hand away and rolls her eyes frivolously before she turns on her heel and walks to her front door.

Still chuckling to myself, I turn to walk back toward my house when I hear her voice. “Hey, King?” I stop walking and turn to look back at her. “Good luck with your exam tomorrow. You’re going to ace it, so don’t go sweating it.”

“Thanks, princess. Good luck with your exams, too.”

“Good night.” Mira smiles and waves before she closes the door. I stand in the middle of the street at three in the morning and sigh longingly.

“Night.”

“Your mother and I have been discussing this for months now, and we have decided that it would be best if we all move to Singapore.”

I’m not the type of guy that gets dismayed easily. It takes a lot to upset me but hearing those words from my father really fucking upset me. In fact, it felt like I’d been kicked in the nuts and slapped in the face with a hefty wet fish simultaneously.

I stare back at him wordlessly for a long time and I feel Devin do the same beside me. Did he just say we aremovingto Singapore? Because it’s what it fucking sounded like.

“What?” I hear Devin croak from beside me. “Move toSingapore? For how long.”

“Indefinitely.” My dad answers evenly. My stomach drops like someone had just forced a slab of lead down my throat.I’m not moving to Singapore.I love my dad, but has the man fallen over and taken a hit to the head?

“Dad, you can't be serious. You can't just uproot our lives like this. I have a life here, my college, my friends. I’m not moving to Singapore.”

My father continues while I stare back at him, my brain too stunned to actually take in what he’s saying. I just about manage to pick up pieces of his sentence, such as 'I'm sorry boys, but this move is happening’, ‘We leave on Tuesday’, and ‘this house will be rented out in the next couple of weeks.’

How could this be happening? I’m so stunned I don't even see Devin storm off, but I hear the echo and feel the vibrations of his bedroom door furiously slamming shut.

“Levi—” I hear my mother say, but I shake my head wordlessly and stand from the table.

“No, this is bullshit.” I utter grimly before I turn on my heel and storm off toward the front door. Much like my brother, I pull the door shut behind me and it slams hard against the frame. Jumping on my motorbike, I speed off down the street without a destination. I just needed to get out of that house. Find an outlet to fuel the anger whirring inside of me.

What the fuck?

Singapore?

While it’s a beautiful country and one of the places I’ve always wanted tovisit, what the hell am I supposed to do in Singapore when my entire life and all I’ve ever known is in London?

I’m fucking furious.

I’m not moving.

They can go without me. I’m nineteen years old. I’m old enough to take care of myself.

I just need to figure out a plan…pronto.

* * *

Our home has always been a happy one. If my parents argued, they never made it be known to Devin and I growing up. They kept it quiet and behind closed doors. However, the next five days leading up to the move, the house was in a state of unrest. My brother and I spent countless hours fighting with my parents, contesting the move, but it was all in vain. Devin had absolutely no chance, being underage, but I thought I would have more luck convincing them to let me stay back, but when I couldn't find a place to stay, my mother refused to leave me behind. She didn’t raise her son to sofa surf like some homeless schlepp.

No, but she raised him to cart his disinclined arse off halfway across the world. How is this fair? I don't care howbigorbeautifulthe house is. I don't care if it has a huge garden and an infinity pool overlooking the fucking ocean. I care about the life I’m being forced to leave behind. My friends.My home. It’stough enough figuring out what I want to do with my life in the country I was born and raised in. How do they expect me to find my path in a foreign country? They keep calling it a new adventure, but it’s not an adventure for me.

Fuck, I sound like a whiny little bitch, I’m aware, but so would anyone if their life had just been overturned like mine has.

“Levi, I know it feels like a big change, son, but come out there with us, try and stick it out for a year, and when you turn twenty if you're not settled and want to come back, you can, all right? How's that for a compromise? The universities in Singapore are among some of the most highly ranked and well-regarded in the world… should you decide you want to continue with your education.”

I could very well refuse to move. They can't force me, but they've literally left me with no choice. Well, that’s not true. I have two, I go with them or I stay here and be homeless.

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