To good to be True

1
The rain patted lightly on the ground outside. The sky was an indigo-blue, changing as night fell. Mary was a slender girl with brown hair that went down to her shoulders and had blue-purple streaks in it. She also had the deepest brown eyes. She sat at her window seat, reading to herself.
When the phone rang in the quiet house, it startled her. No one had been home, except her, for at least two weeks. Her parents were out of town for a few months, for a vacation and their third honeymoon.
The phone rang again. Mary decided to let the answering machine pick it up. She didn’t feel like going out tonight. Her friends had been trying to get her to go out, after school, since lunch. She was certain it was them trying to convince her she needed to get out and get her mind off of Louis, her ex-boyfriend, a slim-ball with jet black hair and eyes that were a mossy green.
*****
That morning she had gone to his first period class, but since he hadn’t seen her on the bus he thought she had stayed home. When Mary walked in, she found Louis kissing one of her friends, Shirley.
Shirley was tall for her age and had long black, dyed, hair. Her eyes were golden and she dressed like she was the toughest chica since the gangster times and she had been acting different for almost a month like she’d had something to hide.
When Mary walked in on them, she just stood there. She
didn’t make a noise. When they finally stopped kissing, Mary silently, stepped out before they could see her. She ran out down the hall and out the door. They’d had no idea that they’d been spotted.
Later, at lunch, Louis had found out Mary was at school and went to look for her. By that time her closest friends knew about him and Shirley.
Mary stood in the corner of the lunchroom with her friends around her in heated conversation.
Louis came over to the half circle of friends and walked over to Mary. The circle closed in around him, Mary had a new look in her eyes. It wasn’t the caring, trusting look he was used to seeing. It was more a hurt, despising look.
“We need to talk,” she’d said.

“Ok, shoot,” he’d replied.
“Louis, it’s over,” she said plain and simple like the last two months had meant nothing.
“What? Why? What happened?” he said confused, looking around the circle. Her friends were all looking at him in disgust.
“Shirley happened. Now if you wouldn’t mind, I’d rather you go and spend the rest of your life with someone who stabs her friends in the back! And thinks they can get away with it!”
“What are you talking about?” he replied dumbly.
“I hope, a scum bag like you, wouldn’t think you’d get away with cheating on a home girl!” spoke Jean, behind him.
“You have no proof I’ve cheated! Besides where did you ever get the crazy idea that I would ever cheat on Mary?” he defended himself.
Everyone looked over to Mary.
“You didn’t honestly think I wouldn’t find out about you and Shirley?” Mary spat out the words like a futile taste in her mouth. “I saw you two together before school! I can’t believe I fell for you! Does Shirley even care about friendship anymore?” she paused, “It doesn’t matter anyway. Oh and when you go runnin’ to that bitch, tell her she can have you. ‘Cause to be honest I don’t need a crusty dog like you! Especially when I have someone who truly loves me!” she said with an attitude he didn’t know she had.
Louis had always known the sweet, caring, harmless Mary. He knew now that he didn’t know her at all.

Mary started walking away with her group of friends and then she turned around like she’d forgotten something, “Oh and just to let you know if you come near me, at all you will be hurting!” Mary snapped and then walked away without looking back.
The rest of the day Mary walked with a confidence that she wore with pride. Louis avoided her as well as his friends and Shirley.
*****
Now Mary sat in her window seat in silence as she watched the stars come out. While she sat there, she thought about what she’d said earlier, about having a guy who truly loves her. She knew he was only a phone call away, but she wanted him to call. He always did some time after school. Usually earlier if he knew something was wrong. Mary thought, maybe he hadn’t heard yet, her school was big.

