THIS IS THE LATEST REVISION FOR PART 1. PLEASE USE THIS WHEN REVIEWING! THANKS! I HAVE REDITED THIS FIRST PART WITH OTHERS' COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS. I TRIED TO ITALICIZE AND BOLD EVERY NOTE SO IT STANDS OUT POSTING ON HERE. IN THE STORY ON MS WORD I HAVE IT INDENTED AND ITALICIZED. LATEST EDIT: 4-1-11. THANKS.
SECTION 1:
Part 1:
Stealing Grace
It was the first day of his Senior Year. Jared Moore rushed to park his Camry in the school parking lot. He proceeded to catch his t-shirt in the door first thing. After being launched back into the car door, he opened it and pulled out his now stretched t-shirt. Jared ran up the steps to Lincoln High School and headed straight to the office. He knew he’d be late but needed his class schedule. The bell rang for the students to head to their scheduled homeroom. Jared tried to straighten his plain red t-shirt with gray collar before reaching the office.
“I need to get my schedule. I wasn’t able to get it over the summer.” Jared said as he put his hands on the counter top as he talked to Rose, the secretary. Rose was an older woman with fifty’s style glasses and a gray beehive hair do.
“Just a second…Jared Moore?” she asked. Jared nodded. Looking around the office he could see where they remodeled over the summer break. The walls were painted a light dull gray and white on the top half bricks. The counter was the same black counter top with sparkles in the design and they had put white tiles in for the floor than the retro orange carpet that previously colored the office.
“Here you go, and here’s a note to your homeroom so you won’t get wrote up tardy the first day. Be sure to make it to all your classes on time this year, okay honey?” She said as she handed him the paper.
“Sure thing Ms. Rose.” He replied. Rose was her first name, but didn’t like going by her last name Staten. Jared hurried out of the office and looked at his schedule.
“Yuck! Mr. Smith for homeroom. Glad we don’t go there everyday. He’s such a butt hole.” Jared ran to the stairway and up the steps. Quickly turning the corner he bumped into Grace Maynard. To Jared, Grace is one of the friendliest and one of the most beautiful girls in school. He knew she was too good for him. He knocked her books into the floor and started to pick them up. Grace bent over and helped.
Jared looked at Grace with a smile. He loved her long curly brunette hair and blue eyes. She wore khaki pants and a green top. He reminisced about their childhood. In school, they didn’t get to talk much during school but in the evenings and weekends, their parents would meet up and talk. Jared and Grace used to play hide-and-seek around the neighborhood where they lived along with a few other children back then. There was a small park, now ruined by graffiti, where the children would play basketball, tennis, ride the swings, or play around in the grass field. He remembered her perfect face, perfect smile, and wished there were still days where they could hang out and talk.
As far as he knew, she still lived on down the street, but he didn’t stalk her. They were just two kids who went to the same school. As they reached middle school and high school, their parents’ jobs switched and it was harder for them to keep in touch. Jared thinks they talk on the phones sometimes. He loved talking to her mom. She was always bubbly, sweet, and easy to talk to; even though she is an adult.
“Uh…sorry Grace. I was trying to hurry to homeroom and forgot to look both ways. Ha-ha. You look nice today.” He said. Grace smiled and blushed at Jared. She knew Jared existed but mostly they never had classes together.
“Thank you. No problem Jared. Uh, do you know where Mr. Smith’s room is located?” she asked him as they stood up, standing still in the empty cold hallway.
“Follow me. I think he’s up here somewhere. I have him for homeroom too.” He replied.
“Thanks Jared. That does make sense. My last name is Maynard and yours is Moore.” They both smiled at each other.
“Yeah,” Jared laughed.
“Hall passes please!” Mrs. Jones was walking the halls. She didn’t have a homeroom class apparently. Jared quickly gave her his hall pass.
“I don’t have one. I couldn’t find Mr. Smith’s room,” Grace nervously stated. She didn’t want to get wrote up for no note on the first day. She is a good student. Jared noticed her uneasiness in her voice so he made an excuse.
“She was in the office when I was and Ms. Rose didn’t write her a note but wrote me one.” Jared said quickly.
