Writing Prompt: Summer love?

Written by Admin S
​©2018

​Writing Prompt:
"You're a teenager and it's the last day of summer break. This is especially painful for you because, over the course of those summer months, you fell in love for the first time and that person is moving away (and breaking up with you). Write the scene where you say goodbye...."

My contribution:
Madeline woke up on that late August morning with a heavy heart. She struggled to open her eyes, as they had crusted shut from yesterday's cries. Her 17-year-old body felt limp, lacking energy to even take a breath. Madeline turned over, burying herself underneath the covers. Her mind went to the events of yesterday, and she felt herself welling up with sadness once again.

It was the greatest summer of her life. During her job as a lifeguard at the beach, she met Travis. Travis was an 18-year-old college freshman with sandy blonde hair and a football player's body. During day two of training, Madeline had bumped into him while getting coffee, and their eyes locked. Madeline got lost in his ocean blue eyes.

"My apologies, ma'am," Travis said in a noticeable southern accent. 
Madeline smiled. "No harm done here. I'm Madeline, Maddy for short."
Travis returned the smile. "Travis. You training for the lifeguard position?"
Madeline nodded as she sipped her coffee and pushed her light brown hair to one side. "Yes. This is actually my 3rd year. I missed last year because I went away with family, so they are re-training me."
Travis smiled. "Then I guess we will be seeing a lot of each other. Sounds like a plus to me."
Madeline's face flushed as he winked in her direction. "Guess so. So where you from?"
Travis took a sip of his coffee as he opened the door of the coffee shop for her. "I am from South Carolina. I moved up here for school."
Madeline nodded. "So you're going to the university?"
Travis smiled and nodded. "Yes." Madeline felt the sun kiss her face as she put on her sunglasses on. "Well if you need a tour guide, I know everything there is to know about this town."
Travis' eyes widened as he smiled. "I may take you up on that offer. I have to get going. What's your number so I can call you?"
Madeline blushed as she programed her number in his iPhone. "I look forward to hearing from you," Madeline said as she gave him back his phone and walked off.

From that point on, they were inseparable. They spent their downtime having intense conversations, splashing in the ocean, and kissing under the stars. Two months into the relationship, Travis and Maddy were sitting on the beach, watching the summer meteor shower. He leaned over and whispered into Maddy's ear,
"I'm in love with you."
Maddy's heart busted with happiness as she looked into Travis' blue eyes. "I'm in love with you too!"
Travis brought her face toward his and kissed her. Maddy was in love for the first time and it felt like she was floating on a cloud. Little did she know that this love was going to come crashing down in one month.

A month later, Maddy went over to Travis' apartment, only to find Travis bringing boxes out to his car. Maddy walked up to him, stopping Travis in his tracks.
"What's going on? Why haven't I heard from you. It's been 3 days."
Travis placed the boxes in the backseat of his car and shut the door. He turned toward Maddy and took a deep breath. "Look, I can't do this anymore. This became too intense too soon. I'm 18 and in the prime of my life. It was fun while it lasted, but it's time to move on."
Maddy's heart shattered into a million pieces. "What suddenly happened to make you feel this way. This isn't like you."
Travis rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I wasn't completely honest with you. I wasn't up here for school. I don't even go to school. I'm a traveler, meaning I don't stay in one place for long periods of time. I only crashed in this small town because my car needed repairs and I needed a job pay for the repairs. I didn't expect you to come along and have it be so intense. I don't do relationships."
Maddy felt her eyes explode with tears. "I don't understand. Did you use me?"
Before Travis could answer, a leggy blonde exited his apartment, carrying a box toward his car. She opened the car door and placed the box inside. She closed the door and planted a kiss on Travis' lips. She whispered in his ear, "Thanks for last night."
Maddy heard what she said and watched the blonde girl walk away. Maddy turned to Travis. "Who was that?"
Travis ran his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat. "I'm just playing the field."
Maddy smacked Travis in the face and walked off. She went back to her house and ran upstairs to her room. She buried her face into her pillow and broke down.

Maddy continued to hide herself under her covers. She heard her bedroom door open.
"Honey, it's time to get up." Maddy cleared her throat. "Mom, I'm not feeling so good. I want to stay home today." Maddy's mother made her way into her room and sat down on her bed. "Please tell me what is wrong."
Maddy emerged from the covers, exposing her swollen face. "Travis is a pig. He lied to me about everything, and he cheated on me."
Maddy's mother felt her heart break for her daughter. "I am so sorry, honey. He is a bad guy for hurting you. Just know that not all guys are like him. Don't let this one boy ruin your life."
​Maddy took a deep breath. "Mom, we did stuff together a month ago, at the beach. It was my first time. I went over to Travis' apartment to tell him....I'm pregnant."
Maddy crumbled into her mother's arms, as her mother felt herself break like glass. 

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