Whispers of Hope”
Chapter 5 (Marissa)
Walking in the house I shut the door behind me and dropped my bag to the floor. What a day I thought to myself. Thank God I had no more run ins with Zach. I don’t think I could have handled it if I had. That one little episode in gym was enough drama to last me a life time. I just can’t get over how much three years had changed the boy, but evidently it did and in the most drastic of ways. He is nothing like my Zach of old. This new Zach is not someone that I want to be around and I am so glad that he showed me that today.
“Is that you sweetie?” Mom called out from the door way of the kitchen. She had her apron on and I instantly smelled the familiar scent of her famous chocolate chip cookies.
Smiling back at her I replied, “Yea, it’s me.” Her chocolate chip cookies are a one hundred per cent cure all for whatever ails you, even snarky guys that go by the name of Zach. Taking a few steps towards the kitchen I said “Something sure smells good in here.”
“They’re for after dinner” mom replied as she walked back over to the stove to take the pan of cookies out of the oven. She laid the pan up on the cooling rack and turned around looking pointedly at me, “and not a minute sooner, Missy.”
Rolling my eyes I went and sat down at the counter staring down at my hands. “Fine” I grumbled like a petulant child who didn’t get their way.
Mom laughed at my reaction and in the next moment one warm cookie was placed in front of me. With a smile teasing at my lips I looked back up at her and said “Thanks mom.”
Shaking her spatula at me she tried to maintain a stern face telling me “No more till after dinner, got it?”
Biting into the warm gooey cookie I sighed in pleasure. Now this is something that I could live with every day. Wonderful, sweet, chocolatey goodness.
Mom took the seat beside me and glanced in my direction, “Good?” she asked.
With my mouth stuffed full of cookie I just nodded. Shaking her head mom just giggled at me. “You always did love my chocolate chip cookies” she sighed.
Mom turned and gazed out the window. She had that far away look on her face and I knew that she was thinking about dad. They were so much in love before our life changed. Before my episodes ripped them apart. Daddy just couldn’t handle it and neither of us had seen him in over two and half years.
“Mom” I whispered while placing my hand on her shoulder, “are you okay?”
She shook her head bringing her out of her trance and covered my hand with her own.
Clearing her throat she replied, “I’m fine baby, now tell me about your day, was it good?”
How should I answer that? I didn’t want to make her feel bad by dumping my problems with Zach on her. She was actually hopeful that in coming back home I could find some happiness with some of my old friends. Right now just wasn’t the time to disappoint to her.
So, I decided to tell her about the one highlight of my day. “I made friends with three girls” I said cheerfully.
“Really” mom replied excitedly.
“Yea” I told her. “Two of them I remembered back from freshman year and the other one is their cousin. They’re really nice.” I added.
“That is so great to hear” mom said sounding genuinely thrilled. She stood up and placed her hands in her apron pockets. “Now, why don’t you go on upstairs and start your homework, while I start dinner. Cara should be home soon and I would like for the three of us to sit down and have a nice dinner together.”
I arched my brow at that statement. Nice and Cara just didn’t go in the same sentence together, never has and probably never will.
Mom narrowed her eyes in my direction, “I mean it Missy, the three of us will have dinner together.”
“I get it” I groaned, “Dinner together, happy family, I‘ll be here.” I told her as I headed for the steps.
“You can loose the sarcasm too, Missy” Mom called out to me.
“It’s lost” I hollered back while running up the stairs. I heard her chuckle and shook my head as I bounded upwards. My mom is a nut, but she‘s my nut and I love her all the same for it.
For the next hour and a half I worked on my homework. Chemistry, Math and World History were all now complete. Glancing at the clock I seen that is was not 6:30, family dinner time. Oh joy, I thought to myself. Closing the last book I stood up and stretched my arms above my head. Might as well go ahead and get this over with.
“Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence….if it isn’t the great Marissa.” Cara said sarcastically as I entered the kitchen.
“I was doing my homework” I said brushing by her to go to the table.
“You were doing your homework” she mocked in a high pitched voice. “I heard you were doing a whole lot more than that today in gym class.” Cara accused, “like maybe a blonde headed hunk with piercing blue eyes.”
