"Jordan I am sick and tired of your lack of effort in school. If you don't start putting work into school, I will have to take you out of soccer." Jordan's mother, Valerie, wasn't too happy about Sandra's grades. "Mom, I promise I'll study for the next tests coming up. Now can I please go over Sandra's house?"
Jordan spent the rest of his evening in his room, alone, studying for the upcoming Math Unit test. Math was his favorite subject. Unlike science and literature, he could solve a math problem faster than most of the Honor Society students.
Jordan is the type of kid who most people would call the jock. He plays 4 different sports which includes his favorite soccer, basketball, hockey, and flag football. Even though he's considered a jock he's secretly a genius when it comes to math. He stands at about 5"9 and is one of the tallest kids in the 8th grade. He's been dating Sandra since 5th grade and they're considered the couple of the school.
"Sandra I'm really sorry that I couldn't go over today. I'm stuck in my room studying for the Math test." Sandra, who is the nicest yet mischievous girl in the grade, understood that he had to study. She had other plans to attend to.
"Baby don't worry, I had plans with a friend of mine who I'll introduce you too. You can continue studying for your test. Just don't worry about me. I'll be okay!"
The next day went by in a cloudy haze and Jordan seemed very distracted about Sandra's comment the other day. He got 100 on his Math Test, and won both his hockey and soccer game. But he still seemed to be unfocused and distraught.
After that week passed, he still couldn't get that feeling out of his head. What was causing him to feel this way? On Saturday morning, he woke up early and walked over to Sandra's house. When he knocked on the front door, Sandra's mother opened and greeted Jordan. When Jordan asked where Sandra was her mother was surprised. "I thought she was at your house?" She replied in total shock.
Jordan was then struck with the reason of that gnawing feeling he's been having all week. He realized that Sandra was keeping a secret, and not one that he would like.
Weeks past and Jordan and Sandra went on as the couple from heaven that they've been for so long. But every once in a while, in it started to happen more often, Sandra went undercover. Both Jordan and her parents knew about these happenings but didn't want to mention it to her in case it wasn't true.
Jordan was becoming ever so distant and Sandra started to notice. She would ask Jordan what was wrong but he would just answer with "I have a lot of school work and I need sleep." Jordan began to talk with some of the girls he had eyed before Sandra was in his arms. But now that they are grasping at each other's fingertips, there seemed no point. Sandra was also seen walking home from school with a friend of his. He was in total awe of what he's witnessed.
On one warm spring day, it seemed like the end had come. Jordan heard Sandra walking up the school staircase with somebody else who he suspected was the mystery boy. Sandra called him early to tell him to go to the school entrance after school. He knew this is where it ended yet with all the preparation he put forth, he still couldn't believe this day had come. And of all days, it was their anniversary.
As Sandra and the boy walked up the steps they seemed to have been carrying something rather heavy. He was confused when the girl he had been talking to walked up alongside Sandra and his friend and held up a canvas with white sheet over.
Sandra slowly walked up to Jordan and held on to his hand. He was to confused to pull away even though he felt like he should have. Sandra began to speak.
"Baby, you passed the test. This past month has been one huge gift. I just wanted to make sure you were truly ready for this gift. If you thought I was cheating on you, I don't blame you at all. I have been with Eric over there more than with you. But that's not because I have feelings for him. It's because I have feelings for you. Baby you know Eric is an artist. And we've talked about our anniversary gifts before. I just wanted mine to be an extra special gift for my extra special guy. I need you to know how much I love you. This is my way of showing it."
And with those final words, Sandra pulled the white sheet off of the canvas and elevated in front of him was the most beautiful piece of art he'd ever seen. It was a painting of Sandra and him on the top of a cliff, hanging their feet down, watching the sunset over the blue ocean.
Sandra and Jordan looked over at each other and moved closer. It was Jordan's turn to say something.
"Sandra, I want you to know how much I love you too. I need you to know. This is my way of showing it."
And with one swift yet delicate motion, he put his hands around Sandra and lightly kissed her. At first their lips barely brushed each other, since it was there first time, yet it felt like they were experts. Jordan pulled Sandra closer and kissed her nor passionately. Then theirs lips slowly parted and they looked at each other with all the love in the world.
"I love you, Baby."
"I love you too, my Sandy."
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This is the first of many short stories to come in the series Unlocking the Mysteries. I hope you all enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a vote and comment any suggestions, questions, or mysteries you want to hear about.
