Chapter 2
Justin
My parents have gone into overdrive. Mom brings soup and checks my temperature like I have the flu. My dad lets me sleep in for the first time in pretty much forever. No laps. No keeping in shape for the soccer season.
It’s actually pretty nice. I feel better than fine.
My mind goes back to Tara’s face hovering over mine. The sunlight lining up behind her head, her hair twisting as she looks down at me. I’m smiling again thinking about it. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. It’s hard to explain, but something hit me when I came to and saw her face: I’ve really missed Tara.
“Friends, Herons, countrymen,” Sam is saying, adjusting his Clark Kent glasses and standing behind a large cardboard box he’s using as a makeshift podium. Tomorrow is Sam’s graduation day and he’s running his valedictorian speech by me. I’m happy to listen, although it’s not like he really wants my opinion.
Sam’s speech is a mash-up of every graduation cliché I’ve ever heard. But somewhere between to thine own self be true, reach for the stars and Oh, the Places You’ll Go, it feels like he’s written it just for me for me. Carpe Justin…
“So what do you think?” he asks eagerly when he’s finished.
“It’s great. I loved it.”
“Really? You don’t think ‘Carpe 2012’ is too…”
“Nah, it’s cool.”
He adjusts his glasses again, smiling this time, and begins to exit the room, beat-boxing Pomp and Circumstance to himself. Just as he reaches the door, I call him back.
“Sam?”
“Yeah,” he replies, turning around.
“Is Tara Jenkins coming to your grad party?”
YOU ARE READING
The In Between
Teen FictionTara Jenkins and Justin Westcroft used to be childhood BFFs. Now in high school, Justin’s a popular, all-star athlete, and Tara spends her days admiring him from afar. But when Tara saves Justin from nearly drowning in a freak accident, he’s unable...
