Stay Courageous

Chapter 22

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Stella's POV
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"I honestly don't understand all of this mess. Since when does your father think Sandhills is a horrible place? I really don't like you living with that family, Stella. It makes me I uncomfortable," my mom was taking me to school on Friday morning. She doesn't get to talk to me a lot so I guess she was taking this opportunity in the car to grill me about California. I am so so sick of that state.

"Ms. Nancy doesn't want to move," which was true. She remained on my side, the only person who seemed to these days.

"Just because that woman Agrees with you doesn't make her a good person. All those people really do make me uncomfortable. I really want you to come live with me, Stella. Then you wouldn't have to worry about moving!" And living with you makes me uncomfortable, I said in my head. Unfortunately, I had to be a bit more careful with the words I spoke out loud.

"Nick is one of 'those people,' mom," but I already knew what she was going to say.

"I don't mean Nick, you little booger," she laughed at me. I guess she thought "booger" was a term of endearment, but really it was just weird. And the fact that she was trying to make light of this whole situation also made me "uncomfortable."

"Well, have a good day at school, sweetie. I'll see you this weekend, okay?" She looked at me expectantly, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her what she wanted to hear.

"Bye, mom," I got out of the car and quickly shut the door before she could say anything mushy. I couldn't deal with that type of mood swing.

The thing about my mom is that she's so passive aggressive. She says things that make me mad, like how me living with my dad and Ms. Nancy makes her uncomfortable, and then she tries to joke around and act like everything's all fine and dandy, like how she started laughing when I said Nick was one of "those people" that I lived with. She's always been like that.

I thought of this as I walked into school. I smiled because for once, I didn't find Ian Crenshaw waiting for me at the schools entrance.
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"Hey!" I was walking to Spanish class that morning and I silently praised The Lord that the voice calling after me wasn't Fletcher's.

"What?" It was some random guy I didn't know. He was winded from running after me down the hall. I guess he didn't have class at this end of the building.

"Stella, right? Will you give this note to your friend Samantha?" He handed a piece of notebook paper that was folded twice. What?

"Uh, sure. I didn't catch your name..." I knew he didn't say it in the first place but I had to know who this guy was.

"Oh. Sean. Name's Sean. Thanks," he started sprinting back the way he came. I hope he made it back to wherever his class was before the bell rang.

In Spanish, I opened up the note underneath my desk. We were just watching a movie so the teacher wouldn't notice me. I honestly don't think she would care anyway.

Dear Sam,
Please go out with me. Sorry if I came on too strong on the phone. You're so pretty and athletic and I really like you.
-Sean Hunter

I laughed silently. Came on too strong on the phone? If hate to tell the guy, but he was coming on too strong in his note as well. Lord help whoever this Sean dude was. Sam doesn't generally like normal humans, let alone crazy fanboy type people who obsess over her. I folded the note back the way it was and slipped it into the pocket of my skinny jeans, praying that Sam wouldn't shoot the messenger.
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Kat's POV
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"Hey, Zoe," I tried to be really kind to Zoe when I saw her at lunch. She obviously didn't want me to know she self harmed, so I pretended I didn't. I still needed to make it up to her somehow, so I still tried to be super nice.

"Hey," she was just as bland as she'd been then day before. It's like she didn't even have the drive to be mad at me anymore, which I couldn't believe considering Zoe's temper. I sighed, silently giving up for the day. I'd have to restrategize and make a comeback next week. Lord knows Zoe wouldn't be doing anything with me over the weekend, especially since tonight was the night of Madison's sleepover which I still had to stress over. Great.

About that time, Stella finally decided to join us at our table. "Guys, you'll never believe what I have for Sam." She slammed a folded piece of paper down in front of Sam as she said this. I figured Sam would be twice as confused as I was, but she just seemed annoyed as she groaned and put her head down in her arms on the table.

"Seriously?" She moaned over dramatically, looking at Stella and letting her know that wasn't a rhetorical question.

"What? You know Sean?" Stella said.

"Sean Hunter?" She nodded to clarify. What? That's the guy that Zoe said she likes at her sleepover, I thought. I didn't say it out loud, not wanting to bring a depressed Zoe into this.

"The kids been stalking me all year. He has this stupid puppy crush on me and he won't quit flirting with me even though I've told him a thousand times I don't like him," she stared straight at Zoe when she stressed the "thousand."

Sam opened and read the note. "Yep. He just asked me out again. You know, this time I'm not gonna respond and maybe this time he'll finally take the hint," she folded her arms and lowered her eyebrows, presenting us with a very frustrated expression.

I looked back and forth between Zoe and Sam. There was obvious tension between. Great, yet another conflict for Taylor and I, the only same ones left, to solve. Why does my once simple life have so many problems all of a sudden?
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Welcome to highschool, Kat.

Enjoying the story? Comment and tell me! Not enjoying it? Also comment!! I love feedback, I'm just looking to improve as a writer in any way possible.

If you like this book and my weird sense of humor, also check out my other books "Weekly Poems by SabyJo" "Useless Random Facts About Me" and "The Scenario Game." If you hate this book but you're just looking for something good to read, check out anything written by CurrentlyMuke_ "Pretty in Pink" by cinnamonpixie they are both excellent writers.

Thank you for putting up with me and my eternally long authors notes. I love yall. <3

Oh, and the character is Sean.

-SJ