The Other Side by Alison Garza (young adult books to read .TXT) 📕

is your friend jt?

JT:

this is Jake he moved down from up north he is an old family friend

TEACHER:

okay well I'm going to sit him next to you so you can help him catch up and abby lets move you to the back of the room so Jake can sit next to jt.

ABBY:

yes sir

class goes by well abby doesn't say a thing to jt. Jake ends up helping jt catch up since he was in all gate and honers classes at home.

ext. lunch room

Jake:

your school is so much bigger here

jt:

yeah i know what you mean

LAICEE:

hey jt why don't you bring your new friend over here to sit with us?

jt acts as if she didn't hear Laicee

LAICEE:

did you hear me jt bring your new friend over here.

JAKE:

this is how its going to be jt doesn't want to talk to you and neither do i all you are is a bunch of freaks so stay the hell away from me and jt.

jt:

thanks for defending me

Justin:

hey jt i was wondering if you would like to sit with us today

JT:

sure. do you mind if Jake sits with us?

JUSTIN:

no not at all

JAKE:

so how do you know jt?

JUSTIN:

oh shes in a few of my classes i would like to think that we are friends.

JT:

don't worry your my friend plus you are like the only person involved with Laicee and her group.

JUSTIN:

yeah whats up with them, they are so weird i mean one day all of them showed up wearing the same thing with the exact same hair cut.

JT:

they just have problems and i don't want to be part of that.

int. JT's house mid January.

Jake and jt go through school with out any problems, and they get home laughing and talking about school. when they arrive home JT's mother is passed out on the couch.

JT:

mom?

JAKE:

i think she over dosed quick call 911 we need to get her to a hospital.

jt runs to the phone and calls the ambulance arrives and takes her mother to the hospital.

JT:

mom are you alright?

MOM:

what happened?

JT:

you drank too much and then took pills you almost died!

MOM:

i don't remember drinking very much are you sure i didn't just pass out

JT:

yeah, so now your going to go to rehab and this time your coming out clean.

JAKE:

don't worry ill take care of jt while you are away i wont let anything happen to her.

they leave JT's mother there and return home

JT:

do you think she will ever clean up?

JAKE:

yeah i do but lets not worry about her right now you need to focus on your school work.

they start to do work and the time passes quickly JT realizes how nice it is to have a friend like Jake.

JT:

hey Jake?

JAKE:

yeah?

JT:

why are you such a great friend to me?

JAKE:

because i love you, your like a sister to me.

JT:

nothing more than a sister right?

JAKE:

yeah that's it unless you want something more?

JT:

no i like the way we are now.

JAKE:

that's cool so do i, so how about that Justin kid, he seems really nice.

JT:

i honestly don't know much about him he is in my classes and Ive said a few words to him but Ive never even given him a chance

JAKE:

he seems like a good guy maybe you should ask him over sometime?

JT:

that sounds like a good idea.

jt goes over to the phone and decides to give Justin a chance.

JT:

hello is Justin there?

JUSTIN:

hey jt whats up?

JT:

i was wondering if you would like to come over some time to chill out with Jake and i.

JUSTIN:

that sounds cool i was thinking about having a little get together with some friends this weekend would you like to come?

JT:

yeah that seems cool there's not going to be any alcohol there right?

JUSTIN:

no i know how you don't do that stuff and Ive never even touched anything before.

JT:

cool tell me what time and where and ill mark my calendar.

JUSTIN:

this Friday night at my place come around seven.

JT:

cool ill see you then.

JAKE:

see that wasn't very hard all you need is a bit of practice and you'll learn how to socialize in no time.

JT:

i just feel like i don't want to get involved with people so soon.

JAKE:

i know what you mean but making new friends is the first step of recovery.

JT:

yeah i know.

jt goes to the party has fun and the month flies by she dates Justin for a short time but decides that its not right soon its march and her mother is finally coming home after a month and a half of strict rehab.

int. JT's house march.

JT:

welcome home mom

MOM:

thanks jt it looks like you've been doing good on your own

JT:

well Jake has helped out a lot.

