Second Chances And Second Guessing

Chapter 13

('Allo All! How's it going? Going good here for me. Well, good-ish. I'm having a bit of a crisis of faith. I'm thinking about changing my major in university. Kinda freaking me out, but it feels right, you know? I think I wanna be an English teacher. I have to get the opinions of my friends and French teacher, Madame, she's the best friend I have that isn't my age. Anyway, I wanna dedicate this to her. Madame Parker, I dunno if you read this, but you're amazing. She's one of the few people keeping me from being Amy in this chapter. And the next, in fact. Also, the song is "All Alright" by Fun. It's rather sad, but it goes along with the nd bit of the chapter.)

~Manuel P.O.V. (I'm gonna switch between his life and Jen's ok?)~

"Bye, Jared. I'll see you soon, I just have to go see Amy. I'll be back in a few days." I said to him. Then I hugged him and turned toward the door. "Oh, and make up with Jenny. Please? She misses you..."

"See you soon brother. And if she comes and apologises, I will. But I won't go to her." He replied stubbornly. I sighed and rolled my eyes at hime good-naturedly. I walked out to my car, waving as I went. I put my bag in the back seat and pulled out, off to say goodbye to Jenny.

"Hey, Manuel. How are you? I was just getting ready to come talk to you. I need some help with English. This research paper is killing me. Maybe I'm just procratinating though." Se laughed and hugged me. I smiled down at her.

"Sorry, sweetie. But I'm going on a quick trip to Ohio. There's an old friend I need to see there...." I looked down at her disappoined face. "Sorry, Jared could help you though. He's more than qualified to teach in America. He even has a degree saying he can be a substitute. Mine, in fact." I heard a sharp intake of breath and I looked down at her. Her face went very white, then very red. I knew she was going to be angry when I told her. That's why I decided to do it before she walked into school Monday morning and murdered my brother.

"Um. Ok. I will not freak out. How long? How long will I have to pretend like I don't know him?" She asked, sounding both determined and desperate for reassurance at the same time.

"Just a school week. Nothing longer. But if it all goes well with my friend in Ohio probably more often than that..." I answered kind of quickly. She looked at me closely and I kind of blushed.

"It's a GIRL friend isn't it? You're really going 200 miles to see a girl? She must be special. She also has no idea you're coming does she? Good for her. And you, maybe she can make you happy Manuel. I hate to see the sadess in your eyes." She gave me a sweet smile and kissed my cheek. "Good luck with her. I hope it goes well." She hugged me and followed me to my car and waved as I pulled out.

I saw my happy goodbyes as a good omen. I got onto the motorway and then the turnpike. I hoped it would go well for me....

~Jenny P.O.V. (Monday after Manuel left)

"Hello, class. I'm your substitute English teacher while Mr. Ortiz is out for a few days. Nasty flu, or so I heard. I see you were supposed to take a test today. I wil give you an extra day to study and tel me all about the book you are reading. "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. That's about racism correct? Or were you discussing a deeper meaning in the text?" Jared bean talking with the class about racism and classic American literature.

He asked the class to call him Jared. No Mr. Whatever.Just Jared. I could see everybody thought it was cool for him to do that. It just made my life harder though. I didn't want people to use his first name. It felt too personal, like it was undermining my right to know his first name. I knew I was jealous, though. And I really tried to let it go.