A New Life

Chapter 1
A New Life

Hi, my name is Bailey Hadlin, I’m sixteen and in tenth grade (Well technically eleventh because tenth grade just ended.) I have wavy brown hair and blue eyes. I’m an only child, my parents are wealthy business people (CEOs of something), and I live in Connecticut. I love my life just as it is, I have a serious boyfriend, (Jake and I have been a couple for three years.) and lots of friends (my closest friends being Maya, Grace and Lara.). I am popular, I’m the girl that every one wants to be, and I love it.

It’s eleven thirty on a Saturday night and I’m trying to fit my entire life into a few boxes. My mother and father told me last month that we were moving but I’ve only now (two days before we leave) started to pack my things. School let out yesterday and I’ve been packing since I got home. I want to call Grace so I can whine about packing and moving to California, but I force myself focus on the task at hand, which would be shoving fifty-eight books into one box. I almost start to cry when I hear the box rip.
“Shit!” I hear myself say before I can stop myself. Then I hear my mother’s foot steps out side my bedroom. Shit. My mother hates it when I swear and now I’ve woken her up swearing.
“Bailey, did you just swear? Because you know I don’t like it when you swear.” Mom calls through my door. “I really hope I didn’t just hear you say the S word.”
“No mom I said shoot. Do you have any more boxes or some duck tape? One of my boxes ripped.” I call back
“Now why on earth would I have duck tape? Do you think I carry it in my back pocket? No I don’t have any duck tape! We’ll get you a new box tomorrow, go to bed.”
I wanted to get this done tonight because of a good-bye party my friends are throwing for me tomorrow I won’t have time to pack my things, but I don’t have time to argue either. I press my ear to my door and listen to her footsteps, waiting till they completely disappear into the master bedroom. Finally I can’t hear any more steps I pull back from the door afraid that if I’m too loud she will come back. As I go back to packing I’m startled be a soft bing. It’s my cell phone, I have a text from Jake:
Y r u still up??
(Jake live across the street so we can see each other’s windows from our rooms) I go to my window and sure enough Jake is at his looking over at me. I text him back at once:
Me: Packing. y r U still up?
Jake: Can’t sleep knowing we only have two days left 
Me: Please don’t remind me! i don’t want to leave! 
Jake: Luv u <3
Me: Luv u 2 <3
I know it’s cheesy that we text each other luv u, but we have done that every night since Jake got his cell phone. (I’ve had one since I was eight.)

I wake up at nine on Sunday not quite sure how I got into bed the night before. The last thing I remember is texting Jake Luv u 2. I look around my room wondering why all my things are in boxes, then it hits me like a ton of bricks, we’re leaving tomorrow. I get up, brush my hair, and head down stairs for breakfast. When I get down stairs I see that Jane our housekeeper is already doing laundry. We talk awkwardly while I eat my yogurt, she’ll be out of a job tomorrow so this must be hard for her.
After breakfast I head back up to my room to get dressed. What to wear? What to wear? I keep thinking as I dig through my boxes of clothes, finally I settle on a black mini skirt, a white tank top, and a pair of glittery flip-flops. Next I pick up my cell and call Lara, she picks up on the first ring.
“Lara here.” I hear her say and tear come to my eyes. I can’t leave her! I can’t
“I don’t know why we have to move any way! I mean why did mom have to take the raise? We have plenty of money!” I can’t stop now it’s all poring out.
“Is that what your going to do cry? You don’t cry! We don’t cry! We are strong, you are strong! So this is what’s going to happen, your going to move to California, we’re all going email each other every week, ok?” Sometimes Lara seems more like my mom then my actual mom.
“Your right. Do you promise you’ll email me every week?” I ask in a small voice.
“Now why wouldn’t I email you, your like a sister to me!” She pauses, “look I have to go, you know to set up for your party. Bye we’ll talk later”
“Ok but just one thing, you hate your sisters.” I say back and I can’t help but smile. Lara has two sisters Elvira and Jade. They’re always at each others throats, mostly because they share a bedroom and they were always fighting over space
“Whatever. Now I have to go.”
“Ok I’ll see you later”

After I hang up I go back to packing. Mom’s brought me another box and has taken the ripped one to Jane to get rid of. After packing for an hour I look at the clock I have and hour and a half till the party. That should be enough time to get ready. I grab a light pink, tank top, a white button up, gray mini, and my glittery flip-flops, then head to the bathroom for a shower. Once I’m out of the shower and get dressed, I go to my room and sit down at my make up table. First I grab my eye liner, then my eye shadow, and blush, and mascara. (Making sure that it’s all waterproof). Finally I’ve finished putting on my make up and I’m ready to go to the party, I look at my clock and see I’ve still got twenty minutes and the party’s at Jake’s. I mean it’s not going to take me twenty minutes to walk across the street! I look out my window gazing at Jake’s house. I’m going to miss looking out my window at him in his window and calling him just to ask him dumb questions. Suddenly I feel tear pricking my eyes again. This is exactly why I wore waterproof! I cry too easily! I don’t want to cry, I want to be strong. Looking around, I desperately try to find something to take my mind of this pain. A book! Yes, I love to read! That’s what I’ll do to take my mind off things! I grab the book out of the box it’s in, and quickly read the title “Grace”. I don’t recognize this, dad must have gotten it for me. I open it and start to read. A few minutes later I hear a sharp rapping on my door.
“Come in!” I yell just a little too loud
“Oh no! She’s reading!” My father’s head pops through the door. His fluffy white hair is in disarray. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his hair that messy “Your friends are here, they want to know if your coming to the party or if your going to mope in your room all day?”
“Daddy why do we have to move? We have plenty of money. I just don’t understand why you have to take me away from my friends again.” I let my voice lower into a full-blown whine as I say this. My parents hate it when I whine, if they had two choose two things to hate they would be swearing and whining.
“We’ll talk about this after your party.” He says
“But Daddy I want-” He cuts me off before I can continue.
“No but! We will talk later!” He turns leaves the room.

Once I arrive at the party I notice that there are no parents to be seen. This surprises me because we are usually under strict super vision at parties. This is cool. What’s that I think staring at the cooler of beer sitting beside a couch. How’d they get that? I grab onto Grace’s arm and pull her to the side.
“Jesus! My goodness Bail! You made me spill my beer on my shirt!”
“Sorry. How’d you guys get beer?” I whisper to her. Why am I whispering?
“I don’t know. Jake got it. Does it mater?”
“Yea I guess it doesn’t mater.” I pause then pull her all the way into the corner “I just want to tell you that I’m really going to miss you and I want to know you’ll email me every week right? I mean just because I’m gone doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends and like Alexis has already stopped talking to me! You guys are my best friends and I can’t lose you guys. I’ll need your help to get me through moving. Okay?
“Oh my god calm down! I’ll email you twice a week if it makes you calm down. Now come on lets go party.”
We walk over to the cooler where Lara and Maya are waiting with beers, I take one from Maya and take a sip.
“Wow, wow, wow! What are you doing? We have to toast you!” Maya grabs my bottle from my hand to stop me from sipping again.
“Um… ok.”
“To Bailey and her new life!” The three of them scream.
“TO BAILEY!” The whole group of guests raises their drinks in the air.

As the party starts to wined down and people start to leave, I find Jake and rap my arms around his neck. We stand there kissing for a few minutes. Then the DJ puts on “Strawberry Wine” and we walk out onto the dance floor. As we rock back and forth I start to cry. I lift my head off his shoulder not wanting to soak his shirt. Jake notices almost immediately, pulling me into the corner. We are still rocking back and forth but no longer dancing.
“No, don’t cry, Be strong, remember our promise we will never lose touch.”
“That’s not why I’m crying, I’m crying because I’m afraid I will never see you again.”
“We’ll see each other on vacations, I promise”
“You say that now, but what if you find another girl? What if I find another guy? Then we don’t get around to telling each other? Lets say that you meet some girl named, I don’t know, Jackie and you go out with her and don’t tell me and I think I have this great boyfriend that I don’t have. Then finally I find out through Lara or Maya or Grace! I don’t know if I can do the long distance thing! Aren’t you even a little worried?” I can feel eyes on my back and tears on my face now but I don’t care.
“Yes I’m afraid I will never see you again but I don’t worry about either of us cheating. What does worry me is the fact that you don’t have faith in me! I’ve been with you for years, I’m devoted to you, to us, but if your not I won’t waist my time on this! So are you devoted to me, to us? Yes or no!”
“Yes! No! I don’t know!” We are standing apart now and I can feel my legs start to wobble. I sit down on the floor, raping my arms around my legs. I start to rock back and forth. I sit like this for what seemed like hours, my butt hurts but I didn’t care. It’s like I’m in a trance. Finally a firm hand shakes me out of it, my father. I look at my watch to see it’s nine thirty pm the party ended half an hour ago and I had just sat there crying for thirty minutes. I know what it all meant, Jake and I are over.