“Shut up” I fiercely whispered to her as mom came in and started placing the plates on the table.
“What’s this I hear about gym class sweetie?” Mom asked as we all took our seats.
Picking up my fork I stabbed into the meatloaf eyeing my sister.
“Nothing. Nothing happened in gym” I said through gritted teeth.
Cara had a sly grin on her face as our eyes stayed locked on each other in a battle of wits.
“That’s not the rumor that I heard, mom” she replied. She meticulously took a napkin and unfolded it. Then she placed it in her lap and continued talking as if she was talking about the daily weather.
“What I heard was that Marissa and this guy at school had a little spat. It was quite the production that ended with both gym classes watching them and then they both ended up with detention for two days.”
Mom stared over at me with disbelief written all over her face while Cara had a look of the utmost satisfaction on hers.
“Is that true young lady?” mom asked me. Did you get detention on your first day back at school?”
I couldn’t face her, I couldn’t face the disappointment. I looked down at my plate and muttered “Yes ma’am”.
I heard her sigh and the sound of Cara’s stiffled giggles.
“That’s enough Cara” mom snapped at her.
“What, what did I do?” she whined standing up abruptly causing her chair to fall to the floor. “I didn’t get detention on the first day of school, she did” Cara stated while pointing in my direction.
“Cara, I said that’s enough. Now sit down and we will all eat dinner. I don’t want to hear another word from either of you. Are we clear?”
Mom’s voiced was raised and you could see the tension lines clearly etched in her face.
“Yes ma’am” I instantly answered turning my attention back to the food on my plate.
Cara was still standing glowering my direction.
“I said sit, Cara” mom repeated leaving little room for any type of argument.
Cara huffed and stepped back from the table. “She never gets in trouble. You always coddle her and make her to be your golden child. It’s not fair.” she screamed.
“Cara” mom said in a very cool tone. “That is not true and you know it.”
Cara snorted. “Whatever, I’m suddenly not hungry anymore anyway” she replied and left the room before mom could protest any further.
Mom sat at the table and lowered her head. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do with that girl” she muttered. “Ever since your dad left she has had a chip on her shoulder and I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
I stood and went to pat my mom on the shoulder. “It’ll be okay” I told her. “She’s just hormonal, it’s her time of the month” I added trying to make her smile.
That statement earned me a heady chuckle. I wasn‘t even sure if that was true or not. Cara acted like she was on the pip twenty four seven anyway but it made mom smile and that was all that mattered.
“I hope you’re right Missy,” Mom said as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “I really hope you’re right” she repeated looking up at me with a tired look. “Now sit and finish your dinner before it gets cold.”
I did as she asked. I ate my dinner and then headed upstairs to shower. Afterwards I climbed in the bed and pulled the covers to my chin. In the darkness of the room I fell asleep instantly. I slept hard and dreamed.
I dreamed of a blue eyed boy that not so long ago made me the happiest girl in the world. Then I dreamed of the same blued eyed boy who now looked older and even more handsome, but this time I watched him as he deeply kissed a petite red head in the hall. Fighting to clear the unwanted images from my sleep, my dreams shifted. They shifted to a beautiful grey wolf with piercing blue eyes. The wolf rubbed against my leg and I felt no fear. I only felt a quiet sense of tenderness.
Reaching down I rubbed my fingers through the wolf’s pelt and heard the distinct sound of a grumble. I did it again and the sound repeated itself, he liked it. Kneeling beside the wolf I used both hands to comb through it’s fur and smiled at the comforting sound coming from his chest.
Beep…..Beep…..Beep….Beep…..
I jumped up at the sound of my alarm going off smacked at it blindly. The clock fell to the floor and continued with it’s annoying Beep….Beep…..Beep….
Groaning I stood up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. Reaching down I grabbed the annoying little box and hit the snooze button.
“Thank god” I muttered when it finally quit beeping.
The dream of the beautiful grey wolf suddenly came rushing back to me. It seemed so real, as if the wolf was right here in my room. I even thought that I could still smell the remnants of the woodsy scent the wolf carried.
