Jessica Diamond

                                                 Chapter 2

It was 3pm and Lennox was coming back from school. After   7 periods she just wanted to go to bed. As usual, she walked  by a big house that was usually closed because no one lived there. But now, the lights in the house were on and door half opened.  Actually, they weren’t  opened at all but she had to come up with some excuse to tell people if they ask why she entered the house.  The grass was green an d freshly cut and flowers big and colorful. She best remembered pink roses in the left corner of the house. She thought she has seen them before but the roses looked like they are very rare because of the golden colored leafs.  She saw that the stem is spreading on the whole left side of the house.  The house wasn’t old but it wasn’t  new either. It was big and had that dirty white color. Wooden window frames  that  have 1 or two small cracks and glass windows. Surprisingly clean but you could still see it wasn’t cleaned in a while. 30 years ago some guy from Germany built it. He had no family or at least he didn’t bring them here.  After he built it he went back to Germany.  Every few years  he comes to visit it and fix up the garden.  When she was on the stairs she noticed a big door bell and decided to ring it. Her blonde hair was raped up in a pony tail with a little bit of hair falling down her face. After she rang the door bell she felt a slight breeze and she pulled her jacket closer to her body. No one was answering the door so she decided  to come in.  she was in the house. The house looked normal but a little dusty. “A little too clean for a serial killer”, she thought.  Everything was well organized and that was nothing that could help her find out something about the house.  When she heard some noise she turned around ready to run ,but there was a man standing in front of her.  So close their bodies were touching and she could hear him breathe.  He was looking in her eyes. She couldn’t look away. She tried, as well as moving away from him, but she couldn’t.  There was just something about him, but she didn’t know what. In a while he asked her:

“What are you doing in my house?”

“What?”,she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…I was just…I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t stop staring at him. He was tall. his perfect half long hair was falling to his cheek bones  in a dirty blond color. Brown eyes. Deep brown eyes with  little yellow dots like diamonds.  In a black t-shirt with black pants and shoes. She could see his muscles on his arms but through the shirt as well. People could barely say he was only 18.  But she was 17 so she didn’t see a very big problem.

“What’s your name?” He asked quietly.

“Lennox.” She replied fast. “And yours?”

“Do you really need to know?”

“Well you know mine. Why wouldn’t I know yours?”

“I’m Matt.” He answered sweetly. “What are you doing in my house? I didn’t invite you in.”

Lennox started blushing. “I know. I’m so sorry. Your doors were opened and…”

“No they weren’t” he said seriously.

“Well, I saw…Anyways ,I should go.”

He grabbed her arm strongly. They both felt she likes it but he let her go fast. “Don’t come here again. It’s not nice to barge in people’s home uninvited.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

He walked away slowly and just disappeared behind the big white wall.  She went out of the house and walked to her house fast.  She didn’t run but she was close to that.  After 15 minutes in that house she didn’t even think what her mom is going to say because  she was late.

“Where have you been? I was worried! You should’ve come home 20 minutes ago!”Mom screamed.

“I know ,mom, I’m sorry. I was just…uh..something came up at school and I had to stay longer.” She starts to blush.

“Are you okay, honey” mom asks worriedly “You look red in face. Are you coming down with a fever?”

“No! I mean, I’m fine, really.”

“Okay, what do you want for a snack?” Mary asked quietly.

“Uhm, I’m not really hungry. “She says as she tries to sneak up to her room.

“Lennox! You know how I feel about…” Lennox interrupts her.

“Yes, mom. I know! Diets are bad. But I’m just not hungry. Maybe later.”

“Fine. And no maybes. You have to eat.”

“Okay, I promise.”