When I wake up in the morning I’m already crying, my pillow is soaked and my hair is a mess. It’s moving day! It’s moving day! I can’t stop thinking those words, they were like an echo in my head. I get up and go down stairs where mom and dad are waiting.
“Morning mom. Morning dad.” I say rubbing my forehead.
“Have you finished packing?” My father asks.
“No, why I thought we were leaving tonight.” I answer
“Change of plans, we’re leaving in an hour. Don’t worry about your stuff I’ll pay the movers to pack it for you.” My mother doesn’t even look at me when she’s talking. Her attention is absorbed by her blackberry.
“Um… ok. I’ll just go get dressed. Um… but do I have time to say bye to Grace, Maya, and Lara? If I do it quick?” I’m so shocked by every thing that’s going I can’t talk right.
“Sure if you make it quick and I mean it Bailey, we have to catch a flight…” My mom is so engrossed in her Blackberry she doesn’t notice when I get up and leave the room before she finishes her sentence.
Once in my room I hurry to get dressed putting on a yellow sundress and some sandals. After I’ve dressed I run down the stairs and out the door. I have forty-five minutes to say goodbye to my friends. First I head to Maya’s because she lives closest.
“Maya! Maya!” I’m practically screaming her name.
“Maya and Grace went to Lara’s house!” James, Maya’s brother calls down from an upstairs window.
Lara’s? That’s ten blocks away! I don’t have any time to waist. I take off running. I was part of the wining relay team in track this past season, with the best time out of all out athletes. In other words I’m pretty fast. I make it to Lara’s in seven minutes. I have thirty-eight minutes to hang out with my best friends be for I leave. This may be the last thirty-eight minutes we ever spent together! I race up the stairs to the door. Before I can stop my self I’m banging on the door with both fists.
“Coming! You can stop banging on the door!” Jade’s voice comes through the door.
“Jade! Where’s Lara?” I say breathlessly
“She, Grace, and Maya went to the mall.” Jade says
“Oh… ok… thanks” The mall is across town! “Can I have some paper and a pen please?” I ask. I’ll write them all letters.
“Ya, sure. Come on in.” She motions with her hand for me to come in,
I’ve been here tons of times and I know where the stationary is. I quickly grab a pen, three pieces of paper and start writing.
Hey,
I’m really going to miss you. When I woke up this morning my parents told me that we were leaving earlier than I thought. So I tried to catch up with you guys but I was too late. So call me when you get this.
Love,
Bailey
I write these words three times then run upstairs and lay one on Lara’s bed. Next I run to Grace’s house and drop one on her makeup table. When I get back out side I look at my watch and see I only have ten minutes till we leave. Great! I take off running once again. After dropping my last letter at Maya’s, I run the last block to my house and end up at my front door with one minute to spare.
“You ready to go babe?” My father’s voice came at me from behind. I scream and spin around.
“What? Oh ya I have to get my cell phone and iPod” I say running up the stairs to get my things.

Two hours later we’re all on a plane to California and none of my friends have called me. I have called them each twice but no one has called me back. I feel like I’m not worth fifteen minutes of their day. The plane lands in two hours and if they haven’t called me by the time we land… I may just have a total melt down.

Twenty minutes later. Why haven’t they called?
Twenty minutes later. WHY HAVEN’T THEY CALLED?
Twenty minutes later. It’s been three hours since I left those letters!
Twenty minutes later. That’s it I’m calling Grace!

Grace answers on the third ring. That’s weird she always answers on the first ring. ‘It’s rude to make people wait on the phone.’ Were her exact words..
“What do you want Bailey?” Her voice has a bitter tone I’ve never heard before.
“Why didn’t you call me? Did you get my note? I ran all over the place for you guys and I couldn’t find you. Jade said you went to the mall, but I only had an hour before I had to go.” As I say this my voice starts to get whinny.
“Yes, I got your letter. I didn’t have time to call you, I’m busy.” She is really angry now and I don’t know why she’s mad at me.
“Why are you mad at me? What did I do?”
“You didn’t say bye! You just left!”
“I tried to find you, but you were shopping with Lara and Maya!” I’m yelling into my phone now and people are staring at me.
“Yea, sure.” Her voice is flat and lifeless, then the line goes dead.
What the hell did I do to her? I spent my whole morning hunting them down and what do I get in return? I get yelled at! The tears start to roll down my face and I feel one of the stewardess tap me on the shoulder.
“Are you okay ma’am? Is there any thing I can get for you?”
Some friends maybe? “No thank you, I’m okay” I hold my breath to stop myself from crying and before I know it I’m asleep

A firm hand on my shoulder wakes me up, it’s my father. I rub my eyes with the backs of my hand and look up at him.
“Time to go home pumpkin.” He says as I look around the plane to see most of the passengers have left.
“Yea, lets go. Where’s mom?”
“She got off already”
I get out of my seat and we get off the plane. Once in the rental car my mom ordered I fall back asleep.

New Home

Chapter 2
New Home

When I wake up two hours later we’re just pulling into the driveway of our new home. From my vantage-point our home is a sprawling three-story mansion, I want to find out more so I start off to the back yard.
“Where are you going young lady?” my mother’s sharp voice attacks me.
“I want to see the house.” I say back.
“It’s ten o’ clock. You can wait till morning.” She snaps.
“Do I at least get to pick my room?” I ask but my mother has already gone inside.
“You can pick in the morning. Tonight you’ll sleep in the living room” My father responds.
I wander in to the house and locate the living room. On the way I see that almost the entire first floor is furnished. Once in the living room I lay down on the couch and … lay there and …lay there. I’m not tired! I want to see the house! Just then my stomach rumbles. Scratch that I want to eat. I get up and head back down the hall into the kitchen. I open the fridge and pull out a bagel and some cream cheese. After eating I walk around the down stairs. I find two offices one has dull gray walls and the other is painted a rich blue. I bet the one with gray walls is mom’s. I keep walking and after a few minutes find a room with a flat screen, plasma TV and a huge leather couch. I jump on the couch, flip on the television and I’m nearly blown of the couch by the static. Damn, no cable! I quickly switch the television back off and head back to the living room, once there I go to bed.

When I wake up sun is pouring through the windows and I can hear birds out side. I get off the couch, walk down the hall to the kitchen and grab a yogurt and banana for breakfast. My parents walk into the kitchen, my father has a huge smile on his face. My mother on the other hand is engrossed in her Blackberry.
“We have a surprise for you!” My father says in an animated voice.
“No, we have surprises for you” My mothers voice is dull as her gray suet.
“Really? When do I get them?” My voice rises to a squeak.
“Right now, if that’s ok.” My father answers
“Yea!”
First my father leads me out to the driveway, mom disappears off into her office, (The one with the gray walls.), sitting in the driveway is a shinny red Porsche.
“Tada!” I can see the pride in his eyes when he looks at me “Happy belated birthday!”
I go to open my mouth, but before I can he interrupts me.
“Come on, you have to see the other surprise.”
I follow dad back inside and up to the third floor. At the top of the stairs there is a small room with one door. My father nods at the door, silently telling me to open it. So I step forward and open the door, revealing a small kitchen.
“The maid’s apartment?” I ask slightly let down.
“No, this is your room. Well rooms.” He corrects me “Come on I’ll give you a tour.” He say leading me around the apartment. This is your kitchen. Here is your TV room and here’s your office, your bedroom and the bathroom. Oh and this is the back stairs so you don’t have to come through the main house. We didn’t buy much furniture for you so you pick it out yourself, also you can paint the walls and do what ever to the floors.” He claps his hands together once. The walls are all panted a clean white and the floors are all wood or white carpet. “That’s it I think… oh and here.” He hands me a credit card “What do you think?”
“Wait, wait, wait. I can buy anything I want with this?” I say holding up the card.
“Yes, anything.” He responds
“SWEET! THIS IS AWESOME!” I scream.
“There are some catalogues so you can get furniture.” He says pointing to a stack of catalogues on the counter. “The fridge is full and so is the pantry, all your stuff is in the TV room.” He turns to leave and stops mid-step. “Oh also you have your own line, like before the number is 555- 0137 and if you need us just push “one” on the phone and it will call down-stairs.”
“Ok, thanks.” I say back not sure what he said because I busy looking around the room. Once he is gone I skip over to the phone and dial Maya’s number.
“Hello” Maya’s happy voice comes through the phone
“Hey, its me! Guess what.”
“What? Did you get a bunny?” Yes!, Maya doesn’t seem mad at me.
“No! I didn’t get a bunny! They gave me a car and a apartment and a credit card!”
“Oh-my-gosh! That is so cool! So you can do what ever you want? You have total freedom?” Her questions seem dump to me but I answer them any way.
“Yes, it’s so cool!” I squeal into the phone. “You should come over!”
“Uh… Hello I’m in Connecticut and you’re in California.” She says back
“Uh… Hello! I can pay for a plane ticket for you and you can help me decorate and buy a new wardrobe! My dad said I can get what ever I want with this card!” I say waving the card around like she were here with me.
“That would be awesome, but I think you should ask your parents.”
“Fine, hold on.” I put her on hold a push “one” on the phone.
“Yes.” My father answers Yes! Dad answered not mom!
“Can I buy a plane ticket to fly Maya out here?”
“No, I’ll do it. When do you want her out here?” My dad’s answer surprises me
“Hold on.” I switch back to Maya “When do you want to come?”
“What? Oh let me ask my mother.” There is a moment of silence. “How ‘bout next week?”
“Sounds great! I’ll have the ticket mailed to you or something. Bye.” I hang up then switch back to my father. “Would next week be okay daddy? I ask
“Sure pumpkin. Oh do you need help unpacking?’
“Um, yes.” I answer biting my lower lip.
“Okay I’ll send up Keith and Lisa to help.” He says
“Who are they?” I ask but he has already hung up.