2
Outside the rain began to pick up. There was a knock at the door. Mary set her book down and swung her legs off the seat and ran down stairs. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Jason. The first thought that hit her was that he really loved her and she loved him.
“Hi,” said Jason. He stepped inside and they huddled in the doorway, hugging each other close. He was just taller than Mary, by a few inches. He had sea grey eyes, which reminded her of the ocean after a soft storm. His wet hair fell into his eyes, when they stepped away, he closed the door and hung his jacket on the coat hook. Then they walked into the front room and sat down on the couch. Mary leaned her head on his chest.
“How are you doing?” he asked soothingly.
“I’m ok, I guess. Just kinda confused about stuff,” she told him quietly.

“Like what?” he asked.
Mary sighed, “Well . . . you know how I always said that I only liked you as a friend?” she paused, “I have been thinking, you know me better than anyone else. And no matter what happens to me you’re always there for me and . . . I don’t know maybe my emotions are foolin’ me,” she answered.
“So . . . ,” he said, “what are you trying to say?”
“I...I,” she sighed, she’d have to tell him sometime soon.
“You know how you say that you love me?” she asked with a slight shake in her voice.
“Yeah, but you’ve always said that you only like me as a friend,” he knew that he was telling the truth, he did love her.
“Well,” she was going to tell him here and now, she thought. ,
“I love you too,” she admitted.
Jason looked at her closely. They sat there looking at each other and he knew that she did love him. Her eyes were honest. He had never seen her look at anyone with such honesty when she’d said those words.
When she knew that he knew what she’d said was the pure truth, she leaned her head down on his chest again and looked up at the ceiling. He wrapped his arm around her stomach.
Then he leaned down and whispered near her ear, “I love you too,” then kissed her lightly on the forehead.
Mary sat up and walked over to the fire place and started a fire, then walked back and sat facing Jason. She looked deep into his sea grey eyes, “I don’t know what this means I’ve never felt this way about anyone,” she confessed.
Jason leaned over and kissed her, then suggested, “Let’s go up to your room so we’re not so out in the open.”
She nodded and they both got up and walked toward the stairs. On the way up, Mary picked up her kitten and Jason put his arm around her waist as they walked up the stairs.
Mary flopped onto her bed, glad she had cleaned her room earlier. She liked the softness of her room. It made it comfortable to be in. It was a big room but the only thing big in it, besides her window, was her full-sized bed.
Jason came and sat down next to her. Mary scooted over and he wrapped his arms around her. They snuggled for a while, just sitting there listening to the soft rain on the window.
“It’s getting late,” Mary realized.
“Do you want me to go?” Jason asked not wanting to leave.
“No, I don’t want to be alone. Stay with me?” she looked up and he nodded.
“If you need there might be some PJ’s left in my dad’s room. Unless you don’t need them,” Mary offered.
“No, that’s all right I’ll just sleep in my boxers. But you can get your pajamas on if you want. I can go make some cocoa or cider for us while you do,” he replied.
“Ok. You know where the cocoa is?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be back in a few,” he kissed her forehead and then left.
A few minutes later Mary walked into the kitchen. She wore her silky blue pajama pants with stars and clouds on them and her silky tank top to match. She had put her long brown hair in a messy bun like she always did.
Jason turned around, “Wow,” he said breathlessly.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothin’, I just didn’t think you’d wear something like that to bed, it’s softer than I expected. That’s all,” he said.
“What’s wrong with it?” she asked, daring him to kiss her as she walked toward him.
“Nothing. You look amazing,” then he bent down and kissed her. “Here’s your cocoa,” he gave her the warm drink after she’d jumped on the counter in a corner.
“Thanks,”she said.
As the night went on, they talked and then they eventually went to sleep in Mary’s bed.
*****
The next morning Mary awoke to her radio alarm. The events of the previous night came back when she saw Jason opening his eyes, next to her. They laid there for a few minutes watching each other.
“I’ve got to get groceries today,” Mary remembered out loud. She hadn’t gone shopping for two weeks.

