Nellie's+Novella

Prologue: Brooklyn, New York. 1996. I've always wondered why bad things happen to good people. Maybe it's because there's a better life for them somewhere else. At least that's what I like to tell myself. I unlocked the door to my new apartment. It reeked of mold and spoiled milk. There were holes in the walls and in the ceiling, and I could have just sworn I saw a mouse scurry across the floor. Anyways, anything's better than that hell hole I was living in before.

Chapter One: Manhattan, New York. 1994. "Kristen! Come on let's go! Nathan's waiting for me!" I quickly packed up my chemistry binder and threw my pencils into my navy backpack and ran out of the class. As I ran by the teacher sitting at her desk, she flashed me a look of sorrow. I hate this school. I don't need your pity. I caught up to Nicole and walked next to her as she kept going on and on about Nathan. It's like she didn't even know I wasn't walking with her until now. "Yeah, it's just like... I like him and all I just feel like... I don't know! All he wants to do is hook up you know, Kris?" "Yeah... I know..." This wasn't the first time I've heard Nicole's ridiculous stories. I was considered her friend so long as I agreed with whatever she said. And to be honest, I didn't mind that much. The parties she gets invited to helps me forget about everything going on in my life. I know it kind of sounds like I'm using her but I'm not! With all this going on right now the last thing I want to do is to talk about my feelings. I got into math class and sat at the round table with Matt, Emma, and Haley. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I don't know them very well. I pulled out the orange binder and my pencil. "So, Kris, how was your weekend?" Matt asked. "It was fine." I said in a quick, short response. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Oh, cool. Same here. Maybe we could hang out sometime next weekend." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yeah.. I guess." I said, just to be polite. And Matt could tell. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Okay... I'll text you sometime." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yup." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked down on my binder and started drawing scribbles to make it seem less awkward. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Matt look at Emma and Haley and smile. They mirrored his grin and Emma started giggling to herself. I hate this school.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the end of the day I packed my binders and started walking home. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hey Kristen! Wait up!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked back. "Oh, hey Matt." My voice sounded disappointed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What's up?" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Nothing... just... walking home." I said awkwardly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yeah. I can tell" He laughed. "Well, since I'm walking home too I thought maybe we could walk together." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Okay..." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Throughout the walk he kept trying to make conversation but I only gave one-word responses. I kind of feel bad for him... He was really trying. I just didn't feel like it. I'm in no mood for some random guy from my math class to start hitting on me, no matter how good he looked.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter Two: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I unlocked the door to our house I saw empty Budweiser and Sam Adam's cans scattered all over the house. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the living room where I saw my dad passed out on the couch, clear bottle in hand. His beer belly was hanging out beneath his shirt and it looked like he hadn't shaved in days. I started picking up the empty cans as quietly as I could... my dad really doesn't like to be woken up. I picked up the last can I could hold in my hand and started walking towards the kitchen to throw them out as one fell to the floor. Shit. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"WHO'S THERE?" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I kept perfectly still. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I SAID WHO'S THERE!!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"It's just me Dad, it's Kristen." I said quietly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT WAKING ME UP?!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Sorry, Dad. I'll be quieter." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I put the rest of the cans in the trash then pulled out a pan and filled it three-quarters full with water. I put some pasta in the pan then set the stove to high as the water started bubbling. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once dinner was finally ready and the table was set I called my dad over to the table. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So, Dad, how was your day?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hm? What?” His breathe reeked of alcohol. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I got my English paper back today.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yep. I got an A.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Great.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m also looking at some colleges.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Are you even listening, Dad?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He took a swig of straight vodka and pushed his plate away. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Clean this shit up Kristen.” He said as he slowly and unsteadily got up. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I sat at the table, contemplating what I was still doing here. On Earth I mean. If everything happens for a reason, I’d really like to know why I’m here. After everything was clean I ran up to Nick’s room and slammed the door. I know my dad hates when I do that but at that moment I really didn’t care. I wished everything would be normal again. I wished my mom never left. I wish Nicolas was still here. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One year, 3 months, and 27 days. That's how long it's been since Nicolas killed himself. He wasn’t just my older brother; he was my best friend. He was the one who would put his hands over my ears every time our dad came home drunk. He was the one who stood in front of me every time our dad raised his fist at me. He was the one who took all the blame for everything I did wrong. