57*Lily's point of view*
I was exhausted by the time we arrived home that day. I guessed that I just wasn't used to seven hours cooped up in endless classrooms, sitting all day long, and listening to teachers blab uselessness at me. As soon as we walked in the front door I was greeted with a huge double-hug tackle from Dylan and Becca.
"Hey guys!" I bubbled enthusiastically, squatting down and squeezing them both tight. Becca clasped my hand and dragged me into the kitchen, forcing me to drop my new book on the hallway floor.
"Look what we made today, Lily," she said happily, pointing to a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies covering the counter.
"Yum!" I said happily. The two toddlers ran into the living room as Mrs. Allegheny called for them. I was astounded at their energy as I swiped a cookie off of one of the baking sheets and made my way out to the porch to eat in the sunshine. Joel was right behind me, with a cookie in his hand as well. He'd also brought out a can of pop for each of us.
"After school snack?"
"You're like the endless supplier of soda," I said teasingly. He grinned.
"That's what I'm here for," he said shrugging.
"Thanks," I said gratefully after taking a long drink. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was.
"Anytime," he replied with a smile, sitting close to me on the porch swing. "So, how was your day after first period? I didn't see you again after that until the ride home."
"It was alright, I guess. It was a lot to cram into one day, ya know? I'm not used to it yet. It makes me miss my old school a lot more than I thought I would. It's harder than I thought it would be to go into a school not knowing anybody. I have new respect for new kids, now."
"Yeah. Tomorrow will be better, eh?"
"Hopefully."
"I wish I could see to it that tomorrow was better for you."
"Me too," I sighed.
"Well, just think of it this way.180 days of school in a year, one down, 179 more days to go."
"That's depressing," I said laughing at him leaning forward resting my elbows on my knees. I squinted up at his cheerful face.
"I admire that you're able to be happy all the time. Always joking and lightening the mood. It makes everything more fun," I told him.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"I admire the same thing about you."
*Rose's point of view*
I couldn't get Jamison out of my head. I'd seen him briefly in the hall twice that day and each time he'd given me a smile or a wave. I wasn't used to being recognized anywhere, even by someone I'd already met. He was just so good looking and nice, all I wanted was to see him and spend some more time with him. All my promises to myself not to get involved with another guy flew out of my mind as soon as I'd met Jamison. Actually, I thought slowly, maybe it had started with Shawn. But I dismissed that thought. Shawn was starting to become more like a best friend to me, just like he was to everybody else in the house.
I walked into the house behind Lily and Joel and darted up to my room before I got caught in the toddler hug. Once through the bedroom door, I tossed my books on my bedside table, kicked off my shoes, and flopped onto the floor to think. I thought about Jamison. And about Shawn, some. Then my thought floated unwillingly toward Jay.
I tried as hard as I could to pull myself away from the memories, but they poured over me like a waterfall of thorns and I couldn't help reliving every feeling and emotion as vividly as if it was just happening.
The most vivid, for some reason, was when I'd first met Jay. I was a sophomore in high school and he'd sat next to me the first day of music appreciation, a class I was really excited about taking. My excitement was only fed by the completely ripped, amazingly good looking senior in the desk to my right.
He asked me to borrow a pen and I nearly swooned, I believe. I was astonished when he started talking to me and asking me about myself. Pretty soon he was escorting me to my classes and walking me home from school. Now, I was disgusted with the way I acted then. If I hadn't been such a boy crazy teenager, I wouldn't have had to go through all the crap that came with it. I had been so easy for him to woo, it would have been easy for him to seduce any girl. He treated me like a princess until he had me completely caught up in his seductive plan. Despite how hard I fell for him, I never could quite figure out what he'd seen in me that made him want me. He didn't go anywhere after graduation, he had a steady job as a mechanic and his own apartment. We dated all through my junior year. That's when the trouble started. I said some things I shouldn't have said to people and made huge mistakes, one after another, things I regret with everything ounce of my being. Why couldn't I have just been smart?
I managed to finally shut my brain off when I felt burning tears threatening to trickle out of my eyes. I didn't want to remember anything that had happened; all the things he'd done or said to me.
I was suddenly completely spent. I managed to clear my head of all thoughts of that heartless jerk I used to date and fall asleep.
I woke up sometime later when Shawn was yelling my name up the staircase for supper. I dragged myself up off the floor and ran a hand down my face. I remembered dreaming about Jay and Jamison, but I couldn't remember what had happened.
"Rose?" I heard Shawn call again. I could hear his footsteps on the stairs.
"I'm coming!" I yelled through the door. I patted down my ratty hair and started down the stairs.
A/N: Can you believe I've finally decided to update?! I'm SO SORRY for taking so freaking long to get this chapter out. I can't even believe it's taken me this long. Please forgive me. I'll be surprised if anyone actually sticks with me after this. But please enjoy this chapter if you find yourself reading it and I promise I will never make you wait that long ever again!