Authors: MJ Fields
“
You’re remodeling already” Tessa laughed.
Jade and Tessa
stood and watched as Becca and Phoebe walked towards them as they went in search for their lockers. Jade and Tessa waited and they walked towards the auditorium.
~
Tessa and Jade were cousins and they had been close since the day they were born. They walked through the hallway together “Too bad we missed cheerleading tryouts,” Jade said as they passed by the group of varsity football players, she raised her eyebrows and looked in their direction.
“
Too bad?” Tessa said loudly, “Thank God! I would not be caught dead cheering on some Neanderthals,” as the same dark haired boy raised his eyebrows and smirked at her again.
He was one of the white hat boys, the cutest, but what did he think he was looking at?
She blushed and scowled.
“
Damn,” Luke said, as he ogled Tessa walking by, “Nice eats.”
“
That’s my sister Links,” Alex said giving him a back off look.
“
Nice,” Tommy said grinning at Jade.
“
Step off boys,” Alex growled.
“
You may want to watch it. You’re on my team now,” Luke said shutting his locker.
“
I’ve been on theirs for seventeen years,” Alex growled.
“
Ease up Ross, I was just enjoying the scenery,” Luke said smiling at him.
~
Jade and Tessa sat in the auditorium, Becca and Phoebe sat next to them. They compared schedules and found they were all in the honors classes together. Becca and Jade had P.E. and study hall together, and Tessa and Phoebe shared the same P.E. and government class.
The football team sat in the row in front of them, Jade kicked Tessa and smiled. Tessa rolled her eyes at Jade and looked up and Luke was staring back at her, with a half
-smile. She turned away; “Tessa,” Jade said “he was checking you out.” Tessa shook her head back and forth looking down.
Mr. Camp the school Principal took the stage,
“Welcome back students. As you know we have merged with some other schools due to state budget cuts. This school belongs to all of us, let’s treat each other with respect as we all transition,” he said. He gave the normal first day speech, went over the rules, and told us of upcoming sign ups, games, the pep rally, and the fall festival.
Jade saw Tommy look back at her and
she smiled. He was cute, and she could not believe he was looking at her. Tessa saw them exchange glances throughout the assembly and laughed to herself. She also noticed, when she allowed herself to look up, Luke staring right through her with a devilish grin.
The assembly ended and the girls had all decided that they would sign up for chorus; they stood in line to sign up.
“Jade, that white hat was checking you out,” Tessa said and laughed.
“
His buddy was checking you out,” she laughed, “They are both yummy,” Jade said grinning.
They finally got to sign ups and Jade wrote her name on the list,
“Jade Ross,” Tommy said and winked at her, “Cool now I have a name to go with that pretty face,” he smiled and walked away.
Tessa and Jade laughed as Tessa wrote her name and they turned to see Luke staring at her. She rolled her eyes at him and walked away,
“Tessa!” Jade scolded her as the bell rang and they went to their first class, English.
~
Their teacher Mr. Mandel gave them their list of required reading for the year and an outline of assignments and due dates. Tessa looked over the list and it was mainly Eighteenth Century English literature, and she hoped she would like it.
~
Jade and Becca had study hall next, they were allowed to go outside in the quad because no one had any homework yet. Becca and Jade sat under the tree at the far end. Frankie and Mark, juniors came over. “Ladies,” Frankie said “Looking fine this year.”
“
Hey Frankie,” Jade said smiling as Becca looked away annoyed.
“
Jade,” Tommy said walking up behind Frankie “Is this boy bothering you?” Jade smiled at him and looked down,
holy cow
she thought. “Jade you don’t want to play with the little soccer boys now do you?” he asked without waiting for an answer, “Can I get your number Jade, you know to check in with you to see if these boys are bugging you.”
“
I want your girl Tessa’s number,” Luke said his eyes narrowing.
“
Jade can you give those to us please?” Tommy asked smiling.
“
Sure,” she said, “Since you asked so nicely, got a pen?” she asked coolly.
“
I will always ask you nicely,” he said with a wink and took the paper. She blushed and looked down, he brushed into Frankie, as he walked away.
“
Douche bag!” Frankie said under his breath.
“
What did you just say?” Luke asked and got in Frankie’s face.
“
I said Douche bag!” Frankie stepped towards him.
Becca and Jade jumped up and stood between them.
“Please just walk away,” Jade said to Luke.
“
You owe me Jade for not kicking that punk’s ass,” Luke yelled as he walked by.
“
Na dude, she’s saving yours,” Mark smirked.
The bell rang as Luke and Tommy walked away.
“Call me!” Frankie yelled in his best girl voice holding his hand to his ear mocking Tommy and Luke.
Becca laughed and they walked in. The boys were harmless, they were friends, they helped on the Ross farm on weekends and over the summer. Neither had good home lives but they seem to be breaking the mold that most kids in their situation can
’t seem to overcome. She had known them forever, not always the most appropriate acting crew but lots of fun.
~
Jade got a text-
-Is this the pretty girl?
-Who is this?...Jade
-You
’ll soon find out
Jade laughed out loud, walking towards her locker.
Tessa took her phone from her pocket and read the message she had just received.
-Tessa Ross, you are lovely..LL
Jade walked up to Tessa and saw her reading a message and looking confused. “Did you get a message?” she asked.
“
Ya, weird I have no idea who it is,” she handed the phone to Jade who was laughing.
“
It’s from Luke,” Jade smirked, “He asked for your number” she shrieked.
“
And you gave it to him?” she said angrily.