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And now, look at where I am. Lying on my back upstairs in his bed all alone, feeling sorry for myself like always. I put Nick’s pillow over my ears but I can still hear the screaming and yelling. I take in a deep breath through the pillow and suddenly his scent calms me down. I'll still never forgive him for leaving me alone here... to deal with my dad. Then again, I can't blame him. Sometimes I just want to kill myself and end with the ongoing screaming too. I never will though. I'm too much of a coward. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When he died my dad started drinking more, which is hard to imagine considering he was already on a "3-bottles-a-night" streak. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My friends, they're supportive, but only because they have to be. Nothing like what he ever was. I know they much rather prefer to be out getting drunk with the senior guys than hanging out with me. They don't know much about my life, even though they may pretend like they do. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I take in one last scent of Nicolas and roll over to my side, pulling the blanket up to my ear and cuddling into it. I closed my eyes and within seconds I fell asleep.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter Three: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The second time the bell rang I was already in my seat. Biology was one of my favorite classes so it was never a bad thing to start my day off that way. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Class, take your seats!" Mr. Fredrick called. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The classroom's mumbles slowly quieted down as they all sat down in their two-person lab desks. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Now, today we'll be doing the mitoses lab. Everyone find a partner and come up to grab-" Mr. Fredrick was interrupted by a new student walking slowly through the door with a yellow slip in his hand. His hair was dark and shiny and went a little bit past his eyebrows. It looked like he hadn't combed it, but in a way it still sort of fell into place. His dark brown hair lit up his ocean-blue eyes and revealed a small amount of freckles just on his nose. He looked around the class, then his eyes met mine. I quickly looked down and played with a strand of my hair as he kept walking towards the teacher. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Ah, yes! Mr. Evans! Welcome to our class!" Mr. Fredrick's eyes scanned the room for an empty seat. Other girls held their breath as Mr. Fredrick called out who this mysterious new student would sit with. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"You can sit with Kristen! Second row down! Go on, take a seat!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The boy handed the slip to the teacher and started walking towards me, his lips curved in to a side smile. I couldn't help but smile myself. This was the first time something good has happened to me in a really long time. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He took the seat next to mine as Mr. Fredrick went on about the lab. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Logan," He said, still smiling. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Kristen," I nodded. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Class! Quiet! That means you, Mr. Evans, you don't want to get on too bad of a start your first day! Now, I'd like one partner from each group to come up and grab an onion and a microscope. Please open your packets to the 7th page and follow the instructions. Good luck!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan went up to the front and grabbed the microscope as other girls glistened just looking at him. Whispers scattered across the room and the other guys in the class rolled their eyes as I did the same. These girls were pathetic. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Alright, where do we start?" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I flipped my packet to the 7th page and skimmed the paper. "Well, it says we have to 'place a slide containing a stained preparation of the Allium in the microscope,'" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Sounds easy enough." He laughed. Logan put the slide under the microscope and looked in, shutting his other eye. "Looks like anaphase." He said confidently. Finally. At least there's one smart guy in the class now. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I placed the second slide under the microscope and put my eye to it, adjusting the focus. I felt his gaze stuck on me, so I looked up at him from the microscope. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What?" I asked <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Nothing... sorry." He smiled. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I bit my lip to hold back my grin and looked back into the microscope. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I think this one's prophase." No, I don't think. I know. Biology was my best subject. It just came easy to me. I think my mom was also really smart. That's what Nick used to tell me. Then again, if she was so smart she wouldn't have left in the first place. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Alright class! Five minutes left! Please return the microscopes back to me and have a great rest of your day!" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I packed up my bag and started walking out the door. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Well it was nice meeting you!" Logan called out. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I smiled and walked out the door without saying a word.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hey Kris, did you see that new guy? Logan something?" Nicole asked <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yeah.. I did." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Pretty cute, don't you think?" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"He's okay." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Well, I think he's really hot." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Let's not forget about your boyfriend, Nicole." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Who cares about him? I'm probably gonna break up with him anyways."

