Read Online Destiny (Waiting for Forever) by Jamie Mayfield - Free Book Online Page B

the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, really the only shows on were talk shows and soap operas. I flipped through the stations for a long time before deciding it was useless. Instead, I grabbed my bag and found the information for the Sunshine Center, a map, and the trolley schedule. It took about half an hour to map out and determine that I wouldn’t be able to get to the place by trolley. I’d have to take a cab, and while it wasn’t going to be cheap, it was a place to start. Jamie had been there for nearly a year, and even if he wasn’t there any longer, he must have talked to someone, befriended someone. Maybe they would have an idea where he would have gone next. After that, I would probably start checking shelters, but I hoped I’d find him before I started searching blindly.
    Dropping the map on the desk, I lay back on the perfectly made bed and stared at the ceiling. There were no cracks in it, and I noticed the contrast to my own bedroom ceiling immediately. I closed my eyes, picturing Jamie in my mind, trying to focus on every detail I could remember. I hadn’t seen him in over a year, but I could still remember the way his straw-colored hair felt under my fingers. I could still feel his soft lips on mine in that very first kiss. I had been so scared that day, but it turned out to be one of the best days of my life. However, the best day of my life had been the day Jamie had told me he loved me. With Jamie’s voice in my mind reminding me how much he loved me, I fell asleep.
    I woke with a start to hear my phone ringing on the desk. Jumping up, I slammed my knee into the desk chair as I grabbed for it. The pain jarred up my leg, and I swore silently as I checked the display. It was Carolyn.
    “Hey, Mom,” I said, rubbing my knee.
    “Hey, kid,” she replied, copying my casual greeting. I smiled in spite of the pain in my leg. “I just called to see how you were doing. Did you eat?”
    “Yes, I had pizza a little bit ago. I went to the library earlier trying to find a few more places to call about a room, and I just woke up from a nap. It’s been nonstop excitement here.”
    She laughed, and I heard her cover the mouthpiece and say something else in the background.
    “Pizza, huh?”
    “First, there were green peppers, mushroom, and onions on the pizza, so I had vegetables. Plus the tomato sauce constitutes a vegetable,” I reasoned. “Mom, tell Dad I said hi and I miss him.” Carolyn relayed my message, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
    “He said to tell you that he misses you, too, and he wants you to be careful,” she said, and I could hear the worry.
    “I am being careful,” I replied. Other than helping Sarah in the bus station in Houston, I had stayed out of trouble and been safe.
    “So you’re looking for a place to live, but what about a job?” she asked.
    “I can’t really start looking for a job until I know where I’m going to live. I have to be able to get there by public transportation,” I reminded her.
    “Okay, I just wanted to make sure you had a plan.” I sat down on the bed and leaned back against the headboard with a sigh, stretching out my bad leg. Carolyn must have heard the change. “Having second thoughts?” she asked quietly.
    “No,” I said quickly. Grabbing a pillow, I held it against my chest and rested my cheek on it. “No, I’m not having second thoughts. I’m just… I don’t know, lonely, I guess. I don’t know anyone here, and I miss you guys and Adam. I miss Kyle and Sensei too. This is what I want to do and where I want to be. I guess when I was planning everything out, I just didn’t plan on feeling so isolated.”
    “Once you find a place to live and find a job, you’ll start meeting people. You’ll make new friends and won’t feel so alone, honey. Don’t you worry about that,” she said soothingly.
    “Thanks, Mom,” I told her, looking over at the clock and noticing that it was seven thirty. “Wow, I didn’t realize it