4  years ago

"Alright..who wants to be the first to share their poem?", Mrs Hendrickson asked.

The silence was deafening. Finally Josey slowly lifted her hand. Mase Richardson was carving his name into his desk. Anna was writing him a note.

"Josephina! Of course you would like to start! Come up and read your poem!", Mrs Hendrickson said with excitement!

Mase looked up and saw Joey walked toward the front, her hair in a braid,her glasses crooked and her blue jeans and orange shirt stained with what looked like paint. He felt Anna gazing at him intensely so he quickly looked down.

"Seems its been a while. Since I last heard your voice. So much silence. In so much noise. If I could feel your heartbeat then maybe I could breathe. If I could touch your hand. Then maybe I could stand. To miss someone so much. You feel so out of touch. To be with you again. I wish this time would end. Tired of shedding tears. I want you to be here. You calm all my fears. I need you to be near. Tonight. These memories of you are starting to erase. These pictures dont reflect you. Can I just see your face. Can I feel your wrist among my fingertips? Your pulse softly pounding. Prove that you exist. These Days they seem so long how do i stay strong?"

It was so incredible and so deep for a girl that was thirteen years old. Mason felt his stomach turn over and inside he knew the words were for him. He felt a sharp jab of pain in his stomach. She was his best friend. He wanted to run up to her and tell her he was sorry and that he never wanted to hurt her.

Anna leaned over and whispered," What a loser." Mason felt a feeling of anger rise up inside him at her comment. He saw the other cheerleaders examining him and his fellow football players and he gave a small smile.

"Yeah," He replied, " She's so weird."

That was his turning point when he knew that it was too late and they could never go back to their friendship ever again.

Present time

Mason felt overwhelmed. She had turned it into a song. A beautiful song. He watched her sing with so much emotion. Did she still think about how he hurt her? Did she even remember. She opened her eyes and she stared at him through the frames of her glasses. Their eyes locked for a moment. Mason knew at that moment. She remembered.

Mason looked at the clock again. He found himself wondering if Joey was still at her restuarant. Why was he thinking about her at this time. His girlfriend was super mad at him. Shouldnt he be trying to patch things up? But why should he have to patch things up. Why is she mad at him?! She should be supportive and feel bad for him. Football was his life. At least Joey cared. Mason parked his car and realized he was at her restuarant. He hadnt even realized he was driving in that direction. Or maybe he had. He parked his car and walked inside. The place was crowded. People were everywhere. How would he ever find anyone. All of a sudden he heard a beautiful clear voice echo over the crowds. He walked toward the stage and saw her. She was wearing her work clothes. A white polo shirt and black dress pants. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and she had no makeup but at this moment she was beautiful.

  "Seems its been a while. Since I last heard your voice. So much silence. In so much noise. If I could feel your heartbeat then maybe I could breathe. If I could touch your hand. Then maybe I could stand. To miss someone so much. You feel so out of touch. To be with you again. I wish this time would end. Tired of shedding tears. I want you to be here. You calm all my fears. I need you to be near. Tonight. These memories of you are starting to erase. These pictures dont reflect you. Can I just see your face. Can I feel your wrist among my fingertips? Your pulse softly pounding. Prove that you exist. These Days they seem so long how do i stay strong?"

Mason felt like the air was knocked out of him. He somehow could feel that song was for him. He remembered it. From somewhere. He couldnt quite pin it down. Or maybe....

    "What is it baby?!?!A Scholarship?", Anna Asked.

"No...it's not that." Mason started.

"Well then! What is it?"Anna questioned impatiently.

"Well you know how I have been trying to raise my grade in English, so that I could keep playing football..." Mason slowly started.Annas face seemed somewhat confused.

"Uh..yeah.I guess so. What about it?"Anna asked. Mason paused for a second. He thought to himself that the longer he drew this out the longer it would torture them both.

"I failed, Anna.I'm Off the team" Mason blurted.

 Annas mouth dropped open in shock. He quickly regained herself and instead of her look of shock, a smug look took place on her face.

" No you aren't Mason. I simply won't allow it. My father is the coach Mace. I control him. I will not let him kick you off the team." Anna said with complete confidence and security.

"No Anna.We already talked. He's pretty serious. You know how your Dad gets when he's serious." Mason replied.

Anna's face looked less secure. She paused for a second. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. More silence. The silence seemed to last hours at best when finally she whispered one request.

"Can you take me home, Mason?" She said while looking down.

Mason was shocked. Anna usually has an opinion about everything. He had never seen her like this. He wondered what was on her mind but he didnt dare ask her. Maybe he should give her time. She was a big supporter of his football and she was probably feeling just as depressed as she was.

