A Teen's World by Joanna Johnson (knowledgeable books to read TXT) 📕

“They’d make a nice couple you know,” Jaden said as Sarah and I were about to branch off into a conversation about shoes.

“Who? Matt and Isabelle?” I asked, incredulous.

“Yeah, them,” he replied.

I looked back at them before I answered him. “I guess so if Izzy would take a second to stop pining over Liam and Matt actually liked her.”

“How do you know he doesn’t?” Sarah asked.

“I don’t but he would tell me if he did right? I mean, I’m his best friend,” I said as I considered this. Considering the fact that he didn’t even tell me about his crush, I was beginning to doubt my answer.

“Maybe, maybe not. This is me, catch you girls later,” Jaden said as he hopped into his Mercedes and pulled out of the lot.

“This is me,” I said to Sarah. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Later Jaime,” she said as she walked over to her minivan.

I pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the Computer Store to get my laptop. I got there at three pm and as I made my way into the store, I saw Luc, the handsome Italian guy repairing my laptop.

“Is she fixed?” I asked him as I stepped into the store behind him.

“Yeah, she’s as good as new,” he replied as he went to fetch my purple laptop.

“Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

“Fifty bucks.” I grabbed a fifty from my purse and paid him.

“Uh, Jaime?” he said uncertainly.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Would you like to go out sometime? Like maybe later?” he asked as he placed my laptop in a bag. He was asking me out? Like, totally freaking out in my mind right now. I mean I liked Micah, but it’s not like we were officially dating or anything and besides, Luc was a nice guy.

“Um, sure, later sounds great!” I replied a little too enthusiastic. He laughed as he grabbed a pen and a paper.

“Give me your cell number and address and I’ll pick you up later,” he said as he handed me the paper and the pen. I quickly scribbled down my info and handed him back the paper. I grabbed my laptop bag and left the store with a big smile on my face.

I got home at four and found my mom was sitting in the kitchen.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked. My mom was nurse at the Corkville Private Hospital and she was almost never home.

“My day-off remember?” she said as she flipped through a magazine.

“Oh yeah,” I said a little embarrassed. I never forgot my mom’s days-off because it was the only time I got to spend with her ever since I moved to Corkville.

“I’m cooking your favourite for dinner tonight,” she said as she skipped another page in the magazine.

“Oh mom, but I have a date tonight,” I said as I placed my bag at my feet.

“With who?” she asked as she nodded at something on the page she was reading.

I smiled at her. “Luc. He’s the guy that fixed my computer.”

“So what about that Micah guy you keep talking about?” she asked as she looked over at me.

“Honestly, I really don’t think I talk about Micah that much. And he’s still there but Luc asked me out,” I said on a shrug.

“You do talk about him a lot Jaime sweetheart. I wish you would stay and spend some time with us but a date’s a date. Have fun,” she said as she returned to her magazine.

I pursed my lips at how disappointed she sounded. I hated when she used that tone. “Thanks Mom. I’ll get back early tonight so that we can hang out.”

She smiled and nodded before she got up from the table and headed to her room. I picked up my bag and went to my room to change out of my clothes and visit my neglected facebook and twitter account. As I placed my bag on my bedroom floor, my phone buzzed and I took it out to see a new message from an unknown number.

Displaying 1/4

From: Unknown

Received 5/8

04:30 pm

Hey, it’s Luc.  Pick u up at seven.

_________________________________

I smiled and placed my phone back into my pocket. I had half an hour to check my profiles and three hours to prepare for my first date since Isaac. Isaac’s my ex-boyfriend. He used to attend McMillan but his parents sent him to a private school in Toronto because he was ‘acting’ out. He was a nice guy at first, but then he got into a rebellious phase that consisted of him constantly wearing biker clothes, piercing his ears and his eyebrow, getting tattoos and speaking to me and his parents like we were his groupies. I honestly had enough of the phase and I broke up with him. He was beginning to annoy me. I mean, seriously, which guy pierces their eyebrow? Ugh. Plus treating your girlfriend like she was your groupie? A definite no-no.

When I finally checked the clock on my laptop, I found that I had wasted over two hours online and now it was six-thirty and I hadn’t even had a shower. I quickly bid all my friends online farewell, shut down my laptop and hurried into the bathroom. It was time for Operation Buckle. This operation was only carried out when I was late for a date. It consisted of a quick shower, using my scented lotion instead of the regular one so I wouldn’t have to waste time using perfume, grabbing one of my emergency prepared outfits from the back of my closet and doing the Buckle hairdo and make-up. That meant a loose bun at the top my head with a few tendrils loose around my face plus a little mascara, some eyeliner and lip gloss. By the time I had finished getting ready, I heard a car horn in the street. I grabbed my purse and dashed downstairs, shouting my goodbye as I breezed through the door. Luc had picked me up in his Honda and we went to a drive-in at Corkville’s Museum car park.

