Living the Life by Elle Marie Calhoun (each kindness read aloud .txt) 📕

hair into a ponytail and began to walk down the stairs toward the door. Her parents had went out that night so no one was home except her older brother, Stephan, who was passed out on the couch. She locked the door then walked out. She got into Ryan’s car and he started to drive. “You look great.” Ryan says, looking away from the road for a moment. “Thanks.” Jodie says, smiling. Ryan had stopped at his house and changed into a navy button-down and jeans with navy sneakers. Jodie had thought he looked great and kept her thinking.

“Wow this place is amazing.” Jodie says, walking inside the club. “Yeah it really is.” Ryan grabs her hands and says, “C’mon, let’s go dance.” She lets him lead her to the floor and she starts to dance with him. The music was loud but strangely calming. It made Jodie just want to let go, she danced at heart’s end. She looks at Ryan, who is dancing quite near, smiles at her and she smiles back. “Are you having fun?” he says. “Most definitely.” The music changes then and Jodie hears the D.J. say, “Alright everyone let’s slow this party down.” Ryan and Jodie look at each other for a second and Ryan grabs her hand and pulls her close and they begin to dance. She lays her head against him as they dance.

“I had a great time, Derek. Thanks for the movie and the food. It was amazing.” Susan says, smiling as they stand in front of her front door. “It was no problem, I had a lot of fun too. So will I be seeing you again?” Derek says walking closer to her. “Well of course.” She says. She smiles and Derek kisses her on the cheek. “Goodnight Susan.” “Goodnight Derek.”

“Jodie?” Ryan says, still swaying along with Jodie. “Yes?” Jodie says, looking up to face him. He stares at her for a second, just looking into her eyes. They were a turquoise blue like her dress. The eyeliner around her eyes made her eyes look brighter and larger. He thought she was so beautiful. He leaned in then his lips found hers. He kissed her softly but full of passion. She moved her hand to rest on his neck and he began to cup her face. They lifted away and stared at each other once more.

A New Beginning

 Jodie lays on her bed thinking, about all that happened the day before. Going to the coffee house and meeting Ryan again, almost falling off a ladder, going through a crazy situation of speed dating that seemed completely insane, going to a club with an extremely cute guy and ended up kissing him. Right then, Amanda, Carley, and Alex come in. “Sorry, I came as fast I could. But then Carls and Alex wanted to come too. So here we are.” Amanda says walking toward a chair in the corner. Carley settles onto the futon where Alex has already planted herself. “Okay but I have a reason. For one, I work with the guy after all and I practically set them up. So of course I should come.” Carley says. “I just came to hear the details.” Alex says, a smile appearing on her face. “Okay for one, Ryan is my cousin that’s why I was going to talk to her. I know him better, I grew up with the guy after all.” “Okay listen, it wasn’t even a date. After we got done cleaning, he suggested we go do something and I agreed. It was as simple as that. I didn’t know he would kiss me. But well sure we may have had chemistry but, it was not a date.” “Sounds like a date to me.” Carley says looking at Jodie. “Alright so have you spoke to him since last night?” Amanda says, looking directly at Jodie. “Well yeah. He called me this morning.” Jodie says. “And what did he say?” “He said that he enjoyed last night and would like to see me again and I told him that I had a good time too and would really like to see him again also.” “Ooo we should double date.” Carley says, a grin forming across her face. Jodie just stares at her. “Look, I think you should see him again. I’m happy for you Jodie and Ryan is a good guy.” Amanda says. “So you went to a club? What was that like?” Alex asks. “It was fun, really fun.”

After the girls left, Jodie felt exhausted from explaining everything that happened that night. From the speed dating to the cleanup, to the club where we kissed. The wanted every detail Jodie had and she told everything she could. She thought about going on that double date with Carley and Matt as Carley suggested, but her and Ryan weren’t even official. For one, they hadn’t even seen each other since that night. Which means she needs to talk to him and probably simply just get to know him and not rush anything.

Derek’s date had actually gone quite well and he wants to see Susan again. Something about Susan just got him, the way she talked, the way she looked, just her personality made him feel great all over. He was pretty sure, she had a great time too, he could tell by the look on her face, the way she smiled. He just met her and yet he was already starting to fall for her. Something about her just kept him coming back, he just couldn’t figure it out.

