Hey everyone, I know I just posted chapter 2 but I don't know how long my Internet was going to be up on this computer so I decided not to test it

Harsh crits. are welcome...I hope you enjoy it, thanks again.

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Amazing.

I thought as I sat through my last exam of ninth grade. Since when did the clock move quite so slowly? I closed my eyes and laid my head down on my arm as I waited for the bell to ring and declare my freedom for the next three months. I let my thoughts drift, they swirled around pearl pools and fluffy clouds; always centered in them was Leo. I felt my mouth twist in a smile.

“What are you smiling about? Its science.” I heard my friend Lydia whisper to me.

I let my eyelids squint open. Lydia looked sullen, with a pout clear in her posture and features. I suspected this had something to do with the fact that she would not be able to see her boyfriend for over a week. I sighed; I hoped she wouldn’t pout for the whole summer.

“There are lots of things to be happy about.” I told her, my voice hushed. Our over peppy science teacher choose this exact moment to walk by.

“Girls quiet!” She scolded us before she continued up and down the aisles of students all eagerly awaiting the final bell. Lydia didn’t speak again but she gave me a look that clearly questioned my sanity. I gave her a minute shrug as I closed my eyes again.

Finally the bell rang out over us, declaring the start of our well deserved summer. I was swept up in the rush down the hallways, all one thousand five hundred and sixty seven of Old Mill High students struggling to reach the bright sun. As I reached the exit I literally ran into Jordan.

“Sorry sweetie! So last day finally, hope summer is good.” I told her as we walked out into the blinding sunshine.

“Well James is coming, he won’t tell me when though!” Jordan whined.

I laughed. James was French and he usually came to America once a year, even though I had never met him Jordan talked about him so much I felt like I did. Jordan looked at me from the corner of her eye,

“People usually come with him…Leo might be coming.” Jordan said nonchalantly. My entire body responded. My feet stopped dead in their tracks, my blood turned to ice in my veins. I couldn’t feel my heart anymore; it had come to a standstill.

“Really?” My lips were numb.

Jordan nodded; she had been watching me carefully. She looked afraid I might faint; it was a good possibility.

“I got to go, the bus is going to leave without me.” I said without meeting her eyes. I ran away before she could call me on my lie.

The summer days sped by, I talked to Leo more and more. Jordan learned only to mention that James was coming; Leo was never mentioned by association.

It was Fourth of July before my life finally slowed down again. I sat on the hard ground next to Lydia as the fireworks exploded above us. They illuminated the night, casting odd shadows of all colors.

“Are you okay?” Lydia shouted to me over the most recent bang. I nodded automatically.

“Fine. Why?” I answered, my face turned upwards.

“You just seemed distracted lately…” She let her sentence trail off with her concentration. I kept my poker face; if she glanced at my expression I didn’t want the guilt to be evident. I had been distracted lately.

James had told me exactly when they were coming; they were coming tomorrow. My breathing sped up at the mere thought. I was going to go crazy, of that I was sure. How was I going to make it through the night? I might as well cut the pretenses and just camp out at the airport. My thoughts were brought down sharply by reality in the form of my cell phone.

“Sorry,” I mumbled to Lydia. I quickly got up to answer Jordan’s call.

“What’s up?” I asked, Jordan was silent. I was instantly worried.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?” My voice escaped in a rush.

“Yeah…” She said her voice hesitant. I waited in pressing silence. I gave an ironic laugh; we seemed to be playing the silent game.

“Jordan, please. You are killing me.” I said; my voice was so anxious that it ruined the sarcasm.

“Nothing is wrong exactly…well it would be easier to show you…” I was completely lost.

“Um, you want to clue me in here sweetie?” I asked my brow furrowing.

“Really, it would be easier to show you.” Jordan pressed. I sighed, when Jordan wanted something there was no saying ’no’. I skipped the arguing.

“Where are you?” I asked through my teeth, I would save the shouting for when I saw her.

“At the mall, Arundel. Oh, and make sure you look good, okay?” She hung up before I could answer.

“Lydia, I got to run, emergency.” I said without turning back. I could hear Lydia’s half formed complaints as I ran back to my house.

“Mom, can you drive me to Arundel Mall?” I called down the stairs where the TV hummed.

“Sure. Twenty minutes?” She shouted back to me.

“Great!” I shouted, already running to my room.

I looked in my full length mirror and felt hopeless.

Why did I need to look “good”? Jordan had seen me in underwear and no make-up; something was going on. In the back of my head I knew exactly what was happening; they had come early. The mere thought had me launching into a full blown panic attack. I threw my t-shirt and shorts on the floor, disgusted with them. I went through my closet and nothing looked good to me, I had to calm down. It might just be Jordan I lied to myself.

I bought the lie.

Giving up I pulled on a black band tee, mini skirt and converse that went to my knee. I hurried to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth again for good measure. I didn’t see the point with my face; I would look terrible no matter what. With a sigh I touched up my make-up until my mom called me. I repeated my lie in the car, it became a chant.

Just Jordan, no one else.

If only the words didn’t sound so false even in my own head. I answered my mom’s questions mechanically, if she noticed something was off she didn’t comment on it.

“Where are you?” I asked Jordan on my cell phone after I got out of the car. I made no attempt to hide the irritation in my voice.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Tell you what, meet in front of Starbucks, I’ll get you coffee.” Jordan’s voice pleading. I cursed under my breath, she knew my weakness.

“Okay.” I sighed. It took all my will power not to sprint through the mall. My eyes must have been wild, searching for the Starbucks that I had been to a million times before. If this was some stupid fashion emergency I was going to kill Jordan. Not that she had told me what was going on but she was implying on my last nerve.

I finally reached the Starbucks and sitting at an iron table, looking more like a Greek god then anyone had a right to, was Leo.