“Well, we can’t go in our pajamas. How many showers do you have?” he asked already climbing out of bed.
Mary’s eyes lingered over Jason’s body. He caught her watching him and when she looked into his eyes he had a smile creeping across his face. She blushed and answered, “Two. One in my bathroom and one in my parent’s bathroom. Take whichever you like,” she told him.
“Ok,” he headed for her bathroom.
Mary laid in bed looking at the ceiling until she heard Jason turn on the faucet. She got out of bed, walked down the hall and grabbed a towel out of the closet. Then went and put the towel in her parent’s bathroom, on her way she grabbed her CD player and a pack of CDs to play. Mary popped in Pink and started her shower.
By the time she’d turned on the shower, Jason was getting out. He found a towel in the cupboard and dried off. Once he got dressed, he went out of Mary’s room to get some breakfast. As he went by Mary’s parents’ room, he heard the music and went to see what she was listening to. When he got to the bathroom door, he heard her singing along. He laughed to himself and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Jason was just sitting down at the table with some toast and orange juice when Mary walked in. She’d braided her hair in two braids and had put on a pair of jeans and a sparkly grey turtle neck. He thought she looked good.

A lazy smile crept its way onto his face as she walked over to him and took a piece of toast and bit into it.
“You know if you keep your face like that too long it may get stuck!” she giggled. He hadn’t realized he was staring, his toast poised in front of his mouth.
He laughed whole heartedly.
“You ready to go? I can drive us,” he offered.
“Ok. I gotta get the money and a coat. They’re in the front hall. Do you need anything?” she asked.
“Just my coat, it’s in the front hall also,” he got up and put his glass in the sink.

Mary rushed down stairs, pulling on her T-shirt, She’d decided to change into some more comfortable clothes.
The phone was ringing and Mary didn’t want to miss it if it was her parents.
“Hello?” she answered the phone.
“Hey girl,” it was her friend, Jean, Jean was short for
Jeanetta.
“Oh, hey Jean!” Mary replied, “What’s up?”
“Nothin’ much I was just callin’ to see where you were last night,” inquired Jean.
“Oh, is that you who had called? Sorry, I didn’t feel like goin’ out. And I knew if it was a friend callin’ you would’ve tried to get me to go somewhere. That’s all,” Mary explained.
“Oh, I see. Well you missed a great rave down at West Point! Louis was actually askin’ for ya! No one knew where you were so we just told him that even if we did know, you wouldn’ wanna talk to him anyway,” she gave a small laugh.
“Thanks. I’m sure the rave was mass fun! But I’m real glad I didn’t go,” she giggled and continued, “I know I had a betta time here!” she paused for a second, “with Jason!”
“Really?! Finally! It was taking you forever to figure out you liked him, A LOT!” Jean let out another laugh. “So,” she continued, “what did happen?”

“Not much. Let’s see . . . he came over and I think it was right after you called, and we sat on the couch. But, oh my god, Jean, it was so nice! ‘Cause like the second we looked into each other’s eyes, it was like we knew we loved each other! But, yeah. Then we had some cocoa in the kitchen and sometime between cocoa and talking ‘till almost two in the morning, we wound up asleep on my bed! Thank god my parents won’t be home for a month!” Mary laughed at the sudden new found silence in her friend.
After a few minutes Jean found her voice and asked, “Nothing happened? Right?”
“No! Of course not! Jason’s not like other guys. He actually knows what a girl wants and acts like he does,” she told Jean.
“Oh, gotcha. Anyway, where is he now?” Jean wondered out loud to her friend.
“He went home to change and get some clothes so if he winds up stayin’ some other time he has them here. Then he’s comin’ back and we’re gunna wrap Christmas presents for our friends,” Mary explained.
“Sounds like great fun!” Jean paused, “Well gotta go. I’ll call you lata and maybe we can hang out?”
“Sure! Talk to ya later. Bye-bye,” Mary said hanging up the phone.
*****
The smell of apples filled the house, along with the warm atmosphere of Christmas music and a blazing fire.
Jason walked in and ran upstairs, to quickly put his extra bag in Mary’s room. When he was coming down the stairs, he saw Mary putting apple cookies on the table.
She hadn’t heard him come in and was oblivious to Jason watching her dance around the room singing to the Christmas music. He had never seen this cheerful side of her before. She’d always put out and image, at school, that she was strong and solid. She didn’t show much emotion. Jason knew he loved Mary, but, he had a long way to go before he knew her.
He laughed softly to himself and said, “Since when do you dance and sing?”
She turned around quickly, “When did you get here?” she asked inquisitively.
“A few minutes ago. I’ve never seen you look so happy! Why do you hide this part of yourself at school?” he wanted to know.
“I don’t hide it!” she defended, “I’m just not as outgoing,” she confessed.
“Why not?” he said pulling her close.
“Maybe I just never had the right person to bring it outta me,” Mary answered flirtatiously.
“Really? And who would that be?” he asked.
She made a small laugh and then leaned in and kissed Jason lightly, “I don’t really know,” she said smiling brighter then ever.
They walked over to the living room sofa and sat down. Mary grabbed the few bags of presents and Jason grabbed the bag of wrapping paper and ribbons, he’d brought.
Jason and Mary wrapped presents until eleven and then fell asleep on the couch.

