Always & Forever

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

2006 - Louie's POV

I'm just an average 15 year old girl, I have an amazing mumma bear, 2 incredibly annoying brothers, wonderful friends and more teen drama then I could poke a stick at. I go to school, I have a casual job in a super market, I play sport and I listen to music - oh, and I also I have a boyfriend, he's slightly older, and by slightly, I mean he's 5 years older than me. (Gulp) I guess if you're just reading this, then that doesn't sound right does it? Let me back up a bit.

I'm Louise San Patrick, worst name in the world I know, but with the name comes a long line of incredible women and their numerous legacies and I'd like to think I'm slowly proving myself on that scale. That is of course, when I'm not chucking a tantrum at my brothers or wasting countless hours on MSN and MySpace fiddling with my prestigious top 8. I'm just starting Year 10 at Lynpark Secondary Collage and hoping that this year will be highly improved over last year, ergh 14 and 15 are totally not my favourite ages. Anyway, back on topic now what was I saying, oh right - boyfriend.

I've always been a little bit boy crazy, numerous crushes and shorter relationships then JT and Britney have led me to my current fling. It's 12 months in already, and I guess I really should stop calling Owen a fling, but really, who am I kidding? He's the flavour of the month that I haven't gotten rid of yet. Makes me sound like a horribly self centered person I know, but trust me, I'm really not. Owen McSader is just.... He's too quiet, no fire in his belly, and with that lack of spark comes the lack of challenges. I don't want a relationship to be hard, but I want someone to rev me up, challenge me and thrill me. Owen is a great guy, he's just a major wet sponge that I happen to also share a casual job with. I'm really not doing myself any favours here am I? I don't want you to think less of me, but I also want you to know I'm openly honest. I think that's mine and Owen's major problem, we don't butt heads enough and he's too pleasing. Too willing to agree and say yes to me, instead of speaking his mind and it drives me bonkers.

12 months in means we've got a routine pretty much sorted, after a gruelling Sunday shift together in a way to busy super market, Owen drops me home giving me a small kiss good bye wishing me luck for my first day of Year 10 tomorrow. I should have known then just how doomed we were, as I was getting out of his car and saying my good byes all I can think is 'even his kisses are boring me now'. 12 months in and I am bored out of my brain. I’m a terrible human, I know. Walking in the door, my mum knew straight away that something was up. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great relationship with my mum, but this is something a girls gotta deal with on her own. Sometimes there are things even your mum can’t fix for you. To drown out the world and ignore the very obvious problem at hand, I jump on the computer. About half an hour later, Owen jumps on MSN. Things have gotten so bad that I don’t even want to talk to him now. I remember in the beginning when we would speak for hours. He seemed so wise, so mature, someone I could have a real conversation with. I think I realised at that time that the ‘spark’ was losing its intensity but wasn’t willing to face the music – so instead I pumped the music. Blink 182 can always make me feel better no matter my mood.

Mornings aren't my thing, I'm a night owl. My sleeping pattern is very skewed and my bed is only my best friend in the morning when I do not want to get up to the 5th alarm going off. It doesn't matter that it’s the first day back at school, that I finally get to see all my friends or that I'm going to be pushing to make it to school on time before home room as it is, I do not want to budge. I'm comfortable, can't I just stay here all day? Nope, mum has other ideas, purposely screaming right near my door to ensure me and the entire neighbourhood can hear 'Lou!! If you're not up and in that shower in the next 10 seconds you're going to be in big trouble!' She means well, honest, but that doesn't stop me from growling and complaining as I drag my sorry butt out of bed and into the shower before my brothers steal all the hot water for themselves. Getting ready is easy, school uniform, lip gloss, my brand new school bag and stationary, my lunch and them I'm ready to go. Before leaving, I grab the home phone calling my best friend to let her know I'm on my way. It's been our thing since we became best friends in Year 7. Carleigh and I always walk to and from school together, that's not a tradition I was willing to break on the first day. Picking up on the first ring, Carleigh and I organized to be at our usual place in 5 minutes hoping and praying we make it to home room on time.

