The summer was almost over. Gwen had spent it doing what she does best. Since most of her friends had either summer jobs or went to a summer camp, she mostly kept to herself or baby-sat the tikes. Of course, she had her karate and tumbling to do but she, for some reason, did more of her non-athletic hobbies. She had updated her piano lessons to twice a week and practiced her drums for 2-3 hours a day, 4 times a week. She also took up singing with her church choir, something Gwen thought she would never had done. She thought she had a terrible voice and she kept procrastinating until her mother took her to a rehearsal and Gwen finally agreed. Another difference in this summer than last was that since she was home-schooled, Gwen’s mom and dad made her study even in the summer. Luckily, the siblings did it too. As for activities, Gwen did attend the Hanson concert on July 8 with Madisin. She found it entertaining and she was glad to see the guys. She never talked to them that day. She figured they would be too busy meeting their other fans that she wouldn’t get to talk to them anyway. She was still mad at Isaac for never calling her and Gwen figured that she would talk to him when he got home. Still, she didn’t know that Isaac thought the same thing about her.
*****
Ike stretched as he got out of his parent’s van and onto the plane back to Tulsa. Finally, he would see the familiar surroundings that he had yearned to see for months. It was true; they hadn’t been home really since April. I mean, one and a half days really doesn’t count. Although the other guys were excited, he was afraid that he would have to deal with Gwen right away when he got back and he really didn’t want to speak to her after she never returned his phone calls since April. But besides that, he had been getting sick a lot lately. He thought it was just a minor thing, but then he would get major migraines 3-4 times a week and he had major chest pains after the concerts. Ike thought it was mainly due to stress so he said nothing to his parents and not even to Taylor, even though he had confided to him most of his troubles lately. As the plane took off and he held Avery in his lap, Ike thought about the days, months, and even years to come.
*****
August 23, 1998
Today I’m starting to write down my thoughts since my friends are always too busy to talk. The high school is back in session tomorrow. Travis is starting his senior year and he will be gone soon. Keren and him dated a few times over the summer but I doubt it is the start of anything serious. Ike, Tay, and Zac get back tomorrow, also. I’m afraid of what Ike will say. I’m still angry that he never called but I am willing to talk it out. I haven’t spoken to Ashley since the 4th of July. She went to a camp in Texas to be a counselor. Randi also told me that she had met a guy up over there and that they were getting quite serious. I don’t know whether or not to believe him. And Eric was far too busy tear’n up roads with his truck to talk to me. I think I will see them more once school starts.(I hope!) I talked to the girls back home quite a bit over the summer. I told them I looked forward to their visit next summer. Oh, one minor note, I was cleaning the house two days ago and I heard Zach talking to one of his friends on the phone and every five words his voice squeaked. My baby brother is finally growing up!
After Gwen put her journal away she crawled into her bed and thought about the day to come and she soon drifted into peaceful sleep.
*****
The next morning Gwen awoke to the sound of yelling from outside her window. She looked out to see some of the neighbor kids making the 7-block treck to the school. She smiled to herself and checked her watch. Eight-thirty Already?, she thought to herself. Gwen pulled herself out of bed and headed downstairs to breakfast. Her younger brothers were already there, chowing down as usual. She grabbed herself an apple and sat down at the counter. “Good morning my prepubescent male siblings!” Gwen said cheerfully. They gave her an evil look and ran off to their hiding places. After she finished her breakfast Gwen ran up to her room and slipped on some jean shorts, a gray tank top, and her blue sketchers. She pulled her hair back into a low ponytail and ran out the door. She sat down with her algebra assignment her mom had given her and she got to work. Why did her mom give her such difficult algebra assignments when she didn’t even understand it herself? Gwen thought to herself and laughed. After an hour it was completed and the Hanson family still hadn’t gotten back. At about 11:30 Gwen went inside and made her siblings their lunch and sat back out on the porch at 12:00. She sat there for what had seemed liked hours until she dozed off in the sun. At about 3:00 Gwen awoke to the sound of a van pulling into the drive next door. She sat there and waited for them to all get out.
*****
Ike saw Gwen right away when he stepped out of the van. He stood there for a minute and stared at her and Gwen stared right back. Isaac then picked up his bag and ran into his house. “Rats!” Gwen thought, another missed chance to talk to him. “Hey Gwen!” Taylor yelled, running up to her and giving her a hug. She hugged back, even though she was not really happy at all. “What’s wrong?” Tay added. “It’s just……I looked forward so much to seeing you guys again and now Ike won’t even talk to me.” Gwen said. Tay shook his head and pulled Gwen by her arm. “Come on! Let’s go and talk to him then. Come on!” he insisted. He led her up to the guys’ room and closed the door behind him. “Okay Ike. I’m sick of this silent treatment crap and I want my best friends to make up before we all go insane! I’ll be back in 10!” Taylor said leaving the room. Once he left, Ike went for the door but Gwen ran in front of it before he got close. He moved back and stood there, staring at the floor now. Gwen decided she would say something first. “Look, Ike. We have to talk this out now. Now why did you never call me?” He looked astonished. “What do you mean, never called you? I called a million times but you were never home or if you were home, your sister said you wouldn’t come to the phone!” “Why didn’t you at least leave a message saying that you wouldn’t be back before the tour?” Gwen asked angrily. “I did! I left it on April 27 saying that we would not be back until the end of May. We did come back for a day and a half on June 2 but you had gone back to Forreston.” “I remember those messages. I got one from John, one from Bridget, one from Eric and one from…..I forgot to listen to the last one.” Isaac shook his head. Gwen was speechless. “Isaac, ………I……I didn’t mean…..” He sat back down on his bed. She stared at him for a few minutes. “Ike please say something to me.” She held his hand. “Ike, I’m so sorry I wasn’t a very good friend, but…” she trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears “you’re my best friend!” She swiped away at her eyes. Isaac looked her in the eyes and said, “Please don’t cry, I’m really sorry too.” Gwen let a few more tears fall and then Ike put her head on his shoulder. She hugged him and kept repeating to him how sorry she was and how bad she felt. Gwen let go after a few minutes. She looked at him again and let out a big sigh. “Ike?” Gwen started. “When I went to your show on the eighth, you sang that song Ever Lonely?” He shook his head yes. “Well, when I heard it, I thought about the message in the song. Do you promise that we will always be friends and never forget each other?” Ike looked at her again. “I promise, we will always remain friends.” They sat in silence for a while. “So…” Ike started “Tell me about these new friends of yours. Did you meet some fine chicks?” Gwen giggled and slugged him in the arm.
*****
The next day Gwen was lying in her bed when it happened. The unexpected. How it happened is a mystery to all. And especially why? She woke up feeling really good about her and Ike making up after all their arguing. Her mind reflected back. She thought about Don, the girls, and Eric. But most of all, she thought about John. About what he would do with his life in the future. He was excepted to Brown University on a full athletic scholarship. But would he take it? It is all a mystery to Gwen. The phone ringing suddenly interrupted her thoughts. She reached over and picked it up. ‘Hello?” “Oh Gwen thank goodness it’s you. It’s John.” “Oh John I’ve missed you so much! What’s wrong? You don’t sound too happy.” “Listen Gwen. There’s been an accident. And Don was in it.” “Oh god! John, is he okay? He’s not hurt, is he?” “Gwen,” John said through choked back tears. “He’s dead…”
I Will Remember You
Go to Chapter 8
