Him

He stared at her. With his deep, loving look of despair. He could pull you into him, or repel you. His skin, tempting. Could he pull her in? He might have the power, or she might have the weakness. Which way would the table turn? Him or her? She wouldn’t know, and wouldn’t until she would take the Journey. Moving away from what you now call home was horrid. This is the letter Chance had received:

Dearest Chance, I understand that you have been asking questions about me. I left to go up to a retreat, with about 30 other people. Now, 9 of us stand…some of them just couldn’t handle it. The only way I can send this is to give the letter to the ranger stand 1 mile away, they mail from there for us. We are in the Appalachians! Take my credit card in the safe (turn right to 51, 52, then left 19) and buy yourself some hip clothes! Your birthday is soon, right? Your limit is $200, and that’s pushing it!! Do you got yourself a boyfriend? Or how about some nice friends? Never-mind that, I will be back home soon. Oh and your moving in with me now. Love your Mom, Clarice Williams

Chance never actually knew her mom; only that her father secretly taken her to a foster home. When Clarice found out, she was outraged, but Chance was shipped off to New Jersey, they were far away now. Until she was almost finished with the third grade, her mother found her. Clarice then moved into New Jersey, and re-claimed her daughter. The foster home was a house, big, nicely put together place. Now divorced, Ms.Williams was happy to know her daughter was raised in such a wonderful place. She had said goodbye to her old life in what was now the fourth grade, in Cape May (South Jersey) where the home was located to right in the middle of a tiny county called Middlesex.

Chance actually moved halfway into the fourth grade to be exact. Chance’s new best friend then still is now, in the end of her sophomore year. Meeting him in gym class, they were the first two people put on a team for soccer. He introduced himself very sweetly and then made her laugh, instantly Chance knew he would be a good friend that she would have her whole life, no matter what they went through. Jake was described as: funny, cute, sweet, and all around amazing. Never did Chance fall for him though, s did almost every girl he talked to. Jake just always had that look of, feet crossed over each other, looking unsure, and scared of failure. To Chance, Jake always seemed like he needed something, part of him was incomplete; the puzzle pieces of his heart were missing a small, but crucial part. She could never figure out what it was. Jake Scott Bogi can be…unpredictable. They did almost everything together: Band, chorus (she dragged him there), swimming (he talked her into it), and sports, a lot more sports. How could they afford paying for so many activities by ourselves? Well they work together at a small shop. Making $8 bucks an hour doesn’t exactly cut it. In the winter: shoveling snow. Summer, cutting grass, lemonade sales. Fall, rake leaves. Spring, street-fair stands of all kinds. That pays it.

Jake and her are tight, she could just walk into his house anytime, and he could walk into hers. Their families hang out every Friday and beforehand Jake and her make dinner. It takes forever. One time in the kitchen, Friday night: Jake was mixing a well, mix for bread, he accidentally flinged some and it landed on Chance. Simply she decided to take some substance and fling it back to him. Well, long story told short, they were both covered in bread mix along with the kitchen. After, the parent’s made them clean the whole kitchen, it took hours. They made it fun though, singing, dancing, and the best was her talking with Jake about girls, and so much more. She didn’t understand why she liked it so much, but he kept talking about this one girl so beautifully. He said stuff like: Everything she does is beautiful, she’s gorgeous. Chance considered herself so lucky to be around Jake as much as she is. “I don’t know what happened when I met her, but sparks flew in my mind and her eyes lit up. Her eyes sparkle in the sunlight and all I can see in her is me. I can’t imagine her holding someone else, ever.” Jake explained. It was so amazing. The weird thing was that Chance felt an odd connection, like the girl was real close to him. The only girl he associates with is Chance, Kirsten and Dakota. But he is closest to Chance. She wondered at that moment then drifted off to a dream. Than woke up at 10 a.m. with Jake knocking on her bedroom door, trying to wake her up for some baseball or the park. Normally Chance would run to the park and Jake would chase after her. Then they would go to the swings, hop on and start swinging there feet. Their goal, to see who can get higher first. Obviously, they are very close to each other.

Now onto all the close friends. Jake is a very good friend to anyone and everyone. Anthony would let you do what you want, but would be there to listen to it all. If you mess with Kirsten or her friends, she would speak her mind obnoxiously. Dakota would simply always make you feel better if you’re down. Chance takes on a different style everyday, she tends to have every male-specimen all over her, she is very attractive. Chance is like Kirsten in the form of caring they take on. Everyone has nicknames, some are insiders, others are not. Jake introduced Chance to Anthony and she met Kota and Kirs through their school’s Lacrosse team.

The girls always tell her: “Jake soooo loves you Chance. More than a friend though. He has since that one gym class. He liked you then it became stronger than that. Not exactly love but something so powerful it can’t even be explained. Just realize that nobody has ever seen a boy and girl so close, like you two. I mean why a guy would spend so much time with you. Tell me. Half the time they would rather be playing video games or playing sports with the guys. Get it yet? Gosh. You two do like everything together. You must have liked the kid at least once the slightest bit. Have you?” Her answer always is “no guys. Seriously, does this really matter soooo much to you guys? You know what; don’t even answer that because the answer will be yes.” Truth is whenever Jake and Chance aren’t together, he talks about her the same way he did to her, not telling it was her, in the kitchen that one Friday night. He loves her unconditionally. They say that he is always dropping hints to her. But, should she actually believe them? No clue. Time to meet Jake so they can bike to the Y.M.C.A for practice.

“Ok; Jake, Chance, the music is playing, pretend, now do your routine.” Routine performed. Coach says “Very good, your time is up, time for normal swimming practice. GO!!” They basically did synchro for the money, competition. Chance has doubles today, Jake doesn’t. She would probably have to bike ride home alone. After practice walking outside, there was Jake sitting on his bike: “Let’s get going, I think it’s going to get dark out, quick, tonight.” “Okay Jake, thank you so much for waiting for me, you are an amazing friend.” “Chance, I’d wait on you forever and a day. Always remember that.” He smiled, she began to think, maybe they were right.