David - Marisa Redhead16 (read aloud books .txt) 📗

"What are you talking about?" my mother asked me, passing by with a basket full of laundry.

"I'd like to start a book, and if it's fiction I'm trying to decide what the lead character is like." I explained nonchalantly.

"Good for you. Good luck!" Mom said, walking down the stairs and headin for the utility room. I continued asking myself questions about my character. I wrote down some notes and questions. I drew a diagram. I wrote Lead Character in the middle and drew lines leading to bubbles, which would be filled with information about her.

Her name was Katie Hillman. She was the head cheerleader. Her hair had color in it, and was currently blond. No boyfriend, yet, but she was crushing on the quarterback. She found out she was a witch and a werewolf/vampire hybrid. Her ex-best friend was evil and wanted her life. This friend was poor and from the wrong side of the tracks. She was blond also. Katie had humiliated her last year and she wanted revenge, money, and popularity.

I suppose this story was inspired by my own life. I was Katie, in a way, but I was also Hillary, her old friend. I was also the quarterback. David was Hillary, and the quarterback. Nina was a minor character, and Hillary. Sophia was all three major characters. Everyone else would fit into the story somehow. Tony could have been Hillary, but he technically didn't betray anyone. He made some stupid choices, and he was sort of paying. He still wasn't in trouble, as he told Mom he planned to go the the school administration with the videotape.

I started out the story with Katie introducing herself. She bragged a bit about her money, about her status.

'My name is Katie Hillman. I'm rich. I know that sounds like bragging, but it's true. I'm also popular, all on my own. I don't need to intimidate people with secrets or money or insults. But sometimes it's fun. I stood at my rightful place at the gym front and snapped my fingers. A little snap, and all those cheerleaders got themselves in their places. Towel Girl Janice offered me some water and a towel. I ignored her and got to my place.

"1,2, 3, 4 go!" I called out. They did the cheer immediately. I called them out on their flaws.

"Teresa, more V, less U! Amber, more pom-pom, less leg. Vickie, more perk, more pep! Beatrice, you're...perfect actually. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. Hannah, I told you no pigtails. They're ugly. Georgette, I thought I said that when you wear braces, choose pink bands!"

"Enough!" someone called out. I turned toward the intruder.

"Hannah, what are you doing?"

"I have had enough of your bossiness. I signed up to be a cheerleader, not a servant or a follower. I am not to going to stand for more of your insults. You are a royal whore. And a jerk. I am going to quit this club if you don't cut it out!" she said, putting her pom-poms on her hips.

"Excuse me? Honey, I do not take orders from you. You do not offer suggestion, direction, or anything else. One more word and you're out!" I explained, thumb-pointing to the door. Hannah let the pom-poms drop and headed out. And so did a bunch of other girls. "What are you all doing? Stop! Come back!" I ordered, trying to reassign my place.'

I was stuck there. Should she get in trouble, or should Hillary come and save her. I tapped my pencil on my desk and bit my bottom lip. Katie was already somewhat defined; everyone knew what she was like. In a way, she represented Maureen. Hillary also represented Maureen.

I studied my work so far. So, did you know that some people find it strange that men write about and to girls sometimes? Same for women writing about and to men. I personally don't care either way, I've read great books written by both sexes to both sexes. My favorite fiction book recently was Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice. I hope we've all heard of that, and I certainly hope we've all heard of Anne Rice. She is a great science fiction writer, with fantastic plots and page-turning books. She is one of those writers that probably plans her work in advance and makes frequent improvements. Some writers rush through the book and it most often doesn't turn out well. Slow and steady wins the race.

So I sat on my futon that I'd recently ordered from PB Teen and watched a movie about cheerleading and science fiction. The movie itself was pretty terrible, but it had great tips and ideas riddled throughout the plot. The main character, a girl of course, ended up not getting the guy because he died for her. And the cheerleading squad was ruined and had to be reorganized, and everyone got kicked off even though no one had done anything  wrong.

 So, awful movie, occasional good tip or trick, and nothing worked out in the end. I wondered if it would be the same in my life. That's negative thinking. Maybe I'm a negative person, maybe I'm anxious, or maybe I haven't fully grasped the Law of Attraction. How could I, when everything in my life was crumbling around me?

 I couldn't. I wallowed in my own sorrow for the rest of the long night. I finished a James Patterson book. I finished a movie I'd begun but never finished. I finished a lot of things that night, including a report that was due the next day.