As  she goes to her room she figures out her backpack is gone. She must’ve left it at Matt’s house when she was snooping around. Well, at least before he showed up. The thought of going back to that house creped her out but  in a way, She wanted to see Matt again. She didn’t know why, but she just did.  It was not possible  she likes him already. They don’t even know each other. But she couldn’t  get him out of her head. On her way back to Justin’s house she kept thinking about him, his eyes, his hair.  They way he looked at her.  But she kept wondering why was he so cold to her.   Yes, she broke into his house. Yes, she wasn’t invited and yes, she has no privacy to his stuff what so ever, but  why cold?  She was irresistible.  Her big blue eyes, curly blond hair, cute face, gentle person, sensitive.  No one can resist that. But he did. I guess she thought that when she sees her again now he will think differently about her. So she out on a nice little skirt and a blue t-shirt and rang the door bell, again. Matt opened the door. He was surprised and shocked at the same time.  Like he saw a ghost or someone just told him won a billion dollars. He didn’t say anything.  His eyes were wide open and he was breathing heavily. She knew because she could her him.

“Hi.” She said and broke the ice.

“Hey.”

“I left my backpack here.”

“Oh, yeah. A blue one, right?” He asked quietly.

“Yeah.” She slowly entered the house.

A blue one? Like he didn’t know.  He found it the second she left the house.  He looked all over it, touched everything, trying to memorize what everything feels like and smells like.  He just didn’t want to admit it Who would? She would think he’s weird.

“Here it is.” Hands over the backpack.

“Oh, thanks. Okay, well ,see you then. I guess.”

“Yes. Okay. Maybe. Bye.” Gives her a confused look.

“Bye.”

She had to admit. She was pretty disappointed when he was, again, so cold to her.  Not even a smile.  All possible things went thought her head.  What did she do wrong? Nothing! She did everything right. He was the problem! Why did she had to meet him in the first place, anyway ? School is almost over and then she will have all summer to have fun and not to think about him.

It started to rain. Warm rain. A lot of rain. When she got home she was soaking wet and went straight to her room  and in her pajamas.  She fell asleep thinking about Matt.  About his brown eyes and serious face. He almost gave her something. When he saw her at the door he almost smiles. So, a half smile. That counts, right? Doesn’t matter. She saw the was his eyes sparkled and opened wide when he saw her.  That’s good enough for her.  Besides, she has all summer to get him to like her. She will do it somehow. Everything starts with a half smile.   

                                        Chapter 1

 

It was the start of June. Sun was high up in the sky. There was barely any air outside because of the heat. Everyone was in school. In their desks trying to concentrate on the things teacher was talking about.  Well, at least some of them. No one could concentrate on anything besides being outside, in a pool  or at the beach. In a swimming suite, cold water, refreshing water, no school, no commitments. Just fun. Fun. There was still 4 periods to go and Lennox could barely keep her head up normally. She was hot, sweaty, she felt her clothes were literally a part of her skin. She couldn’t take it anymore. That heat wave was terrible. And the worst of all they all had to be in the classrooms. Imagine. 20 17-yearolds in the not so big classroom with over 100 degrease. Awful. All breathing the same air, hot air.  Germs all over the place. Every 10 minutes someone passes out for couple of minutes. Well at least when he is passed out he can’t  feel the heat. Lennox felt so sick of everything. When finally the school bell rang, everyone started running as fast as they could. Home, beach, pool, someone else’s  pool, anything that has any water in it. When Sarah, Lennox’s friend, came up to her she asked:

 ”Hey, are you going to the beach later? I can pick you up.”

“No, I think I’ll stay at home” ,she replied, “School is over in 15 days and I have to study for the finals. No matter how hot it is.”

“Oh my Gosh! You are such a nerd. C’mon! You are 17! You have to have fun at summer.” Sarah yelled.

“It’s not summer yet. And besides, I don’t want to fail. If I do, my mom will kill me. And if I get hot I can always take a shower.” She laughs loudly.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing! What happened to you? You always loved to have fun and…”

“And I still do. But when there is no school.” Lennox says seriously.

“Fine. I have to go. But if you change your mind…”Lennox interrupts her.

“I won’t.”

“But if you do, you know where to find me.” She continues.

“Yes, I know. “

Sarah turns around to go home and Lennox continues to walk. When she got home her mom was waiting for her with lunch.  Mashed potatoes, lamb and salad. Talk about a meal for just the two of them.