A few minutes later I hear some one knock on the door. That must be Keith and Lisa. I get up from the pile of clothes I’m sorting through. I throw the door open to reveal the hottest guy I have ever seen! Keith has dirty blond hair, gray eyes and strong looking arms. Oh my gosh! Look at those arms! Lisa is a short, shapeless girl with limp blond hair and flat brown eyes.
“Hi, I’m Bailey.” I say
“Hi” Lisa says looking past me into the apartment.
“Hey” Keith gives me a smile dazzling. “Your dad told us to help you unpack.”
“Um… yea. Come on in.” I say stepping aside “Lisa and Keith right?”
“Yup, that’s us.” Keith is sixteen I think and Lisa too, twins maybe.
“Um… why don’t you unpack my books and Lisa you can help me unpack my clothes. If that’s okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine” Lisa’s voice is soft.
“Cool! Follow me.” I lead them into the living room “Books are in those boxes.” I say pointing to two boxes on the floor. “I already took the clothes out of the boxes I just need to put them away.”

Two hours later we have completely unpacked my things and are enjoying ice cream on the deck.
“How old are you guys?” I ask.
“Um… we both turned sixteen last month.” Lisa answers me.
“Twins?”
“Yup.” Keith answers this time.
“Cool I turned sixteen two weeks ago.” Then it becomes awkwardly silent and I struggle to think of something to say.
“Um… would you guys like to hang out tomorrow? I mean if you don’t have any one else to hang out with.” I say afraid they will say no.
“Well, I can hang out with you in the afternoon but you’re on your own tomorrow night because we’re going to a party.” Lisa answers
“Hey! Why don’t you come to the party with us?” Keith’s eyes light up when he says this.
“Cool, sounds fun.” I smile at him. Suddenly I imagine the two of use cuddling on the couch, watching a horror movie and eating popcorn.
“Well we should go, see you later” Lisa’s voice punches me out of my fantasy.
“Oh, okay, see you tomorrow.” We get up and head to the door, putting our bowls into the sink as we pass. “Oh and let me just give you my numbers. So here’s my cell and here is the apartment number.” I say handing Lisa a piece of paper.

It’s eight thirty and I’m already in bed! I’ve arranged all my things in my apartment and picked a few things out of the catalogs my dad left for me. I’m so bored! I look out the window above my bed and see Lisa walking down the beach with some ugly, orange haired guy. Even Lisa has a date! That’s totally unfair! I miss- just then my cell phone beeps, interrupting my thoughts. I pick it up and read the text.
Hey want to hang out? – Keith
I can’t help but giggle as I text him back
Me: Sure
Keith: K i’ll b at ur door in 5
Me: Cool
I jump out of bed and race to the dresser. Quickly I throw on a pair of jeans, a green tank top, and a white button up shirt, which I leave unbuttoned. Then I run a brush through my hair and swipe on some lip-gloss. I’m missing some thing! What am I missing? Keith knocks on the door startling me and I let out a scream.
“Calm down, it’s just me.” Keith says walking through the door.
“You startled me!” I throw a pillow at him. “What am I missing?” I ask standing with my arms at my sides, I do a quick spin.
“Shoes?” He responds giving me the “once-over”.
“Shoes! That’s it!” I grab my flip-flops. “So what are we doing?”
“Well… I was thinking we could take a walk down the beach, get to know each other, I could maybe show you around the neighborhood?”
“Sounds good to me.” I say.
“Good, let’s go.”
“Okay.” I can’t stop smiling.
“Shouldn’t you tell you parents?” He asks
“Oh, I guess, one second”
I walk to the phone and push “one” tapping my foot while I wait for them to answer.
“Yes?” my mother answers
“I’m going out. Ok?”
“Yes, why are you telling me this?” My mother seems pissed.
“Because you’re my mother and I thought you should know that I’m not home.” I answer her question.
“Well you don’t need to tell me.” She snaps.
“Ok, next time I won’t!” I snap back. Then slam the phone down, turning to Keith. “Ok, let’s go.”

We walk down Main Street talking and laughing. Mostly we’re just asking each other random questions.
“Do you drink coffee?” I ask laughing.
“Yes,” He laughs “yes I do.” He answers laughing.
“How? Black?” I ask.
“No, not black. I like it with milk.” He suddenly stops laughing “My turn.”
“Okay, shoot” I stop laughing too.
“Hold on I’m thinking” He stops walking. “Are you single?” His question surprises me.
“Well… as of two days ago… yes.” The memory makes my want to cry.
“What does that mean?” He is laughing again.
“It means that two days ago my three year boyfriend and I broke up.” I say wiping all the humor from his face. The tears come then and I hurry to wipe them away.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” He is desperate to comfort me.
“No, it’s ok you didn’t know.” I pull a tissue out of my purse and wipe my eyes. “What about you? You single?” I try to get him to change the subject.
“I am.” Those are the most beautiful words I have ever heard!
“Really? I don’t believe you.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Well you are really nice, you’ve go a great ass and you seem really smart. So how could the girls resist you?” I say blushing.
“Yes, but I’m not fighting girls off with a stick.” He retorts
“You can fight me off with a stick.” I say looking down at the pavement, blushing.
“What if I don’t want to fight you off?” His question makes me blush deeper.
“Well I suppose you could ask me out.” I steal a quick look at him but he is looking at his hands.
“That does seem like a good idea.” He pauses “What are you doing tomorrow?”
I start laughing and can’t stop, but I some how manage to answer him. “Well I was going to hang out with your sister, Lisa and then I’m going to a party with you and Lisa.” I laugh again “You should have known that.”
“Oh yea,” He pauses looking up at me “we should hang out tomorrow before the party. Okay, this is what will happen tomorrow. First you will have breakfast with me, then you’ll hang out with Lisa, and then we’ll hang out at the party. Ok?”
“Sounds good to me.” I giggle. “It’s a date.”
He looks down at his watch, then I see sadness sweep over his face. “It’s almost eleven thirty I should get you home.”
“Oh… I guess.”

Ten minutes later we’re standing out side my door. Is this moving to quickly?
“I’ll see you tomorrow at eight for breakfast?” His question brings me back to reality.
“What? Oh, ya sure”
“Cool, I’ll see in the morning.” I say goodnight and watch him run down the stairs and out of sight.

I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock 7:40 What! Keith will be here in twenty minutes! I jump out of bed and race to the shower. When I get out I throw on a gray skirt, green T-shirt and some white flip-flops. I quickly comb my hair and brush my teeth (at the same time), then apply some lip gloss, eye shadow and blush. I look at my self in the hall mirror. Hmm… not bad. Grab my purse just as he knocks on the door.