“Okay, I’ll let you go this time. Ms. Rose may have forgotten.” Mrs. Jones went on down the hallway to catch some other students who were roaming the halls.
Grace thanked Jared for his help. He quickly wrote her name on the hall pass with his as they walked in Mr. Smith’s classroom. All eyes staring at them of course, they both headed to the two empty seats left with red cheeks.
“So glad you could join us.” Mr. Smith stated as Jared stood back up and gave Mr. Smith his note. Mr. Smith looked at the note and then crumpled it up to feed the trash can. “All we have to do is take attendance and I have to turn in to the office whether or not you are going to ride a bus or not this year. So on a scrap piece of paper, write T1 if you at any time will ride the bus even just once this year. If you will be driving or ride to school with someone, put T2, and if you’re a walker, write T3. Please put your names on them as well and pass them forward in your row.”
Mr. Smith took attendance as the students wrote down their transportation codes. Mr. Smith pretty well knew everyone in his homeroom class because he had them in class last year as juniors. Behind Grace sat Tekia Mullins. Tekia passed up a note under Grace’s elbow, which she had resting on the arm of the desk.
How was summer break? Did you meet any cool boys? Look to your left. Okay, well he’s not looking now. Jared kept watching you write in your notebook. I think he’s checking you out. LOL! He’s so weird, huh?
Grace peeked to her left but Jared was writing down his transportation code and then passed his slip up. He caught her looking so he looked and smiled at her. Maybe he does have a chance to date her this year? He was contemplating what to say.
Weird? No he’s just quiet I guess. He gets into trouble a lot it seems. At least someone is checking me out! My boyfriend doesn’t care anymore. He’s always checking out other girls. I wish I had the guts to break up with him. He’s a tough guy too and if some other guy came along, he’d probably beat them up as well out of anger. She passed the note back to Tekia. The bell rang to go to 1st period. Grace looked at her schedule.
“Where you headed?” Jared asked looking over her shoulder. At that time, Greg walked in toward Grace. He didn’t have a very friendly smile as he looked at Jared peeking over her shoulder.
“C’mon I’ll walk you to class sweetie.” He said roughly. Greg’s muscles intimidated Jared. Jared had muscles, but they weren’t like rocks staring back at him. Greg had a big tattoo that went down his right arm. It had some roses and R.I.P. in the middle of it. He also had that spiky black hair most tough guys thought was cool.
Grace picked up her books and followed Greg out of class. She didn’t get to answer Jared but she knew Greg would get jealous and cause a big fuss if she said anything to him. She smiled at Jared as she went out the classroom door.
“Too bad she has a tough boyfriend Jared. Maybe you’d have a chance then.” Tekia commented and started to head to
the door.
“What makes you think I want her?”
“You were checking her out or at least thinking about her. I’m good at this stuff.”
Jared started to walk quickly to try and talk to Tekia. “Then if you’re so good at this stuff, what can I do to get to talk to her without the big jerk clinging to her?”
“I don’t know. She likes to go to the dairy bar on Main Street. Greg hates it. He says that would make his muscles deflate or something stupid like that.” Jared laughed.
Lunchtime came quickly. All the students always thought first days went by quickly since they never received homework. It’s mostly going over the syllabus in each class and expectations in the classroom, rules, and supplies needed for each class.
Jared stood in line and saw across the lunch room Grace and Greg holding hands. She seemed happy with him but he’s such a bully. Sure I’m not much better, but she deserves someone who is nice and maybe cares for her. How could he care for her? He’s always looking at the cheerleaders.
Jared rambled on in his head contemplating his chances with Grace. Chicken rings for lunch? Yuck. As the lunch ladies call it – chicken chunks. Chicken chunks sound like such lovely, nasty, mushy crap.
