HOW IT BEGAN by Tina Garcia (bts books to read .TXT) 📕

GINA'S POV

MY NAME IS GINA AND I AM FROM MCALLEN, TEXAS. I AM CURRENTLY EIGHTEEN AND MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DRAMA THAT IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE AT THE MOMENT. I GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND NEXT YEAR HOPING I GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO UT AUSTIN. I'VE HEARD THEY HAVE A GREAT POWERLIFTING PROGRAM. SO I AM ATTENDING WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND MY APARTMENT IS ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY. MY AFTER PRATICE AND SUMMER JOB IN THE MINI MARKETS WHILE I GO IN AT EIGHT PM AND GET OUT AROUND ONE AM. I GET TO SLEEP AT ONE THIRTY AND SLEEP ABOUT SIX HOURS. MY PARENTS SENT ME HERE BECAUSE MY BEST FRIEND IS DIEING BECAUSE HE HAS CANCER. I MOVED TO HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO WORK HERE AND MAKE MONEY. MY BEST FRIEND'S NAME IS GORGE AND HE WAS THE CLOSES PERSON THAT I TOLD ALMOST EVERYTHING TOO. AT THE MOMENT WE ARE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS AT THE BEACH BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAS VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT. I AM WITH MY BESTFRIEND AND BOYFRIEND, SAM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

FLASHBACK

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HALL WHEN I REMEMBERED I HAD JUST GOTTEN A LETTER MY BEST FRIEND. MY MOM KEPT CALLING ME BUT I RATHER READ THE LETTER. OUT OF NO WHERE I SEE THIS GUY FROM UT AUSTIN TRYING TO GET HIGH SCHOOLERS TO GO TO HIS COLLEGE. I WALKED UP TO HIS TABLE AND ASKED SO HOWS YALLS POWERLIFTING PROGRAM?? HE SMILED AND SAID, "MOST OF OUR ATHLETES GO TO THE OLIMPICS." I SMILED AND SAID, "THATS GOT ME INTREGED." HE SMILED AND SAID, "ARE YOU NEW I DONT REMEMBER YOU FROM LAST YEAR???" I SMILED AND NODDED WHILE SAYING, "WELL YES I AM. I'M FROM DOWN SOUTH. I GOT MOVED MY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF POWERLIFTING. MY NAME IS GINA GARCIA AND HOPING TO GOT TO A GREAT COLLEGE WITH AN AMAZING POWERLIFTING PROGRAM." I SAW THE COACH HAVE WIDE EYES. AND SAID, "GINA AS IN GONZO AND RODS POWERLIFTER." I SMILED AND NODDED. I LOOKED AT THE FOOTBALL PLAYER AND SAID, "WHAT YOUR NAME?" "SAM.... SAM EHLINGER." I SHOCK HIS HAND AND SAID, "I'LL SEE YOU LATER SAM." I SAID. WALKING AWAY AND THEN WENT TO MY LOCKER WHICH I HAD A GOOD VIEW OF SAM. I PUT MY BAG IN MY LOCKER AND GOT THE LETTER AND OPENED IT.

LETTER

GINA,

I LOVE YOU AND BY THE TIME YOUR GETTING HIS I WILL BE LONG GONE. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. YOU CHANGED MY LIFE AND MADE MY LIFE SINCE THE DAY YOU WALKED INTO IT. NOW YOU ARE IN AUTIN AND ARE A SENIOR. IK I PROMISED TO GO TO YOU PROM AS YOUR DATE BUT I AM GONE NOW. WE HAD MY PROM TOGETHER AND WE HAD AN AMAZING TIME. I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE AND FIND SOMEONE WHO TRULY LOVES YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. DONT WORRY ABOUT ME BECAUSE ILL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN HEAVEN.

GORGE

END OF LETTER

I JUST REMEMBER TEARS IN MY EYES. I WAS LOOKING AT MY PHONE AND SAW HIS PICTURE WITH ME. I CALLED AND CALLED HIS PHONE OVER AND OVER. I COULDNT BREATHE AND HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE. OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO DO. I RAN FOR THE DOOR BUT I ACCEDENTALLY BUMPED INTO SAM. HE SMILED BUT IT DROPPED WHEN HE SAW MY TEARS. HE LOOKED AT HIS COACH AND SAID, "AIRHEART, DO YOU MIND IF I DRIVE GINA HOME." AIRHEART JUST NODDED TOWARDS THE DOOR. SAM WRAPPED HIS ARM AROUND ME AND WALKED ME TO HIS TRUCK. I SMILED AT HIM AND SAID, "YOU DONT HAVE TO I JUST LIVE LIKE TWO BLOCKS." HE SMILED AND SAID, "I WANT TO." I NODDED AND SAID, "IT'S IN THE APARTMENTS THERE." HE SMILED AND SAID, "ARE YOU OKAY." I SMILED AND STARTED TO EXPLAIN THE LETTER AND THE REASON I WAS HERE AND EVERYTHING. WE GOT TO MY APARTMENT IN LIKE TWO OR THREE MINS. HE SMILED AND TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND WALKED TO MY DOOR. I SMILED AND SAID, "HEY ITS FRIDAY. WANT TO SLEEP OVER. I DONT WANT TO BE ALONE." HE SMILED AND NODDED. I LOOKED INTO HIS BLUE EYES AND SMILED. I LOOKED BACK AT THE DOOR AND UNLOCKED IT. I LOOKED AT THE WALL OF PICTURES AND LOOKED AWAY. THEY WERE PICTURES OF GORGE AND ME. I TURNED TO LOOK AT SAM SMILED AND SAIDED, "YOU WANT TAKE OUT?" I LOOKED AT THE MENU AND THEN LOOKED UP ON SAM STARING AT ME. I HEARD MY PHONE RING AND I LOOKED AT THE CONTACT AND IT READ GORGE. I ANSWER WITH OUT THINKING.

