Love Again by Marisa Maichel (top young adult novels TXT) 📖

The Break up and The Break In

I saw my amazing boyfriend, Reid. I smiled as I walked toward him. I'd just come out of the library for English. Somehow, he wasn't smiling. I didn't know why, last night was incredible. "Brook." "Reid." I gazed at him. Most would call him plain, but I thought he was beautiful. He had light brown hair in a shark fin and bright blue eyes. His nose was a stub, like mine, and his eyes were usually intelligent and alert.
But not today. He looked nervous, and I noticed he kept doing the Adam and Eve thing, crossing your hands in front of your...thighs.

 

"Brook, we can't go on like this!" he said suddenly.

 

"What?"

 

"Brook, I'm breaking up with you." he replied, turning to go. I grabbed his arm,

 

"But I love you."

 

"I don't love you. I'm sorry."

 

"Reid-"

 

"Get away from me, you whore!" I was shocked now.

 

He looked like he'd been punched. I felt like throwing up. Me, a fourteen year old who has the number nine spot in popularity, dating a seventeen year old halfback on the football field. He blinked, whispered "I do love you." and walked off.

 

 

 

 

"That's it." I told Jane, my best friend.

 

"That's all? He didn't give you an explanation?" she said, pushing her leopard print glasses up her straight nose. We were in math now. "No." I said, shoulders slumping. "Oh well It's probably for the best. He has sex with you, then he dumps you the next day and calls you a whore. Seem suspicious?" I thought for a second. It did kind of seem suspicious. "You think he just used me?" I asked Jane. "It's a possibility. It happens to people all the time, and not just to girls." she said.

 

She was right. I had to ask for an explanation. If he used me...he'd get his ass kicked. That's putting it mildly. So after class, I approached the jerk. Jane was standing nearby, for backup.

 

"I feel I'm entitled to an explanation, I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

 

"Brook, I have to go..."

 

"No you don't." I imitated Pat Benatar, just her power in her music video Love Is A Battlefield.

 

"You twat, just cause I broke up with you doesn't mean you can go all pyscho!" "Give me an explanation, and I'll get out of your way."

I wasn't looking for attention, but we were getting some.

 

"Fight!" someone yelled. "Freaking beech." Reid said, walking around me.

 

"Kiss his stomach, Brook!" someone else yelled. I held up my middle finger in the direction of the voice. Jane grasped my shoulder, and we walked away.

 

"Jerk." she said to him.

 

"Lowdown scumbag." I muttered.

 

"Exactly what he is. Don't worry, you'll find someone better." she admonished. "Like?" I reminded her. She pursed her lips. She knew I was right. We had jerks, losers, gay guys, exes or current boyfriends, or friends exes or boyfriends. No good guys. Well we had good guys, but they were either gay or taken.

 

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I complained of a stomach pain to the nurse. She checked my temperature. It was oddly at 102 degrees. She called Mom to pick me up. "I'm sorry you're not feeling well," Mom said. "What makes it worse is that Reid broke up with me today." I said, leaning my head on the windshield. I told my mother how he'd done it.

 

"Oh. I'm sorry. It's probably for the best anyway. Do you really want to be with someone like that?" Her logic made sense.

 

"No." "I thought not. By the way, you may have to transfer."

 

I looked at her.

 

"Why?"

 

"My career may take me to richer part of town." Mom is a social worker/crisis counselor. She has had to move offices several times.

 

"I'm actually happy about that." I said, smiling. Mom looked at me in surprise. "Really? Why?" "I hate my school. There's cliques, practically no good or available guys, and the teachers act like they don't care." "You seem to like the librarian." "She's all right, but she's the only one I care about. The rest are either fake or rude or both."

 

"Oh. I'm glad then. You'll be going to Glasse High." Yes, there was a guy named George Glasse. Yes, in Miami, Florida. I knew then life would be different.


I strolled the halls of Glasse High. I'd gone so far as to buy seven new outfits and makeup colors I hadn't tried in a while, like blue eyeshadow. Surprisingly, I looked good in it, especially with biege lipstick and apricot blush. But today, I chose that blush and lipstick with a pink eyeshadow. Less strong. More natural.

 

I'd been greeted with smiles and open arms so far. One run-in with a anorexic-looking blonde girl with a sassy attitude. She called me a slut. Her exact words were:

 

"Outta my way, you friggin slut!" I just ignored her and walked in. Today was a new me.
The only thing missing were my friends and Reid. I looked and felt good. I wore jeans with knee-high leather-suede boots and a red wrap-shirt. I clutched my new Chanel bag and carried on. I'd already met some okay people.
I suddenly bumped into a guy.

 

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

 

"No problem, sweetheart." I looked up and saw an incredibly cute boy. His eyes were like fresh waterfalls, flowing and mysterious and blue. He had platinum blonde hair on his head. It was down to his chin.

 

"My name's Kavin." he said, extending his hand.

 

"I'm Brook." I said. He smiled.

 

"So...can I get your number? I think I lost mine." he said; and as he spoke, I realized he had an English accent. I'd been so focused on his face, I hadn't noticed it.

 

"Mine's 567-908-4321." I told him. He grinned.