Melanie Johnson had just downed her 3rd cup of coffee when a guy walked in that she had never met. He sat down next to her at the bar and spoke clearly, “One cup of coffee please, black.” Melanie looked at him slightly and looked into her empty coffee cup. The coffee did nothing for her, it simply went through her, keeping her sane, was about all it did. As the man behind the counter gave the guy his coffee, he spoke up, “More coffee?” “Yes please.” Melanie says as he started to pour more coffee into her cup. She grabbed to sugars and one creamer and poured them into her coffee and started to stir it. The guy beside her finally spoke up, “You must really love coffee.” He smiled at her and she grinned slightly. “Yeah well, this is my fourth cup.” “Goodness, and it looks like it hasn’t affected you at all. I’m Patrick, by the way.” “I’m Melanie, nice to meet you; and yeah it just seems to only keep me sane.” He laughed and it deemed contagious and she started to laugh too. He glanced at his watch and sighed. “I have to go, but it was really great to meet you and maybe I can see you again?” “I’d like that.” He grabbed a napkin and scrawled down a number and gave it to her. She took it and he spoke again, “Till then.” She smiled as he walked out and the man behind the counter spoke once again, “Well he seemed nice.” “Yes, yes he did.” 

“Amanda speaking.” Amanda says, answering a cell phone on the 3rd ring. “Amanda? It’s Adam, you know, your brother?” She heard a familiar voice say on the other line. “Adam? It’s been so long. How are you? When will you be back?” “Whoa calm down. I’m pretty good, I hope the family is too. It’s going to be another 2 years till I get back so don’t get anybody’s hopes up, okay?” “Okay; and yes we’re all good here. Mom and dad put up your photos though, I guess so they don’t have the reminder of you being gone. I really miss you Adam. And why did you call me and not the others?” “I miss you too, Amanda and like I said, I don’t want them getting their hopes up when I don’t exactly when I’ll be back and Mandi, you know you’ve always been my favorite sister.” “And you’ve always been my favorite brother. By the time you get back, I’ll be graduating from high school.” “I know and I’m definitely trying to shoot to be there then. You know I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Now Amanda, I have to go; but are you gonna keep my secret?” “Of course I am.” “Good. I’ll try to be in touch. I love you Mandi.” “I love you too, Adam.” And the line cut off.

Hearing from Adam had got Amanda in a sort of trance and she knew she couldn’t tell the rest of the family; she knew good and well how’d they’d act and she couldn’t do that to them. So you wouldn’t tell them he even called, she’d just keep quiet and act as nothing happened. She’s used to it by now, she’s hid enough secrets for her brother; the one she cared about the most. Amanda had never even told Jodie she had another brother, she didn’t want her to know. With Adam taking off at 18 and moving to England to attend school there and then never moved back; it was something they liked to keep to themselves. That’s why the pictures were put away of Adam, her parents didn’t want the reminder of him leaving. Amanda was the only one who knew why he truly left. Adam needed to get away and find himself, and being here wasn’t helping him be who he is. The shadow of what the family wanted him to be wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to go and find his own destiny without the influence of his family; and Amanda understood that. In fact, she was the only one who understood that, more than anyone; because she would do the same thing. So she kept his secret as she always did.

At Connor’s house, Jason and Connor sat on the couch with their controllers in their hands and their headsets around their heads playing Call of Duty: Black Opps. This is how a typical afternoon at the Brown household went. Jason and Connor playing video games till the wee hours of the morning in Connor's basement and not regretting a thing. They usually played with Derek as well, but lately they hadn’t been seeing very much. Jason figured it was because the girl Derek had met at the mall. They were happy about it at the time, but in all honesty; they missed their friend. The crazy one that always yelled at the game whenever he died, which would make Connor and Jason laugh hysterically at their friend’s defeat. Now, the game was still fun, as always but without someone to make jokes with, it wasn’t as fun. Connor finally ripped his headset off and paused the game. “What gives?” Jason questions Connor. “It’s just not the same without Derek. I think we need a new gaming buddy. With Matt with Carley now and Derek meeting this girl; our gaming hasn’t been as good.” Connor says. “You got a good point, but how are we supposed to find