“Arin!!! Get up loser!” Ugh, could Zoe be any more annoying. “Arin, it’s your second day at Windsor! Get up our I will leave you!” Oh joy! My second day at Windsor! Man, I have to see Claire. Could she be any worse? I want to vomit thinking of her and what she’s going to do to me. “Okay, Zoe I’m up and getting ready. Be down in a sec.” I said, maybe she’ll get off my back. I am so not a morning person.
*20 minutes later in the car*
“So, you like Windsor so far?” “Eh, it’s alright. I mean it’s just so weird not seeing all my friends in New York. I feel so lost, everyone has their “clicks” and I just feel like an outsider… It’s so strange.” “Aww, it’ll get better, I promise!” Said Zoe, enthusiastically. “Alright, enough about my soap opera of a life. What’s the story of Jason Bourne?” Zoe suddenly turned all giddy, “Ohhh, does someone have a crush?!” “What?! Zoe, I just asked a simple question!” “Mhmm. Let’s see, Jason moved her right before 7th grade. His best friend is Michael Linden which happens to be Claire’s brother. Him and Claire started dating around the beginning of junior year, he’s the captain of the lacrosse team and a pretty decent student.” “Whoa.” Zoe started laughing, “Yeah, he’s quite the charmer.”
Ha, hearing this reminded me of my old best friend, Jason. He was the sweetest guy ever! That was until I ditched him around sixth grade for popularity…man, I’m such a horrible person.
“Arin? Arin! What’s wrong?!” Zoe asked. “Just thinking…” “Well turn that frown upside down! We’re here!” Zoe smiled at me reassuringly. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” I hope she didn’t recognize my fake smile.
I go through class all day and then after lunch I realize Jason is in my 6th hour, weird. He must have ditched yesterday. “So class! We didn’t have time to introduce our new student Arin De La Rosa yesterday! Arin please stand up!” Great, an overenthusiastic teacher; just what I need! As I stand up I feel everyone’s eyes bore into me. Greaaaaat . “So Arin, a few words about yourself?” Just what I need. “Alright then, my name is Arin De La Rosa, I, um, recently moved from New York because of personal problems.” I collect a big breath so I don’t cry, and Mr. Bern says,” Thanks Arin, you may take a seat. Oh, and before I forget, Jason will have to be your lab partner.”
Great, could this day get any better!?
Jason’s POV:
Arin moved because of personal problems? I wonder if something happened to Mrs.C and Mr. Anthony. Didn’t she mention something about them in detention yesterday? Maybe I should just ask her. Alright, I’m gonna do it.
“Hey Arin, how are you doing?” She looks up at me with sad eyes. “Pretty good and you?” She definitely isn’t good. Why is she so sad? Wait, why do I care? Arin ditched me, why should I care about her? But looking at her now, I see the reason we were friends in the first place. Before Auden came into town.
“Good I guess. Just kind of stressed about lacrosse.” She looked really worried for a second, “I’m sorry, are you alright? Did you get hurt? Is there anything I can do? I mean, if you want me to?” This is why we were friends. She was so sweet and genuine when it really came down to it. She’d do anything to make someone else feel better.
“Hey, do you need a ride home after school? Maybe we can stop and get coffee or something?” Okay Jason, no idea what you just did there…. “Sure? I mean yeah, okay. Sounds great!”
For the first time since she started Windsor, I actually saw a genuine smile, and that made my heart melt. Just a little.
Arin’s POV:
Did I actually agree to go somewhere with Jason? Yep, I did. I better text Zoe before she gets all worried. I ask to go to the restroom and text Zoe there.
Arin: Hey, Zoe. Jason is taking me home after school. Don’t freak.
Zoe: NO FREAKIN WAY! AHHHH!
Arin: Zoe, chill. It’s just him taking me home, nothing to get excited about. I said don’t freak…
Zoe: Don’t freak?! This is awesome, oops better go before Mrs. Laten takes my phone away! For the fifth time….
Arin: Hah, bye Zoe see you at home.
Zoe: Bye Arin, have fun ;D
Oh gosh… what have I gotten myself into?
Seventh hour passed pretty quickly and pretty soon I saw Jason. “Hey Arin! Ready to go?” “Um, sure. Let me just grab my bag…” He chuckled, “I’ll grab it.” Okayyy? “Thanks…”
Pretty soon we were out the school doors and at his car, “Hop in.” He said smiling warmly at me. Alright. Here goes, “Thanks.” I say smiling back. Blah, I’m still sad from this morning.
“Arin? Um, I hope Starbucks is okay?” Looking out the door I see we’re already at the coffee shop. Weird. I look at him as I say, “Sure. I love Starbucks!” *insert smile here.*
We walk in and order or coffees and take a seat by the window.
“So, Arin… you seem a little down. Are you alright?” Wait what?! Why did he out of everyone here have to be the one to see I was slowly breaking. I looked at him faking a smile, “Never been better.” “For some reason, I don’t believe that.” He said. I was silent a little while until he finally spoke, ”Arin, what happened in New York?” Why was he doing this? “Jason, I don’t really think that’s any of your business.”
“Please Arin, you look so sad…. Just let me in.” What am I supposed to do? Will he see how damaged I am and then never talk to me again?
Jason’s POV:
She’s really letting me in.
“Fine. My parents and I were really close. They were my best friends. The only people who I could tell anything to and not worry about being judged. They always supported me, no matter what my choice was.” Wow. Wait, were?
“Around three weeks ago, I got home and there was an ambulance in my front yard… my aunt was visiting and came running up to me in hysterics. I had no clue what was happening. She stared rambling and I only picked out a couple words, ‘wreck, parents, dead’ I was horrified, my parents couldn’t be dead! My dad cooked me breakfast just that morning, I was dumfounded and started shouting and crying. The next day my aunt and I started talking and we decided it would be best if I moved down here, well after I put up a fight.” By the end she was crying, hard. No way, Arin is going through so much. She must be hurting so bad inside. “Arin, I’m so sorry.” Looking up at me as a fresh wave of tears hit she said, “I just want them back, why me? Why me?!”
Arin’s POV :
The next thing I knew, Jason was by me and comforting me. “Arin, I can’t say I know what you’re going through, but I’m here.” He seemed so sad, “Are you sure Jason?” “Arin, I promise.”
And in that moment, I let Jason hold me while I finally let it go.
After I calmed down, Jason said quietly, “You ready to go home?” I smiled at him weakly, “Alright.”
As we got close to my house, I said, “Jason, thank you so much.” All he did in response was grab my hand and say, “No problem, I’m here, I promise.”
YOU ARE READING
A Second Chance at Life
Teen FictionTragedy strikes when Arin's parents die. She is forced to move to Chicago with her aunt and cousin, Zoe. She was on top of the world, but soon came crashing down. Can the only person she ever loved forgive her, and give her a second chance at life?
