Chapter 1:
“Wake up! It’s time to go!”
I heard my sister’s voice coming from somewhere near my doorway. I opened my eyes to find my sister standing there in a plain outfit. She was too much of an over-achiever to care how she looked. My looks are the only thing she’s not better at than me. Janie was always who my parents wanted my to be.
“Why can’t you be more involved at school like your sister?” My mom would always ask me.
I made good grades, but I wasn’t “involved” enough with school, according to my mother. Janie is on the Debate Team, Tennis eam, Swim Team, and just about ay other club or team that the school had. Me? I was in… nothing.
“Fine. Get out. I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I told her.
I got up and put on my favorite jeans and a v-neck t-shirt with skulls. I did my make-up, then slid on my converse. When I got downstairs, Janie was waiting with the car keys.
“hurry up! I still have to make a few stops before we head to school!” she said.
We stopped at the gas station first to get gas. She sent me inside to pay, and I decided to grab some snacks, since she so rudely did not let me eat this morning. I got to the chip aisle and bumped into a guy. He had the shaggy, skater/emo haircut -- blonde hair, by the way -- and a shirt with the words “Green Day” on it. One of my favorite bands.
“Excuse me,” I said.
He smiled and said, “No problem.”
I started to turn around when he said something else.
“I’m Justin, by the way.”
I took a good look at him. He looked pretty safe, at least 16. So, as safe as any 16-year-old boy is.
“Lake.”
He was still smiling, and had a new light in his eyes. I smiled, got the chips and drinks, paid for everything, then left him standing in the chip aisle.
“What took you so long? -” Janie started.
“Janie, I was only in there for 5 minutes. Besides, you’re still pumping gas. It’s not like you were sitting in the car waiting. Oh, and I got us some chips and drinks, since you insisted we leave so early this morning.” I said, cutting her off.
I got in the car and looked in the gas station window. Justin was looking out at the car. When he saw me looking, he waved. I had just put my hand up to wave back when Janie got back into the car.
“Who are you smiling at waving at?” she asked.
She followed my gaze, then whistled.
“Girl, he’s hot. Who is he?”
“His name is Justin. I accentually bumped into him, and he just smiled at me and told me his name. I wonder if he goes to our school…” I said, trailing off.
He goes to our school. We pulled up in the parking lot of Lincoln High, and I look over at the vehicle we pulled in next to, and guess who was there? The famous Justin, himself!
He must have known someone was looking at him, because he looked over at our car and laughed. I got out and leaned on the side of his truck. I motioned for him to roll down his window.
“Hey, are you following me? I just might have to report you for that.” I said, teasing him.
“Hey! How do you know you’re not the one following me? I was at the gas station first, and I was here first,” he said, returning my smile.
We laughed, and he got out of the truck. Janie looked at me pointedly, telling me to introduce her.
“Fine,” I answered. “Janie, this is Justin… What is your last name?” I asked him, realizing that I didn’t know.
“Rogerson. Justin Rogerson.”
“Okay, Janie, this is Justin Rogerson. Justin, this is my annoying sister, Janie.”
They said hello, then Justin started dragging me towards the big tree in front of the parking lot, leaving Janie leaning on the hood of her car. I looked at him questioningly, and he just smiled. When we got to the tree, he finally spoke.
“I just wanted to talk to you without your sister listening,” He explained.
“You know, you’re really starting to grow on me,” I said, laughing.
We sat and talked until the bell rang, and I knew Janie was about to catch up to me, wanting details. My assumptions were proven true when I heard her breathing hard behind me.
“You sound out of shape, Janie.”
“Oh, shut up. We can’t all be perfect like you,” she said bitterly.
“Hey, I was just playing. Chill.”
“Whatever. So, what’s with you and Justin? Eh?” she said, nudging me with her arm.
I just smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and kept walking.
I was on my bed, listening to the new Linkin Park CD, when my phone buzzed.
*BUZZ*
HEY WHATS UP?
WHO IS THIS? I sent back.
I put my phone sown and lay back on my bed. Justin was still on my mind from two weeks ago. We had almost every class together.
*BUZZ*
JUSTIN ROGERSON J REMEMBER ME?
I laughed when I read his message.
MAYBE. HAVE WE MET EBFORE? J
After I sent the message, I programmed his number into my phone. Janie came through my door, dancing like a maniac. I turned the music down -- not that she notices -- and sat there staring at her.
“Whoa, whoa. What’s in your pants, ants? Where did you learn to dance?” I asked her, just barely able to keep myself from laughing.
She glared at me before answering, “Why are you so sarcastic all the time?”
“Because it’s illegal to stab people. Now, what do you want?” I said.
“Why, whatever do you mean, sister?”
I rolled my eyes. “you never come in my room unless you want something. Now, what do you want?”
“Ugh, fine. Do you have twenty bucks I can use?”
“I thought you had a job.”
“I do…”
“But…”
“Well… I kind of already spent this week’s paycheck.”
“Really? On what-- never mind, I don’t want to know.”
“Whatever, anyway, can I borrow twenty bucks, or not?”
“No… To think: You asking me for money. HA!”
Janie stormed out of my room. I turned the music back up and checked my phone. 3 new messages.
Justin: I THINK SO… YES, WE HAVE, AT THE GAS STATION J
Me: HA, YES I REMEMBER YOU. WHAT’S UP? J
Justin: NUTTIN. CHILLIN. U?
Me: NUTHIN. LISTENIN 2 MUSIC.
Justin: WAT U LISTENIN 2?
Me: LINKIN PARK
Justin: AWESOME. DIDN’T KNOW U LISTEN 2 THEM
Me: YUP. WHAT DO U LISTEN 2?
Justin: LP/ TDG. BB. B4MV. U2. NB. U KNW STFF LKE THAT
Me: WAIT, WHAT BANDS?
Justin: HA. OK.: LINKIN PARK. THREE DAYS GRACE. BREAKING BENJAMIN. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE. U2. NICKELBACK. STFF LKE THAT.
Me: O OK. YEA ME 2.
Justin: HEY WAT’S UR IM?
Me: LAKE23
Justin: YAHOO?
Me: YUP. URS?
Justin: JUSTINATOR213
Me: YAHOO?
Justin: YUP
Me: K. I’LL BE ON IN 5
Justin: K TLK 2 U THEN
I closed my phone and turned on my laptop.
After I added him on IM, I sat there staring at the screen waiting for him to get on.
While I was waiting, my mind was in Janie. How would she have already spent her paycheck? Gas didn’t cost that much; she never went anywhere… I think…
I jumped when I got an IM.
Justinator: Hey :D
Lake: What u up 2?
Justinator: Nuttin. U?
Lake: U no, r we jus gonna go thru this evry time we tlk? Lol
Justinator: U kn, I think we will… or at least I’ll try 2 make sure we do jus 2 annoy u!
Lake: O, ur sooo sunny r’nt u?
Justinator: Wel.. I lke 2 think so. Lol
Lake: ha. Ha.
Justinator: o, come on, lighten up
Lake: I’ll try. But look, txt me k? I’m getting off.
I waited for him to reply, then shut the computer down. I laid in my bed texting him and reading until I fell asleep around 12.
I woke up when my books fell onto the floor. I checked my phone and had 4 new messages from Justin.
#1: U KNOW NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT… NO.
#2: U THERE?
#3: R U MAD AT ME?
#4: WELL FINE THEN! BE THAT WAY!
Well, that’s not good. I sent him back a message apologizing and explaining why I didn’t text back. I waited to see if he would answer, but he didn’t so I went back to sleep, figuring he’d text me back in the morning.