 

"An interesting pattern." he said, studying my face. I have green eyes with sun around the pupil, jet-black hair, pale skin, and my cheeks are chubby. My nose is slightly pugish. My body is an hourglass shape.

 

That night when I got home, my sister Brigid was there. And yes, she was named after the Celtic goddess.

 

"How are you?" she said. "Um..." After that, Brigid grasped my face and looked into my eyes. "Oh my god! You met a boy!" she said happily. "Maybe." "I need details! What's he look like?" At seventeen, Brigid was nosy.
"He has blue eyes and blonde hair. He has an English accent. " I said. Brigid looked thoughtful. "I gave him my number." I told her. She grinned.

That Saturday, I got more help for a date than usual. Mom and Brigid pampered me. They took me to get a facial, get my hair done, my nails done, and my makeup done. They both knew I was still hurting from Reid, but now I'd found someone else. Someone who wouldn't break my heart on purpose. Someone who wouldn't use me.
Jane and Khloe, another friend, went with us. They were both beaming at the fact that I'd found someone else so soon.

 

I listened to Rachael Yamagata's 'Be Be Your Love' in the nail and makeup salon.
In a few hours, my face was flawless, my lashes long, lips red, eyes done in a sultry way. I had a brown smoky eye. My nails were a rosy pink. My hair was smooth and split-end free. The hair dresser had also taken the liberty to trim my slanting bangs.

 

He'd commented on my face, calling it 'a rose to behold'. I'd never heard that before. It was cute. He wasn't bad looking; he was Filipino. Khloe couldn't take her eyes off him. Jane took a secret picture of him. Stalker.
I wore a nice dress. It was spring green and was sleeveless. I wore black gladiator heels. If my grandmother saw it, she'd prevent me from going out.

 

Everyone huddled in the living room to get a glimpse of my date. I slung my little black bag over my shoulder. It was sparkly and shaped like a large coin purse. Kavin looked amazing. He wore a flannel shirt, black slacks, and he had flowers and a present. I grinned and gently took them from his firm hand.

 

"You look incredible." he said.

 

"You do, too." I gave the gifts to Mom, who took them to my room.

 

"Kavin, this is my sister Brigid, my best friend Jane, and my good friend Khloe." "Hello." "Hi."

 

"Hey."

 

"Hi." 
"See you guys later."

 

"Bye."

 

"Bye."

 

"Bye."

 

"Good-bye, Brook." Thanks, Mom.

 

Kavin drove a 2005 Ford Taurus. It was a bronze color. "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant. Perky song, full of wisdom but exciting. All my past boyfriends have played God-awful rap or pop. Not all rap or pop is bad, but some is.

 

Kavin took me past some new strip club, past a gay bar, past a jail, past a creepy diner, to a trendy new restaurant called Appex. I was excited. I had first met Reid at a party at a mutual friend's house.
But this was a real date, with no one to talk to except each other, unless someone we knew was there. A hostess led us to a center table. Out of the corner of my eye, to my utter shock, was Reid.
Perfect.

 

"So, tell me about yourself." Kavin said, touching my hand.

 

"I used to go to Sweetnum High." I said with a flirty smile. He grinned.

 

"My cousin goes there." he said. "She's Hanna Pearson."

 

"I know her!"

 

"Really?"

 

"Yeah, she's like the most popular girl in school." Kavin grinned.
The fact that I was gushing about his super-popular cousin was a plus. Besides, I actually do like Hanna. Barely. She's just too fake to me, but she's sweet. Suddenly, Reid appeared out of nowhere. As if on cue, "Smack That" by Konvict feat Akon, Slim Shady, a couple other guys started playing.

 

"Hey, Brook. Who's your friend?"

 

"Kavin, this is my ex-boyfriend Reid, Reid this is my date Kavin. " I said with a successful fake smile.
Kavin and Reid regarded each other. I could tell they were both thinking She must have a thing for blue eyes. Well, I do. I'm even dubbed "Blue-Eyed Brook" because of my fascination with light-colored eyes.
It's probably because mine are an odd mixture of blue, green, and purple. It's not exactly hazel, but it's not exactly not.

"Did Brook tell you about the first time we had sex?" Reid said with a smirk. Ass.

"Did I tell you how he used me for it then rudely dumped me the next day?" I shot back.
I heard someone clap. Reid almost held up his middle finger.

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't be so rude to my date." Kavin said, standing up and puffing out his chest. What a hero!
Reid took the hint and left.

"What an ass." Kavin said.

"Totally."

"Back to you. What do your parents do?"

"My mother is a social worker/crisis counselor. My dad is in Virginia. They divorced three years ago."

"I'm sorry." he said, rubbing my hand. How sweet.
He ordered us both lobster and ice cream afterwards. I found out he once dated the waitress, but didn't know it and showed no sign. She flirted with him, though. I felt jealous of her, even knowing he didn't like her anymore.
"She cheated on me with my ex- best friend." he said.

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You didn't cheat on me. I hope you never do." he said, taking my hand again and kissing it. "You have beautiful hands, Brook."

"You have beautiful eyes, Kavin."

He smiled and looked at the table. The rest of the date went well. His family was from the U.K. He was part Scottish, part Irish, and half English. He'd spent part of his life in Ireland, a few years in England before moving to America at nine.
He was born in Scotland. His mother