A Beautiful, Terrible Love by Lucky 97 (books for 9th graders txt) 📖

I felt my heart jump, the lost attraction suddenly found, as I stared at her pretty form. Hurriedly, I walked over to the bar again, the cashier staring questioningly at me. She raised her thin eyebrow.
"I want to buy this," I desperately shoved the magazine on the table. My actions were becoming frenzied and rough, my hand shaking.
"They aren't for sale. Those are only for the customers to look at," the cashier stated, then looked away to another as if the conversation was over.
The girl snuck a single glance at me, spotting my death glare, and quickly recalled her previous statement. "Five dollars," she quickly said, taking my crisp green bill and putting it away. I snatched the magazine in my hands, walking out of the door with stiff, hulking movements, my own actions a stranger to me.
My limo was sitting in front of me, it's shiny black exterior so polished I could see my reflection clearly, the windows tinted so I couldn't see inside. I didn't wait for the chauffeur to come around, throwing the door open and sliding inside the long, skinny vehicle. It was stupid not to do those sort of things myself. Why did I let my chauffeur do that all these years. Who did I think I was? Royalty?
I guess I thought I was royalty, until I meet her.
"Home, please," I demanded, and the engine roared to life. There was a rumble, then it silently began its way down the slightly crowded street. The area was dark, the only illumination in the corner of the car. If I wanted to, I could light the limo so brightly it shone from the outside, but that was not what I wanted.
All I wanted... needed was the light splaying across her form, catching little details I hadn't noticed before, snagging her smile for only me to see.
I held the magazine to my chest, closing my eyes, my eyelashes brushing against my cheek. It felt, if I imagined hard enough, that she was with me, that she was by my side at this very moment. For a few seconds, she numbed the pain.
She gave me the strength to go on.
A tingle arose within me as her name rose to the surface, dwelling on the tip of my tongue. Finally, my lips uttered the name I had been pushing to the corner of my mind for the last three weeks.
"Eve."

Chapter 18
Eve

Every day of this last week had been a dream come true.
I couldn't count all the wonderful things that has happened to me. Akemi and Ayako have both left me alone. Sadie, Peter, and I had become friends again, just like in seventh grade. Oh, and Jared was a definite plus. He was sort of a new addition to our group, an interesting spice to the mix. I didn't mind his invasion of our trio, for he told hilarious jokes and always had something to say. He was like the person that filled in the awkward spaces, and we were all thankful for that. There were times when we all couldn't think of a single word, but Jared would always pull us through.
Also, it didn't hurt that I could plainly see he had a crush on Sadie.
It was rather, amusing, really, to spy his supposedly secret glances, his wavering words, his almost... nervous manner when around my twin. I knew he thought nobody could figure out his secret crush, but I could be rather observant when I wanted to be.
I understood why he liked her, of course. Sadie was particularly radiant these days, her bright, cheerful attitude shining from within her soul, a spectacular aura that made me sigh with awe. I didn't know why she was so happy, but I wished for her the best.
Anyways, it was everything I could've hoped for. People didn't ignore me in the hallways. I began to really start drawing in art class instead of world class scribbles. My self esteem shot up. My life just began to look up. It was perfect.
Except... for one thing. A person.
A person I dared not to name.

