Michelle and Charles ate their lunch in a quick five minutes. She was determined to find out who the mystery guy is. As soon as she saw that Charles was done, she grabbed him up quickly and they rushed briskly down the hall into the high school office.
"Excuse me, Ms.King, did you see any new suspicious students today?" Michelle asked panting out of breath.
"Not that I know of, Michelle. Why?"
"How about any guys asking about information on me? Anything like that?"
"Now, that you mention it, I do remember a guy coming in asking about you. He said he was a really close friend of yours and needed to leave something in your locker?"
"Why didn't he just leave it here in the office?" Charles pondered loudly.
"Quiet, Charles! What did he look like? This is extremely important."
"He was a little taller than you like maybe 5'8 or 5'9, brown hair and eyes, and he was burly too.""Did he tell you his name?" Michelle fired questions dying for the answers."No. Not at all."
"So, let me get this straight: a random guy comes into a Christian school, asks about a particular student, you give that guy her locker number, he gives you no information about himself, and you're fine with that? I'm sorry, but I question my safety in this school." Charles blurted out his opinion.
"Charles, it's ok. I know who it is for sure. I'll just meet him later tonight and talk to him about it. No big deal. Thank you, Ms. King."Michelle couldn't wait for school to be over with and dismissed for the day. She was dying to go home, unpack her bag, and make a visit to her new found neighbors down the street. She didn't know whether to feel good about herself that she had an admirer or feel heated because she had a creep following her.She told Charles she'd call him later once she found out everything she wanted to know.
"Hey! We need to go." She told her Morgan while she was talking to her friends on the steps.
"Wait! Why? You said we had an hour. School just let out.
""Well, something important came up, and I need to check it out. So, you either get inside the car or find another way home. Your choice."
"Fine! I'll find a ride back home." Morgan crossed her arms testing her older sister.
"Fine. Good luck with that." Michelle got into her car and drove off.She drove for a while contemplating on what to do when she got to his house. How was she going to respond? How would he react? Would he be surprised? Is he even the guy? So many thought crossed through her mind at once. She was just confused.
Before actually stopping by her house like her original plan, she decided to just drop by at the grandmother's house and pay him an unexpected visit."You can do this, Elle. The worst he can do is deny it all." She coached herself as she walked up the steps to the door. She knocked two times and was greeted by the elderly woman. "Oh hi. Do you remember me from the other night?"
"Of course! Isn't you're name Miley?"
Elle couldn't help but chuckle at the silly mistaken name called out, "No, it's Michelle. Is Mark here by any chance?"
"No, he's out doing business. Would you like to wait til he comes back?"
"No, that's ok. Um, do you know when he'll be back?"
"Possibly by 9. Do you want me to tell him you stopped by?"
"No, that's alright. I want to surprise him. Thank you for your help. I'll see you soon."
Once she was done talking to the older woman, she decided to take a drive around the park, which was five minutes from where she lived. Her parents used to bring her and her sister there all the time. She loved the fall breeze and the sweet smell of the water. She loved watching children playing tag and swinging. She wish she could go back in time and not worry about anything.She spent half and hour thinking about everything going on in her life. Things ranging from graduating high school, applying and getting accepted into college, meeting new people, and enjoying life more and more. She felt amazing after spending some time by herself for herself. "Something I should do more often." She sighed to herself.
After her alone time, she finally made her way back home. She was greeted by her angry father. He was furious. His arms were crossed, his face frowning, and his foot tapping. "Where the heck have you been? Not only are you late, but I caught your sister getting out of some boy's car. My question is why was she in a guy's car to begin with?"
"I told her I had something important to do. If she wanted to come she could come with me or find her way back. She decided to catch a ride with someone else. That's not my fault." She defended herself.
"Where were you? Were you with that Mark guy that I told you not to see? What is wrong with you? You don't listen!"
"Actually, I did go by his house, but he wasn't there. Then I went to the park and spent time by myself. I need that space because every time I come here you're jumping on my case. Leave me alone!"
"You're grounded!"
"What?! Why?"
"Because you think you can talk back to me and get away with it? I think not. Therefore you are grounded for two weeks."
"You're horrible! I can't wait to leave this house. I hate you!" Michelle marched up the stairs. She was so heated that she cried herself to a deep nap. She didn't even hear Morgan walk into the room or her mother calling her name for dinner.When she did wake up around 9:30 p.m. she remembered what happened and wanted to talk to Mark still. She combed her hair and brushed her teeth and sneaked out of her window to see Mark.She made it to his house and knocked on the door softly yet hard enough for someone to hear. At first there was no response, so she knocked again. The second time, he answered the door without a shirt and only boxers.
"Oh hey! What are you doin here?" he asked.
"I have to ask you a question. Did you leave two notes in my locker? Don't lie to me either."
"Yeah, I did."
"O ok. Um...why?"
"Because I meant what I said, and I wanted you to know. I hope that's alright," he leaned in closer to her.
"Uh, yeah. No problem. Just wondering. Good night." She walked extremely fast back to her house. "I'm such an idiot. He'll never talk to me again. Stupid. What's wrong with me? I'm such an idiot. Game freaking over now!"