I dressed in a green shirt that Nina had once said she liked, and dark blue jeans she loved on me. I wore Axe cologne. Just a spritz on my neck, one under my arm, and once in my shirt. I was ready to face my friend if she showed up.

She did show up, although I didn't really expect her to. I knew she'd bury herself in schoolwork and what everyone now called The Ninth Grade It Girls Clique.Yes, that was their real name and it was led by none other than Maureen. She had been acting like the leader she  aspired to be. Since the fight hadn't happened on school grounds, she didn't get in trouble for that and neither did Ruth. I sat near her before school as I usually do and heard her usual morning gossip.

"Yeah, I'm like, calling a restraining order for her. She's a psycho," she said, talking about Ruth. Being a guy, not making excuses, I couldn't help but notice how sexy she looked today. She wore blue eyeshadow, applied nicely, a pink Victoria's Secret off-the-shoulder sweater, leggings, and black high heels. She smelled like vanilla and her hair was pinned to one side.

"You are so smart and so real. I couldn't deal with that bitch," Maya said.

"I know! She's like, totally getting on my nerves. She thinks every guy who looks at her is automatically interested. She's wrong, she's ugly, both back then and now. Chloe meant well but she did nothing for her."

I looked up. Chloe and Maureen were suddenly getting along? They used to hate each other, but obviously they had a lot of the same qualities and found something to like in each other.

"The slut?" Maya stupidly asked.

"I don't consider her a slut," Maureen explained. "I don't know exactly what it is, but theres' something in her I found I like. Whatever. The biggest slut in school now is Ruth. Even Hannah McFarlan says so. Right, Toby?" she said, looking at me.

I told the truth. "I haven't heard Hannah McFarlan say anything about Ruth." She, Maureen, nodded her head like she agreed with me. I knew she'd tell everyone that I agreed with her. I didn't care.

So I did see Nina and finally caught her after Choir.

"Are you all right?" I asked her. She shook her head.

"I....Hey, look, I'm really sorry. I was a jerk to you and Sophia. I have been for several months now. I'm-" I was cut off by a kiss from her. I was overwhelmed with love in that instant and confused and in pain. She pulled away from me.

"It was the only way I could think of to get you to shut up." she said. "Look, I've been a jerk too. Not just to you, but to Sophia. I've been angry and jealous and I wanted to be cool and popular. I also wanted to make you and Michael jealous because I was torn between you two. Not just because I love you both, but because Michael and his dad have a thing against gay guys. Really, my friendship with you comes before almost anything else in my life. I love you, Tobias."

I had known that she loved me, but not this much. "I love you too, Nina, but only as a friend. Everything cool between us now?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling. She hugged me and pecked my cheek. "Where's David?" she asked, looking around.

"I don't know. I havn't seen or heard from him in a couple of days. Should I call his family?" I asked.

"You might have to. Call his family tomorrow or tonight." she said.

I knew she was right. Whether David was breaking up with me or not, I needed to know if he was okay. Definitely so. I needed to hear his voice, feel his hair, touch his muscular back. I wondered if he felt the same way, I wondered where he was. I would soon find out.

I walked home with Nina. Tony refused to take me or her home. Besides, he had plans with Keisha. And I could use some quality alone time with Nina. We chattered about Sophia, and Maureen, Tony, and all the drama. Nina became suddenly quiet, and I realized we were in some woods by David's house.

It was creepy, dark, cold, and too quiet. No birds, no small mammals, not even a spider or butterfly. There was  strange smell, like a body. I saw a hair tie on the ground, with long blond hair in it, and I felt cold all over. I also saw a jacket, an expensive leather jacket. Cold sweat covered my forehead.

No wonder I haven't heard from him! I rushed forward. And I saw David's body lying in a pool of blood. I thought he was dead, until he stirred. Nina was already on the phone, talking to an operator. I  bent down and held his head.

"Tobias?" I heard him whisper.

"I'm here, I'm here..." I assured him. He smiled and closed his eyes.

"David, don't you dare! You'd better just be resting..." I felt tears sting my eyes. "I'm sorry, David, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Baby, don't leave me!" I blamed myself. I touched his chest. I pulled my hand away when I realized he had a wound there. Nina handed me his jacket, which I covered him with. His hair fell around his shoulders. I touched it. His shirt was so bloody that I couldn't tell what color it was for a minute.

Oh, red. How appropriate, I thought. I pulled him up, and kissed his lips. If I never held him again, I wanted one more kiss. I felt him deepen the kiss. He was still strong enough for that.

Before long, an ambulance arrived with some police officers.