“What movie are they showing?” I asked as we headed to the concession stand to get popcorn and sodas.

“They’re showing Beaches,” he said.

“Oh, that’s awesome. I love that movie!” I said as I grabbed the popcorn.

“Me too,” he smiled. We headed back to his car and as I was about to take my seat inside, he stopped me.

“I have a blanket. We could sit upfront instead,” he said as he retrieved the blanket from the backseat. I smiled inwardly as I told him that would be okay. We sat at the front near the big screen and as the movie began, we quieted down and stared fixedly at the screen. Halfway into the movie, he had moved to sit closer beside me and was just a breath away from bumping shoulders with me. I smiled as I continued to stare at the screen. He was pretty smooth. By the end of the movie, he had his hand draped around my shoulders.

“Had a good time?” He asked as we pulled away, got up and folded the blanket.

“Great time, you?” I asked as I disposed of the empty containers and we headed back to his car.

“Great. What kind of movies do you like?” He asked as we got in and buckled up.

“Acton, romance, adventure and anything that has to do with animals,” I said.

He chuckled as he pulled out of the car park. “No horror?”

“Ugh, no. They are too predictable these days. The old time horror movies were so much better and more realistic,” I replied.

“That is true but when you think about it, we could actually have horror movies which aren’t clichéd. If the movie directors had the good sense to watch old time horror movies to get some good ideas and get people who can act properly, we could have good horror films,” he said as we stopped at a stoplight.

I nodded my agreement with him He was a smart one. “Plus, we have much more technology that they did back then, which means our horror movies could be much more advanced than theirs, if they actually made sense, that is.”

He laughed at my comment as we pulled up in front of my house. “I like you; you’re nice to talk to.”

“So are you Luc. Thanks for a great time,” I said as I opened my door and got out.

“What’s your messenger name?” He asked as he leaned over my now vacated seat to look up at me.

“CallMeJaime, no space between it,” I replied.

“Alright CallMeJaime, talk to you later,” He said as he started the engine. I watched as he drove down the road and out of sight. I could definitely get used to hanging with him.

Chapter Six

“Having no family is like having cereal without milk. Not cool.”-Matt

I entered the house and found my family in the living room watching a family comedy. As I stood watching them, I felt as if I was the black sheep in the family. As if I didn’t belong with them. I was the only one always missing dinners, family time and these simple moments. Tyler turned and saw me standing at the door and nudged Mom.

“Hey sweetie. Joining us?” She asked without turning around.

“Maybe later,” I replied as tears welled up in my eyes. I turned and ran up the stairs and shut my bedroom door. I booted up my computer and sat staring at the screen. A picture of my family and I at our picnic in Yorkshire with my grandparents was currently my screensaver. I sat staring at the screen for five minutes before I realised a new chat had popped up. I clicked on it.

Accept chat request from blukeyLuc?

I clicked accept and our chat opened up.

blukeyLuc: Hey

CallMeJaime: Hey blukeyLuc. :p

blukeyLuc: Don’t mind the name. I did it to make my baby sister happy and it kinda grew on me.

CallMeJaime: Aww, that’s nice. 

blukeyLuc: Thanks. How r u?

CallMeJaime: A bit sad but I’ll get over it.

blukeyLuc: What’s wrong? Want to talk about it?

CallMeJaime: Family stuff. I just feel left out.

blukeyLuc: How come?

CallMeJaime: Idk. I guess itz probably becuz I never spend time with them.

blukeyLuc: How come?

CallMeJaime: Cuz I’m always out with my friends or I have homework to do.

blukeyLuc: That sucks. You should spend more time with them Jaime. They could disappear in the blink of an eye.

I sighed as I reread his message. He was telling the truth. My family was more important than my friends. My friends were my family too but at the end of the day, my real family will always be there. It was their job to love me unconditionally and no matter the circumstance.

CallMeJaime: True. Thanx Luc.

blukeyLuc: No prob.  Night.

CallMeJaime: Night.

blukeyLuc has signed out.

I shut down my laptop and crawled into bed. I would make it up to my family sooner or later. I already had made plans with my friends this week. By Sunday night, I was exhausted. I had spent every waking hour either on my laptop, on my phone with Luc, or with my friends. I had only seen my mom once since Tuesday, dad always came home tired and my siblings were constantly at war with me. The only good thing that came out of my free time was my date with Micah. Well I wouldn’t consider it a date really seeing that he kept bringing up his buddies from his old school while we watched the movie and when he finally dropped me off, he didn’t even kiss me goodnight. He only said he had a good time and gave me a hug. I mean, a hug? Ugh. It was bad enough that I was starting to like Luc more than I did Micah but he wasn’t exactly making his side a good one. I finally managed to pack my bag for school and chose my outfits for the week before I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Monday at McMillan High. Ugh. I was beginning to dislike Mondays ever since my