Jared loaded his plate with the too small carton of milk, chicken rings, mashed potatoes, and a pear. He went and sat down at a table behind Greg and Grace. They didn’t get anything to eat yet so he was hoping they’d sit back at the same seat. They left their books. Jared had an idea - it was a secret and neat idea. He pulled out a piece of notebook paper
and scribbling to cover up his handwriting, he wrote:
You deserve better than Greg. He’s a bully and always will be a loser. You deserve so much better, although you’re probably too good for me as well. I like you a lot. I’ve always had a thing for you and maybe this year we’ll get to know each other better. Keep wondering who I am because I’m keeping it secret – for now. Enjoy the nasty lunch – hope you don’t get sick. I like you so much and want to know you better. – Your Secret Admirer
Most students were still in the lunch line so Jared quickly slid the piece of paper into the front of her notebook, making sure it wouldn’t fall out by accident. He saw a note with his name on it and read it. It was the note Tekia wrote in homeroom. Jared smiled then quickly turned back around to his seat. Greg and Grace were inside the lunch line so they’d be out headed to their seats soon – he hoped.
“So what I’m saying baby is we could go out to the movie, skip the movie, and do what we wanted to wherever you want.” Greg was obviously trying to get some personal attention.
“I don’t know Greg. I want to see the movie and what if mom asks me how it was? What if I tell her it was a good movie, then she watches it and it totally sucks? I can’t lie to my mom or step-dad. If you don’t want to watch the movie, don’t go. I’m a big girl. I over heard them talking saying something about buying me a car. Hopefully I’ll get something for my birthday.”
“When was that again? I forgot sweets.”
“Next week. Friday. The 13th of September.”
“Sorry sweets. I forgot…again.” Greg said with a frustrated expression.
“Yeah, nothing new,” she complained under her breath. They ate lunch.
September 13th. I need to talk to her before then. Somehow tell her happy birthday. Maybe tell her who admires her. What if she doesn’t even see the note? What if she really doesn’t care to like me and wants to be with Greg?“Hey give me a piece of paper!” Demanded Greg.
“Why?” Grace opens her notebook. She saw a new note saying ‘secret admirer’ at the bottom. She pulled out a piece of paper from the back, hiding the note. She knew not to let him see.
“Here’s my class schedule. I’ll know my work schedule by tomorrow hopefully.”
“Okay,” she hesitated. The bell rang to 5th period.
Grace and Jared had the rest of the classes together. Jared said no words to her the remainder of the day. He waited hesitantly on her to mention the letter to one of her friends. Seventh period came quickly, even for the first day of school.
Grace had her last period with Tekia. They sat next to each other in the drama classroom. Drama had a classroom and a stage area to use all to themselves. The teacher, Mr. Aaron Mitchell was a very dramatic person. He originally went to college to be an actor and ended up wanting to teach others how to act, knowing he’d make less money and never be in a movie. Live drama seemed to be more interesting to him. Jared sat behind Tekia and Grace’s table alone. There were an odd number of students in the class. A total of 21 students to be exact entered class. So being last to class, he sat behind Grace.
No Greg. Thank God!
“Hey how’s your day been girl?” Tekia asked as she sat down with Grace.
“Um…it’s gone by fast. You?”
“Fast for me too,” she paused, “what happened? Did Greg make you mad? You just look confused!”
“I have this letter,” she looked around and whispered. Jared was looking at his drama book. “It’s not from Greg. Or at least he didn’t write it. Unless he had a friend write it but I don’t think he’d do this…”
“DO WHAT?” Tekia was a little loud and caught some ears but class hadn’t started yet.
“It’s from a secret admirer.”
“Wow! Grace, find out who it is girl! Greg is not good enough for you. He’s such a jerk. This is your chance to get rid of him.”
They didn’t see, but Jared smiled ear to ear. He brushed his fingers through his hair and looked at Grace with a smile still on his face. She saw him.
Grace looked at him when she saw him look up. “Hey Jared,” she smiled with her face blood red.
“Hey,” he started.
“I know it’s the first day of school and everything but we have to get the ball rolling. This year we’re going to do Romeo and Juliet. It’s a big production so we will be working on it most of the year. We have time before starting on The Christmas Carol --.” Mr. Mitchell began, starting class. Jared couldn’t finish saying what he wanted to.
Mr. Mitchell stood at the front of class with his black hair slicked back wearing a black suit. He continued, “I want by the end of the day which characters you’d like to try out for. We will have understudies for this play. Volunteers if we need them who are not in drama. Put your name on the top, 7th period, and the character names of whom you’d like to try out for. If you need a copy of the play to remember the names, I have a couple here now. The rest I’ll have shortly once I bring them from home.
