JASE
Chapter 1
"Look man, I really wish I could,"
Lies, lies, lies.
"But, my grandparents are taking me to this Orlando resort,"
They take you there every year.
"Trust me,"
Not likely.
"I'd be bummed if I had to spend two months in the same bedroom as my little brother too."
You don't have any siblings, what do you know?
"But that's life, Jase."
Yeah, my life.
I was sick and tired of my best friend Ben insisting (more like lying) about how bad he felt ditching me for the whole two months we had off for summer break. The last day of school is supposed to be short, exciting and fun-filled with everyone signing yearbooks, taking pictures, bragging about all the tricked-out yachts and cruises they'd be sailing on, having a blast at one of the Disney parks, or spending their time at one of the exclusive beaches you had to pay over fifty dollars to get into.
I hated it.
"Whatever," I sighed, turning my back against Ben. Not interested in everyone's social activities, I returning to my sketch. The lines forming the delicate body shape of the small Florida lizard, perched on a warm rock in the sunny courtyard spewed from my Number 2 pencil, as I crouched over my sketch pad, capturing it's every feature. Girls squealed with excitement as they ran around with digital cameras taking pictures with their girlfriends and guys popping into the background.
"I can't believe this is the end of freshman year!" One girl screamed to her friend, as she tackled her with a hug.
"I know, right?" The friend replied with the same over-enthusiastic voice.
Two months until Ash and I are in the same school. Whoop-dee-do.
I strained my eyes from the sun's glare, touching up my lizard picture. Almost perfect! I placed my chicken-scratch signature in the bottom-right corner.
Wait til Mr. E sees this!
Mr. Ellion was my AP Art teacher, and I was tempted to show him this masterpiece, proving my worth of being the only ninth-grader in the class.
I felt something icy cold splash on the back of my neck, like a water droplet. A split second later, my blond-brown hair was drenched dark, my gray t-shirt soaked, and my pencil drawing smudged and dripping. I whipped around, droplets flying off the ends of my hair.
"Oops. Sorry Davis. Didn't see you there." Daren Cheston apologized, mockingly, quickly stuffing his Polar Springs water bottle behind his back. Anger furled inside me, about to explode. "Didn't mean to ruin your doodle!" Everyone who saw the stunt was in stitches. I wanted to punch someone.
Hard.
"Just be more careful next time," I managed through clenched teeth, restraining myself from not beating him black and blue. While Daren and his butt-headed friends were snickering their heads off, I gathered my sketch book and pencils and headed into the hallways, out of the courtyard. I noticed Ben standing off by the pillar where Daren and his crew had disappeared. He looked at me with pitiful brown eyes, waved halfheartedly and walked away. The end-of-day bell rattled through the hallways, and kids everywhere, from freshmen to seniors scuttled throughout the halls, rushing to get out South Crimson Prep. I began to walk out of the double-door entrance, when a friendly face stopped me; Mr. Ellion.