"Um, Alright." Mason replied. He quickly asked for the check and then he pulled Anna' s chair out as she silently stood up and walked toward the door. He jogged toward the door to open it for her and she stepped outside. He opened her car door and she slipped in. The whole process was silent. Not even a sound escaped from Anna's lips.

 Mason silently drove her home. He looked at his clock 10:30. How early. He pulled the car into anna's driveway. She got up and started walking away.

"Anna!", He called. She turned around.

"Yes?" She asked. He looked her into the eyes and couldnt say a word. She rolled her eyes and walked into the house and shut the door.

  Mason had changed  into some khaki pants and a blue striped button down shirt. He climbed in his silver Porsche Carrera GT. He drove over down the block to Anna's house. She looked beautiful as usual in a short red dress and red heels. Her lips were alwso red and her hair was in waves around her face and shoulders. She had a frown on her face.

"Mace, why are you like 10 minutes late. You just wasted all that time. Gosh i hate it when you dont think of me. You are so self absorbed sometimes. And You told me you would polish your car before today, now theres dirt all around the hood. that looks disgusting. You never think about me Macey. Do you even care?" Anna whined. Macey was not in the mood to deal with her right now but he knew he had to be nice because he was going to tell her about his suspension tonight. He smiled

" Im sorry sweetie I have just been really busy lately." Macey sweetly said. Anna just sighed loudly and rolled her eyes andpulled out her mirror to apply even more lipstick on. Mason held in his frusteration with her spoiledness.

"Why is the top down Macey. You know i hate it when you do that. Now my hair will get ruined. Sometimes you just dont think." She whined. Macey wasn't a fan of hitting girls but at that moment he wished he was a girl so he could knock her on the head. Had she always been this annoying. he put the top up.They got to her favorite restuarant Machiavelli's.  Macey opened the door for her

" Mace what if im not read to get out yet? Gosh.I need to frikken finish my makeup. Close the door." Mason closed it and inwardly seethed.

"Masooonnnn." Mason gritted his teeth and turned around. he saw Anna hanging her head out the window.

"Aren't you going to wait for me?!?!??!!" Mason silently swore and then walked back to the car to wait.

30 minutes later they were sitting at their table.

"Listen Anna... theres something I have to tell you..." Mason started

Back to five years ago

Joey sat on her porch waiting for Macey to come by. They needed to talk. It was January 21 of her sixth grade year and his 8th. Macey had become a hit as soon a she entered his jr high. He became the second string quarterback and then the regular quarter back moved to Rhode Island with his family so Mason became the quarterback.There was a girl anna that mason had been hanging out with and everytime joey asked to meet Anna so they could all become friends Macey would get nervous and say that they probaly would get a long. October Macey and Joey sat in their special spot by the words and kissed her on the cheek and told her he loved her and she would always be his number one girl. Joey had felt her heart jump. It was now 3 monthes later and over the past month mason had not been answering any of her calls and he was never home when she came over. And then she called him yesterday asking him if he would meet he rat her house to talk. Mason was extremely hesitant but he agreed. Now Joey had been waiting for an hour. She heard music coming form his house and decided to go over there. She knocked on his door. His Dad answered.

"Joey! I was wondering when you would show your face. Mason's in the hideout. He is probaly waiting for you." Mr. Richardson winked at his wife. And they both smiled. The hideout was this huge Cave that Mason and Joey had built in the second grade with his parents. It had couches and everything. It was Joey and Maceys special spot everytime she came over. Joey walked toward the spot when she heard a girl giggling and Macey laughing. Joey slowly tiptoed in. She peeked around the side and saw Macey and Anna kissing. Joey felt her heart drop. She was about to run off when she heard Anna pause and ask

"So Mace are you sure that that kid friend of yours means nothing to you. Whats her name..Joe?"

"Her name is Joey and dont even worry about her babe. You know you're my number one girl.  She is just some friend i had growing up but like..shes just a little girl. I barely even talk to her anymore. She is almost like a little sister to me. I mean, she's pretty, and really nice but thats all. I cant see myself ever liking her. She's not even really my friend." Macey replied

Joey felt her eyes well up with tears. What was he saying? When did he start feeling this way? She has never felt so confused in her life. She thought Macey liked her..maybe even LOVED her. He told her that SHE was his number one girl. Why was he telling anna the same thing? And why was Anna calling him Mace? No body called him Mace. Anna looked so perfect in light blue jeans and a black sweater with her hair in a long french braid. Joey looked down.She had on jeans with holes and a sweatshirt that had  the words" Im a poet and I know it!" on it. Her hair was in an ordinary ponytail. Joey looked down at Annas feet. She had on Fluffy knee high boots. Joey had on sneakers. No wonder he liked Anna. Joey was so blah compared to her. But how could he betray her like this. Joeys heart felt like it was tearing into thousands of pieces. She couldnt take it anymore. She started sobbing. Macey looked up and his eyes popped open. Joey turned around and ran to her house. Mason yelled after her and followed. Joey ran to the wing upstairs. Macey yelled after. He finally reached her rec room and they stood there staring at each other. Joey's nose was red and her eyes were puffy.