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Chapter 4
It was Wednesday, which meant that the first week of school was almost half way over, and it was closer to the weekend. Despite getting yelled at and slapped by her father the day before, Michelle was pretty excited about today. She had no particular reason to be, but she just was. She awoke earlier than her usual 7:45 schedule. She began her morning by actually taking a jog around her neighborhood; she felt the need for speed that day. When she arrived back home around six o’clock, her household was still asleep in their rooms. She took a quick shower, put on her regular tomboyish clothes, and went back under the covers until it was closer to the time to leave for school.
It was 8:25 when Michelle woke back up; she was still just as energized as when she woke up the first time. She knocked on her sister’s door to make sure she was getting ready, so that they could leave the house in ten minutes. After doing that, she went downstairs to say her good mornings to her parents.
“You’re in a chipper mood this morning,” Elaine smiled to her daughter when she saw her skip in to the kitchen.
“Yeah, what’s gotten into you, young lady?” Ben put in his two cents while reading the paper.
“Oh nothing. I just woke up and felt super great. At first I got up around five thirty and went for a quick around the neighborhood. I didn’t realize how peaceful our community is. Then when I got back, I showered and got dressed and went back to sleep. Now, I’m awake and loving this new day.”
“Well, hopefully this will make your day a little better because your father has something he wants to tell you.” Elaine nudged her husband.
“Um, yes, uh, Elle, I, uh, wanted to, um, apologize about, uh, yesterday. I was, um, a little out of um, line and I’m, uh, sorry,’ her father struggled with getting the words out. Even all the while, he couldn’t even look at the person he was talking to. He, instead, was looking at the newspaper.
“You know what, Dad? I don’t except your apology. If you can’t even look into my eyes, instead of at your stupid paper, and say those words without stumbling over them, then I refuse to accept it. What you have to say is worthless, and I don’t care anymore. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to school.”
When Michelle and Morgan left for school, Ben was furious, but he also looked hurt.
“Ben, I told you she may or may not forgive you. Now you know her answer. Don’t be mad at her either. Honestly, I wouldn’t accept that apology either. You’ve never stumbled over your words ever as long as I’ve known you, yet you apologize to your own daughter and struggle each and every way possible. I just don’t get it, Ben, not at all. Now, I need to go to work. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Ben Harper was left alone at the kitchen table with nothing to say or do but look at the newspaper that suddenly didn’t matter anymore.
“He did what?” Charles freaked when his friend told him what happened after school yesterday and this morning as they were heading to their homerooms.
“Yeah, he called me into his office. He yelled at me then slapped me pretty much for no good reason. Then he decided he wanted to apologize for everything, but his apology was lame as heck. I told him in his face I didn’t accept it. He’s so fake. I just can’t trust him.”
“Yeah, that’s rough. Who hits their own daughter and treats them like that?”
“Apparently, mine does that; however, I refuse to let him bring me down today. I was so hyped up, and I’ll still continue to be hyped up no matter what. This is a great day!”
“Yeah, it won’t be so great if we’re both late for homeroom. I’ll catch ya later on our way to first period. Peace.”
Homeroom lasted about five minutes before classes officially started. Besides attendance being taken, nothing really happened in that class. To Michelle it was just another way to waste a good five minutes. When it finally let out, she met up with Charles, and they walked to their lockers. When she opened her locker, she found another note inside reading:
Dear, Michelle, sorry for not seeing you last night as you went out looking for me. I hope to see you really soon to make it up to you.
“Again?’ she whispered to herself as she reread the anonymous note again.
“Elle, what is it?” Charles looked over her shoulder.
“This note. I got one yesterday, and now I have one again this morning. I have no idea who it’s from. To be truthful, it’s kinda freaking me out.”
“That’s strange. Have you seen anyone hanging around school acting weird?”
“No. All of these lame guys here still act the same and show no interest in me. I have an idea, but I think it might be a little too far fetched.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“I think it’s Mark from down the street from me. The only thing is, I hardly talked to him at all, and I didn’t tell him what high school I go to or even which is my locker number. Also, how did he know I went out last night for a walk? I’m just really confused right now.”
“Well, maybe we can go ask the office if they know who the guy is. He had to have asked which one your locker is, unless he took a random guess. In which he’d be good. But we must not be good today, cause we keep running behind on time. And if we don’t hurry up in less than fifty seconds, we’re gonna be late for first bell. You know how these teachers are too. I’ll catch ya at lunch.”
“Ok, cool. But we’ll need to eat super-fast. I want to know who this guy is by the end of today.”
It was 8:25 when Michelle woke back up; she was still just as energized as when she woke up the first time. She knocked on her sister’s door to make sure she was getting ready, so that they could leave the house in ten minutes. After doing that, she went downstairs to say her good mornings to her parents.
“You’re in a chipper mood this morning,” Elaine smiled to her daughter when she saw her skip in to the kitchen.
“Yeah, what’s gotten into you, young lady?” Ben put in his two cents while reading the paper.
“Oh nothing. I just woke up and felt super great. At first I got up around five thirty and went for a quick around the neighborhood. I didn’t realize how peaceful our community is. Then when I got back, I showered and got dressed and went back to sleep. Now, I’m awake and loving this new day.”
“Well, hopefully this will make your day a little better because your father has something he wants to tell you.” Elaine nudged her husband.