“Hey, where are we going?” I say walking out the door.
“Hi, we going to a little place I know.”
“You know a place?” I ask.
“Hey, I grew up here. I know my way around.” He says smiling.
“Well at least I know we won’t get lost.” I smile up at him. “Let’s go.” I say pulling him down the stairs. We walk down the street laughing and telling funny stories about out lives. After ten minutes of walking Keith pulls me into a small coffee shop called “The Coffee Pot”. We head inside.
“This is so cute!” I say looking around the room. The walls are the color of melted toffee, pictures of the country side are scattered around between big wide windows. The floor is covered in deep, brown tiles. There are two green-brown couches and five tables. The west side of the room is dominated by a huge glass counter full of croissants, muffins and bagels.
“This is my favorite coffee shop.” He says pulling me over to the counter to order.
“I’ll have a plain bagel and a de-calf, mocha latte, with whip cream. Thanks.” I say to the lady behind the counter.
“And I’ll have my usual, Jenny. Thanks” He says looking at me.
“Yes, Keith and who’s this?” Jenny asks eyeing me.
“Oh, Jenny this is Bailey. Bailey this is Jenny.” He introduces us. Jenny has long, thick, blond hair, and eyes that are too big for her face.
“Hi.” Jenny’s voice is bitter.
“Hi, I just moved here from Connecticut.” I say sticking out my hand which she ignores, I pull my hand back. What did I do?
“Twelve fifty.” She says looking at Keith. He pulls out his wallet and before I can stop him, pays for my coffee and bagel.
“Oh no, don’t do that. I can pay for my own breakfast.” He ignores my comment, picks up our breakfast and walks to a table.
“I’m taking you to breakfast, I’m going to pay for breakfast.” He says putting the food on the table. “Here you are ma’ lady” He motions for me to sit down in the chair he is pulling out from the table. As I sit down I see Jenny glaring at me from the other side of the shop. What is her problem?
“So how do you know Jenny?” I ask trying to ignore her eyes on my back.
“Oh… um we go to school together. Why?” He looks up at me from his coffee.
“I don’t think she likes me.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I don’t know, maybe the way she’s glaring at me.” I point at her and she quickly turns her attention to the customer in front of her.
“Well, we use to date.” He offers
“Maybe she’s till hung up on you?”
“I doubt that, she dumped me.” He says
“That means nothing. Some times girls dump boys then want them back.”
“Can we change subjects please? I don’t want to talk about my ex-girlfriends.” He gives me a pleading look.
“Yes, definitely!” I answer quickly.
“What are you going to do with Lisa?” He asks after a minute
“Well I was hoping we could go shopping. I need some new clothes. Do you think she’d like shopping with me? Is she the shopping type?”
“I don’t know, we don’t really hang out much.” He pushes his plate way.
“Oh.” I look down and push my plate away too.
“Ready to go?” He asks.
“Yep.” I say. He stands up and helps me out of my chair. We walk back down the street toward my house. A block away from the coffee place Keith takes my hand in his and I can feel my cheeks start to heat up.
“So the party tonight? Where is it?” I ask.
“My friend Megan’s house. I’ll come get you at eight. Okay?”
“Sounds good to me.” I tell him.
He walks me up the stairs and stands with me while I unlock the door. The door swings open and I turn to him.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yea.” He says leaning forward. Oh shit is he going to kiss me? I pull away, say goodbye and go inside. We’ve been on two dates and he’s trying to kiss me! A few minutes later Lisa is standing in the doorway watching me run around looking for my purse.
“Aha! I found it, let’s go.” I say.
“Ok, where to?” she looks at me questionably.
“I was hoping you would know where to go.” I answer.
“Well the is this cute little shop down town?” Her responds comes out more like a question then a statement.
“Sounds perfect. Let’s go.” I know I must look overly exited which I am.
Two hours later I’ve got four bags hanging from my arms and Lisa has one.
“So are you, like, dating my brother now?” Her question catches me off guard.
“Um… I… I don’t think I can answer that question. We’ve only been on two dates. So, um, yea, I don’t think so, maybe. Don’t get me wrong, I really like him and I want to go out with him, but I just got out of a really long relationship. Oh wait! Your not going to tell him this are you? Oh god, please don’t!” I almost get down onto my knees and beg her not to tell him.
“Relax I won’t tell him.” She is smiling from ear to ear. Just then my cell phone beeps alerting me of a text. It’s from Keith.
Keith: Where r u?
“What should I tell him?”
“Um… tell him that we’re on our way back to your house and we’ll meet him there.” She tells me.
“No, we need time to get ready.” I reply “I got it!”
Me: It’s 7 u said u get me at 8!
Keith: So?
Me: I need time
Keith: ok ok I’ll get u at 8
“Let’s go! We only have an hour!” I say grabbing Lisa’s arm and tugging her toward my house.
“We? You mean you? Right?”
“No, I mean us.” I smile “Oh and who was that guy you were walking with on the beach last night?”
“Oh… um… that’s Jake.” What? Jake? Suddenly I feel warm pavement on my cheek, and some one shaking me.
“Bailey! Bailey!” Lisa’s voice is full of worry. I sit up disoriented.
“Why the hell am I on the ground?” I ask.
“You fainted. Are you alright? Do you faint a lot?”
“I’m fine and no I don’t faint often.” I say trying not to yell at her for asking too many questions.
“Let’s go. Help me up.” She helps me up and we race back to my house. I have an hour to get ready and fix Lisa’s look! First I take a shower, then I make Lisa take one.
“I don’t see what’s wrong with my look!” Lisa protests after she gets out of the shower.
I hold up the turtle neck sweater she bought today. “We’re in California! Don’t wear turtle necks!” I say throwing it back into it’s bag. “First brush your hair.” I say handing her my brush, I brushed my hair and got dressed while she showered. I have on the new pink tub top and a pair of white shorts I got today.
“Hurry! We only have thirty minutes!” I yell, taking the brush from her and yank it through her hair. Next I whip out my make up bag, instructing her on how to put on blush, eye shadow and so on. After we’re done with make-up I make her put on the out fit I choose for her, a light blue T-shirt, gray shorts, and her black sneakers.
“Thanks for the shorts and the top. I’ll meet you at there, I’m meeting Jake before the party. See you later.” Lisa turns and walks down stairs.

I sit down on the bottom step and wait for Keith. Just as Keith walks over my cell phone starts to beep. Who could that be? I look at the caller ID and my heart nearly stops… it’s Jake. I look up at Keith’s smiling face as I open the phone
“Hello.” I say bitterly.
“I miss you babe.” Jake’s voice comes through the phone.
“FUCK YOU!” I almost scream into the phone.
I slap my phone shut and get up off the step. I smile up at Keith as he slips his hand into mine, like I didn’t just scream “fuck you” at some one. Are we dating?
“Um… could I ask you question?” I ask.
“Sure.” He looks down at me
“Um… are we a couple?” I ask looking down at my feet.
“Um I don’t know are we? I wouldn’t object if you wanted to go out.”
“So is that a yes?” I ask, I want a yes or no answer.
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind?” I say as he raps his arms around my waist.

