Falling Up by Vanessa Bernales (good books for high schoolers .TXT) 📖

don’t care if you can’t find mister perfect to take because I will haul your-” her voice had gotten louder with every word and everybody was looking at us now.
“Miss Steen would you mind lowering you voice. Everyone is trying to read.” Mr. Kyle said in his booming voice.
“Sorry.” Rachel looked down at her book pretending to read now. I could help but laugh inside. I looked up and Mike was smiling to, I wonder if he had heard anything we were talking about. I had to look away quickly the thought of him knowing how I use to feel about him was making my cheeks burn. I could feel them betraying me I shouldn’t care, I didn’t feel that way anymore.
“Hey you guys, wait up.” Jason called from behind. “What’s going on today? Are we riding in the same car?” Jason is one of the most annoying boys I have ever known but he can also be the sweetest, wants he wants to be.
“Actually I have an essay to write.” I said as I stuffed my History book and my binder into my already crammed locker. When I turned around to look at them they were both giving me the ‘your out of you mind’ look.
“ That essay isn’t even due until next week.” Jason pulled on my ponytail teasingly. So I punched him on the arm, he knew how much I hated it when he did that. I had a faze in six grade I wore my hair in a pony tail a little off to the side for the whole year. I thought it was easy and cool, but I guess it got old and I “looked like a nerd” Jason told me later after he became my friend, and he has never let me forget about it either. He rubbed arm and groaned as if my punched could actually brake his bones.
“ Well I want to finish it with time to spare.” I didn’t feel like going to a party today I felt drained, I just wanted to relax at home.
“Have you been taking boxing or something cause that actually felt less like my grandmas punches and more like a seventeen year old girl. I so proud of you! What are you now like a yellow belt?” he laughed
“Stupid, karate is the one with belts not boxing. Next time you want to insult me try getting better punch lines.” I punched him again only this time I try a little harder actually twisting my torso for more force. My knuckles ached but the look on his face was worth it.
“That was for comparing me to a grandma.” I could help but smile, Jason has that effect. You might want to hate him but he always brings a smile to your face. Like a cute puppy that just took a dump on you foot, how can you stay mad?
“Hey now! I compared you to my grandma. And she’s amazing so it’s really not an insult, you should be glowing with pride.” he flashes me his fake smile showing off his big teeth.
“Put those away before it hurts someone!” I pretend to cover my eyes like I could bare the thought of it. There was silence as I uncovered my eyes hoping I didn’t hurt his feelings, which is different he wouldn’t have cared he would have laugh about them. I waited for his laughter to fill the awkward silences or anything noise to come out of him. There was Mike walking towards us. “Hey are you guys coming to my party tonight?” I couldn’t look at him as he talked.
“Yeah man, wouldn’t miss it,” Jason voice sounded tiered and sad what did that mean.
“How about you two girls, are you coming too?” he looked at Rachel a little longer than needed, but I don’t care. Or at least that’s what I’m trying to tell myself. He looked at me as if I would answer his question but I could find my voice.
“ Defiantly” Rachel saved the day
“ Awesome! See you guys there” then he jogged to the exit, as if the fire alarm had been pulled. Why did he have to run? Could he not stand by me any longer than three minutes?
“I thought you said you were over Mike?” Jason looked at me with uncertain eyes.” I wanted to scream I don‘t but he didn‘t let me start.
“ I don’t see what’s so amazing about him anyway.” This had taken a strange turn I wasn’t expecting to hear this come out of his mouth. I hate how much they don’t believe me. I am over Mike why can’t they see that too.
“I got to go.” I slammed my locker louder than necessary. I was so tired of talking about Mike and he wasn‘t even mine to talk about. But Jason grabbed both my arms holding me in front of him face to face. He made me look in to his eyes before he started talking.
“Natalie you deserver so much better than a guy who can‘t see how wonderful you are.” there was a wrinkle of sadness in his face like he knows how it feel to chase something that you can never have. The feeling I get when I think of Mike. It went away when he shook his head“ I’m your friend I know what’s good for you. You are going to that party.” he loosened his hold on me dropping his hands to the side.
“Pretty please.” he gave me a pout. “You know I won’t stop until you say yes.” he smiled knowing I would bend. I huffed and rolled my eyes, as dramatically as I possibly can and put both hands on my hips.