“Um, yes, uh, Elle, I, uh, wanted to, um, apologize about, uh, yesterday. I was, um, a little out of um, line and I’m, uh, sorry,’ her father struggled with getting the words out. Even all the while, he couldn’t even look at the person he was talking to. He, instead, was looking at the newspaper.
“You know what, Dad? I don’t except your apology. If you can’t even look into my eyes, instead of at your stupid paper, and say those words without stumbling over them, then I refuse to accept it. What you have to say is worthless, and I don’t care anymore. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to school.”
When Michelle and Morgan left for school, Ben was furious, but he also looked hurt.
“Ben, I told you she may or may not forgive you. Now you know her answer. Don’t be mad at her either. Honestly, I wouldn’t accept that apology either. You’ve never stumbled over your words ever as long as I’ve known you, yet you apologize to your own daughter and struggle each and every way possible. I just don’t get it, Ben, not at all. Now, I need to go to work. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Ben Harper was left alone at the kitchen table with nothing to say or do but look at the newspaper that suddenly didn’t matter anymore.
“He did what?” Charles freaked when his friend told him what happened after school yesterday and this morning as they were heading to their homerooms.
“Yeah, he called me into his office. He yelled at me then slapped me pretty much for no good reason. Then he decided he wanted to apologize for everything, but his apology was lame as heck. I told him in his face I didn’t accept it. He’s so fake. I just can’t trust him.”
“Yeah, that’s rough. Who hits their own daughter and treats them like that?”
“Apparently, mine does that; however, I refuse to let him bring me down today. I was so hyped up, and I’ll still continue to be hyped up no matter what. This is a great day!”
“Yeah, it won’t be so great if we’re both late for homeroom. I’ll catch ya later on our way to first period. Peace.”
Homeroom lasted about five minutes before classes officially started. Besides attendance being taken, nothing really happened in that class. To Michelle it was just another way to waste a good five minutes. When it finally let out, she met up with Charles, and they walked to their lockers. When she opened her locker, she found another note inside reading:
Dear, Michelle, sorry for not seeing you last night as you went out looking for me. I hope to see you really soon to make it up to you.
“Again?’ she whispered to herself as she reread the anonymous note again.
“Elle, what is it?” Charles looked over her shoulder.
“This note. I got one yesterday, and now I have one again this morning. I have no idea who it’s from. To be truthful, it’s kinda freaking me out.”
“That’s strange. Have you seen anyone hanging around school acting weird?”
“No. All of these lame guys here still act the same and show no interest in me. I have an idea, but I think it might be a little too far fetched.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“I think it’s Mark from down the street from me. The only thing is, I hardly talked to him at all, and I didn’t tell him what high school I go to or even which is my locker number. Also, how did he know I went out last night for a walk? I’m just really confused right now.”
“Well, maybe we can go ask the office if they know who the guy is. He had to have asked which one your locker is, unless he took a random guess. In which he’d be good. But we must not be good today, cause we keep running behind on time. And if we don’t hurry up in less than fifty seconds, we’re gonna be late for first bell. You know how these teachers are too. I’ll catch ya at lunch.”
“Ok, cool. But we’ll need to eat super-fast. I want to know who this guy is by the end of today.”
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Chapter 3
“Let me get this straight. Your dad randomly gets on your case, you leave the house, you help an old woman with groceries, you meet her grandson, and all of a sudden you’re in love with him?” Charles asked Michelle that next morning.
It was Tuesday morning, the second day of school. Michelle had told Charles about what happened to her night last night while waiting in line for lunch.
“No way! Are you crazy? I’m not in love with him. How can I be in love with someone I don’t even know? I don’t even like him. He was just cute that’s all. I think it would be cool to see him at least another time though.”
“Well, at least he lives down the road, so you don’t have to go very far to see him. You’d just have to make sure your sister doesn’t steal him first.”
“That’s another thing. I’m not gonna fall for him because the guys always like Morgan. I’m nothing to them. Majority of the time it’s not even worth trying to pursue them.”
“Yeah, it’s crazy sometimes, but at the end of it all, you know I have your back anytime anywhere.”
The friends sat down at a lunch table discussing other topics, when Kelly Priest, the junior class geek, went to their table and started talking to Charles. Everyone in the small Christian school knew that she was obsessed with Charles. She tried her best to get him to go out with her. She has yet to succeed on that project.
“Hi, Charles. How are you today?” Kelly asked him rudely ignoring Elle.
“Um, hi Kelly. I’m good, but excuse me; you’re interrupting me and Elle."
“It’s ok, Charles. I actually should start heading to class anyways. Hello to you too, Kelly.” Michelle took up her tray and left the nerd and her friend alone at the table making awkward conversation. She had to laugh at how much Kelly was pushing herself onto Charles, but he just wouldn’t have it.
When Michelle went to her locker, she saw there was a note on it, written from an anonymous person. It read, “You are very beautiful, Michelle. Thank you for last night.” She had to reread the note over five times to understand what it actually meant, but she still didn’t know what it meant. The only thing she could think of was when she talked to that guy named Mark, but she couldn’t think of anything she did worth being thanked for. She really couldn’t do anything about the note, so she just slipped it in her bag and continued on with her day.
Four-thirty finally came around, which meant it was time for Michelle to drive her and Morgan home. Morgan decided to run a little late that day, so to keep occupied Michelle took out the note she found on her locker and began rereading it over and over again.