I walked up to Jared, my hand dancing on the tip of his shoulder as I delicately tapped for his attention. He whirled around, his hair messy and straggly, adding a cuteness to him that only he could perfect. His green eyes gleamed at my sudden appearance, his luscious lips stretched into a smile. I didn't like him any more than as a friend, but I did admit he sure was a handsome guy.
"Hey," I greeted him quietly. We were standing in a massive crowd, a throng of people that were clamoring to get to their lockers. Class was about to start, and no one wanted a demerit. However, no matter how loud it was, someone could hear us, pick my voice out from the others. I couldn't risk that.
"What is it? I have to get to class," he whispered back. His eyes scanned the hallways quickly, calculatingly, "at this rate, I'll be late by at least two minutes by the time I get there!"
"Don't worry about being late," I urgently grabbed his muscled arm, dragging him through the rusty hallways to a rough, wooden closet. I reached with tender fingers towards the handles, and pulled hard. The door gave in, flinging outwards at the same time I pushed Jared in the tiny space. There was a thump as he banged against the wall, his form colliding with the various brooms and mops. I slid in after him, almost melting through the tiny crack like butter as I forced the doors closed when I entered.
I sneezed as dust swarmed in my nostrils, a sliver of light through the open door the only thing I could see. It was pitch black, the stuffiness overwhelming me. I could feel Jared's heavy breathing, his heart thumping in his chest.
Oh, the price I had to pay for privacy.
I thanked the lord for the darkness at that moment, then quickly, awkwardly reached into my bra and grabbed a lighter I had brought with me. I had stolen it this morning so that my mother couldn't light another one of her dreadful cigarettes, for she hated having to use matches. Strangely, for Lou, safety was more important than her awful addiction, and matches was on the top of her 'hazardous' list. If she didn't have her lighter, she wasn't going to light a cigarette. I had been trying to get her off for days, but this was the only thing that worked. Also, Lou always watched her lighter like a vicious watch dog, making it difficult for me to take any other option. As a result, I stuck it in my bra this morning with a shameful feeling in my gut, and honestly, a little fear. I didn't want the lighter to accidentally turn on and burn my bra away.
I snapped the top open with my manicured fingernails, the sudden burst of violent light sputtering forth, then blossoming into a tiny teardrop of flame. It glowed, casting shadows around the heavily darkened room, throwing light against Jared's nearby face, startling me as I realized his closeness.
"This... isn't a confession, is it?" Jared's rough, gravelly voice threw me off guard, shocking me immensely.
I almost dropped the lighter on the floor, my laughter making the closet shake. However, the overwhelming whine of the old and rickety bell drowned out my giggles. Chattering ceasing, slow footsteps broke into runs as many people raced to their destinations.
Jared looked extremely offended, his adorable puppy lips twisting into a pout. "My ego is hurt, Eve. I thought we were friends. Do you really think I'm that gross?"
"No!" I exclaimed, another chuckle escaping me. "We are. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less," I smiled, the eerie glow casting the shadows from my eyelashes onto my cheek. "Trust me, I'm not interested in you."
"Ha! Neither am I," he said laughingly, then quickly changed his attitude when he saw the look on my face. I couldn’t help but be offended at the thought that he thought me to be unattractive. He quickly clarified. "Although you are really cute, Eve. You just aren't my type."
My angry expression morphed into a timid smile, my mouth widening, and dimples appealingly conspicuously on my cheeks. I was just joking with him.
"So why am I here?" he asked curiously, a tad irritated, judging by his tone. His face, illuminated by the bright light, shone with overwhelming interest. I had never done anything like this before.
"Because," I twirled a thin strand of hair in my fingertips, holding the lighter in the palm of my right hand. "I know you like Sadie."
Jared visibly shook his whole body weight shifting backwards until he was against the wooden wall. A single bead of glistening sweat appeared on his forehead, and he quickly swiped his hand against it to wipe it away. His calm assurance had vanished, leaving a nervous wreck left. I laughed inwardly at the incredible sight I was witnessing; the school's player reduced to a bumbling idiot as his crush is revealed?
Wow, it must really be bad.
"W-what about it?" he stuttered, his voice cracking as he emitted the tender, biting words. His hand shuddered visibly, and he quickly ran it through his light hair, his eyes narrowed at my form.
I looked to him, his bunny rabbit-like demeanor amusing, his apprehensiveness showing through even though he tried to conceal it, and smiled. "I can help you out,"
I could see the silent contemplation on Jared’s face. I could tell what he was thinking. Should I admit I like Sadie? Or should I deny it?
He gave in, obviously knowing that I wouldn’t believe his lame protests. "Would you? Really?" he asked, his face breaking into a wide, merry grin, his teeth gleaming in the darkness. His eyes shone with hope, the nervousness immediately evaporating.
"BUT!" I warned, stopping him in his tracks. "Don't get your hopes up. It's Sadie, after all," Sadie went through boys like a couch potato goes through a pack of Cheetos, one after the other, never stopping except for breath. Also, I was suspicious of her strange happiness. Yes, our little "threesome" was together again. Yes, I was starting to act like a normal human being.
But this complete and total bliss she was emitting was completely out of the ordinary.
"I know," he nodded, "but I can't help it. I can't help but like her."
I've heard those words several times before. Sadie seemed to have magnetism to her, a force that pulls guys to her that she could turn on at will, or sometimes even when she wasn't trying to.
"I know," I opened the door, letting the light stream in, illuminating us both. I squelched the little fire in my hands, stuffing it in my pocket instead of my bra. There was no way I was going to do that with Jared close by.
He ran to class, his binder in his arms, filled to the brim with papers, some flying into the wind and landing on the tiled floor. I sighed, laughingly, and started to retrieve his runaway papers.
He might need them soon.

The flowers tickled my toes as I trekked through the bright green meadow, anxious to get home. The sunlight focused on my form, determined to melt me into a puddle on the floor. Sweat appeared rapidly on my face, chest, and legs, trailing down my leg and in between my shoulders. I was definitely taking a bath when I got home. Butterflies flitted around me, their carefree attitude infecting me, until I truly was swept away, my worries pushed to the farthest corner of my mind. It was a