It's Only Because I Love You

Chapter Seven- Getting in Trouble is Worth it

Seven- Getting in trouble is worth it

“So, do you like it here in America?” I asked Derek as we were walking down the hall to history the following week. It came to surface that the class we have before history was right next to each other.

“Yeah, I do.” He sounded unsure.

“Why do you say it like that, don’t you like it here?”

“I like some things about it, but you know,” he looked down at me, even though he wasn’t that much taller than me, then shrugged, and continued. “There’s no place like home.” I started chuckling, but he was serious. “Why are you laughing?”

“You sounded just like Dorothy.”

“Who’s Dorothy?”

“Haven’t you ever seen the Wizard of Oz?”

“No.”

“What, they don’t have that back Down Under?” I said in a fancy Australian accent.

“Well I’m sure we do, I just probably haven’t watched it, and I’m not big on movies.” 

We entered the staircase and started climbing up the three flights of stairs necessary to get to our history class.

“Well then what do you do for fun?” I casually asked. I was actually surprised at how natural I was acting around him.

“You know, you’re average stuff.” He said looking straight ahead.

“Such as?” He wasn’t being very elaborate.

“Well, I’m a beach volleyball player back home.”

“Are you? That’s cool!”

“Yeah, I also play a little soccer.”

“That’s really cool, my brother plays soccer.”

“Who’s your brother?”

“Jonah Ashton.”

“I know him; he’s on my soccer team!” My mind went blank and my heart started racing. I didn’t know Jonah knew him. Why didn’t he tell me? “He’s your brother?”

“Yeah, and I didn’t know you were on the soccer team.” I said trying to change the subject.

“Yeah, I’m not very good, but I try my best.”

“Well, you must be pretty good considering you have to try out to be on the team.” I was trying to build his confidence.

“Yeah, I guess.”

As we approached the history room, we grew silent. It was awkward, but not the bad kind of awkward, if that makes since.

We sat down in our seats next to each other and I began recalling the conversations that we had just had in the hallway walking up. I thought about my brother and how he had changed. I still didn’t know what was going on with him, but I guess it is better that I didn’t know rather then I did. I just hoped it wasn’t something to do with me.

But why didn’t he told me he knew him? I couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Bethany?” I heard Miss Ly say faintly. 

“Yeah?” I said completely embarrassed.

“Do you know the answer?”

“Um…” I said unsure that I had even heard a question. “Could you repeat the question?”

“So in 1929 the Great Depression began.” Miss Ly continued.

“She didn’t ask you a question.” I felt Derek nudge me.

“What?” I whispered back.

“She knew you weren’t paying attention, so she said that to catch you.”

“That wasn’t very nice.”

“Bethany!” Miss Ly exclaimed. “Must I move you?”

“No m’am, I’m listening.”

“What are we talking about?”

“You just said that Hebert Hoover was the first president of the Great Depression.”

“Hm. My apologizes.” Then she continued talking.

“How’d you know that?” Derek looked at me. I didn’t look at him, I just smiled. 

Once we were released from class, I headed down to my homeroom like routine to get my stuff and go home. Derek had gone one way, and me the other. It was a great feeling to know where I stood with him. 

Walking home I was thinking. My life was pretty good, but as I walked, I felt a since of loneliness. Leah and I were at odds again due to the fact she found out I was talking to Derek, but I didn’t tell her. I knew that if I told her, she wouldn’t leave me alone about it. She wasn’t the same as she was in past years, and that was a sad thought. My brother wasn’t the same, and my mom wasn’t the mom I had knew all my life, and for my dad, I never even see him anymore. Suddenly it seemed like my world was falling apart, just as I was making friends with Derek. It’s weird how the world works.

As I thought about this, I remembered what Jonah and my mom would often tell me. When they were lonely, they were never sad. They always talked about God and how He was always there. I still didn’t understand that fact. 

It was mid-October, and it was getting chilly. I looked at all the colored trees on my stroll home. I thought about God, if He was real, and if He was, how could He do everything that is said that He does? 

Today is the day I’m going to ask. Jonah said if I ever wanted to talk to him about it I could, and now I’m going to.