“Hey, what’s that you have here?” Morgan snatched the note from her sister’s hand as she passed by the driver’s side window. “You are very beautiful, Michelle. Thank you for last night,” Morgan jokingly read the note, “Whoa! Elle, what did you do last night? Apparently, you missed a few important details.”
“Morgan, please. I didn’t do anything. I have no idea who this is from. In case you didn’t see, the person didn’t put their name down on the paper. It could be someone playing a crappy joke. Just promise you won’t tell mom and dad, especially dad. He’ll yell and have a fit until the end of the world.”
“Don’t worry. He won’t hear it from me. I have other problems to worry about.”
“Oh gosh, I guess you’ll be telling me them on our way home.”
“Yep. That’s what sisters are for. You tell me your problems, and I tell you mine. That’s just how it works for some reason. Now can we go home? I’m starvin.”
Michelle and Morgan finally arrived home a little after five, but dinner wouldn’t have been ready for another few hours. Because of their parents’ schedules, the girls always made a snack and did their homework before dinner. Today was a little different though.
“Michelle, drop your books down in your room and come into my office.” Ben demanded his daughter when he realized his girls made it home from school.
“What did I do now, Dad?” Michelle knew she was in some kind of trouble worse than normal when Ben called her into his office, especially when Elaine wasn’t home like that particular day.
“Don’t come at me like that. Who do you think you are young lady? I wanted to talk to you about last night. Why didn’t you get in until really late?”
“I didn’t. I got in after ten. I was helping an older woman with groceries down the street, and her grandson wasn’t home yet, so I didn’t leave until he got there.”
“Are you talking about that Mark kid?”
“Yeah. How do you know him? I just met them myself last night. I wouldn’t have known there was an older lady on our street if I hadn’t walked that way when I did.”
“It doesn’t matter how I know him. Just stay away from him. I don’t want you goin out at night anymore. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no. Whenever I feel like walking, I’m going to take a walk. And I don’t even know that Mark guy like that. So for you to say stay away from him means nothing to me. You can’t control what I do; I’m almost eighteen, which means adulthood, which means no more listening to you.”
Not being able to take the backtalk from his oldest daughter, Ben slapped her across the face and said, “Don’t you ever in your life talk to me that way again. Now I told you to stay away from him, so I expect you to listen. If you choose not to listen, then you can find yourself another home. Now get out of my office.”
Speechless of what had occurred in her father’s office, Michelle left behind her bag and homework in her room and headed out the door. Her mother wasn’t there for her to talk to about the situation, and Morgan was too busy with her own self to care; she just left. For some reason, something inside of her was hoping she’d catch Mark out on the street and talk to him just to defy her father. There was no such luck for that possibility. She walked around the suburban neighborhood for a good thirty minutes before heading back home. She had no idea how she was going to face her father after what happened, but she knew it would have to happen sooner or later.She just hoped that the best thing, whatever it was, would work out in the end.
“You did what?! Who do you think you are?” Elaine Harper furiously asked her husband after dinner that night, and the girls were already in their rooms. “You hit my baby girl? What the heck is wrong with you?”
“Elaine, it was an accident. It just happened. I couldn’t control myself.”
“That’s bull, and we both know that. If you ever put your hands on Elle, Morgan, or me, I swear I’ll leave you and sue you for all that your worth. You know I can do it too. Now, in the morning, I want you to apologize to Elle for what you did. I don’t care if she forgives you or not, but you won’t talk to her the way you did today. Do you understand me?
“Yes, honey. I’ll do it first thing in the morning. I promise.”
“Yeah, you better or else. We’ll have real serious problems if you don’t. Now, good night!”
It was Tuesday morning, the second day of school. Michelle had told Charles about what happened to her night last night while waiting in line for lunch.
“No way! Are you crazy? I’m not in love with him. How can I be in love with someone I don’t even know? I don’t even like him. He was just cute that’s all. I think it would be cool to see him at least another time though.”
“Well, at least he lives down the road, so you don’t have to go very far to see him. You’d just have to make sure your sister doesn’t steal him first.”
“That’s another thing. I’m not gonna fall for him because the guys always like Morgan. I’m nothing to them. Majority of the time it’s not even worth trying to pursue them.”
“Yeah, it’s crazy sometimes, but at the end of it all, you know I have your back anytime anywhere.”
The friends sat down at a lunch table discussing other topics, when Kelly Priest, the junior class geek, went to their table and started talking to Charles. Everyone in the small Christian school knew that she was obsessed with Charles. She tried her best to get him to go out with her. She has yet to succeed on that project.
“Hi, Charles. How are you today?” Kelly asked him rudely ignoring Elle.
“Um, hi Kelly. I’m good, but excuse me; you’re interrupting me and Elle."
“It’s ok, Charles. I actually should start heading to class anyways. Hello to you too, Kelly.” Michelle took up her tray and left the nerd and her friend alone at the table making awkward conversation. She had to laugh at how much Kelly was pushing herself onto Charles, but he just wouldn’t have it.
When Michelle went to her locker, she saw there was a note on it, written from an anonymous person. It read, “You are very beautiful, Michelle. Thank you for last night.” She had to reread the note over five times to understand what it actually meant, but she still didn’t know what it meant. The only thing she could think of was when she talked to that guy named Mark, but she couldn’t think of anything she did worth being thanked for. She really couldn’t do anything about the note, so she just slipped it in her bag and continued on with her day.