“Fine pick me up at six.” I said with little enthusiasm in my voice “Me too.” Rachel said I almost forgot she was there she had be quiet which was out of character for her.
“Can I get ready at your place?” I don’t know why she even had to ask, she knew my answer before she asked it.
“Yeah sure.”
“Alright. Pick you ladies up at six.” Jason smiled as he walked way. Rachel and I walked to my car in silence. It was so quite that it was uncomfortable, there was usually never a quite moment between Rachel and I but today was different. Which only scared me, Rachel says anything that comes to her mind without thinking. I know she is thinking about something but I don’t know what. I’m not sure if going to the party tonight is such a grate idea, I’m in no mood for pretending to have fun. I have to go I promised Jason and Rachel is so exited even though she isn’t showing it. She has talked about this party since last week. All I have to do is fake a smile now and again or to giggle at lame jokes. I can do that for one night. Not for me but for my friends.
As I drove the road curved in very which way, their future hidden behind walls of leafless trees. It was hard to know what the next few miles held behind the walls that seemed to be growing making it harder to see what lays ahead. I gazed at the car passing at a speed I knew deserved a ticket. I couldn’t help but notice that the two yellow lines that marked the black road, was the only thing separating me and that car from colliding. Its strange to thing that two lines could determine life and death, I haven’t ever thought that something so normal so plain could be this important.
I shook the thought from my mind grabbing the staring wheel hard, forcing myself from thing about something different. The car was so quiet that I forgot I wasn’t alone, her knee was bouncing up and down so fast the car shook slightly. I had to gaze at her direction to remember she was there. She had her eyes fixed on the window where the waves from the ocean crashed on to the shore. The water looked angry as the wind picked up and was now fighting against the water. She let out a light sigh pressing her hand under her chest.
“Are you cold?” I turned the knob on the heater higher. Looking her way for a fraction of a second
Mike’s house rested on a rocky hill without many trees to block its view of the drop below. It was scary to think about the height and how the house looked unsafe on the peck of it.
“We’re here!” Jason turned around to look at me. “Ready to party.” he moved his hand as if he were dancing.
“We better leave before we die from embarrassment.” I told Rachel and she smiled and grabbed my hand.
“Lets” her smile go wider pulling me out of the car.
“ Wait up who’s going to hold my hands? I wanted to be part of the group.” he made his sad face which made me and Rachel burst into laughter. We ran towards the door but Jason grab my hand, his were clammy and rough. I looked at his face he had the biggest smile.
“You didn’t think you could out run me, did you?” his smile grew wider as he laughed. I laughed along with him. Jason had scholarships lined up for him from many collages for running. He was the fastest runner I have ever seen.
“Alright I admit I had no chance, but it was fun trying .” I let go of his hand his smile fell a little.
I can’t believe that guy spilled his beer on me. Now my sweater was wet and cold and I smell like and alcoholic. I knew I should have stayed home. I raced over to the open bathroom. The lighting in this room made me feel like I was in the wrong place it was to bright. On mirror shows a girl that looks scared and was about to cry. I locked the door afraid of someone seeing me this way. I tried to clean my shirt with the hand towel, but the wet spot got bigger and I gave up letting the stain win the smell win and me lose. I open the door to a guy with his pants unbutton which makes me jump back.
“gees move! I gotta piss!” he walk in the bathroom before I even had the chance too leave and starts peeing.
“You like what you see?” he ask and a slur of words, he was drunk and peeing very where but the toilet. Not that I was looking but it’s hard not to hear. I finally remembered I was in a bathroom with a drunk guy peeing, I left not fast enough. Worst party ever. As I exit the bathroom, Nina and a group of her friends giving me a dirty looks and whispering things back to each other. I can only imagine what they are talking about after seeing me in the bathroom with a guy. Not just any guy Austin Cranes the horn-dog of the school, I mean they have no room to talk they are wearing skirts so short and tight I know Susan b Anthony is rolling in her grave. Again worst party ever. I had to get away from their evil glares I feel them burning a hole on my face. Where was Rachel and Jason anyway their the only that dragged me here, and the abandon me what great friends I have.
The music was getting louder and people more hostel if that