New Boy

Chapter 3
New Boy

We arrive at the party at eight-fifteen. Every one turns to look at us when we walk in, most of the girls are glaring (at me) and the boys have big grins plastered to the faces. Keith pulls me over to a group of people in the center of the room, they all look at me with smiles on the faces (even the girls). We stand there staring at each other until I elbow Keith in the side, silently telling him to introduce us.
“Oh! Every one this is Bailey. Bailey this is every one.” He says
“Hi, I’m Megan” A girl with curly red hair and bright eyes says.
“Hey, Bailey I’m Aaron” A boy with short, black hair introduces himself.
“Jordan.” A pale girl with limp brown hair waves at me.
“I’m Taylor.” Taylor is a boy with long, brown hair and deep black eyes.
“Hey, I’m Alex.” Alex has that hair that’s so blond it’s almost white, a big smile and I can’t help but notice when he checks me out.
“I’m Mitch. Brittany, Kelsey, and Logan are coming” I boy with very short, light brown hair says.
“Well, I’m Bailey and I just moved here from Connecticut” I say
After a few minutes of watching people talk I notice two girls behind me whispering they point at me and I strain to listen to them.
“Why does Keith have his arm around the slut’s waist?” One of them whispers. I whirl around and stare at them.
“Who are you calling a slut!” I demand. One of the girls looks scared, the other seems please that I heard.
“You, bitch!” The one that looks pleased replies.
“You don’t even know me how can you call me a slut and a bitch!” I scream, yanking my hand from Keith’s I run from the room. Sitting down on the front steps I can hear people inside laughing. I start rocking back and forth as the tears start to come. Damn I’m not wearing waterproof! I quickly pull out a tissue and start dappling my eyes. I feel Keith hand on my arm, he turns me so I’m facing him.
“Hey, are you alright?”
“No! Girls I don’t even know just called me a bitch!”
He sits down next to me and wraps his arms around me. “Don’t worry about them they’re jerks. No one likes them, no one listens to them and you shouldn’t either. Why don’t we go back inside?”
“I don’t want to go back inside.” Ignoring me, he pulls me to my feet and back inside.
When we get back inside Keith pulls me onto the dance floor. The DJ puts on “When the stars go blue” and we start to sway back and forth. I can feel his hands on my hip, our chests are pushed together and I can feel his heart beating through his shirt. I am suddenly filled with a feeling of complete happiness, it’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. We dance for twenty minutes until some girl goes up to the mike and starts tapping it.
“Come on every one lets play truth or dare!” she yells into the mike. We form a circle on the dance floor. A girl named Brea asks Megan truth or dare and she picks truth. Brea thinks for a minute, her hand at her chin she looks up like she’s thinking really hard. Her expression reminds me of Lara during a history test.
“I’ve got it! Who do you think is the sexiest boy in this room?” She says, her face lights up in excitement. Megan looks down at her hands and I can tell she’s uncomfortable.
“Well” She pauses looking at me quickly, then looks back at her hands when she sees I’m watching her. “personally I think K-keith is sexiest.” She says blushing. I look over at Keith and see that he is watching my reaction. I smile at him and he smiles back. Megan watching this interaction picks me to go next.
“Bailey, truth or dare?” she asks smiling. It’s soft genuine smile and I’m comforted by it.
“Truth” I answer.
“How many boys have you kissed?”
“One” I answer with out hesitation. Megan and Keith are the only ones listing to me the rest of the group got up and left when Megan first said my name. I get up off the floor and straiten out my shorts. Oh my gosh what was that? I think when my fingers touch something wet and sticky. I pull the edge of my shorts to see a wad of green gum clinging to the fabric. Could this night get any worse. Keith and Megan notice the gum as I start pulling at it.
“You okay?” Keith asks.
“I got gum on my shorts.” I say
“You need something to wear? This is my house.” Megan asks me.
“Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” I say smiling.
“Come on” She says pulling me towards the stairs.
“Be right back.” I say to Keith.
We go up the stairs and down a long hallway. Finally she opens a door that leads into her room.
“My closets over there.” Megan points over to a sliding door. I go to the door and pull it open. I dig through her clothes and find a pair of dark wash blue jeans.
“So you think Keith’s sexy?” I ask sliding on the pants.
“Well yea, but I’m not the only one, every girl at our school wants Keith.” She says.
“Oh.” I try to hide the shock on my face. “Will you tell me about his past girlfriends?” I ask.
“Um.”
“Oh, I don’t need details just his general type”
“Well, he dates a lot of blond haired bim-bows” she says, I give her a questioning look “You know cheerleaders with big boobs, small brains and slutty outfits. I think that you’re the first brunet I’ve seen him with”
“Bim-bows?” I say giggling.
“What?” She says laughing. A knock at the door stops our giggles.
“Come in!” I yell at the door. A moment later Keith pops his head through the doorway.
“You ready to go? He asks me.
“If you are.” I smile at him then turn to Megan “We should hang out, here’s my number.” I say handing her a post-it-note. I pick up my purse, gum-covered shorts, grab Keith’s hand and walk out of the room. Once we’re out side Keith wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me agents his side.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” He asks.
“Shopping for furniture, why?”
“I thought we could hang out on the beach.” He murmurs into my hair.
“Nope” I respond.
“Why not?” he sounds disappointed.
“Two reasons. One I don’t have bathing suet and two I don’t like the beach.”
“I still want to hang out tomorrow.” He gives me a puppy-dog face, his lower lip jutting out a little further that his top lip. “Please?”
“Fine,” I say giving up, his face lights up. “but you have to help me pick out furniture.” His smile fades away.
“Oh come on! How ‘bout I help you pick a bathing suet, then we go to the beach?” he just won’t give up.
“Nope” We’re standing by my door now, I didn’t even notice when we climbed the stairs. I take out my key and unlock the door. “You want to come in?”
“Sure” We walk into my living room and sit down on the couch. “Why can’t we go to the beach?” Keith asks pulling me onto his lap.
“I don’t like the beach.” I say.
“Why don’t you like the beach?”
“Because.” He’s irritating me now.
“Because why?”
“I don’t want to talk about it!” I snap. I get up off of his lap and walk to the kitchen suddenly hungry. I poke my head into the fridge and see what I had to eat. When I pull my head out Keith is leaning agents the doorframe.
“You hungry?” I ask searching the cupboards for any thing we can eat.
“Kind of, why?”
“Want to get some take out or some thing?”
“Sure there’s this great Chinese place down town and they deliver.”
“So we don’t have to leave the comfort of my home!” I say clapping my hands together. I pick up the phone and toss it to him. “You order, I’ll pay.”
“Is there any thing in particular you want or should I get the whole menu?” He asks.
“Um…Egg rolls, and um that shrimp rice stuff.” He calls and orders our food. (I don’t know what he ordered but it sounded like a lot.)
A few minutes later we’re siting on my couch eating out of paper boxes and watching Brothers & Sisters. I can’t stop wondering if Keith ever did this type of thing with the blond bim-bows he dated before. The thought of Keith cuddling with some blond on a couch makes me choke on my egg roll.
“You okay?”
“Yeah I’m just tired.”
“Yeah I should go. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Okay.” I smile at him briefly then let my head fall back onto the couch.
“You gonna make it to bed?” He asks, worry written all over his face.
“I’m fine.” I mumble into the cushion.
“I don’t believe you.” He says picking me up. My eyes snap open just as Keith gets to my bedroom. He sets me down on my bed and pulls my blanket around me. “Goodnight.” He whispers into my hair.
When I wake up in the morning my hair is a mess and my makeup is smeared all over my face. Gross I think, climbing out of bed and hop into the shower. When I get out of the shower and check my phone for messages, I have two calls and one text. I open the text first, it’s from Jake. What now? I think opening it.
Jake: Whats wrong babe?
Me: Don’t call me babe I text him back suddenly pissed.
Jake: Y not? i always call u babe
Me: Cause i’m not ur babe!
Jake: R u breaking up with me?
Me: We broke up the day i left & stop txting me!
I slam my phone shut then remember I have two messages to hear. I open my phone and listen to my messages, the first is from Megan. “ This message was recorded at seven-thirty June nineteenth” My phone informs me. “Hey, Bailey, it’s Megan. I was wondering if you want to hang out tomorrow? So call me back at 555-0196” There’s a long beep. “This message was recorded at eight-ten June nineteenth.” The phone tells me. “Hey babe it’s Keith, wanna hang out to day? We could have lunch or dinner together? Talk to you later.” I shut my phone and set it down on my dresser.

Twenty minutes later I’m sitting at my desk, in a pair of pink pjs, shopping for furniture online. So far I’ve picked out a purple rug and couch, a canopy bed and red bed set. Satisfied with my purchases, I shut my laptop and pick up my phone to call Keith. He picks up on the first ring.
“Hey.” His voice makes my heart flutter.
“Hi… you called about hanging out today, and I was thinking we could go to diner?”
“Sounds good, where would you like to go?”
“Can we go some where fancy? I want to dress up.”
“Sure, where ever you want to go.” He says “But I’m not wearing I tux.”
“Okay.” I say giggling “See you later.”
“Is eight ok?”
“Yup.” I answer hanging up. I set the phone on the coffee table and look at the clock, ten o’clock. I have ten hours and nothing to do! I pick up my keys and go down stairs. When I get down stairs I start looking for my parents. I look in the kitchen, the living room, the TV room and the offices before I head out side. Out side I search the deck, the garden, and the garage but they’re not anywhere. I pull out my cell and call my father.
“Hello.” Hearing my father’s voice makes me suddenly miss him.
“Where are you?”
“Your mother and I are visiting friends in Sacramento. Why?”
“I came down stairs and no one was home.” I say sitting down on a deck chair.
“Okay well I have to go.”
“Okay daddy.” I say but he’s already gone. I head back up stairs and flop down on couch. I pick up my wall phone and call Grace.
“Hi, Bailey what’s up?” Wasn’t she mad last time I called her?
“Hey… your not mad at me?”
“No, I thought about what you said and I realized I was being bitchy.” There is a long pause. “I’m sorry”
“I’m just glad we’re good now.” I say smiling. “I you were here I’d hug you.” We talk for two hours, laughing and giggling. After I hang up I set phone back it’s holder and walk to my closet to pick out my outfit. I paw through my dresses, I try some on but I can’t find one I want to wear. I dig through my clothes for half an hour, I’ve tried dresses on and thrown some away. Finally I pull the last of my clothes out of my closet, the last dress is enclosed in a garment bag. I unzip the bag revealing an emerald green, halter-top, the light reflects off its fabric, it’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I admire the dress for a few minutes then lay the dress on my bed and go to the kitchen for lunch. I heat up some left over Chinese food and sit down on my couch to watch TV.