Four-thirty finally came around, which meant it was time for Michelle to drive her and Morgan home. Morgan decided to run a little late that day, so to keep occupied Michelle took out the note she found on her locker and began rereading it over and over again.
“Hey, what’s that you have here?” Morgan snatched the note from her sister’s hand as she passed by the driver’s side window. “You are very beautiful, Michelle. Thank you for last night,” Morgan jokingly read the note, “Whoa! Elle, what did you do last night? Apparently, you missed a few important details.”
“Morgan, please. I didn’t do anything. I have no idea who this is from. In case you didn’t see, the person didn’t put their name down on the paper. It could be someone playing a crappy joke. Just promise you won’t tell mom and dad, especially dad. He’ll yell and have a fit until the end of the world.”
“Don’t worry. He won’t hear it from me. I have other problems to worry about.”
“Oh gosh, I guess you’ll be telling me them on our way home.”
“Yep. That’s what sisters are for. You tell me your problems, and I tell you mine. That’s just how it works for some reason. Now can we go home? I’m starvin.”
Michelle and Morgan finally arrived home a little after five, but dinner wouldn’t have been ready for another few hours. Because of their parents’ schedules, the girls always made a snack and did their homework before dinner. Today was a little different though.
“Michelle, drop your books down in your room and come into my office.” Ben demanded his daughter when he realized his girls made it home from school.
“What did I do now, Dad?” Michelle knew she was in some kind of trouble worse than normal when Ben called her into his office, especially when Elaine wasn’t home like that particular day.
“Don’t come at me like that. Who do you think you are young lady? I wanted to talk to you about last night. Why didn’t you get in until really late?”
“I didn’t. I got in after ten. I was helping an older woman with groceries down the street, and her grandson wasn’t home yet, so I didn’t leave until he got there.”
“Are you talking about that Mark kid?”
“Yeah. How do you know him? I just met them myself last night. I wouldn’t have known there was an older lady on our street if I hadn’t walked that way when I did.”
“It doesn’t matter how I know him. Just stay away from him. I don’t want you goin out at night anymore. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no. Whenever I feel like walking, I’m going to take a walk. And I don’t even know that Mark guy like that. So for you to say stay away from him means nothing to me. You can’t control what I do; I’m almost eighteen, which means adulthood, which means no more listening to you.”
Not being able to take the backtalk from his oldest daughter, Ben slapped her across the face and said, “Don’t you ever in your life talk to me that way again. Now I told you to stay away from him, so I expect you to listen. If you choose not to listen, then you can find yourself another home. Now get out of my office.”
Speechless of what had occurred in her father’s office, Michelle left behind her bag and homework in her room and headed out the door. Her mother wasn’t there for her to talk to about the situation, and Morgan was too busy with her own self to care; she just left. For some reason, something inside of her was hoping she’d catch Mark out on the street and talk to him just to defy her father. There was no such luck for that possibility. She walked around the suburban neighborhood for a good thirty minutes before heading back home. She had no idea how she was going to face her father after what happened, but she knew it would have to happen sooner or later.She just hoped that the best thing, whatever it was, would work out in the end.
“You did what?! Who do you think you are?” Elaine Harper furiously asked her husband after dinner that night, and the girls were already in their rooms. “You hit my baby girl? What the heck is wrong with you?”
“Elaine, it was an accident. It just happened. I couldn’t control myself.”
“That’s bull, and we both know that. If you ever put your hands on Elle, Morgan, or me, I swear I’ll leave you and sue you for all that your worth. You know I can do it too. Now, in the morning, I want you to apologize to Elle for what you did. I don’t care if she forgives you or not, but you won’t talk to her the way you did today. Do you understand me?
“Yes, honey. I’ll do it first thing in the morning. I promise.”
“Yeah, you better or else. We’ll have real serious problems if you don’t. Now, good night!”
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Chapter 2
“So ladies, how was your day?” Elaine asked her daughters as the family was sitting down eating dinner.
“Well, my day was good,” Morgan spoke first, “I have a lot of new cute guys in my class and they already love me. Unfortunately, there are some new girls in my class too. I can tell I don’t like them already.”
“Why is that? Is it because they’re prettier than you?” Michelle teased.
“That’s really funny, Elle. Like someone could be prettier than me. No, they were jealous of me. I was talking to the guys and I think a couple of them were their boyfriends, but I didn’t care.”
“You better watch yourself. One day, you’re gonna mess with the wrong chick, and she’ll knock the mess out of you.”
“Yeah, right. I think I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, ok, Jackie Chan. I’d like to see that happen for once. My day was pretty boring. None of the teachers gave any homework tonight.”
“Yeah, cause that’s really a bad thing.” Morgan sarcastically put in.
“Shut up, Morgan. Anyways, Mr. Rolle, the science teacher, said we’ll be going to an amusement park at the end of the year to learn about the physics coming from different rollercoasters. I’m pretty excited about that.”
“Maybe you should get a head start and go to an amusement park this weekend. We don’t want you getting another B this year, now do we?” her father added.
“Dad, it was one B. Sure, it wasn’t an A, but everyone else in the class did poorly.”
