Read Online Back to You by Roya Carmen - Free Book Online
Authors: Roya Carmen
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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there was also John.
She hadn’t planned on the additional distraction of John. Despite his ability to really get under her skin with his mockery and wisecracks – he kind of added fun to her life – and to Jesse’s too.
That night, Sophie sat at the desk in the living room, working on her book. The framed picture on the desk was as distracting as ever. And she almost wanted to turn it over; a little girl in a red and white jumper, sitting on the porch with her father, sipping a cola –colors saturated, edges torn.
When she was in this house, memories of her father filled her thoughts.
She didn’t want to forget all the memories – she wanted to hold on to all the good ones. It was just that last one which kept playing over and over in her mind, like an old movie she kept rewinding and viewing, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to forget…
Sophie played with the hem of her way-too-short skirt – her father had made it clear he disapproved, telling her the witch costume was way too provocative for a sixteen year-old. But it was Halloween after all, and if there was a day to get away with murder, this was it.
And besides, she had been in a rebelling mood lately, and putting on the revealing costume despite her parents’ protests had been worth it – she was getting the desired reactions – boys’ heads turning everywhere. Even John had noticed, his eyes almost popping out of his head at the sight of her.
She laughed at the sight of John walking towards her with two glasses of punch – he kind of looked good as a vampire – gangly, spiky crazy hair, and he already had the widow’s peak for it.
“Here, I got you a fruit punch,” he said, handing her the plastic cup. “You enjoy it… it’s real blood,” he told her in his gravest voice.
She laughed at him – he was such a kid.
“Thank you, John,” she started. “I don’t mean to be rude but I can’t be seen with a freshman right now,” she said matter-of-factly. “So scram, all right?”
She completely stripped the smile from his face, and her heart sank a little. “I’m sorry, John,” she said softly. “You know you’re my friend but no one’s going to ask me to dance if you keep hanging around.”
He turned on his heel; shoulders slumped and made his way to his geeky freshman friends.
As Sophie had expected, a boy came up to her and asked her to dance. And she had a blast dancing with her best friend Shelby and a few cute seniors they had managed to snag.
But as the dance came to a close, Sophie couldn’t get rid of that pesky feeling – guilt. She felt bad about the way she had treated John, and she decided she would make amends.
“John,” she said softly as she walked towards him.
“Having fun?” he asked, his eyes still full of hurt.
“I am,” she said. “Listen John… this senior invited us to his house for a party,” she gushed. “You want to come?”
He hesitated before saying, “But I thought your dad was coming to pick us up at eleven.”
“I’ll call him. No problem.” She was sure her father would let her stay out just an extra hour – it was Halloween, after all. And John’s mother – she couldn’t have cared less – John was lucky that way.
But her father had protested, and she had fought him, screaming into the payphone. He had finally relented and told her he would pick her up at the boy’s place at midnight.
In that one hour, John and Sophie had managed to down more than one alcoholic beverage, and they were giddy, sitting at the back of Sophie’s dad’s Volkswagen.
“Just for the record,” her father almost growled. “I am not happy with you right now, Sophie.”
“Oh dad… chill a little,” she told him between giggles. “Why can’t you be more like John’s Mom… she doesn’t give a rat’s rear.”
And those were the last words she ever said to her father.
A split second later, a red pick-up truck hit them head on.
Chapter 7
JESSE and
She hadn’t planned on the additional distraction of John. Despite his ability to really get under her skin with his mockery and wisecracks – he kind of added fun to her life – and to Jesse’s too.
That night, Sophie sat at the desk in the living room, working on her book. The framed picture on the desk was as distracting as ever. And she almost wanted to turn it over; a little girl in a red and white jumper, sitting on the porch with her father, sipping a cola –colors saturated, edges torn.
When she was in this house, memories of her father filled her thoughts.
She didn’t want to forget all the memories – she wanted to hold on to all the good ones. It was just that last one which kept playing over and over in her mind, like an old movie she kept rewinding and viewing, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to forget…
Sophie played with the hem of her way-too-short skirt – her father had made it clear he disapproved, telling her the witch costume was way too provocative for a sixteen year-old. But it was Halloween after all, and if there was a day to get away with murder, this was it.
And besides, she had been in a rebelling mood lately, and putting on the revealing costume despite her parents’ protests had been worth it – she was getting the desired reactions – boys’ heads turning everywhere. Even John had noticed, his eyes almost popping out of his head at the sight of her.
She laughed at the sight of John walking towards her with two glasses of punch – he kind of looked good as a vampire – gangly, spiky crazy hair, and he already had the widow’s peak for it.
“Here, I got you a fruit punch,” he said, handing her the plastic cup. “You enjoy it… it’s real blood,” he told her in his gravest voice.
She laughed at him – he was such a kid.
“Thank you, John,” she started. “I don’t mean to be rude but I can’t be seen with a freshman right now,” she said matter-of-factly. “So scram, all right?”
She completely stripped the smile from his face, and her heart sank a little. “I’m sorry, John,” she said softly. “You know you’re my friend but no one’s going to ask me to dance if you keep hanging around.”
He turned on his heel; shoulders slumped and made his way to his geeky freshman friends.
As Sophie had expected, a boy came up to her and asked her to dance. And she had a blast dancing with her best friend Shelby and a few cute seniors they had managed to snag.
But as the dance came to a close, Sophie couldn’t get rid of that pesky feeling – guilt. She felt bad about the way she had treated John, and she decided she would make amends.
“John,” she said softly as she walked towards him.
“Having fun?” he asked, his eyes still full of hurt.
“I am,” she said. “Listen John… this senior invited us to his house for a party,” she gushed. “You want to come?”
He hesitated before saying, “But I thought your dad was coming to pick us up at eleven.”
“I’ll call him. No problem.” She was sure her father would let her stay out just an extra hour – it was Halloween, after all. And John’s mother – she couldn’t have cared less – John was lucky that way.
But her father had protested, and she had fought him, screaming into the payphone. He had finally relented and told her he would pick her up at the boy’s place at midnight.
In that one hour, John and Sophie had managed to down more than one alcoholic beverage, and they were giddy, sitting at the back of Sophie’s dad’s Volkswagen.
“Just for the record,” her father almost growled. “I am not happy with you right now, Sophie.”
“Oh dad… chill a little,” she told him between giggles. “Why can’t you be more like John’s Mom… she doesn’t give a rat’s rear.”
And those were the last words she ever said to her father.
A split second later, a red pick-up truck hit them head on.
Chapter 7
JESSE and
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