A few hours later I turn off my TV. Time to get dressed I think as I climb of my couch, I drop my dishes in the sink and go to the hook on the door where my dress waits. I pull of my clothes and slip the dress over my head. The fabric clings to me in all the right places and swooshes when I walk over to the mirror. I stand in front of the mirror for a few minutes till I look up and see I only have thirty minutes till I Keith comes. I hurry to the bathroom grabbing a pair of strappy, heels on the way. In a few minutes I’ve put my “face” on so I start on my hair. With one swift movement I pull my hair into a neat bun. Smiling, I study my hair and make-up making sure I haven’t messed any thing up. Satisfied I get up and leave the bathroom, I head straight for the stereo. Pushing the buttons quickly I find a station I like and “California Gurls” comes blasting through the speakers. I LOVE THIS SONG! I think as my feet start to move to the beat of the song. I lift my arms up waving them around, twirling around. I’m really absorbed in the music when the sound of someone clearing their throat startles me. Jumping back I smash into the coach and flip over backward landing on the other side.
“Wow! Are you okay?” Keith says in a worried voice.
“Oh my god! You scared me!” I scream at him. “Don’t you knock?”
“I did, you didn’t answer so I tried the door. It was open, so I let my self in.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t have any thing in my hands, I would have thrown it at you!”
“And you would have missed.” He says a smile stretching across his face.
“Yea?” I question, picking up my hairbrush off the end table, I hurl it at his head. He ducks easily to the side, laughing so hard I think he might wet him self. I glare at him letting my hands slid over the end table, searching for something else to throw. My hand bumps into a half full water bottle, I let my fingers wrap around the bottle and with one quick motion a fling the bottle at him. It makes and satisfying thud when it hits his chest, his head snaps up and his laughter stops in the same instant the bottle hits his chest.
“What was that for?” Keith asks.
“Just proving I can hit you.” I say smugly.
“Doesn’t count, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Does to! I still hit you!” I retort not letting him bring me down.
“What ever helps you sleep at night.” He says, his smile returning. “You ready to go?”
“Just let me get my purse and I’ll be ready to go.” I say smiling. “So where are we going?” I grab my purse, waiting for Keith to answer.
“You’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Just to warn you, I’m not good with surprises.” I reply frowning.
“You’ll survive.”
“I don’t think I will.” I say glumly.
“Come on lets go.” He says wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulls me to the door. We walk down the stairs in silence, it feels as though I will suffocate under the silence. I dig through my head as fast as I can, searching for some thing to say.
“Um… what… did you have for lunch?” I ask and then I laugh at my dumb question. Keith looks at me like I’ve lost my mind but answers my question.
“I had a… hamburger.” He looks at me again, this time with a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “What did you have?”
“Left over Chinese food.”
“What did you do all day?” His question makes mine seem even dumber.
“I watched TV and did a little online shopping. What ‘bout you?”
“I went surfing with some of the guys.”
“You know how to surf? Will you teach me how?” My voice rises with excitement.
“You want to learn how to surf? I thought you didn’t like water.” Keith asks eyeing me with questioningly.
“Well, you can teach me on land.” I answer as we stop in front of a restaurant called “The Toad” “We’re eating at a restaurant named after a reptile?” I could feel the disappointment on my face.
“Don’t judge and a toad is a amphibian.” He answers waving a scolding finger at me.
“Okay, okay… lets go into the frog.”
“Toad.” He corrects me.
“What ever.” I say as he pulls me into the restaurant. We stop in front of the maitre d’ where Keith gives the name Trip. It occurs to me at the moment that I hadn’t known Keith’s last name all this time. We are escorted to a table in the back of the room. The maitre d’ takes our coats and disappears around the corner. Keith pulls out one of the chairs for me and I sit down slowly careful of the delicate fabric that makes up my dress. Keith settles into the other chair not nearly as carefully as me. Again an awkward silence settles upon us.
“I didn’t know your last name was Trip.” I state slowly.
“Oh your dad didn’t tell you what my last name is?”
“No, but I suppose you know what my last name is.” I reply.
“Yes I do, Ms. Hadlin.” He says a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Very good Mr. Trip.” I pause “I have a weird question for you.”
“Okay?”
“What town do we live in?”
“Sunset Lagoon” His answer is automatic like he’s said it hundreds of times, which I guess he has. The silence settles on us once again and again I struggle to think of something to say.
“Um… What are you going to order?”
“I don’t know I’m not really hungry.” He shrugs punctuating his statement.
“I’m not very hungry either.” I feel stupid that I even suggested this.
“Want to get out of here?” His question makes me exited.
“Yea, lets go.”
“What can we do that won’t ruin your dress?”
“I have a back up plan. You just wait here, I’ll be right back.” I push away from the table grabbing my bag and head to the lady’s room. I go right for the only open stall, I slip out of my dress folding it neatly I place it in my bag. I quickly change into some shorts and a tee shirt. I hurry out of the bathroom ignoring the stares of the other dinners. I plop down in my seat again, Keith looks up taking in my new outfit.
“Do you always carry an extra change of clothes?”
“Not always, but most of the time. I like to plan a head.”
“Well I like this outfit better than that dress.” He says getting up “Lets go.” He helps me up and we get our coats. He pulls me to his side outside the restaurant and I snuggle into the crock of his arm. “So what do you want to do?”
“I was hopping you would have something in mind.”
“Well, I could teach you to surf,” He pauses “on land”
“Sounds good to me.” We walk down the road for a few minutes. We past the only house I recognize, other than my own. Megan’s. Shit I didn’t call Megan back. I quickly pull out my phone. “You mind if I call Megan and apologize for not calling her back?”
“No, go ahead.” He says smiling.
I dial Megan’s number quickly and she picks up after the second ring.
“Hey! Bailey!” Her voice is as bouncy as her orange curls.
“Hi, I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier. I’m busy now but we could hang out tomorrow. If you want.” Out of the corner of my eye I see Keith frown when I say “hang out tomorrow”
“Yea tomorrow would be great. Are you having fun with Keith?”
“What? How do you know I’m with Keith?”
“I saw you walk by my house.” Her answer makes me feel stupid.
“Oh. Well I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow.” She so bouncy I think it would be impossible to be sad around her. I hang up the phone and put it back into my purse.
“Okay, why did you frown when I said ‘we could hang out tomorrow’” I demand.
“I bet you could guess.”
“You wanted to hang out with me?”
“Yes.” He says pausing in front of a big brick house “I have to get my board.”
“Do I have to wait here or do I get to come in?” I ask not sure which one I wanted him to pick.
“Well, if you want to meet my parents you can come in.”
“I’ll come in.” I say smiling. He squeezes my hand quickly then pulls me up the walkway to his house. Once we get to the door I stop dead in my tracks. “How many of your past girlfriends have met your parents?”
“You’ll be the first.” His answer pleases me but I don’t tell him that. He twists the doorknob, pushes the door out of the way and pulls us inside.
“Mom! Dad!” He calls out into the house “I have someone I want you to meet!” A few minutes his parents come down the stairs. His mother is short with long, brown, hair brown eyes and a warm smile. Keith’s father on the other hand is tall with blond hair, gray eyes and I can easily tell where Keith gets his looks. I smile at them and they smile at me. “Mom. Dad. This is Bailey Hadlin, my girlfriend.”
“Hello, Bailey, I’m Chuck and this is Mary.” Keith’s father has a booming voice that startles me a little. I flinch when he laughs at my reaction.
“It’s nice to meet you Bailey.” Mary’s voice is soft and it soothes me quickly.
“Hi” I say nervously. Keith squeezes my hand again then pulls it away.
“I’m going to get my board, then we’re going to the beach so I can teach Bailey to surf.” He smiles at me. “I’ll be right back.” Then he climbs the huge staircase.
“Why don’t you tell us about your self Bailey.” Mary says turning my attention back to her and Chuck
“Um… Okay.” I pause “I moved here from Connecticut three days ago, I’m sixteen. I’m an only child. I run track and…I love to read”
“Oh you run track? I used to run when I was in high school.” Chuck’s booming voice scares me again. “What do you do?”
“I was on the winning relay team back home.”
“Oh that’s fabulous!” He exclaims. I smile and out of the corner of my eye I see Keith coming down the stairs caring a long, green surfboard.
“You ready to go?” Keith’s voice feels like a life-persevere.
“Yup,” I pause tearing my eyes away from his face. “Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Trip.” I smile at Keith’s parents.
“Nice to meet you too.” They say in unison. Keith takes my hand and pulls me toward the door. The instant we step out the door he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his side.
“How far is the beach?”
“A few minutes here.” Keith answers, pulling me tighter against his side. We walk in silence for a few minutes, but it’s not awkward like before. Suddenly a cool breeze blows down the road and I involuntarily shiver. “You cold?” Keith asks shrugging out of his coat before I can answer. He lets go of my waist and holds up the jacket for me to put on. I slide my arms through the sleeves and wrap my arms around his waist again.

A few minutes later we are standing two feet away from the water’s edge.
“Do you want to go in?” His warm voice breaks through the silence.
“No thanks, I don’t like the water remember.”
“Why don’t you like the water?”
“I don’t want to have this discussion!” I snap, “And you said you would teach me on land.”
“Okay, okay.” He says laying his board down on the sand, he pulls me over to the board. “So just lay down on your stomach on the board and pretend your paddling out into the ocean with your hands.”

We continue like this for about an hour, him telling me what to do and me trying my best to do what he tells me to. Final I role off the board and into the sand.
“No more,” I wine exhausted “I’m tired.”
“Okay.” Keith says as he drops to the ground next to me. “One question. Why do you want to learn to surf if you don’t like the water?”
“Um… that’s a good question,” I pause think of the right answer “I really don’t know, it was a spur of the moment thing.”
“So what are you going to do when it’s time to practice in the water?”
“Go to a wave pool.” I say smiling.
“Will you tell me why you don’t like the ocean if I beg you?” He rolls over onto his stomach so he can look at me.
“Really” I look over at him “you don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do..…. I care about you and I want to know why the water scares you so much.” He frowns, touching my face with the tips of his fingers. “Please.” He whispers giving me a puppy dog face.
“Fine.” I say blowing out a huff of air. I take a long, deep breath before I start again. “On my fifth birthday my father took me to the beach to celebrate. I had on my little bathing suit and my dad took me into the water. I wanted to go further out into the water than my dad would allow so when he turned away for one second…” I pause taking in his reaction “ I went out deeper, but the under tow was too strong and I got sucked under. My dad swam out and got me before I drowned, but I ended up in the hospital for a few days.” I look up from the small pile of sand I built while I was talking to look at his grim face. “That’s why I don’t like the ocean.”
“You could have told me before.” He says playing with my fingers.
“You don’t understand how hard it is for me to talk about this.”
“Your right, I don’t. Mind telling me how come it’s so hard?”
“Um…” I look up at his face quickly then back down at my hands “When I was in the hospital my dad visited me every day, but my mother didn’t come in at all. When I think what happened that day it reminds me of all the times my mom chose work over me.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” We look at each other for a few minutes. “You ready to go?”