“What happened at school today?” Mom asked, as usual.

“Nothing. Boring as usual.” Lennox replied fast.

“Was it hot? I mean, I was. And my air conditioner was on. I can only imagine how hot it was for you  in school.” She said with her mouth full or mashed potatoes.

” Yeah. It was. 3 students fainted.”

“Oh my God! Are they okay?” Mom gasped.

“Yes. They are fine. I’m finished. Can I go?” With her mouth half full with lamb mixed up with salad she got up.

“Of course. Later I’m going to get my hair done so if you go anywhere lock up!” The mom yelled.

“I know, mom. I’m not dumb.”

She went to her room and lied on the bed. She was so tired. The color of the room was so peaceful and it just calmed people down including her.  Light green with white furniture and a big bed.  She fell fast asleep and woke up 3 hours later. All sweaty, of course, because of the heat and  she was still in jeans, sneakers and some blue shirt. The house was empty and quiet. She had to admit it kind of freaked her out.   Whenever she would her some noise she would turned around like someone pocked her with a knife.  Bathroom was big and roomy.  She decided to take a shower and change into her home clothes. Nice cold shower. That sounded so good. Just what she needed. Later she sat in the down and watched TV until she fell asleep again. 

Meanwhile her mom got back from the hairdresser’s and woke her up to go to sleep  up in her room.  Her mom came back from the hairdresser’s  around 9pm. Mary ,Lennox’s mom, went to hairdresser’s at 6:30pm. She is usually quite elegant. Not fat but not so  skinny. But she kind of had a big head and a lot, and I mean, a lot of hair, Wide, long, left, right, the hair was seriously everywhere. So, it’s no surprise it took 2:30 hours to get her hair done. Mary worked at the bakery couple of blocks from their house. It’s no secret she would steal doughnut or 2 sometimes. When she was 20 she married Lennox’s dad, Brock.  But when Lennox was 10 he died in a car accident. It really hit Mary but she had to be strong in front of Lennox.  Sometimes she thinks Lennox is dealing with it better than she does.

When Lennox woke up that morning she remembered that her school starts 1 hour later than usual because  of some teacher meeting.  She got up, brushed her teeth and made her bed. When she was about to take her sweater, it fell on the floor. Lennox got on the floor to pick up the sweater when she saw something under her bed. It was a photo album along with her other childhood memories. Dad. The first thing that appeared on her mind.  Her dad holding her the first day she came home from the hospital, her first birthday ,first day of school, baseball games ,camping trips. Tears ran down her cheek and she started to cry. Oh, how she missed him. A day doesn’t pass by that she doesn’t think of him.  All the good times they had.  And then one day he was just gone. No goodbye. Just gone. But she never let her mom see her cry. She doesn’t know why but she just feels if her mom sees her cry over dad that her mom will break down, too. And she couldn’t  have that. While she was looking at the pictures her mom knocked on the door.

“Lennox! Are you awake? Breakfast is ready.” Mom said.

Lennox wiped off the tears fast and breathe in and out a couple of times so mom doesn’t hear in her  voice she was crying. “I’m awake. I’ll be there in a minute!” Mom walked away and Lennox went to bathroom to check if there are any signs that she cried.  She went down to have breakfast but she didn’t talk almost at all.  Storm from the inside. That’s how she would describe how she feels now. Like crying but pushing it down so she doesn’t cry.  And emotions, sad emotions are just getting bigger and bigger and if she says something she is scared that she will cry. So she didn’t talk until she went in the bathroom again. There she fell on the floor and just broke down. Lennox had more than an hour until school. By then she needed to get herself back in normal. No red eyes and nose, normal talking and no sad face.  She got up from the floor,  looked at herself in the mirror and said:  “I miss you, dad! I really do!” She took her bag from the bed and went down in the living room to watch TV. Her mom was looking at her like she knew something was wrong but didn’t  say anything.  Lennox noticed but didn’t want to say anything either.   She took her bag, got in the car and  went to school.  That simple.