Second Chances

Old Times

I was screwed. I knew that from the second I heard my dad call my name.

I walked up to my front door, took a deep breath, and stepped in the house slowly. I tip toed toward the stairs so that my dad wouldn't hear me.

"Ok young lady, you have 5 minutes to explain to me what just happened out there or you're grounded"

Dang it

Cringing, I slowly turned around to face my dad, who had his arms crossed in front of him

"Hi dad, " I said carefully

"Kendall don't sugar coat anything I need to know who was that boy and what you were doing with him"

"Dad it's not that bad. I accidentally ran into him at Starbucks and spilled coffee all over me. I burned my hands and he offered to drop me home. And outside, I just asked him for his number because remember when you told me to always keep in touch with people who did something nice for you? Well that's what I did. And his name is Jacob Carter." I finished

My dad just looked at me.

"I remember my dad told me that when I was younger," my dad finally said

Grandpa. He used to tell me all of these witty sayings when I came over to his house. That was so many years ago. And he would still be alive today if second chances didn't end his life. I honestly don't like to talk about it since it always made me choke up and make tears run down my cheeks. They only people I've talked about it was to Annabelle and Alec.

"Kendall, I'll let it slide this time. Just be careful, you never know who you can trust. And let me look at your hands."

I walked over to mp him and held out my palms. When my dad touched the skin in the center of my hand, I hissed. It was like the nerves in there were exploding like fireworks on the Fourth of July.

"Kendall, it looks like you have a first-degree burn. Get some ice and I really need you to rest. Go read a book or something, I never see you do that anymore."

Well Dad, I would read except my math teacher gave me summer homework in the middle August. I honestly can't read right now!

"Ok, I'll go rest," I grumbled and walked to the fridge to get ice. Scooping some ice into a plastic bag, I ran upstairs into my room. I had a huge, white bookshelf filled with books on the right side of my room. I decided to just close my eyes and pick a random book, since I needed some excitement. Closing my eyes, I reached for a books. Feeling one, I pulled it out and opened my eyes.

It was Howl's Moving Castle. Wow, I read that book when I was in third grade. I really loved it, and then forgot about it. I'm so sentimental. Sighing, I walked to my bed and climbed on. I started piling pillows all around me. I then laid my head down and opened the book. Running my finger over the yellow pages, I remembered who got me this book. It was Grandpa.

It was the day after I broke my arm after falling off the monkey bars because some girl decided to go on when I was still on it. She bumped into me and I fell. I got a cast and I cried all the time because it hurt so bad. Then Grandpa came to visit me. I remember what he said so clearly like it was yesterday, not 9 years ago.

------------------------------------Flashback---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Kendall, I have I surprise for you!"

"What is it Grandpa?" I asked

He held out a rectangular package covered in shiny gold foil. I took it from his hand and read the little note : "For my Kendall, who I know will cherish this more than I ever did."

Tearing open the package, I let the foil drop and I found myself holding a book.

"Grandpa, is this the surprise?" I said, confused. I thought it was going to be a Barbie doll or something that all of the other girls had.

"Yes Kendall. And you know what's so special about this book? It has witches and wizards and talk about a girl who is very much like you!"

I was still confused but then my Grandpa said:
"Love it, because I know that you, Kendall, are a very special little girl, and will not give up on something, or someone you love."

I looked at my Grandpa, his words, although sounding beautiful, still confused me. So I said:

"Grandpa, will you read to me?"

His face lit up and said:

"Of course, my dear."

-------------------------------End of Flashback------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I didn't know I was really crying until I felt a tear sliding down my cheek. I quickly brushed it away. I needed to talk to someone. I reached for my phone that was lying on the side table. I blindly scrolled through my contacts until I found the one I was looking for:

Ring......Ring......Ring

"Hello?"

"Hey Annabelle, I need to talk to you" I sniffed

"Oh yeah sure! Wait, have you been crying Kendall?"

"Um, no."

"Kendall don't lie to me I've known you for 17 years. I can tell if something's wrong."

"Ok, you win. I was just thinking about Grandpa and something else that happened today."

Annabelle didn't say anything for about 30 seconds

"I'll be right over. See you in 15 minutes." And with that, she hung up.

Setting my phone down on my lap, I just closed my eyes and thought. Because sometimes that's just better than doing anything at all.