Chasing Sunsets (Sunflower Springs #1)
1. Gemma
1
Gemma
Magnolia Creek, Texas
M akeup clatters across the vanity as I rush to get ready. How did I miss that dumb alarm again? Agh! This will not cut it if I want to actually accomplish something this year. I grab my eyeshadow brush, ready to scrub it across my sleepy eyelids, but I drop it again. Mascara and a little lip gloss are all I have time for today.
I quickly slide into my favorite ripped jeans, a slightly cropped tank, and whip my hair into a messy bun. Before I know it, I’m grabbing my purse and jogging out the door to my car. I groan because my eyes still feel heavy, and I absolutely hate going to these things.
I settle into the squeaky auditorium chair at Lakeview College and can’t stop the wave of shame that washes over me. I shouldn’t even have to sit through orientation. I’m not a new student. I started here two years ago. My first year was an embarrassing failure. I was so wrapped up chasing my boyfriend to every party he went to that I absolutely bombed my classes. I spent my second year working hard to make up for it, but also attempting to keep him interested. Not that it worked. So here I am as a semi-single 21year-old third-year freshman on an academic plan.
The microphone squeals from the stage and the low rumble of voices comes to a halt. I stare up at the new dean of the college. He clears his throat to quiet the few students still buzzing with anticipation. Before long, he begins to ramble about the college, its values and expectations, and the changes he will be making this year.
Bored with his speech already, I glance over at my parents. They are sitting beside me, holding hands and beaming. This place is where they fell in love, after all. They had encouraged me to apply here, hoping I would have the same success as they did. But obviously, that isn’t happening. I don’t know how they manage to sit there beaming after the last two years. I am thankful for it, though. I got so lucky with them. They have never once faltered in their support of me.
A thud on my chair pulls me out of my thoughts and startles me so badly I almost jump out of my seat. The man sitting behind me must have kicked the back of it while he was getting up for the campus tour. The crowd transforms into a line and then disperses into smaller babbling groups. I search for Olivia and see her across the room on her tiptoes doing the same. As soon as our eyes meet, she starts to walk in my direction.
Olivia and I have been friends for as long as either of us can remember. At this point, she is more of a sister than a friend. Our parents were friends growing up, so we have never known a life without the other in it.
I struggle to keep a straight face when I hear a groan from beside me. Mr. Ellis is rambling about what he expects from his daughter’s time here, just like he does every year. Olivia and I are convinced he makes her come to these yearly orientations just so that he can remind her of these expectations. On the other hand, I can’t help but beam when my father answers with his ideas for my future. I am excited to make him proud.
“You and that cheesy grin again,” Olivia says with a snort.
“Nothing cheesy about it! Dad has some great ideas for me. He even has an internship in mind, and Mom thinks I have a great shot at it,” I retort.
“What? The one at your boyfriend’s daddy’s company?”
“Oh, hush, Liv! Gavin thinks I have a good shot at it, too! And I told you we aren’t dating anymore. We are just good friends.”
Olivia looks at me with concern in her eyes. “At some point, you’re going to have to think for yourself, Gem. Find your own version of happiness. Ya know? I can promise you that being Gavin’s boredom buster isn’t where it’s at. There’s more to life than just trying to make everyone else happy.”
I give her an annoyed glare. “Just because you would rather piss everyone off than do something that might make them proud doesn’t mean I have to.”
We walk through the rest of the tour in silence. I always hate it when I have spats with Olivia. But I hate this constant conversation even more. Olivia has a rough relationship with her parents and just can’t understand why I want to make mine so happy. She also really doesn’t like Gavin, so that is a sore subject anytime it comes up.
When orientation ends, I almost feel relieved to get away from the tension and head to work for a few hours. I pull into my normal parking space and work to clear my head. I am determined to have a good day. I’m working with my favorite girls today—no time to be in a bad mood. I inhale deeply as I enter the store where I spend the majority of my time these days. I love the department store smell and the view of the vibrant colors on the racks. I’m lucky to have a job I enjoy so much with coworkers I actually like to spend time with.
“Hey, Gem! You’re out on the floor today. I’ll just need you to cover the register during Cassie’s lunch,” Natalie chirps at me with a smile.
“Got it! I’ll be up there at 11.” A day out on the floor straightening and helping customers with their various style questions sounds perfect. It’s just what I need today.
I spend the first half of my shift daydreaming while I straighten shelves. I always enjoy walking through the clothing racks and adjusting hangers so that they are evenly spaced and uniform. I have plans for the evening, and I can’t help letting my thoughts drift to the date Gavin has promised me. Usually, a date to him is just a party, but I am hopeful that this time will be different.
I glance down at my watch right as it ticks to 11 a.m. and scurry up front to relieve Cassie from the register.
“Hey, girl! Sorry, I am a couple of minutes late!”
“Off in your own world again, I’m sure,” Cassie answers with a smirk as she grabs her purse from under the counter.
I shrug. “I just can’t help it. I’ve got big dreams, and they take a lot of space up in this head of mine!”
“Just make sure you bring that head of yours down from the clouds when you’re on the register,” Natalie retorts, walking up behind me to grab a pen.
I am the youngest here but Cassie isn't much older. I am just the only one who doesn’t view my position as permanent. I love my job, but I also know that it is a temporary step in my big picture. I really don’t mind being the baby of the group, though. I am thankful to have mother hens and big sisters to love on me and keep me in line.