“Well, include yourself with the class because you did poorly alongside them. Having a B average is not acceptable. You could’ve done much better,” Ben boiled up.
“Dad, I was the only one with the best grade in that class. Besides, Morgan gets C’s all the time. Why is it that you never come down on her, but you never hesitate to always come down on me? No matter what I do or say, it will never be good enough for you,” Michelle abruptly stood up at the table, threw down her napkin, and walked off.
“Elaine, talk to your child.”
Elaine found her child outside angrily pacing back and forth on the porch. “Elle, I’m sorry that happened in there. I know it’s hard to believe, but your father does love you and he wants the best for you. He just shows it differently.”
“Mom, you and I know that’s bull crap. He can’t stand me, and the feeling is mutual. I can’t wait until I graduate and get away from this monstrous household. I’m taking a walk down the street, don’t wait up.”
Michelle stormed down the sidewalk. She had so many thoughts circling in her head like: “why does he hate me so much? He never gets on Morgan’s case. I can’t wait to leave this place.” The thoughts kept going and going, until she heard an elderly woman asking for help.
“Oh my, let me help you with that,” Michelle offered a hand to the older woman as she was carrying a boat load of groceries by herself into her suburban home. Once all the groceries were put away, the woman thanked Michelle and offered her a cup of tea and Michelle accepted. The woman explained that her grandson was visiting from Boston and she bought all those groceries to keep him occupied during his stay. Then she went into other stories about her family history and other things that Michelle didn’t care about, but didn’t want to be rude and leave the old woman alone by herself. So she decided to stay until the grandson came home. The old woman was just about to tell a story about the time she ran into pirates when she was interrupted by a Boston accent.
“Grandma, your door was unlocked. Do I need to get that fi…” he stopped mid-sentence when he saw Michelle sitting in the living room with his grandmother.
“Hi. I’m Michelle. I was walking and I saw your grandmother struggling with her groceries, so I helped her carry them in and put them away. I was just listening to her tell her stories.”
“Well, thank you, Michelle. My name is Mark,” he shook her hand, “that was very nice of you to do that for my grandmother. I’m usually home, but I had to go out for a second and get some things done.”
“It wasn’t a big deal. But I should get back home soon; it’s getting late and all. It was nice meeting the both of you.”
“Well, at least let me drive you back home,” Mark offered as he followed her to the door.
“That’s not necessary. I’m just around the corner, so I should be fine,” she continued down the street, “good night!”
It took Michelle three minutes to arrive back at her house after meeting her neighbors for the first time. It was already passed ten o’clock. She knew her parents were already in their room for the night. She didn’t feel like sleeping herself, so she decided to go into her sister’s room and tell her about her night.
“So details, girl. What did he look like?” Morgan asked sitting up in her bed after her sister told her about her productive night.
“He was about five feet eight inches, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and very muscular. He looked really good. He seemed very mysterious.”
“You got all of that from just a few minutes with him? Wow! He sounds very hot though. Did you give him your number or anything?”
“No way! I didn’t know the dude. I don’t just give out my info to complete strangers the way you do. I have more class than you in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Whatever. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see him again before he leaves for good.”
“Yeah, and then I can send him your way. You’d be ok with that I’m sure,” Michelle responded with a fake smile.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I’m goin to bed now. Good night.” Michelle exited her sister’s room for the night and climbed into her own bed, but no matter how hard she tried to go to sleep, her thoughts continued to stray to that mystery guy, Mark.
“Well, my day was good,” Morgan spoke first, “I have a lot of new cute guys in my class and they already love me. Unfortunately, there are some new girls in my class too. I can tell I don’t like them already.”
“Why is that? Is it because they’re prettier than you?” Michelle teased.
“That’s really funny, Elle. Like someone could be prettier than me. No, they were jealous of me. I was talking to the guys and I think a couple of them were their boyfriends, but I didn’t care.”
“You better watch yourself. One day, you’re gonna mess with the wrong chick, and she’ll knock the mess out of you.”
“Yeah, right. I think I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, ok, Jackie Chan. I’d like to see that happen for once. My day was pretty boring. None of the teachers gave any homework tonight.”
“Yeah, cause that’s really a bad thing.” Morgan sarcastically put in.
“Shut up, Morgan. Anyways, Mr. Rolle, the science teacher, said we’ll be going to an amusement park at the end of the year to learn about the physics coming from different rollercoasters. I’m pretty excited about that.”
“Maybe you should get a head start and go to an amusement park this weekend. We don’t want you getting another B this year, now do we?” her father added.
“Dad, it was one B. Sure, it wasn’t an A, but everyone else in the class did poorly.”
“Well, include yourself with the class because you did poorly alongside them. Having a B average is not acceptable. You could’ve done much better,” Ben boiled up.
“Dad, I was the only one with the best grade in that class. Besides, Morgan gets C’s all the time. Why is it that you never come down on her, but you never hesitate to always come down on me? No matter what I do or say, it will never be good enough for you,” Michelle abruptly stood up at the table, threw down her napkin, and walked off.
“Elaine, talk to your child.”
Elaine found her child outside angrily pacing back and forth on the porch. “Elle, I’m sorry that happened in there. I know it’s hard to believe, but your father does love you and he wants the best for you. He just shows it differently.”