4
A week later Mary and Jason went to their friends’ Christmas party. All of their closest friends were there.
Mary was in the kitchen getting hot cider for her and Jason, when Louis walked in, he had been trying to talk her, but, he could
never find a time when she was alone.
“Hi Mary,” he greeted her a little nervously.
At once Mary became stone cold and hard, “What do you want?” she turned around with her cider in her hand. She was now glad that she had worn the tight, red, Christmas dress she’d bought with Jason.
“I just wanted to apologize if I’d hurt you. I didn’t mean to, things just sorta happened,” he tried to explain.
“No, actually I think it was supposed to happen, because if I hadn’t seen you cheatin’ on me with my back-stabbin’ so-called friend, Shirley, then I probably wouldn’t have dumped you. And one I wouldn’t have been as happy as I am now and two you probably would have gone on cheating on me. And I would have, most likely gotten hurt. But seeing as I was only with you for what, a month? I actually wasn’t hurt in the least. Now, if you would excuse me, I’m going to take this glass of cider to Jason. You know my boyfriend. The guy who spends the night at my house, in my room and doesn’t try shit! Have a nice life wonderin’ what you missed!” and Mary walked off, leaving Louis, open-mouthed, speechless, and embarrassed, “Oh, and Merry Christmas.”
When Mary came out, she noticed it had gotten really quiet while she had been talking to Louis. Her friends were speechless also. She was never that outgoing. But they all had noticed a change in her over the past week. She was happier and more open. They all started clapping at once.
Jeanetta came up to Mary and said, “We were all wonderin’ when you were gunna tell him off!”
“Thanks! Have you seen Jason? I have his drink,” she asked like nothing had happened.
“Yeah, he was the most astonished person, I think, no one thought you’d “handle” that guy so well. Jason’s in the front room by the tree,” she told Mary as she walked off.
On Mary’s way to the front room Jason walked into the hall where she was. He took his cider and told her, “I love you so much!” then he gave her and kiss and added, “C’mon let’s go to the tree I think they’re opening presents now.”