I’m so busy during Cassie’s lunch I don’t even notice the time pass. The register is a very demanding position, and I am in motion the entire time. The rhythm of greetings, scanner beeps, rustling bags, credit card swipes, and various forms of thank you fill the hour. I feel electric from the hustle and bustle when Cassie’s lunch ends.
I am rearranging purses into a more favorable color pattern for the season when I hear a familiar voice.
I can’t help myself from snorting in laughter. Sure enough, Gavin stands leaning against a wall in the store, looking better than anyone should be allowed to. Whenever he is in the area, he likes to drop by and distract me … and all the other girls in the store. I usually enjoy it, but time always gets away from me when he’s here.
I walk over to Gavin to flirt for a few minutes. But this time, I make a point to be mindful about it and change course before I lose track of time.
“I better get this floor whipped back in shape,” I say hurriedly as I look at my watch. “See you tonight! I’ll text you on my way home!”
With that, I walk away and leave Gavin looking dumbfounded. More often than not, I let Gavin get the best of my attention. But today, I need to focus on work if I want to get off in time to see him tonight.
He gives me a grunt of disapproval, but only seconds pass before I hear his deep voice again, this time followed by Cassie’s giggles. Shameless flirt. Whatever happened to girl code? Cassie will flirt with anything that moves. Ironically, so will Gavin. It makes my blood boil. I don’t have time for this. I speed up my pace and half jog toward the opposite end of the store to focus on my work.
The rest of the day flies by in no time. I spend my time bouncing from clothing rack to clothing rack, making sure all the clothes are arranged by color and size and that the store looks neat and orderly instead of picked over. As soon as my watch ticks to 6:00 p.m., I bound towards the back to clock out. Bring on a night out with my favorite guy!
I toss yet another outfit onto the bed. Nothing seems to look good tonight! Clearly, I need some new clothes. No time for that, though. Gavin will be here any minute to pick me up.
“Screw it,” I say out loud and return to the first outfit.
This will have to work. I put it back on, toss my hair into a topknot, and freshen my makeup. I may not love my outfit, but I can at least rock a smoky eye for the evening. As I release the tension on the eyelash curler, I hear a honk outside.
“Crap! Time to go!” I say to my cat, who is currently staring at me from my dresser. I grab my purse and jog out the door to Gavin’s car.
“Hey, Sexy,” Gavin’s voice melts the hurry right out of me.
Suddenly, time stands still. Well, until he pulls out onto the road and starts speeding as though the party will end before we arrive. It was a nice calm moment while it lasted. His hand leaves the steering wheel and reaches towards the radio knobs. Suddenly, the car is filled with deafening bass as the music gets louder and louder. He shoots a lopsided grin at me, and I feel a grin spread across my face. How is his smile so intoxicating?
There is barely an empty curb on either side of the street when we pull up to the party. The thump, thump, thump of the music flowing from the house seems to mesh with the beats coming from Gavin’s car speakers.
Stupidly, I let my thoughts fall out of my mouth. “Wonder how long it will take for the cops to get called tonight.”
“What the fuck, Gemma? Why do you even say shit like that?” Gavin scolds. “Let’s just go have a good time, okay?”
I nod and try to shrug off the worry. Gavin holds his hand out to me, so I take it, hoping it means he forgives me. I need to be home early tonight, so I want to enjoy the time with Gavin while I have it. Maybe he’s right, I’m being too negative.
Empty beer cans litter the front yard as we work our way towards the front door. A few people we don’t recognize are standing out in the yard. I can’t help but wonder if any of these people know how to use a trash can. I’m sure glad I won’t be the one stuck with clean up tomorrow morning.
Gavin doesn’t seem to notice at all. His focus is already on the open door and the people he knows on the other side. Parties are his favorite evening activity. He has developed quite a friendship with the others who frequent them in the same way he does.
Not knowing half as many people or feeling half as comfortable, I shrink back a little and let Gavin do all the greeting and chatting. I’m just happy to be clinging to his hand. If I wasn’t, I would surely get swept away in the sea of people in this unfamiliar home.
As the evening grows longer, Gavin keeps handing me plastic cups full of liquids of various colors. He throws his drinks back twice as fast as he hands mine to me. Has he already forgotten that I have an early class in the morning?
Science is especially difficult for me. I really need a good night’s rest if I am going to be at my best mentally. There is no way I can pass this class if I don’t have the mental capacity for some extreme focus.
I start to feel irritation bubble up. I take a deep breath and push it back down when Gavin squeezes my hand and smiles. He has a way of doing that. I accept the newest cup from his outstretched hand and take a sip.
“Gavin, this is my last one. That one needs to be yours, too. I have to get home so I can make it to class in the morning. Remember?”
Gavin rolls his eyes. “You’re always worrying about everything. Let it go. The class will survive without you tomorrow. Have some fun for once!”
I can’t help but feel disappointed and a little hurt. Gavin knows how much my future means to me. I wish he had the drive his father has instead of feeling secure in the money his father hands him.
I take another gulp of my drink and search the room with my eyes. I feel my face light up when I see a friend I haven’t seen in a while. I immediately take off towards her. Gavin can track me down when he is finally ready to leave. For now, I will salvage the night with some girly gossip.