Take My Picture? Book Two

Take My Picture? P. 1

A gentle rain surrounded the Hawkins with a cool breeze signaling another normal October morning. Decorations filled the yards of every home with a few strands of lights here and there to ready themselves for the upcoming spooky holiday that was Halloween. While you loved the holiday months of October, November, and December you couldn't help but face the reality that Halloween just didn't have the same magic as it once held years ago. You were too old for fun costumes but too young to own a home and hand out your own candy. People your age were much more interested in partying and getting wild though unfortunately you couldn't say the same for yourself.

Quickly, you lifted the hood to your red raincoat shielding your newly done hair from the weather that threatened to ruin your morning work. Thankfully though the rain hadn't picked up enough to completely soak you while on your walk to school.

Most of your classmates had their own vehicles to save them the torture of getting a morning exercise. But without a job and unenthusiastic parents you were left to use your feet for transportation.

You had to admit though the walk wasn't all that bad. The leaves on the trees had been turning a beautiful shade of red and orange littering the grass below. The town itself was rather safe and had the charm of something from a novel making the experience cozy and rather pleasant.

Your head titled slightly downward looking at the path before you. That familiar house stood quietly off to the side empty and lonely. Temptation was strong to gaze at it or even walk up the driveway and knock on the painted door though you knew it wouldn't be answered. The last time you had managed to look a For Sale sign had been planted in the grass hoping to see new occupants and make new memories. This would have been the stop that Kelly would have joined you.

This part of the walk had become more familiar and the house no longer screamed your name so loudly making it much easier to continue forward on your way to school. 

You could feel yourself starting to become down and your therapist that had been issued had told you that was going to be a normal feeling for quite sometime. The death of a loved one was not something that would ever leave your memory.

The memories of your friend were not those of sleepovers or movie dates. But instead the horrifying image of her dead body still presented itself as clear as day in your mind when you couldn't stay busy. As your mind began to drift back to that moment you didn't heard the sound of an old car slowly approaching from behind and along your side as the drive watched you.

This went on for a few moments before the driver of the vehicle rolled the window down and began to speak.

"Hey, Beautiful. Come here often?" that gentle familiar voice asked in a way that made your heart immediately begin to pound.

That creeping sadness suddenly washed away as a smile formed on your lips and your head turned to the driver.

"Hello, Jonathan." you said to him ignoring his cheesy pick up line. "What are you doing out this way?"

The path that you took every morning to school was very out of the way from where Jonathan had lived.

"Will got a ride with Doug this morning so I figured we could ride together." he replied making his car come to a complete stop.

The mention of Doug warmed your heart. He was Joyce's new boyfriend and an incredibly nice guy...smart and kind of weird...but a nice guy. Jonathan had liked the idea of his mother dating again though you could tell he felt frustration whenever Doug acted more like a father figure or stayed at the Byer's home for a long amount of time. It will take some getting used to but you were happy they all had a great guy in their lives to bring them happiness.

You walked around the front of the car just as Jonathan reached across the passengers seat to unlock the door and slightly pushing it open. Even though you had only been walking for a short amount of time, it felt good to sit down on a cushioned seat and get off of your feet and out of the soft rain.

Quickly you pulled your hood from your head as it was no longer needed and only felt uncomfortable while sitting in a vehicle. Jonathan had already been slightly facing your waiting patiently as you situated yourself next to him. Your head eagerly turned to face him just as he leaned into your direction catching your lips with his. His lips moved easily with yours lingering a little longer than normal knowing he wouldn't be able to kiss you again until school was over in seven hours.

Your one year anniversary was quickly approaching which excited your extremely. This was the longest relationship that you had ever been in and felt completely in love with. The honeymoon phase of the relationship was far from over as Jonathan continued to treat you like a queen and just the sight of him took your breath away. You wanted the anniversary date to be something special though he wouldn't let you participate in the planning and insisted on everything being a complete surprise.

Slowly, you pulled away from him even though you could have sat in the car from the rest of the day kissing him and just being close to his body but you knew it was time to leave or be late for class.

"We have to go." you told him trying to be the responsible one.

"We can always skip today." he tried to reason turning back into his seat and moving the car forward once again. "Spend a romantic day together?"

"I have a history test this morning." you responded something that you had spent the better part of last night trying to study for though you knew you were probably going to do poorly anyway. "But..."

"But...." Jonathan repeated with a hint of laughter in his voice and another smile gracing his perfect lips.

"But I guess after lunch is over we can leave for the day." you agreed wanting some time alone just as badly as he did.

The chance to actually be alone with just the two of you had been getting more difficult with the start of school, Jonathan's full home again, and your parents uneasy with having a boy alone in your room. As long as skipping school didn't become a habit you both deserved some time away together.

"That's my girl." he answered gently grabbing your hand and bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss.

~~~To be continued~~~