Jump [In Progress]

Chapter One

I lay on my bed, listening to a remixed pop song, trying to drown out the world.  I'll usually listen to whatever, but right now I feel like playing my pop playlist over and over and over. I like all kinds of music, and I'm prone to overplaying anything I'm fond of.

Right now, it's winter vacation. I'm lucky to be at home because my parents like taking long trips every time I get a break from high school. Usually, it's just a four-hour drive to Utah to visit family, but I like to just sit around, listen to music, and type. I've typed lots of stories, mostly teen fic. I tried chick lit once, but it didn't work out. Apparently, I suck at writing romantic stuff, kind of like me in real life. I am terrible at relationships, even though I've never been dumped. As my mom says, I'm a real heartbreaker. I haven't broken up with anybody recently, though, because I'm dating the most beautiful girl at my school- in my opinion, anyway. Before I met Joy, basically nobody knew her. Now that we're a couple, when somebody says "Joy Melawan," people think "Joni Smithers's girlfriend," instead of "Who?" Some people think it's weird that Joy and I are into girls, which is annoying, but I try to ignore them.  Joy is bi though, because last year, she was gushing over Cameron. Now they're just friends; acquaintances, more like it.

My best friend Aston once told me that he thought I was popular. I wouldn't say that I'm popular, just pretty well-known. I feel like I'm a love-hate kind of person because people either think I'm amazing or hate me. I've got plenty of haters, trust me. They're mostly my exes, and people who know my exes. When I ditch someone, I'm harsh about it. I don't break up with people unless I mean it. Speaking of Aston, he's just texted me.

I'm in your area dropping off something for a friend, can I come over?

Yeah sure, I replied.

Thanks, be there in five.

Five minutes to me feels like an hour because time is somehow warped when Aston is involved. Aston is basically the best guy ever, and he gives great relationship advice. What's weird about that is that he's never even had a girlfriend (or boyfriend. I used to think he was gay, too, but then he gave me an hour-long lecture about not assuming things I don't know, so I shut up about it)! I can tell that Aston really hates Joy, but he never says anything about it. I'm impressed with this because I can't keep anything in myself. If I have a grudge on someone and try to hide it, eventually I blow my top and scream at them. I'm working on improving my temper, but I can still be pretty mean sometimes.

Aston has arrived in my driveway by now, his truck's noisy engine growling to alert me. His truck has a purple paint job, and most of it is rusty or flaking off. It's so old, that sometimes I worry that it will fall apart while he's driving.

"Just a sec, Aston!" I call from my window, which overlooks the driveway. I scramble down the stairs and head straight for the front door, where Aston waits.

"Hey, Joni," he says, as I open the door. What's really funny about Aston is that when I was in middle school, my mom never let him come over or anything. After I came out to my parents (I'm not even going to describe that experience, because it was so nerve-wracking), my mom was like, "Whatever, just don't do anything dumb."

"How's it going?" I ask.

"I'm fine, you?" he replies.

"Meh. Who're you bringing stuff to?"

"Simon, he's in my history class. I told him I'd help him with his homework over break." Aston rolls his eyes. "He's kind of behind. Like, five units behind."

"Hey, do you want to sleep over tonight?"

"I'll text my dad about it. Gotta go, Simon's waiting. I just wanted to say hi." Aston turns to go, then smiles at me. "See ya."

"Bye," I say, drawing out the e like I always do. My mom thinks I sound ditzy when I do that, but it's fun to say. Aston climbs back into his rickety truck and starts the engine. I wave as he drives off.