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The next day, I was a little more excited for biology. When I walked in I saw Logan sitting on the desk with his back to the door. He was talking to the two girls behind him who were practically drooling over him, asking him where he was from and why he moved here. He was nice and friendly and wasn’t afraid to make conversation. I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay everyone, settle down and take your seats! You have an important lab to finish!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan turned around and his eyes searched until they met mine. We both smiled and quickly sat down. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Now, I want you to finish the lab if you haven’t already. If you’re done please do the post lab questions on the back of your packet. Please do this with your partner! It’s very challenging and will take a long time!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan flipped his packet to the ninth page and twirled his pencil in his hand. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ready?” He asked. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I blinked twice to put myself back into reality and turned to the post-lab questions on the page. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ready.” I responded. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The entire time Logan and I worked on the lab questions we went back and forth. He looked at me when I wrote, then I looked at him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Now, class, you’re going to need to work with a partner for the next couple of days. I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but you can choose your own partners. This is a take home project between the two of and it will be due next Friday!” Mr. Fredrick said as he passed out the rubric. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Suddenly it was like a race to see who could ask Logan first. I looked at the rubric as Hannah came up to him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey Logan, wanna work together? We can work at my house if you want!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Sorry, Hannah, I really would but I already said I’d work with Kristen.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked up, hearing my name. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh... Okay. Well Bio project or not, you’re always welcome.” She said in a flirty tone, then gave me a death glare and walked away. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan smiled at me then packed up his bag and walked out of the classroom. I quickly followed until I had caught up to him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“And what, exactly, would make you think that I want to work with you?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Startled, he looked beside himself and saw me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh. Yeah sorry about that. Hannah’s too much of a bimbo for me to work with her. You were the first person I thought of. We don’t have to work together if you want-” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No! I want!” I interrupted. “Er, I mean. It’s whatever. I can find someone else if you’d prefer not to work with me.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He laughed and I suddenly felt my face turn red from the awkwardness. “No, I want to work with you,” He said grinning. “Meet me at my house tonight at 6ish?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Alright. See ya.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I couldn’t help but feel the jittery the rest of the day. While Nicole was talking to me about Nathan I planned out what I was going to wear, while my history teacher went on about the Cold War, I planned out how I should act, while I walked home with Matt and he went on about how he needed a girlfriend, I planned out when I would arrive. It was all ready. By the time I got home I finished all the rest of my homework and prepared dinner for my dad. I set the chicken on the table and put on my new skinny jeans and the flowered tank top Nicole gave me for my 17th birthday. I took one last look in the mirror before I opened the door to leave. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Kristen?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah, Dad?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Where are you going?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I need to go pick up a couple things from the library for my research paper. I’m taking the car.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Be back no later than 9!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay, dinner’s on the table.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He murmured something to himself and I hesitated before walking out and shutting the door behind me. I clicked on the key to unlock the door to the used up navy Toyota and started the ignition. I checked the time. 6:05. Perfect. I followed Logan’s directions and once I arrived I drove back to check the street name again. I was on the right street... and it looked like the right house number, it just didn’t seem like the right house. It was big... REALLY big. The front had two big brown double doors and the house was painted white. There was a set of four columns evenly placed in front of the house and I gulped before ringing the doorbell. Four different-toned rings echoed the house and soon after Logan came to the door. He had just showered so his hair was more shiny than normal. His dark brown hair was pushed to the side over his forehead and he smelled of Axe body wash. I looked around the mansion before finally stepping in. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Wow... you have a really nice house.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Thanks,” He laughed. “My mom’s a lawyer. She’s barely ever home though... but hey, I’m not complaining. My room’s up this way.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I followed Logan up the set of spiral stairs and got into his room. It was pretty clean, with only a couple of papers on his big desk and a few clothes in his hamper. I stopped at the doorway as he sat on his unmade bed. He pulled out his biology binder and then looked up at me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You can come in, you know.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Right.. sorry.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I pulled his chair from his desk and dragged it to about a foot away from his bed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So for this project it looks like we have to make a model of a cell structure right?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah. But it has to be a metaphor for something. Here! he wrote an example,” I read off the rubric. “‘For example, if I were to do a school, the principal would be the nucleus, right? Right! Now, what would the electrons be? That’s for you to figure out! Good luck!’” I read the prompt in a sarcastic, “Mr. Fredrick,” tone and Logan laughed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Your voice compared to his sounds pretty accurate if I may say so myself.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I giggled. I never saw myself as much of a ‘giggler’, but it just sort of came out. The rest of the night Logan and I worked on topics for our project and decided on what materials we were going to use. We scheduled to meet again at his house the next day to start. He walked me to my car then shut the door behind me before walking back up to his doorway. He stood there until I drove off. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I got home and checked the living room. The glow of the TV lit up my dad’s sleeping face. I clicked the power button off with my foot and walked into the kitchen. The chicken was half eaten and the table was a mess. I cleaned up and ran up to my room as I jumped up to my bed and landed on my back. I hugged my pillow, and smiling, I fell asleep.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Kristen! Where were you last night? I tried calling you but you never picked up.