PHONE CALL

"OMG YOU IDIOT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD. I MISSED YOU AND YOU WOULDN'T ANSWER." -GINA

"YEAH. IM NOT DEAD YET BUT IM AT THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE LESS THEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS LEFT." -GORGE

"ILL BE THERE BY MORNING OKAY." -GINA

"OKAY BE SAFE." -GORGE

"OKAY," I LOOKED AT SAM AND WHISPERED, "DO YOU WANT TO COME WITH ME." HE SMILED AND NODDED. THEN HE PECKED MY LIPS. -GINA

"WHO ARE YOU WHISPERING TO??" -GORGE

"MY BOYFRIEND, SAM, HES COMING WITH ME TO MCALLEN." -GINA

"OMG YOU FINILLY HAVE A GOOD GUY." -GORGE

"OKAY WE ARE GOING TO PACK FOR THE WEEKEND OKAY ILL SEE YOU SOON. BYE." -GINA

END OF CALL

I LOOKED AT SAM AND SAID, "I HAVNT HAD A BOYFRIEND SINCE SOPHMORER YEAR BECAUSE HE CHEATED ON ME. ANYWAYS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE HIS LAST MEMORIES GOOD AND HAPPY FOR ME." HE SMILED AND NODDED BUT THEN SAID, "BUT LIKE FOR REALS DO YOU WANT TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND." I LOOKED INTO HIS BLUE EYES AND MOUTHED YES. WE GOT MY THINGS AND I PLACED THEN IN THE BACKSEAT. WE DROVE TO HIS HOUSE AND HIS MOM HAD CAME OVER AND I SAID, "NOT EVEN A FEW MINS. WOW YOUR MOM REALLY WANTS TO MEET ME. HUH." I JOKED. HE SAID, "I DID CHANGE MY REALTIONSHIP STADES ONE YOU SAID YES." HE LAUGHTED. I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "SO DID I." WE LOOKED INTO EACH OTHERS EYES AND I SAID, "WHO THAT GIRL WITH YOUR MOM THO?" HE LOOKED CONFUZED AND SAID, "THATS MY EX, BUT I DONT KNOW WHY SHE'S HERE AND WITH MY MOM." ONCE HE GOT OFF THE CAR A GIRL CAME HUGGING HIS AND I LOOKED AT HIM TO SEE IF HE WAS GOING TO HUG HER BACK. HE PUSHED HER AWAY AND SHE SAID, "WHATS WRONG. I SAW YOUR POST AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF GETTING BACK TOGETHER." I LOOKED AT HIM AND SMILE AND HE SMILED BACK. SHE LOOKED TO WHAT OR WHO HE WAS STARTING AT AND SHE YELLED, "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STARTING AT MY MAN!" I LAUGHED AND SAID, "NO I LOOKING AT MY MAN. SAMMY WHAT YOU DOING?" HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "CHANGING MY STADES TO 'IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU'." I SMILED, "AWW YOU EVEN TAGGED ME. LOVE YOU BABE." HE WALKED OVER TO ME AND KISSED ME. I KISSED BACK. THE BITCHY ASS GIRL WAS STARTING AT ME WITH DAGGERS. I SMILED AND HIS MOM SAW SAMMY AND ME HOLDING HANDS. THEN HE PLACED HIS HAND ON MY WAIST AND LEAD ME IN HIS HOUSE FOR ME TO MEET HIS ROOMATES AND FAMILY. I LOOK AT HIM AND SAID, "SAMMY WHOS YOUR FAVORITE NFL TEAM?" HE SMILED AND RESPONDED, "HONESTLY I DONT HAVE ONE. BUT WHATS YOURS?" I SMILED AND SAID, "I'M A PATRIOTS GIRL ALL THE WAY, BABE." HE SMILED AND THEN I TURN TO SEE ALL EYES ON ME. I GOT SCARED BECAUSE THOSE GUYS WERE HUGE. SHIT HOWS THE WEATHER UP THERE BRO. I HIDE BEHIND SAMMY. HE SMILED AND SAID, "WHAT YOU HAVENT SEEN A SIX FOOT PERSON BEFORE BABY?" I NODDED NO. HE LAUGHED AND I SMACKED HIM ON THE ARM. HE SAW THAT EVERYONE WAS STARTING AT ME AND SAID, "YOU MUST BE GINA." I NODDED AND SMILED. I WALKED OVER TO EVERYONE AND SHOCK THERE HANDS AND TO WOMEN I GAVE THEM A HUG AND KISS ON THE CHEEK. ONCE I WAS DONT THEY ALL LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "I NEVER MET A YOUNG LADY THAT DOES THAT THIS DAYS." I SMILED AND SAID, "MY PARENTS RESTED ME TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU RESPECT BACK. AND BESIDES ITS POLITE TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL SEE THAT PERSON." I LOOK TO THE GROUND AND FELT WARM TEARS TRYING TO ESCAPE MY EYES. I LOOKED AT SAMMY AND SAID, "I WAIT HERE FOR YOU TO PACK." SAMMY RAN UPSTARTS TO HIS ROOM AND SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. HIS BESTFRIEND LOOKED AT ME WITH A 'I CANT BELIEVE YOU' FACE. HE SAID, "WOW GREAT START. YOU ARE MAKING HIM SKIPPING PRACTICE. ARE YOU ONE OF THESE WHORES THAT JUST WANT TO SEE HIM FAIL." I BURSTED INTO TEARS AND WITH THAT I HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. I RAN TO THE TRUCK AND GRABBED MY THINGS AND RAN DOWN THE SIDEWALK MAKING MY WAY HOME.