MOM:

that's good i need sleep so I'm going to move into the master bedroom.

JT

okay mom also i had all the pills and alcohol removed while you were gone so no temptations are here

MOM:

thanks.

mom goes and lays down Jake and JT go into their room.

JT:

hey Jake thanks for staying with me all of this time.

JAKE:

it was no problem i enjoy spending time with you always have always will.

JT:

i have a question, its kinda serious so no laughing okay?

JAKE:

just ask what ever you want JT you know i never laugh at your questions.

JT:

if we are such good friends why don't you ever date anyone i mean I'm not the world you could at least date someone while you are here

JAKE:

i could but i don't want to, its personal.

JT:

since when are things "personal" between us?

JAKE:

since you asked that question, i have an answer and maybe ill tell you why.

JT:

okay Jake i believe you.

they leave drop the subject and go to bed that night it rains and a storm starts

jt:

(whispering)

hey Jake you awake?

Jake:

(half asleep still)

yeah jt what do you need?

JT:

I'm scared i don't like this weather the lightning scares me.

Jake gets out of his bed and goes to lay with jt in her bed it barely fits the both of them.

JAKE:

its okay jt I'm right here I'm not going anywhere.

JT:

promise?

JAKE:

of course i promise ill stay here with you until the storm ends okay

JT:

(sleepy)

okaayy

Jake holds jt in his arms and watches her sleep he caresses her face wishing that she was his. he quickly falls asleep next to her with his face in her hair and his arms around her waist.

MOM:

Jake, jt its time to get up! what do you thing you two are doing?

JAKE:

what are you talking about?

MOM:

i see now you get me out of the house so you two can hook up while I'm gone! i will not tolerate this in my house! Jake i want you packed and moved out by tonight!

JT:

mom! nothing happened i was scared last night so he came and helped me sleep.

MOM:

that's crap i didn't even hear a storm last night!

JT:

you have to be kidding! the first night you get back you start drugs again! your pathetic mom!

MOM:

you don't know what its like!

JT:

yeah i do because i quit and i didn't even need to go to some fancy rehab i just quit cold turkey. all you are is a failure and that's all you'll ever be.

JAKE:

your moms right jt i need to go i shouldn't put you through this you need your mother more than you need me ill be gone by tonight.

JT:

no Jake don't leave please.

JAKE:

i have to. you need to fix this, not me.

Jake goes and packs his things while jt sits on the couch and cries she curses her mother and throws a bottle at her.

JAKE:

well this is goodbye jt i don't know when ill be back i think distance might be good for us anyways.

JT:

I'm going to miss you

not being able to bear seeing jt in pain Jake walks out and gets into his car driving back home

JT:

this is all your fault i just lost my one and only friend because of you.

she runs out of the house and goes to the school hoping that she can find someone to talk to. she no longer cares about anything. she gets to the school and forgets that its Monday. she shes a kid working at the school store.

ext. school store

KID:

hey jt want something to drink?

JT:

no I'm just here to chill for a bit.

KID:

okay well do you need a job? we are a little short staffed and the owners wanted to hire someone.

JT:

well i do need a job, hows the pay

KID:

its pretty good its minimum wage. but it looks good for future jobs

JT:

well how do i apply?

KID:

consider yourself hired just show up in the morning before school starts about seven to work. did i mention the people who opened up the campus store are my parents?

JT:

haha no but i bet that helps with getting jobs ill make sure to be here right on time

jt leaves and goes home in a good mood.

MOM:

did you get anything while you were out?

JT:

yeah i got something you never can have: a job. see you later I'm going to bed i have WORK in the morning.

jt goes to bed and wakes up early in the morning, she showers and looks nice.

JT:

hi I'm the new girl, I'm supposed to start work today.

OWNER

that's right, my son told me about you.

she takes JT into the back room and shows her where the supplies are, the room is very clean and tidy with everything labeled where its supposed to go.

jt gets fired and gets back on drugs

montage JT works hard and is supporting herself as she works in the shop