New Friend

Chapter Four
New Friend

I role out of bed at seven-thirty, and head to the shower. Turning the on stereo when I pass it in the hall, “Hey, Soul Sister” comes blasting through the speakers. When I hop out of the shower I get dressed and then go strait for my cell phone and check my messages. “You have one new message.” The robot on the other end says, “This message was recorded at seven a.m. June 20th” There’s a long beep, then “Hey, babe, it’s Keith. I just wanted to know if you’re busy tonight? So… um… call me.” I take a deep breath the dial Keith’s number he picks up on the first ring.
“Hey babe.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Hey.” I can’t keep the smile off my own face. “So about tonight?”
“Well, some of my friends are throwing a party on the beach tonight so I thought we could go?”
“Sounds good to me.” There is a long pause “Do you think it’s too early to call Megan?” I ask trying to fill the silence.
“Well Meg gets up at like six in the morning to go surfing so… no I think you’re good.”
“Really? Six? You’re kidding.”
“Yes, really. Megan is a really serious surfer she spends almost every waking hour surfing.”
“Oh…cool.” I don’t know what else to say “Well I have to go.”
“Okay, I’ll come by around seven.”
“Okay, bye.” I hang up, rolling off my bed. I dial Megan’s number as I sit down on the couch. It rings four times and then goes to voice mail. “Hey, you’ve reached Megan Miller I’m not able to come to the phone right now but I’ll call you back as soon a I can.” There is a long beep “Hey, Megan, it’s Bailey just wanted to see if you’d like to hang out to day. So… um… call me.” I finish talking and push end on my phone, sitting on the couch with nothing to do I feel like a total loser. I turn on the TV flipping through the channels so fast I can’t even tell what is on. Suddenly the door bell dings making me jump, the remote flies from my hand and smashes into the wall behind me. I leap off the couch and run to the door. Who could this be? I throw the door open and see Maya’s smiling face.
“Surprise.”
“Oh my god! What are you doing here?” I scream.
“You invited me remember?”
“Your early.” I answer pulling her into a hug. “Come in, Come in. Where are your bags?”
“Your dad said he’d have some kid named Keith bring them up for me.”
“So you met Keith?” I ask suddenly feeling possessive.
“No, why? Is he a hunk?” Her face lights up in excitement.
“You could say that.” I giggle.
“Ooooh I can’t wait to meet…” The doorbell dings cutting her off.
“Looks like you don’t have to.” I giggle again then open the door. Keith smiles at me then picks up the two pink bags that sit at his feet. “Hey, come on in.”
“Hey, Bailey. Where do you want me to put these?”
“By the couch is fine, thanks.” He drops the bags then turns back to me.
“You need to get a elevator installed or something because those stairs are a killer.”
“Tell me ‘bout it.” I say suddenly remembering Maya “Oh! Maya this is Keith, Keith this is Maya.”
“Hi.” Maya waves.
“Nice to meet you.” Keith smiles at Maya then turns back to me. “Are we still on for tonight?”
“Um… well… could Maya come with us?”
“Yea. Sure.” He pauses taking my hand, he squeezes fingers. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay bye.” I squeeze his fingers back before letting go of his hand. “Now shoo we have girls stuff to do.” I say pushing him back out the door. When I turn back to Maya she has a smug look on her face. “What?”
“Do you have something you want to tell me?” Her eyes fall on the space where Keith was just standing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you dating the hottie?”
“Maybe.” I say looking down at my feet.
“OH MY GOD! YOU ARE!” She screams and I rush to cover her mouth with my hand.
“Shut up.” I glare at her.
“Fine.” I she say taking in my mood. “So what are we doing to night?”
“We’re going to a party on the beach.”
“Are there any other hot guys in this town? And I thought you didn’t like the beach?”
“I don’t like the water and about the boys I really couldn’t tell you.” I say bringing her bags to my bedroom. “Oh and just a warning the girls here don’t like new girls.”
“As long as the boys like me I’m okay.”
“When did you become so boy crazy?” I ask eyeing her.
“When Brett and broke up.”
“What? Why? When? Who?” I gasp
“The day you left. He broke up with me. Why? Well his exact words were ‘I want us to just be friends, I just don’t like you as much as I used to.’”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I frown, dropping her bags at the end of my bed. “I didn’t like him anyway.”
“Yea sure. Look I don’t care about him what do you want to do today?”
“Well… I need to get a bathing suet. We could go shopping?”
“Oh, yes please! Do we get to take your…” The phone rings interrupting her.
“One sec.” I say holding up a finger and picking up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Hey! It’s Meg!” Megan’s voice as bouncy as her hair comes through the phone.
“Hey! What’s up?” I say sitting down on the couch.
“Do you want to hang out to day?”
“Um… my friend Maya is here from Connecticut.”
“Hey, we can all hang out together!”
“Yea, sure. Come on over, we were just going to go shopping.”
“ ‘Kay. I’ll be over in five minutes.”
“Okay see you.” I say hanging up, then turn to Maya, “My friend Megan is coming over then we’ll all go shopping together. Maybe we can get lunch or something too.” I smile at her. She mumbles something that sounds like “So we can’t take the Porsche” but I ignore her.


A few minutes later Maya, Megan and I are standing in a small shop digging through a rack of bathing suits.
“How ‘bout this one?” Maya says holding up a black bikini.
“Um… too plain.” I say. She frowns then puts it back on the rack.
“This one?” Meg asks handing me a white halter-top bikini with thick red stripes running across it.
“Hmm. I like it.” I look at the size, S is written on the tag. “I hope it fits.” I hang it over my arm and keep digging. “Now I have to find a mono-kini and a tan-kini and a one-piece.” I say signing.
“Why do you have to have a one-piece?” Maya asks “Only old people wear one-pieces.” I ignore her and we finish picking out bathing suits in silence. In the end I buy a yellow mono-kini, an emerald green tan-kini and the bikini Megan picked out.
“Do you want to get lunch?” I ask
“Sure.” Megan answers. Maya just nods looking pissed.
“Where should we go?” I ignore Maya again.
“We could go to this café I know.” Megan suggests.
“The Coffee Pot?”
“Yes! Have you been there?”
“I went there for breakfast with Keith.”

A few minutes later we all walk into “The Coffee Pot”. Megan and I lead the way with Maya trailing behind. After ordering we sit down at a table to eat and talk, the whole time I can feel Jenny’s glare on my back.
“So are you guys coming to the party tonight?” Megan asks.
“Yea, we’re coming.” I say taking a bite from my sandwich.
“Cool.” We sit in silence for a few minutes.
“What’s the name of the beach were going to?” Maya asks.
“Sunset Beach.” Megan answers looking up at Maya. We sit in silence again. Finally I push away my plate and watch as Maya and Megan follow.
“Ready to go?” I ask.
“Yep.”
“Sure.” Maya mumbles.
A few minutes later Maya and I walk into my apartment, I head strait for my closet, dropping my bags on the way. Maya sits down on the couch letting out a huff of air.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
“Whatever.” I don’t want her to get all grouchy so I change the subject. “What do you want to wear to the party?” I call from the closet.
“I don’t want to go.” She calls back.
“What? Why not?” I ask surprised.
“I just don’t want to, okay?”
“No. This morning you where all excited to meet new guys at this party.”
“So what? Are you going to make me go to the party? How you gunna do that?” She asks snottily.
“I’m going to tie you up with…” I say looking around for something I could us, “this scarf!” I wave a purple scarf at her, “Then I’ll have Keith help me carry you to the party.”
“I’ll scream.” She retorts a smile playing at her mouth.
“I’ll put a sock in you mouth, a dirty sock.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“I bet you would.” I say throwing a flip-flop at her. “Now, I’m going to change. Please don’t break any thing.” I give her a pleading, then pick up my clothes and shut my bedroom door. I change into my new bikini, white shorts, and a red tee shirt. When I open my door Maya is sitting on the couch watching television. “Any thing good on?”
“Nope.”
“So are you coming on your on will or do I have to force you?” I ask sitting down next to her.
“I’ll come on my on will.” She says turning away from the TV. “I want to meet new guys.” I smile stretches across her face and she busts out laughing. Just then some one knocks on the door and her smile disappears.
“Must be Keith.” I mumble, then pull open the door.
“Hey.” A grins spreads across Keith’s face when I open the door.
“Hi.” I step to the side letting him in.
“Are you guy ready to go?” He asks glancing at Maya still sitting on the couch.
“I have to the change.” Maya says jumping off the couch.
“Okay we’ll be waiting.” I say turning to Keith. He stands looking at me, then pulls me into his arms.
“I missed you today.” Keith mumbles into my hair.
“Hmmm” I push my face into his chest, taking in a breath I inhale his smell.
“Did you have a good time with Meg?”
“Yes.” I say my face still pushed against his chest. We stand in silence for a few more minutes, just holding each other. I feel some one poke my arm and I reluctantly turn away from Keith.
“Hi.” Maya says waving. She’s wearing a green mini skirt and a black sequined tank.
“Hi.” I mumble turning my back to Keith.
“Are we going to the party or what?” Maya’s voice is full of irritation.
“Okay, lets go.” Keith answers.