Jared quickly wrote down:
Jared Moore, 7th period, Romeo.
Please pick Grace for Juliet. I know it would be her dream to play that part.Grace wrote down on her piece of paper:
Grace Maynard, 7th period, Juliet or Juliet’s mother.
I’ll be Juliet’s understudy if nothing else. J
“Pass up your papers when you’re done.” Mr. Mitchell paced back and forth and began collecting the papers from each row. Jared handed his to Grace as soon as she turned to him. As she turned back forward, she noticed his handwriting. She glared at it for a few seconds then passed it on up.
Oh no! She will figure it out quick! What do I do now? Nothing I can do.
Near the end of the period, Mr. Mitchell let them have a few minutes to talk before the afternoon announcements.
Grace put her books in her backpack.
“Let me see the letter,” Tekia demanded.
“Here,” she pulled it out of her backpack. After Tekia read it she handed it back and smiled.
“Looks like you do have an admirer, any hints in the letter or any idea of who it might be?”
“Not really. Even if I recognized the hand writing, all guys write in that small, choppy, squiggly way.” They both giggled.
“Oh one more thing,” Mr. Mitchell added, “Make sure you can stay after school tomorrow to audition. We may not get everyone tomorrow, but I’d like to start anyway.” He looked at the papers glancing through them all. “Jared? Let me see you a minute please,” he sat down at his desk looking at his paper. Jared put his backpack on and went up to the desk.
He didn’t hear but Grace whispered to Tekia, “I think its Jared. He bumped into me this morning and I’m not sure what, but I felt something. I’m attracted to him and I want to know him more anyway as a friend.”
“You go girl. I won’t tell as soul! No worries there.”
“I don’t know for sure, but his hand writing does look like this letter. I wonder if he’ll write any more?”
“I wonder how long he’ll go before telling you if it is him or whoever it is! I wonder what parts he put down to audition for.”
“Hopefully Romeo. Do you remember in 4th grade when we had a talent show? Jared, Kim, Andy, Richard, and I put on a short version of Romeo and Juliet? We only kissed on the cheek but I remember telling him several times how I’d love to play Juliet in real life.”
“How romantic! If it is him, I hope he remembers 4th grade play. That’s so cool. Are you going to say anything to Greg?”
“No!” Grace shook her head with no hesitation.
Up at Mr. Mitchell’s desk, he talks to Jared about his picks. “So only Romeo huh?”
“Yeah. I know I can do it.”
“Why the extra comment?”
“She played Juliet in the 4th grade play. I know she has a real passion for drama like I do. She’d do great as Juliet.”
“We’ll see at the auditions won’t we?”
“Yes sir, you will!”
The bell rang for bus and driver dismissal. Jared slowly headed out to his car. He was in front of the two girls.
“So you think he’ll write tomorrow?”
“My secret admirer? I hope so. I can’t figure out who he is. Whoever it is, they must have our lunch or sat next to us somewhere.” I can’t sit behind her tomorrow at lunch and give her a secret note as well.
“That doesn’t really narrow it down unless you know everyone at your lunch.”
“Yeah, true. I don’t know almost 200 people.” She giggles.
“You riding the bus today? I am.”
“Yeah I suppose. My car is getting worked on.”
“I’ll give you a ride if you want,” Jared interrupted as they headed out the school doors to the parking lot.
“Um…yeah, okay. Sure Jared. Thanks.”
“Well I hope you hear from HIM!” Tekia winked at Grace.
Jared was looking toward his car.
“I’ll let you know. See you later.”
Don’t open her door. It's too obvious. Jared unlocked the drivers’ door and then unlocked the rest with the door button. She went around for shotgun. They both climbed in and buckled up.
They waited in the car line to get to the highway.
“You still live on Sesame Drive?” Jared questioned.
“Yep. You got it. It's the same as always. I don’t think mom and dad will ever move. So I’m stuck ‘til I make it rich or get married,” then she mumbled, “my kind of luck.”
“It can’t be that bad?”
“Just over protective and nosy.”
“How old are you?”
“Almost eighteen.”
“Cool. We should hang out or something on your birthday.” He tried to play it cool and ignore the fact she did have a boyfriend.