"Joey..how much of that did you hear..or see.?" Macey asked cautiously.

"All of it Macey...All of it." She replied anger in her voice.

"Joey..I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you earlier but.."

"But you just decided you would make me look dumb and make me think i was special to you and i was your best friend?"

"Joey..you ARE special to me."

"But am I your best ftiend? Or is she? Do you still love me? Do you Macey."

"No..Joey i dont.Im sorry..it just happened"

"YOU CANT SAY THAT IT JUST HAPPENED MACEY!!! You arent the same person anymore. You said you chose to love ME!"

" Joey, i was young! I didnt understand what love meant!!!"Mason replied.

"That was 4 monthes ago Macey!" Joey replied.

" Joey... you and I just dont really go together anymore as best friends. Or anything else. But we can still talk sometimes...and."

"Just GET OUT MACEY!! LEAVE!!!"Joey yelled

"Joey..!" Macey pleaded. Joey got really silent.

"Why do you like her Macey. Please give me a good reason."

"Joey...?"

"Just tell me Macey..!"

"Well she's pretty...and popular and..i dont know"

"You HAVE changed Macey. Thats all you care about. You are you. You are the boy i was best friends with."

"You're right Joey. IM NOT! I'm better!I like the new me! But you're still..you. You're young. And you just..you aren't the kind of person that the NEW me could be close to."

"I cant listen to this anymore Macey..Just leave..please just leave." Macey shrugged and walked out of her house. He knew that she would get over it. They always had fights. Even if they werent best friends they would still be friends and when she came to his school next year maybe they could pick up where they left off.Maybe she would be more mature. He would have never guessed the next time they talked would be five years. Joey ran to her room and cried.

 SIX MONTHES LATER

Joey walked through the door of Johnson Jr. High. It was her first day. She walked to her locker. She hoped her locker buddy was cool. She was right next to her friend Mary who she had gotten close to during their sixth grade year. Lynn walked up to her.

"Alright..Listen..We gotta change our  images here so we can be cool." mary stated. Joey looked down at her. Mary was usually always wearing outfits with eveything brightly colored. Today she was wearing a black miniskirt and a long black tshirt. She had On White tights and black and white converse sneakers on. Joey looked down at her own plain jeans and yellow polo.

"From this day on..i want to be called Lynn. Im so sick of the whole Scary Mary thing that you and your friend Mason started by the way. And you...lets call you Josey" Mary said.

"Josey??!! But i like joey!" Joey exclaimed

"No Joey isnt Cool..Josey is. The end. WHOA WHAT IS GOING ON THERE!!!" Mary now known as lynn looked over and saw three boys cornering this small black boy.He looked terrified.

"BACK OFF HIM OR ILL BEAT THE CRAP OUTTA YOU!!!" Lynn yelled. All of the boys looked at her and laughed and then walked off. The black kid looked up in relief

"Thank you so much! Im pete! I was just trying to find my locker and they started bugging me. Number 356." Pete said.

"hey thats mine! Guess your my locker buddy!" Joey exclaimed all of a sudden Lynn looked up and her eyes widened. Joey followed her gaze. There coming toward her was Mason. It had been six monthes since they talked. Joey prepared herself. He was staring right at her and smiled.

"You look GORGEOUS!!!!!" He yelled. Joey smiled and was about to reply when she heard

" YEAH I KNOW THE KNEW CHEER UNIFORMS ARE HOTTT!!!" Joey turned around and saw Anna smiling at Mason and yelling to him. He walked right past joey and gave anna a huge hug and they walked off hand in hand wihout even noticing her. Joey felt a pang in her chest and decided to just forget about him. He would never get her heart again. No guy would. Guys were jerks. Joey wanted to start over and build a new life?

"So this is Lynn and im..Josey." Joey said to pete smiling and the three walked down the hall together to their lockers.

       PRESENT TIME

Joey opened her eyes and closed away the painful memories. "never again", she whispered to herself. She quickly changed into her work clothes and ran downstairs to drive her mom to the restuarant.