Prolouge
Gemma's POV
"Jemima?" My best friend, Chesney called out to me.
"Ches, you've known me for years now. I think we've established that I'm not going to answer you when you associate me with the chick from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. It's Gemma, and you know it." I paused for a moment. "What do you want?" From the drivers seat of her old 5 speed beat up Mustang, she turned and smiled at me. Her wavy brown hair did her every bit of justice.
"Well, Kasan called me yesterday, and told me our plans for the summer. " I looked at her expectantly. Kasan was her pale skinned, green eyed football player of a boyfriend .
"And?" I said.
"We're going on a road trip!" I smiled. I was happy for her. She had always dreamed of being in love, and right before college starts, she's doing something totally romantic with her boyfriend!
"He wants all of our friends to come. Including you."
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"I would like a slice of Pumpkin Pie, please? And a sweet tea." Chesney ran her fingers through her hair and smiled, showing all of her pearly whites. She leaned her elbows on the table and laid her chin in the palms of her hands.
"Ok. Talk." I said. She had told me that Kasan and her would like me to join them on a roadtrip along with three or four others, but I told her to save it for Cracker Barrel.
"Well, all of his life, Kasan has never been on vacation. And once college starts, he'll be so busy that he'll never be able to go anywhere. So it's our last chance to do something. All of us as friends. Well, with the exception of me and him." She takes a sip of her tea that the waitress just gave her. "He wants to go cross-country. For two months. He wants to see all of the states before he gets old, and of course, now is the time!" I hold up my hand to stop her.
"Wait, are we talking..?"
"Route 66? Hell yes!" She said loudly, gaining looks from the fellow costumers with children.
"Ches! Not so loud. And he plans to do this in two and a half months?" She nods her head.
"Yes! And he wants his closest friends to join him."
"Which are?"
"You, of course! Jordan, Dylan, Kimberly, and Lynn!"
"That's it?" I ask, making sure.
"He may or may not have asked Brandon to go along, too...." My jaw dropped.
"What? And you think I'll go if that walking STD is going to be there? Um, sorry, but no."
"Please, Gemma? C'mon! I'm your best friend. It's our last summer. It's the least you can do..."
She continues begging me, but I tune her out.
The hatred between Brandon and I has been there since we were toddlers. He colored on my beautiful, pale green walls at my fourth birthday party, and I've hated him since.
To get him back, I threw his Micheal Jordan autographed basket ball in a septic tank. He's hated me since.
Not to mention the fact that since eigth grade, he's had sex with every girl in our town, and surrounding counties.
"Gemma, this is a once in a lifetime thing. Please?" I looked at her, which was a complete mistake. She had wide eyes and was currently on the ground begging me.
"Chesney! Get up! Fine, I'll go. Just don't ever do that again.."
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It was two hours until Graduation, and I was nervous. We left the day after the ceremony, and I was completely dreading it. My bag's were already packed and I had the mixed c.d ready. Now all we had to do was leave. But first, I have to give my validictorian speech.
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"Please give a round of applause for this year's Validictorian, Gemma Baldwin!" The croud clapped as I stepped on stage. I was afraid of falling in these heels, and afraid of tripping over my long-ass dress.
Once I got the podium, I looked over the croud.
"Hi, I am Gemma and obviously supposed to give a wonderful speech. Well, this sucks, cause I have nothing planned." I smiled shortly waiting for the applause or laughs like there are in movies.
There wasn't any.
"No? Ok. This year has been quite the year, but now the real rollercoaster starts. I'm proud to say I never got into too much trouble...But this summer, I'm going on a road trip to start my adventure with people I love. Well, I love most of them..." I looked over the croud long enough to see someone slap Brandon across the head. I smiled.
"My point is, is that now is the time for us to grow up, and really, that sucks. I'm going to miss last minute studying, parties I'm not even supposed to be at, and the schools lunch. But thats all gone and now most of us are headed to college in the fall. The time has finally come where we can say goodbye to stereotypes. Preps, jocks, emos, nerds, badasses, sluts, you can now start over. Become something better and have everything a person can dream of. Or, you can fall into drugs and get wasted every night. I'm hoping you choose the first...." I look down at my shoes nervously. "And because I suck at speeches, I'm now concluding my last minute speech, and saying have an amazing summer. Enjoy the last part of your childhood. Thank you.." Surprisingly, people clapped and I headed to my car. Tomorrow comes too soon.
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I hope you enjoyed the Prolouge...The real stuff starts next chapter!!