Fifteen minutes later we walk onto the beach. Maya disappears into the crowd as soon as our toes hit the sand. And I personally don’t miss her. Keith and I walk around the party for a few minutes holding hands. Until Keith pulls us to a stop and sits down in front of a huge fire, then he pulls me into his lap and starts to play with my hair. Megan comes over towing some guy with her, they sit down next to us.
“Hey, Meg. Hey, Jared” Keith greets them.
“Bailey this is Jared. Jared this is Bailey.” Megan introduces us.
“Hi.” I smile at Jared. He has short brown hair and green eyes.
“Nice to meet you.” Jared smiles back.
We talk for an hour till finally the fire burns out and people start to drift away. Keith and I say ‘bye to Meg and Jared but Keith and I stay sitting by the glowing ashes. I look around the few people that are left trying to find Maya.
“What?” Keith asks.
“ I can’t find Maya.”
“Oh well.” Keith says making me giggle. “Um… could I ask you a favor?”
“Yea, sure.”
“Get off my lap my legs went numb twenty minutes ago.”
“Oh, sure.” I climb of his lap, standing up and stretching.
“I didn’t say stand up.” Keith says pulling me on to the sand next to him. Before I know what’s happening Keith is kissing me. His lips are soft on mine and I can’t stop my self from twisting my fingers through his hair. Keith pulls back (too fast if you ask me) and I gasp for air. “I think it’s time to go home.” He says chuckling like I’ve just said some thing funny.
“Way to ruin a moment.” I mumble. Keith stands and then helps me up. As we start walking to my house I remember Maya. “Shit. Maya.” I hiss pulling out my cell.

“What?” She answers on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
“Non ya’ business.” She snaps.
“Well if it’s non my business then its non my business where you sleep tonight.” I snap back.
“What?” She’s so stupid I’m surprised she knows how to tie her shoes. I can’t help but think.
“Don’t come home tonight!” I clarify.
“Maybe I don’t want to come “home” at all?” She screams back.
“Then don’t.” I slap my phone shut, put it pack in my purse and wrap my arms around Keith’s waist. “Let’s go.”

We walk up the stairs to my apartment and I don’t hesitate when we get to the top.
“Do you want to come in and watch a movie or some thing?” I ask opening the door.
“Sure.” Throwing my purse on the floor by the door, I walk through the apartment turning on lights.
“I’m gunna put on my pajamas.” I head to my bedroom and throw on a pink T-shirt and yellow shorts. When I come back into the living room I hear popcorn popping in the kitchen. Keith must have heard my door open because his head pops through doorway. “What time do you have to leave?” I ask.
“I don’t know. My parents aren’t home” His head disappears back into the kitchen, I follow.
“You made popcorn?” I say reaching my hand into the bag.
“No, I’m making popcorn.” He says smacking away my hand. “It’s not done yet.”
“Okay?” I say questionably “Well I’ll be in the living room.” I grab two bottles of root beer and head into the living room.

A few minutes later Keith comes into the living room with a big bowl of popcorn.
“So what do you want to watch?” I ask as Keith sits down on the couch.
“I don’t know, something funny.”
“How about … The Invention of Lying?”
“Sure.”
Half way through the movie I fall asleep, when I wake up sunlight is pouring through the window and I’m still on the couch. Sitting up I realize Keith’s still on the couch too. I get off the couch to stretch and Keith’s eyes fly open.
“Wow, what time is it?”
“Um…” I pause to look at my cell. “8:30” You wanna get some breakfast?”
“Sure, but could I take a shower first?”
“Oh, sure go ahead. It’s right in there.” I say pointing to the bathroom. “I’m gunna get dressed.” I go into my room and change into some blue jean shorts and a mint green blouse.

Twenty minutes later we’re walking toward The Coffee Pot.
“What do you want to do today?” Keith asks.
“I don’t know, what do you want to do?”
“Go to the beach?”
“What’s with you and the beach?” I ask.
“I like the beach.” He looks at me smiling “I won’t make you go into the water, I promise.” He says his face taking on a puppy-dog face.
“Fine.” I give in as we walk into The Coffee Pot.

Keith and I walk up to the counter, Jenny’s standing behind it. Today she chooses to ignore me all together.
“Your usual?” Jenny asks Keith before ether of us can say any thing.
“Yep.” He smiles and nods.
“Six twenty five.”
“Um excuse me.” I say waving my hand in front of her face. “I haven’t ordered yet.” She just smiles and ignores me. “I’ll have a plain bagel and a de-calf, mocha latte, with whip cream.” I say flatly. Still she ignores me, finally Keith gets aggravated.
“Jenny. I’m paying for her too.” His voice hard and cold.
“Fine. That will be twenty two ninety nine.” She over charges us, Keith pulls out two fives.
“Keep the change.” He says slapping the money down on the counter. I pick up our tray, carrying it over to the table we sat at last time.
“See? She doesn’t like me.” I say placing the tray on the table.
“Okay I see it now.” Keith says as we sit down.
“So what do you want to do today?” I ask, hoping he forgot about the beach.
“We’re going to the beach, remember?”
“I was hoping you forgot about that.”
“Forget the beach? Not likely!” He laughs.
“Well I need to get my bathing suit before we go.” I say frustrated.
“I have to get mine from my house so why don’t you just barrow one of Lisa’s?”
“Because I’m not the same size as Lisa and I have a totally different style.” I say imagining my self in a hideous frilly, orange and purple striped one piece.
“Come on! If we go to your house we walk eight extra blocks.”
“You need the exercise.”
“Hey!” He lifts up the bottom of his shirt revealing a sculpted six pack. “I surf every day I don’t need any more exercise.”
“Fine, but I’m not going to the beach without a bathing suit. Water or no water.” I imagine my self in the bathing suit again.
“Well there’s a shop on the way to my house…”
“Perfect!” I say not letting him finish.
“Good let’s go.” Keith gets up and grabs my hand.

A few minutes later Keith and I walk into a small shop called Sparkle. I pull Keith around the store occasionally picking up a bikini.
“Can you just pick one?” Keith whines.
“Okay how about this one?” I say picking up a frilly, green and red striped one. His grimace answers for him. In the end I choose a dark blue bikini that Keith and I both approve of.
“So how long are your parents going to be away?”
“Just till the end of the week.” Keith says pulling me against his side as we walk out of the store and towards his house.
“Oh.”

Ten minutes later we walk up the stone path to Keith’s house. When we reach the door Keith pulls out is keys and pushes the door open.
“So I’m going to go put on my trunks and you can change in the bathroom right in there.” He says pointing to a door to the right of us.
“Okay.” I say.
Once in the bathroom I change into my bathing suit and brush my hair. After I change I sit on a red, velvet coach outside the bathroom door. When Keith comes down he’s wearing a pair of green swim trunks and a gray T-shirt.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks.
“Um… well…” I struggle to think of any thing I can use to stall us going to the beach. “Yes.” I say giving in.
“Good.”

As soon as the beach comes into view Keith’s phone goes off. Yea! Saved by the bell.
“Hey, Neil what’s up?” He listens nodding like Neil can see him. “Okay, see you in a few.”
“What was that about?”
“Nothing, we’re just going to meet Neal at the board walk.”
“Why?” I ask confused.
“He has something for you.” He says pulling me in the direction of the beach
When we get to the boardwalk Keith pauses looking for Neil then continues pulling me. We come to a stop in front of a tall boy, with very curly, very blond hair. Maya stands next to him and she looks drunk. The wind shifts and the strong smell of alcohol blows into my face.
“Here.” Neil says shoving her into me.
“Thanks.” I say sarcastically. She moans in response and I push her off me watching as she crumples to the ground. I pull out my phone and call my dad.
“Hello?”
“Hi, dad I need you to come get me and Maya.” I say.
“Okay, where are you?”
“We’re on the boardwalk.”
“I’ll be there in a few.” He says then hangs up.

New Problems

Chapter 5
New Problems

When my dad arrives he and Keith help an inebriated Maya into the back of our car. I’ve never seen her like this before, I mean I know she drinks but… After she’s buckled into her seat I climb into the car even though I don’t want to.
“I’ll um… I’ll just call you later. Okay?” I say to Keith
“Sure babe.” He says closing the car door.

After a few minutes of silence Maya’s stench of vomit and alcohol gets to be too much and I role down the window, taking two big gulps of fresh air before I speak.
“Dad, I want Maya to go home.” I can see the surprise on his face in the review mirror.
“She’s only been here for a day and a half.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you want her to go?” He asks glancing at me in the mirror.
“I’m just sick of her attitude, it’s like I’m her mom or something.”
“Well I’ll arrange it but I’m not going to tell her.” He says brushing his white hair out of his face.
“Okay thanks.”

My father and I tuck Maya into one of the guest rooms on the second floor for two reasons; one I don’t want her in my bed and she can’t sleep on the couch, but mostly it was the fact that she’s heavy and we weren’t going to carry her up another flight of stairs. As soon as my dad leaves the room I pull out my phone and call Keith.
“Hey, Bailey.”

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.11.2011

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