“I love you too,” she replied and gave him a big hug.
They went back to the party and spent the evening carefree.
*****
The next day Mary received a call from her parents.
“Hello?” she answered the phone.
“Hi sweetheart! How are things at home?” her mother asked.
“Mom? Thanks for finally calling! Everything is fine here, speaking of home when are you coming home?” Mary questioned.
“Oh that um . . . we’re not coming back for another month. We just love it here! I’m sorry I’ll mail you extra money to keep you on your feet,” Mary’s mother replied.
“But mom!” she pleaded.
“Oh, sorry honey I gotta go tango classes! Call you later, bye!” her mom hung up.
Mary set down the phone and slowly made her way upstairs. By the time Mary had gotten in her pajamas and was half asleep, the fog had rolled in and the weather was turning cold. As Mary fell asleep, she cried. The music in the background faded, and her last thought was her family had forgotten her birthday.
*****
Mary jetted down the highway, music booming through the entire car. She switched the gas off and grabbed her bag. It had been three days since her mother had called. She’d spent two days at home in self pity and had spent the entire day getting ready for a club, out in the city. She was meeting her friends there for a “day-before-school” get together. She was clueless to the surprise that awaited her.
Mary walked through the parked cars with attitude. She was still pissed at her mom. But she looked good. A black miniskirt and a red, slightly see through top.
“ID,” the security guard said. Mary took her ID and showed it to the guard and went inside, she paid and found her friends near the bar.
“Hey guys!” Mary paused. Her friends were all smiling at her, “What? What’s up?” she asked.
“Well Mary,” Jeanetta answered, “we have a small surprise for you. You know how you haven’t seen Jason all week?” she questioned.
“Yeah? I told him I wasn’t feeling good and I’d be ok,” Mary insisted.
“He was sorta worried about you, so . . . we had him come along as a surprise!” Jeanetta explained.
“Where is he?” Mary asked.
“He went to the bathroom,” Jean paused and looked up, “or maybe not.”
Jason came up behind Mary and slipped his arms around her waist, “I’ve been worried about you,” he whispered, just barely audible over the music.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I was just . . . ”

Mary’s voice faded, she turned around and Jason gave her a hug.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was all right. What happened anyway?” he asked.
“My parents aren’t coming back ‘till the end of February. I think they forgot my birthday . . . ” she sighed, “it seems like they’re not gunna come home,” Mary explained, Mary had a bad feeling about the idea of her family never coming home again.
“You should have told me,” Jason comforted Mary, “I am here for you when you need me. I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
Mary wiped her eyes, fixed her make-up and said, “Hey, let’s just forget it and dance.”
Jason, Mary, and their friends went out on the dance floor. A new group put on a beat too fast to catch. Jason watched Mary loose her self in the music then started to dance.
As the song faded the DJ’s voice came out of the speakers,
“Here’s one for all you couples,’ and he put on a slow love song.
Jean and her friends slowly made their way back to an open table while Jason and Mary held each other closely and danced slowly to the music, among all the other couples .
When the song finished Mary, looked up into Jason’s eyes and gave him a slow kiss and hug, then smiled and reluctantly, lost her self in the fast pace, booming music. They danced the night away.
When they decided to go home, it was two in the morning and Jason had come with Jeanetta. Jean had left around one-thirty with the rest of their friends. Mary offered him a ride home. In the end Jason wound up staying over at Mary’s place.

5
One day at lunch Mary was eating with her friends. She was a little worried. Jason hadn’t shown up for school and Mary couldn’t call him until it was out.
“Oh no,” Jean sighed.
“What’s up?” Mary said quickly.
“Asshole at one-o’clock,” she replied.
Mary looked up and saw Louis coming toward their table. He had purposely avoided her ever since the Christmas party. Mary had spent as much time with Jason hoping he would avoid her. Now she had to face him.
“Hi Mary,” Louis said, as he walked up, confidently.
Mary looked up and scowled, “What the hell do you want?” she snapped.
“I just wanted to talk to my friend, that’s all,” he said as he sat down next to Mary and slipped his arm around her.

Mary stood up and her friends formed a tight circle around them.
“Listen Louis, I told you at the Christmas party, I don’t want you comin’ ‘round any more!” she exclaimed.
“I was just tryin’ to talk, that’s all,” Louis replied.
“Well you know what, I’m not your friend and I don’t wanna talk to you!” Mary yelled.
Louis stood up and said, “You’re gunna regret this!” and walked off.
Part of the lunch room had gotten quiet. The only people who had heard Mary talk like that were her friends at the party. Mary looked around and people slowly started talking again. By the time Mary had gotten over to Jason’s house after school he’d heard about the incident at lunch.
“Hey,” Mary said as Jason opened the front door.
“Hey . . . ,” he replied shortly and gave her a comforting hug.
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and asked, “What was that for?” knowing something more was behind that hug than just a hug.
“I love you! You know that right?” he told Mary.
“Yeah, what’s going on Jason?” she sounded nervous.
“Nothing,” he said, “So, what happened at school today?” he asked with a sneer.
“Is this about Louis?”