The first 2 days passed in a blur, in between meeting new teaches, harassing new students and keeping up with my avid sporting and social life, this year seemed like it was off to another boring start. While boring is easy, and boring is drama free... Boring is boring. I like excitement, fun. I like to be thrilled and to sit down at the end of the day and go ‘Whoa, I cannot believe that happened. Again, not doing myself any favours but I promised the truth. I was a bit of a bully, I never did anything to earn that rep specifically, all my close friends could tell you I'm actually not what the rumours play me out to be, but either way, it was a rep I had that I planned on upholding. Being 5"11 and only 15 meant I was unnaturally tall and none of the boys had caught up to me yet, my height, paired with the fact that I played Australian Rules Football and that loud honest mouth I keep mentioning meant I really had no say in the image I portrayed. It just goes to show you how wrong an image or perception can be. That doesn’t mean I bothered to correct them, and I’m not denying that I used that rep to my advantage to skip the canteen line once or twice, but still – I’m a nice person. I like people to feel welcomed, and I make friends with everyone – regardless of what “group” others think they fit into.

With that reputation came the belief that I knew everyone in this school. If I didn't know them, then they certainly knew me. I thought I ruled the school, and the social hierarchy that came with it. I wasn't wrong in saying that, but as the saying goes, the higher you are, the harder and further you fall. I knew deep inside that this year was going to be different, I just don't think I realised quiet how different it would be.

Drama had always been a favourite subject of mine, the chance to voice my opinions in front of people and boss around anyone else? Heck yeah that suits me to a T! I was in my element in the drama room so I was thrilled that it was my subject for the first two semesters, it meant an easy A, and a bludge. Nothing to complain about there if you ask me.

Walking in 2 minutes late and capturing the undivided attention of the rest of the class, I waltzed in, dumped my bag and sat down, smack bang right in the middle. It was about half way through the lesson when I spotted him. He had to be new here, I'd never seen him before and as I knew everyone, that was the only option, wasn't it? Dark brown hair, A school blazer two sizes too big and school shorts on an unnaturally cold summer day, continuously bringing his phone out to check and not paying me any attention what so ever. He was enchanting, gosh, I sound like some stranded princess from a Disney fairy tale! I don’t know why, but I just knew that he would have amazing eyes. If only he would look up, and hopefully to look up at me. Trying to will him (rather unsuccessfully might I add) with my mind to look up, I gave up and chose to watch him instead, hoping silently that he would eventually look my way.

Sitting away from the rest of the class, in the corner almost by himself, with only 2 other guys sitting next to him, he had his head down and was secretly trying to hide the cord from his iPod from the teacher, obviously someone wasn't as enthused by drama as I was. He looked quiet, wasn't saying much to his companions - honestly, he looked down right bored. I took this as a sign that I should introduce myself. His life would be a much better place to be if he knew me, I could brighten up anyone's day. Ignoring the work we're meant to be doing, I got up, strutted on over to him, sitting right next to him and grabbing the spare ear piece from his iPod and shoving it in my ear, I stated 'Hi, I'm Louie, what are you listening too?'

Seeing the downright horrified look on his face and hearing a very mumbled 'A7X' I decided then and there that I was going to make myself friends with this boy, first I just have to work out his name and story... Eventually. Smiling sweetly and battering my eyelashes a bit, I not so politely informed him he should get better taste in music because that song was sh*t, before getting up and walking away, Hopefully leaving him gob smacked and no doubt very curious.

Walking away from Mr Mysterious and back to my friends, all I could think was holy smokes, that boy is trouble. Not typical bad boy trouble, but trouble. He looked like the guy who could wipe a girl off her feet without even trying. Grabbing my school diary out to check my timetable, I was even more excited than normal to realise I had a double Drama first thing the next morning.

This year just got a whole lot more interesting.