“Mom, you and I know that’s bull crap. He can’t stand me, and the feeling is mutual. I can’t wait until I graduate and get away from this monstrous household. I’m taking a walk down the street, don’t wait up.”
Michelle stormed down the sidewalk. She had so many thoughts circling in her head like: “why does he hate me so much? He never gets on Morgan’s case. I can’t wait to leave this place.” The thoughts kept going and going, until she heard an elderly woman asking for help.
“Oh my, let me help you with that,” Michelle offered a hand to the older woman as she was carrying a boat load of groceries by herself into her suburban home. Once all the groceries were put away, the woman thanked Michelle and offered her a cup of tea and Michelle accepted. The woman explained that her grandson was visiting from Boston and she bought all those groceries to keep him occupied during his stay. Then she went into other stories about her family history and other things that Michelle didn’t care about, but didn’t want to be rude and leave the old woman alone by herself. So she decided to stay until the grandson came home. The old woman was just about to tell a story about the time she ran into pirates when she was interrupted by a Boston accent.
“Grandma, your door was unlocked. Do I need to get that fi…” he stopped mid-sentence when he saw Michelle sitting in the living room with his grandmother.
“Hi. I’m Michelle. I was walking and I saw your grandmother struggling with her groceries, so I helped her carry them in and put them away. I was just listening to her tell her stories.”
“Well, thank you, Michelle. My name is Mark,” he shook her hand, “that was very nice of you to do that for my grandmother. I’m usually home, but I had to go out for a second and get some things done.”
“It wasn’t a big deal. But I should get back home soon; it’s getting late and all. It was nice meeting the both of you.”
“Well, at least let me drive you back home,” Mark offered as he followed her to the door.
“That’s not necessary. I’m just around the corner, so I should be fine,” she continued down the street, “good night!”
It took Michelle three minutes to arrive back at her house after meeting her neighbors for the first time. It was already passed ten o’clock. She knew her parents were already in their room for the night. She didn’t feel like sleeping herself, so she decided to go into her sister’s room and tell her about her night.
“So details, girl. What did he look like?” Morgan asked sitting up in her bed after her sister told her about her productive night.
“He was about five feet eight inches, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and very muscular. He looked really good. He seemed very mysterious.”
“You got all of that from just a few minutes with him? Wow! He sounds very hot though. Did you give him your number or anything?”
“No way! I didn’t know the dude. I don’t just give out my info to complete strangers the way you do. I have more class than you in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Whatever. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see him again before he leaves for good.”
“Yeah, and then I can send him your way. You’d be ok with that I’m sure,” Michelle responded with a fake smile.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I’m goin to bed now. Good night.” Michelle exited her sister’s room for the night and climbed into her own bed, but no matter how hard she tried to go to sleep, her thoughts continued to stray to that mystery guy, Mark.
Chapter 1
“What the heck are you doing in there? Why is it taking you forever in the bathroom, Morgan? Come on, let’s hurry it up!” Michelle Harper banged on the bathroom door that she and her younger sister shared. Today was the first day back to school, and Michelle’s day was already starting off rough-waiting for Morgan was always painful.
“Calm down, Elle. It’s not the end of the world if we don’t make it early enough to see your friends. You’ll have all year to see them,” Morgan Harper explained as she walked out of the bathroom brushing her shoulder length black hair. “It’s your senior year. Try to relax for once in your life.”
“Morgan, you know I can’t do that, even if my life depended on it. Now hurry up, I want to leave the house in ten minutes.” Michelle then went into the bathroom and began fixing herself up quickly. Unlike her sister, Michelle was the tomboy of the two. She didn’t care what she looked like or what other people thought of her. She did care about her grades, as well as, any other important matters that needed to be done. She was very cool to get along with. Everyone loved her. She was little Miss Perfect, and that caused a lot of tension between her and her sister.
Morgan was the prettier one of the two. She was the one that did take a long time to get ready. She cared what she looked like and everything had to be in its place. She wasn’t as easy to get along with like her sister. She was very judgmental towards other people, but for some reason all the boys loved her anyways and she loved the attention.
“Let’s go,” Michelle said as she came out of the bathroom putting her hair into her regular high ponytail making her way downstairs to greet her parents.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Are you ready for your first day back?” her mother, Elaine Harper, kissed her eldest child from behind the counter in the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m ready for all of this to be over with already.”
“I can’t believe my baby is graduating this year. Can you, honey?”
“Let the year begin first, Elaine. You never know she could end up in the wrong crowd, fail everything and redo senior year.” Ben grumbled behind his newspaper. Ben Harper was very strict when it came to his oldest daughter. He never was the loving type towards Michelle. He criticized her for the simplest thing; if she received a B on midterms, he was the first one to bring her down. She tried and tried proving herself to Ben, but that didn’t get her anywhere. So, now she doesn’t even try.
“Don’t listen to your father, Elle. He’s really happy for you.”
“Yeah, he’s really happy for me,” Michelle responded sarcastically, “when Morgan comes down tell her that I’m in the car and she has two minutes or else I’m leaving.” She grabbed a granola bar and her backpack and headed out the door.
“Why do you act and say things like that to her? You know she tries her best, yet you just bring her down every time.”
“Elaine, I treat her no different than I treat Morgan. I love them both the same.”
“Good morning, guys.” Morgan exclaimed when she arrived in the kitchen.
