To Be Loved (Teacher/Student)

Chapter 12

Jessie’s POV

Shelly was over my house helping me figure out a theme for James’ birthday.  She was spending the night and showed up about half an hour later after the Twins left.

“What about Pirates?” She suggested.

I pondered the choice and voted against it. “Nah, James doesn’t really like pirates.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead, “This is really giving me a headache. Why is it so hard to figure out what to do for a birthday?” We’ve been going at this for hours and I was exhausted!

“Well, there’s always superheroes?” Shelly stated.

“Ok, now we’re getting somewhere even though I don’t really know what superheroes he likes. Hold on, wait!” I suddenly got up and quietly made my way to his room. I seen him looking so cute and innocent sleep and I didn’t want to wake him up so I slipped through the door and tiptoed to his book shelf and seen a lot of superhero comics that Gregg brought him over the years.

I noticed a variety of DC Comics and Marvel Comics but something else caught my eyes. I picked up a comic that read, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1.

As I read the title, I do recall asking James who his favorite superhero was and it wasn’t The Hulk or Superman; it was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The only reason why he didn’t have any more comics was because Gregg couldn’t find them at any stores around here. He had to search high and low for the one he brought James.  At that point, I knew what I wanted to do for James’ birthday party.

I rushed back to my room and threw the comic on Shelly’s lap. “That’s it! That’s what I can do for his party. He’ll never see it coming and this weekend I can just relax!”

When I jumped on the bed the impact made Shelly fall off the bed. I burst out laughing as quietly as I could and turned onto my back and put my hands behind my head staring at the ceiling. I started thinking about being close to Andrew and my heart instantly started to beat fast. Then I thought about his deep but sweet voice; it made her insides melt.

I felt the side of the bed dip down and noticed Shelly staring down at me. “Thinking about him?” She asked me.

My cheeks burned and I looked away too embarrassed to look at her. “No it’s ok; I totally know what it’s like to be in love!” She sang the last part. “And you my dear Jes have been bit with the Love Bug.” She

I looked to her and asked her, “You’ve been in love before?” I was real curious because Shelly was more of a quiet girl and not that it is impossible, I just couldn’t picture her being in a relationship.

“Yes girl, I was a freshman and it was the first day of school and while in Algebra class, the teacher used a seating chart; I was sat next to this guy Henry. Throughout the first couple of weeks we never really talked besides him asking for paper and pencils. Later on, we started warming up to each other and then after about two of months of talking, we finally got together. We’ve been going since out freshman until he made captain of the football team our junior year. He changed. Instead of hanging around me at lunch he would blow me off and sit with his jock friends. He began treating me like dirt in front of his friends and then he started hanging around the cheerleaders and flirted with them.”

As she told me this story she stared off in the distance as if reliving every moment with tears in her eyes. “Then one day I came up to him and asked him why he has been acting weird and he said “I no longer love you and I’m breaking up with you.”

When I said why he simply replied, “I was cheating on you.” It broke my heart. I cried and cried until no more tears could come out. I knew from that day that boys just aren’t worth my time and tears.” She let the tears fall and I let some fall from my ducts.