“
Tommy asked for it, nicely,” she said, “I gave him both of ours,” she laughed.
“
Jade seriously,” Tessa said very annoyed and walked away.
The bell rang and school was out, the girls all met in the locker room and got ready for field hockey. They asked Phoebe how she liked the new school, she said she loved it, much smaller school than she was used to. They walked outside and passed the football players and cheerleaders.
“Nice skirt pretty girl” they heard someone yelling at them, followed by a bunch of cat calls and howling. Jade flipped them off and kept walking.
“
Damn Tommy was that your girl?” Luke asked pretending to be shocked.
“
You’re breaking my heart pretty girl,” Tommy called after her and dropped to his knees.
Jade turned around and smiled and shook her head.
~
They ran to the state park that bordered the property, including the one hundred plus stairs at least ten times.
“This is like basic training ladies,” Coach V yelled at them. “It will show us who is varsity field hockey material and who is not. If it’s not for you don’t bother coming back tomorrow! Half of you will make it through the next two weeks and the others will walk away. It is not for everyone ladies. We are looking for skill and heart. That’s a wrap, see you all tomorrow.” He excused them and they walked back to the school. They showered, dressed, and walked out to the back parking lot to see if Alex was there.
~
“You crushed me pretty girl,” Tommy shouted from Luke’s car as Luke pulled up next to them and stopped. Jade laughed as Tommy jumped out of the car shirtless, holding his heart he fell dramatically to the ground.
Tessa stood looking at the ground, her phone vibrated and she grabbed it. She looked at her phone, a message,
-You look hot Tessa…LL
She rolled her eyes and ignored it and put the phone in her bag.
“Is that how it’s going to be Tessa?” Luke asked leaning over towards the window flashing his perfect white half smile.
“
Oh I’m sorry was that from you?” Tessa asked sarcastically.
“
You are not used to this kind of attention are you?” he said trying to hide his smile, “You need to get used to it Tessa, I am going to be watching you.”
“
Sounds kind of stalker-ish, LL” she said.
“
No Tessa, just someone who admires your assets,” Luke smiled and looked her up and down.
“
Wow does that normally work for you?” she said to him and looked away annoyed. “Jade you ready?”
Jade was kneeling down laughing at Tommy, he sat up and smiled, he had a kind smile.
“Can we give you ladies a lift?” he asked.
“
Sure,” Jade said, “We were going to walk to Tessa’s house.”
“
Thank you for accepting,” he said bowing down to her, he pointed his hand to the back. She followed him and climbed in.
“
Looks like you’re up here with me,” Luke smiled at Tessa and leaned across and pushed the door opened. She got in and buckled her seat belt and crossed her arms over herself.
Jade and Tommy were in the back of the car. Tessa looked back and saw them laughing as Tommy pointed to the clouds through the side window resting his head on her shoulder.
“That one looks like a monkey,” he said “Do you like animals?” he asked.
“
Yes, I do, why?” Jade asked.
“
Just wondering? I want to know everything about you, you are perfect on the outside, and funny, I just want to know you pretty girl, is that alright?” He asked.
“
I guess so,” she smiled, “Since you asked so nicely.”
“
I told you Jade,” he continued, “I always will.”
They drove down Main Street and Luke saw a blonde looking towards his car
“Oh shit,” he said, “Don’t ask questions, bend down and hide.” Tessa did and waited there till he told her it was okay to sit up. “Sorry Tessa, crazy ex.”
Tessa rolled her eyes
“That will not happen again,”
This is so uncomfortable
, she thought.
Jade and Tommy talked and laughed the rest of the way. She looked happy. Jade tapped on Luke
’s shoulder “Could you pull up this road and let us off, I don’t want my aunt and uncle to get upset about us riding with you guys.”
Luke pulled over and reached across the car and pushed the release on her seat belt, his hand stayed on her leg for a moment before she started to get out,
“Tessa I think you’re hot, and you’d have to agree I am not bad on the eyes either, think about it. I would love to spend time with you Tessa Ross,” he squeezed her hand and she jumped out.
“
Thank you for the ride,” Tessa said, she shook her head and waited for Jade.
Tommy gave Jade his hand as she jumped out, he smiled at her,
“Come to my game this weekend” he asked.
“
My cousin play’s Tommy, I will be there,” she smiled.
“
Oh that’s right, well when I make a touchdown and hold my hand like this,” he grinned making his fingers into a J, “you know I will be thinking of you pretty girl.”
She laughed and walked towards Tessa.
“He is so cute, and funny, and he really likes me” Jade said grinning ear to ear. She talked the whole way home about the J when he made a touchdown and how he called her pretty girl. She liked this boy.
What does this Tommy have a parrot fetish Tessa wondered
? They walked into the farm house and there were suit cases in the kitchen, Jade gave Tessa a questioning look, Tessa shrugged her shoulders. She knew it was coming but wasn’t thinking it would be this soon. Jade called her dad for a ride and he answered from the barn, “I am here with John,” he said “Meet me at the truck.”
“
Dad’s waiting outside, call me later Tessa,” Jade gave her a hug and walked out.
~
Tessa’s parents sat the kids down at the table and told them they needed a break from one another, but it was nothing to do with them. Maggie had an apartment about ten miles away and was going there tonight. The kids were going to stay at home for the week to not disrupt school. They did not get to or have to choose who they stayed with. There was no discussion or choices about this, as in most cases the adults in the situation made the decisions. Maggie was going to get the apartment set up so for the next two days they were definitely staying at home. Kendall and Jake cried but the others said nothing.