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah, sorry about that. I wasn’t home. Actually, I was at-” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I called you because I had something really important to tell you!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay...what’s up?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, yesterday, I went over Nathan’s house. I wanted to surprise him, right? Anyways I got in, opened the door to his room, and saw Hannah laying on top of him. Kissing him.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh my god! Nicole!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah. I know. That’s not all though. I slammed the door shut and before I new it Nathan was chasing me like a little puppy. Saying things like ‘I tried to stop her! She kissed me! I don’t even like her!’ and all that bullshit.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well? What happened.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I told him I needed some time before I forgave him. He said okay and I should take ‘all the time I need’. Pff.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Are you going to forgive him?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I think so. I mean he’s a senior and all so he’s graduating this year anyways. I’ll keep the relationship going until then.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So you’re basically gonna use him?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Not use, per say. Just stay with him until the summer.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So you’re going to use him....” I repeated. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“God, Kris, why can’t you just be supportive of me every once in a blue moon?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m sorry. You’re right. Don’t worry about Hannah, by the way. She’s just a whore. Anyways what I wanted to tell you was that yesterday I was at-” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh! There’s Nathan! Sorry, Kris, I’ll hear about your story later.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The rest of the day was pretty regular. I didn’t have biology today so I didn’t see Logan around but I didn’t mind too much. I knew I would still see him later. I spent the day talking to Nicole about Nathan, but never ended up telling her about Logan. I thought it out and decided it would be best if she didn’t know. At least not until something serious happened. If something serious ever would happen.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the end of the day, before I packed up my bag to leave, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw that it was a text from Logan. “Hey, meet at my house right after school?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I put my backpack down next to my locker and started typing back. “Sure. See you there in fifteen minutes.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I started walking over and Matt caught up to me, breathing hard from running up so fast.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hey. I thought maybe we could walk together again.” He said in between breaths.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh, sorry Matt! I would really but I’m not going straight home today.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“That’s okay! Picking up some groceries again? I can come with you, you know, to help with the bags.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“That’s sweet Matt, thanks. But I’m actually going to Logan’s house.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh...” He sounded disappointed.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yeah. Bio project. Sorry.” I said as I turned the corner. He stopped.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay! See you tomorrow then?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yep.” I replied as I kept walking. Matt walked in the other direction.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It took me about 20 minutes before I finally got to Logan’s house. I rang the doorbell and was greeted by what seemed like Logan’s dad. He looked very well off. He was pretty slim, and had a striped blue business shirt on. His hair was cut short in a business style and was brown, but it had a couple of gray strands in between. He had a Bluetooth earpiece on.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hello there!” He sounded excited.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hi, I’m Kristen.” I said as I shook his hand and noticed his silver Rolex taking up all the space on his wrist.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So nice that Logan has made some friends already! Nice to meet you Kristen. I’m Derrick, Logan’s father.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before I could respond Logan came rushing down the stairs.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ugh, Dad, what did I say about answering the door?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Sorry, son, but you didn’t tell me you already had a girlfriend!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m not his girlfriend.” I said quickly. They both looked from each other to me. I suddenly felt bad.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Sorry about my dad, he gets a little over excited when he meets new people.” Logan said as we went up the stairs.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I laughed. “It’s okay. He seems really nice!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This time when I walked in Logan’s room I sat on the bed. I put a pillow behind me and rest it against the headboard. When Logan saw me he smiled and plopped down next to me, lifted my crossed legs up and lay them on on his lap. “Getting comfortable! That’s more like it!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I smiled and pulled out my Biology binder. “So I was thinking. Maybe for our project we could do a soccer field. The referee would be the nucleus, and the fowl lines could be something like the-”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The cell membrane!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Exactly.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We each made sketches of what our project could look like. While his right hand drew, Logan’s left hand rested nicely on my legs.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We almost finished making the last soccer player and put it on the field when I suddenly realized I should check the time.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What time is it?”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan clicked the end button on his smart phone with his pinky while he held our soccer player in between his thumb and index finger.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Exactly 5:33!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shit. Shit shit shit. “I forgot to let my dad know I’m here. He’s going to kill me. And I didn’t even bring my car! I’ll only be there by 6! Shit!”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan looked startled. “I’ll give you a ride. Don’t worry it’ll be fine.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I quickly packed up my stuff and almost ran out the room before Logan caught my hand and stopped me from behind. I turned around and before I knew it Logan’s lips were pressed against mine. I closed my eyes and suddenly forgot about everything else around me. This wasn’t my first kiss, but it was definitely the best. It was sweet and it made all the stress go away. The only thing I was focused on was Logan and me. Nothing else. He pulled away and smiled. I did the same.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Let’s go.” He said, grinning.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He opened the passenger door of his BMW for me then ran to the other side and started the car.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You’re going to need to give me some directions, Kris. I have no idea where I’m going.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Logan pulled out of the driveway and speeded down the street until he finally reached my house.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“This is it.” I said. I had a huge knot in my stomach. "My dad hates when he doesn't know where I am." I couldn't think of what he'd do to me this time.