Shaking my head I went to the bathroom to get ready. This is all silly, I just have an over active imagination. Shaking off the dream I finished touching up my make up and headed out for another day of school. Just another day in paradise, I thought mockingly.
Surprisingly, the whole day at school went well. I had fun with Amy, Liza and Tabby throughout the day. There was no mishaps with you know who. I didn’t even see him in gym and what was bad was the I wasn’t exactly sure if that was a blessing or a curse. I must be one seriously demented chick. The rest of the afternoon passed just as smoothly as the first half of the day.It was then that I thought about how my second day of school was turning out to be so much better than yesterday, especially without a particular blonde haired playboy working to grade on my last nerve.
But now it was time to go to detention. Detention with said playboy. Letting out a long sigh, I headed towards the gym. “Might as well get it over with” I mumbled as I walked down the hall.
“Marissa” an unfamiliar voice called out to me just as I hit the door at the gym.
I turned around to see one of the boys that Zach had been horsing around with yesterday staring at me intently.
“Yea” I said cautiously. I couldn’t help but to feel a bit nervous considering he was one of Zach’s friends.
He smiled and strode forward closing the distance between us. He was quite attractive with his unruly dark hair and mysterious green eyes, but I couldn’t help to think abouth how Zach was so much more handsome.
“I’m Jake” he said holding out his hand to me and looking very sincere.
I stared at his hand for a moment trying to figure out his game plan.
After a moment his hand dropped and a small frown curled on his lips.
“Look, I know you don’t know me and you’re probably a bit hesitant because I’m Zach’s cousin and all, but I…I just thought you looked really nice today and I..” He stopped and looked down stubbing his toe several times into the tile. His nervous shyness was almost endearing.
“And” I replied probing him to go on.
He looked up and I smiled back at him hoping to dispel some of his nervousness.
“And I wanted to know if you wanted to be my guest at my party on Friday night?” he rushed out quickly.
My first instinct was to say no. Even though he was cute and seemed really sweet, I just wasn’t ready for a relationship right now.
“No” Zach said firmly coming up from behind and scaring the bejeesus out of me. “She’s not interested” he spoke for me glaring at Jake.
Now that just pissed me off. He had not right to make that type of decision for me. Straightening my stance I lifted my chin in defiance and ignored Zach's prescence. Looking up at Jake I replied, “I would love to Jake.”
Zach came around and pushed me behind him. When his hand touched me tingles shot up my arm causing me to gasp.
“No she wouldn’t” Zach repeated infusing steele in his voice.
Regaining my composure after the shock of his touch I stepped back around Zach and placed my self directly in front of Jake. Our bodies were so close that the musky scent of his cologne tickled my senses.
“I live at 220 Walker Avenue. Pick me up at 6:00” I said with a large smile on my face.
A growl came from behind me causing Jake to look up at Zach. He gave him a smirk and casually lifted his shoulders.
“You’re taking Sara dude, you can’t have two dates” Jake replied.
Fire burned in Zach’s blue eyes as he stared at his cousin. For a moment I thought they had darkened so much that they almost looked black.
After hearing about his own date with this Sara I was peeved. How dare he try to tell someone that I wasn’t free for a date when he already had his date lined up. The idea that he had his own date with another female was like a personal blow to the gut. I really needed to get over this boy.
Acting out of pure anger I leaned up and pressed a kiss on Jake’s cheek. Jake sighed with pleasure and I heard that growling sound coming from Zach again. For whatever reason I was pleased to know that Zach was unhappy about the chaste kiss. I know that I shouldn’t care what he thought, but sadly for me I did. I would probably regret it later but for now I would savor the small victory.
Stepping back from Jake I turned and refused to look Zach in the eyes. Instead I brushed by him and walked straight into the gym. Time for the real fun to begin.
YOU ARE READING
Whispers of Hope- Book # 3 (Mated Hearts Series) Complete
Teen FictionMy breath came in short pants and my heart took off at a staccato pace. I felt my skin warm and my blood tingle and this was all just from seeing him again. At first he looked shocked, and then his face turned to a mask of longing. I could hard...