“Good morning, Princess. Are you ready to start a new year?”
“Yes, Daddy, I’m so excited!”
“Morgan, your sister is in the car waiting for you. She said she would leave in two minutes. You know when your sister says something, she means it. Now have a good day and we’ll see you two when you come home.”
“Have a good day, Princess,” Ben hugged his youngest daughter before she headed out the door.
Elaine looked at her husband and questioned, “Treat them both the same, huh?”
“Calm down, Elle. It’s not the end of the world if we don’t make it early enough to see your friends. You’ll have all year to see them,” Morgan Harper explained as she walked out of the bathroom brushing her shoulder length black hair. “It’s your senior year. Try to relax for once in your life.”
“Morgan, you know I can’t do that, even if my life depended on it. Now hurry up, I want to leave the house in ten minutes.” Michelle then went into the bathroom and began fixing herself up quickly. Unlike her sister, Michelle was the tomboy of the two. She didn’t care what she looked like or what other people thought of her. She did care about her grades, as well as, any other important matters that needed to be done. She was very cool to get along with. Everyone loved her. She was little Miss Perfect, and that caused a lot of tension between her and her sister.
Morgan was the prettier one of the two. She was the one that did take a long time to get ready. She cared what she looked like and everything had to be in its place. She wasn’t as easy to get along with like her sister. She was very judgmental towards other people, but for some reason all the boys loved her anyways and she loved the attention.
“Let’s go,” Michelle said as she came out of the bathroom putting her hair into her regular high ponytail making her way downstairs to greet her parents.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Are you ready for your first day back?” her mother, Elaine Harper, kissed her eldest child from behind the counter in the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m ready for all of this to be over with already.”
“I can’t believe my baby is graduating this year. Can you, honey?”
“Let the year begin first, Elaine. You never know she could end up in the wrong crowd, fail everything and redo senior year.” Ben grumbled behind his newspaper. Ben Harper was very strict when it came to his oldest daughter. He never was the loving type towards Michelle. He criticized her for the simplest thing; if she received a B on midterms, he was the first one to bring her down. She tried and tried proving herself to Ben, but that didn’t get her anywhere. So, now she doesn’t even try.
“Don’t listen to your father, Elle. He’s really happy for you.”
“Yeah, he’s really happy for me,” Michelle responded sarcastically, “when Morgan comes down tell her that I’m in the car and she has two minutes or else I’m leaving.” She grabbed a granola bar and her backpack and headed out the door.
“Why do you act and say things like that to her? You know she tries her best, yet you just bring her down every time.”
“Elaine, I treat her no different than I treat Morgan. I love them both the same.”
“Good morning, guys.” Morgan exclaimed when she arrived in the kitchen.
“Good morning, Princess. Are you ready to start a new year?”
“Yes, Daddy, I’m so excited!”
“Morgan, your sister is in the car waiting for you. She said she would leave in two minutes. You know when your sister says something, she means it. Now have a good day and we’ll see you two when you come home.”
“Have a good day, Princess,” Ben hugged his youngest daughter before she headed out the door.
Elaine looked at her husband and questioned, “Treat them both the same, huh?”
“Ok, so remember we meet back at the car around 4:30 after school, which gives us almost an hour to hang out and talk to friends or whatever you usually do,” Michelle explained when she parked her car in the school’s parking lot.
“Ok, I got it, Elle. And remember to loosen up a little this year. Don’t take everything so serious. Now if you will excuse me, I see my friends. I’ll see ya later, Sis.”
“Hey, you,” a friendly male voice called out to Michelle.
“Charles! Hey, how’ve you been? How was Florida?” Charles was Michelle’s best guy friend. He was a year younger than her; he was in the same grade as her sister. He was the type where he was there for her when she needed him most. He always gave an encouraging word, but he was also brutally honest. He was like the brother she never had.
“It was amazing. Met a lot of hot girls, who still call me to see what I’m doing,” he pushed his black curly hair back out of his face attempting to look cool.
“Yeah, whatever. You know you were working in your grandfather’s factory with men all summer long.” The two friends laughed.
“You’re just jealous. Did you meet anyone special this summer?” he nudged her as they walked up to the school’s entrance.
“Sike! You know if I did, Morgan would’ve taken him already. You know she has a reputation for stealing guys that I’m into. Guys just love her. It makes me sick.”
“Well, just think once you finish your last year at this dump, you’ll go off to college and have all the guys you want.”
“Yeah, and don’t forget I’ll be away from my evil father. But this year, I’m going to try something different. I’m gonna actually loosen up a little and try not to be so tight on everything.”
“Oh, I like that idea, but we both know that won’t last long at all.”
“Ha. Ha. Shut up.” She lightly pushed him, “I’m not that bad.”
“Yeah, right, and I’m really black. Please, we both know what we just said is so far from the truth. Elle, you’re like a workaholic; you hardly take time for yourself,” he paused to let her think of what he just said, “This Friday, we’re going to the club. A friend of mines is having a random party and you and I are going, whether you want to or not.”
“Usually, I would say no, but because I am trying something different this year, I’m down for it.” The two friends did their signature hand shake on it. “Now, may I say something? Let’s go to class. The sooner this small Christian school starts the closer to freedom. I can’t wait to get away from this place.”
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