“Yeah that would be nice,” she answered him not mentioning Greg, “We could see a movie or something. Parents might have a party. I don’t know they haven’t mentioned anything. I’d have to call you. They have always had a family party before.”
“I’ll write my number down tomorrow,” Jared added. Finally, they made it to the highway. It was five minutes of highway driving, an exit, and then down one road to get to her house. His house was at the end of her street. They were always neighbors, but never hung out outside of school.
“So…you have a girlfriend this year?” She watched the road ahead and looked at the new cars passing by.
“Wish I could get away with speeding. I don’t even have a sports car. Ummm…oh! No, I don’t. Why?”
“I was just curious. We haven’t talked that much past few years.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Jared glanced at her then back to the road and the fast cars. He tried to be flirty in his voice but he knew he was no good at it.
Grace smiled thinking she knew he had to be the secret admirer. They happen to bump into each other; he is always near her when they’re in the same classroom, and he sounds nervous – not flirty.
“You can give me your phone number in drama tomorrow. That way Greg won’t get jealous.” Grace smiled and looked at him resting her head on the headrest. Seeing her in his peripheral vision, he grinned too still watching the highway.
“Exit 26B, we’re almost there,” he added.
“Yeah,” It was quiet the rest of the way to her house.
Jared pulled into her driveway and parked the car, still running the engine. He looked up at the garage doors then at Grace. “It’s a pretty nice house. I don’t blame your parents for staying here and not moving.”
“I know, but the town is boring. You know it is! We’re lucky to have a four-way stop. That’s how exciting this town is.”
“You’re an exciting person!” He whispered still looking at her.
Grace felt her face blush. Laughing she replied, “I suppose so. I think I’m pretty boring. You want to come in for a little bit? Maybe supper? Or do you have to go home?”
“I can call dad and see if he minds I’m not there for supper. Long as it’s OK with your folks?”
“Why not? I don’t bring boys home very often. Anyway, it would be a relief for them not bringing Greg here. I don’t think they like him.”
“What makes you think that?”
“They are constantly asking him questions like what he’s going to do in college, where he’s going, when is he going to get a job, blah, blah and blah! I’m their daughter and they don’t ask me!”
“Maybe they’re making sure he can support you in case you two married?”
Grace laughed out loud. Jared turned the engine off on the Camry.
“What’s so funny?” He laughed as well. Glad he made her smile.
“I don’t know about Greg. He’s different. Immature really. He acts all tough and he’s not. Sure he works out but I think I’d laugh if I saw him fight a nerd. He doesn’t pick on them but you know what I mean? Physical fight.”
Grace’s dad Ronald came out on the porch crossing his arms. “Hey Grace. No yellow limo today?”
They both stood up out of the car and shut the doors. “Not today dad. You remember Jared Moore don’t you? From down the street?”
“I sure do, how are you son?” Son? We haven’t kept in touch that much. Maybe he still talks to dad?
“Okay Mr. Maynard. Okay for the first day of senior year.”
“Oh yes, senior year! You headed off to college after this year?”
“Yes I’m already looking. I’d sort of like something close. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see who accepts me and the best tuition price.”
“That’s good thinking! You know Greg? He wants to be a boxer!” Jared couldn’t help but laugh. He knew Greg but didn’t think he was that childish to think he could make a career from boxing. He wasn’t that in shape. Jared covered his mouth when he saw Grace’s smile disappear.
“Dad, can he stay for supper?”
“Sure honey, you two have homework to study already?”
“Well not yet, but we will for drama probably.”
“Let’s go in. It’s kind of warm out today.”
“Yes it is!” Jared and Grace both answered.
“Mom’s in the kitchen. I think there’s a good twenty minutes left before supper.”
Jared peeked in the kitchen and said hello to Tina Maynard, Graces’ skinny mom with blond hair and green eyes. She was pretty, much like her daughter.
“You want to see my room? Maybe we can practice the parts we want for the play.” She asked.
“Do you have the script?” Jared asked.
“No but I remember much of it from –.”
“- From when we performed it before?”
“Yeah,” Grace answered, smiling. She turned and headed upstairs. She was getting nervous. She felt that she liked Jared, even if he wasn’t her secret admirer. He followed, naturally.