SAM'S POV

I WAS PACKING WHEN MY TRUCK ALARM GOES OFF. I RAN DOWN STARTS WITH MY BAGS AND SAW GINA WAS GONE. I SAW MY BESTFRIEND AND MY PARENTS LOOKING ARE ME WORRIED. THEN MY BESTFRIEND SPOKE, "SHE AINT WORTH IT MAN. COME ON LETS GO OUT TONIGHT." I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO IVAN!!!" HE SMILED AND SAID, "I DID YOU A FAVOR FOR GETTING RID OF THAT WHORE." I WAS MAD BECAUSE HE CALL HER A WHORE. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON. JUST STAY OUT OF MY LOVE LIFE DUDE." IVAN LOOKED AT HIM, "BRO SHE WAS JUST IN IT TO MAKE YOU FAIL." I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I WAS GETTING AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND. BECAUSE HER BESTFRIEND IS DIEING AND HAS LESS THEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. SHE WANTS TO BE THERE FOR HIM AND MAKE HIS DREAMS COME TRUE. GOD IVAN YOU SCREW EVERYTHING UP. SHE WAS DIFFERENT SHE MAKES ME FEEL WHOLE. SHE HAS A SCHOLARSHIP TO UT AUSTIN AND HAS HER OWN APARTMENT AND A JOB AND SHE NOT LIKE US THAT HAVE FAMILY EVERYWHERE. SHE LEFT HER HOMETOWN TO GET AWAY FROM SHIT LIKE THIS. NOW SHE'S NEVER GOING TO TALK TO ME. I NEED TO GO FIND HER." I WALKED OUT PISSED AND SAID, "I JUST HOPE I FIND HER IN TIME FOR HER TO SEE GORGE," I SAID WALKING OUT THE DOOR WAY.

IVAN'S POV

HE WALKED OUT PISSED AND SAID, "I JUST HOPE I FIND HER IN TIME FOR HER TO SEE GORGE.." HE WAS MAD I CAN TELL BY HIS VOICE AS HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR. I WAS WRONG I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THOSE THINGS. I LOOK OVER AT SAM'S PARENTS AND THEY HAD A SAD FACE. I RAN TO MY GYM BAG AND SAW I HAD TWO SHORTS AND TWO SHIRTS WHILE I WAS THINKING SAM HAS NEVER YELLED THIS MUCH AT SOME EVEN US. I NEED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. I RAN OUT TO SEE SAM ABOUT TO TAKE OFF. HE STOPPED WHEN HE SAW ME. "I'M SORRY, AND I KNOW YOU ARE MAD BUT I'M GOING WITH YOU. I ALREADY TEXTED COACH AND HE AGREED." SAM NODDED TO THE BACKSEAT.

GINA'S POV

I WAS WALKING UNTIL I SAW A WERID TRUCK. I KNOW IT WASN'T SAMMY BUT I HOPED IT WAS. THE TRUCK PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF ME AND ALL THE WINDOWS WERE TINTED. I LOOKED AROUND HOPING I SAW AN OTHER TRUCK OR CAR. JUST MY LUCK THE