“Glad to know that he leaves you alone when I’m with you but what he did today, just because I wasn’t there, it isn’t right!” he sounded jealous..
“Jason, you don’t have to worry bout Louis. It’s not like I still like him,” she said forcefully.
“Do you?” he asked as he looked her in the eye and walked away.
Mary shut the door and followed Jason, “I can’t believe you’d even ask that!” she almost yelled, “You know I love you! And nobody else!”
“I’m sorry. It’s just some people called me and told me he’d come up to you at lunch, but that’s all they had time to say. So I’ve been pondering on what happened all day. That’s all,” confessed Jason.
“Would you like to ask me what happened? Instead of not trusting me?” insisted Mary.
“Ok I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t trust you, I don’t trust Louis. I’ve heard he’s very forceful with what he wants. At the moment what he wants is my girl! And it just kills me to think that he could be forcing the one I love to do things ‘cause he thinks he’s stronger than you,” he told Mary as he jumped on the counter, in the kitchen, to sit down.
Mary went to the cupboard and filled a glass with water and handed it to Jason.
“You know he can’t get me to do something with him. And besides, I love you!” she paused, “And all that happened at lunch was he tried to sit next to me. I got up and yelled at him, that’s all,” Mary reassured him.
“I guess I just got a lil’ protective. I don’t want him . . . ”
“But Jason nothing is going to happen! I’m with you and only you!” said Mary. She moved toward Jason and gave him a hug around the waist and a quick kiss on his forehead, “You get better, ok? And I’ll bring you some food and movies later tonight,” she suggested.
“Ok, I’ll see you later,” Jason hugged Mary one last time and walked her to the door.

6
Mary decided to go home and get changed out of her school clothes then rest a bit and do some homework before going back to Jason’s.
When she got home Mary laid down and fell asleep. She was exhausted and her sleep was not a dreamless one.
*****
Mary awoke in her dream in an area that looked some what familiar but she couldn’t place it. She was in a city with a lot of people.
At the time she was standing in a hospital room. A woman about her mother’s age was sitting in a seat next to the window,
across from Mary. The lady looked very sullen. She had apparently not noticed Mary yet.
Mary looked over at the bed, a girl about her age, maybe just a few months younger than her, laid in it. She didn’t look like 26

she had anything wrong with her except a few cuts and bruises.
A doctor came in and the lady in the chair got up quickly looking hopefully at the doctor, “Mrs. Briteson?”
Mary had been looking out the window at the busy city, she looked up immediately at the mention of the name Briteson. That was her last name.
“Yes doctor? Is my...” the mother’s voice faded and Mary’s vision blurred. Mary awoke from the dream slowly.
*****
Mary couldn’t bring the dream into focus. As she got changed out of her school clothes, it just slipped away from her.
She decided to just brush it aside for now. Usually when she wanted to remember something it would come to her when she was trying to remember it. She opened her books and did some of her homework for an hour.
When she finished she picked up her keys and wallet and went out to get some movies and food and go to Jason’s place.
*****
“Hello?” answered Jason on the phone.
“Hey sweetie,” Mary’s sweet voice answered on the other
line, “I was wondering what kind of movie sounds good?”
“Oh, I don’t know . . . ” he thought a moment, “How’s about a romance or a comedy? Both sound good tonight.”
“Ok, well how about Save the Last Dance and Happy Gilmore?” asked Mary.

“That sounds great.”
“Also I got Chinese, is that ok?” asked Mary.
“Yeah. That’s fine so I’ll see you when?” he joked.
“I will be over in ten minutes or so. I love you. Bye.”
“I love you too. See you soon,” he said and hung up the phone.
Mary opened the door to Jason’s place. She went to the kitchen and put the Chinese food onto plates to take into the TV room. Jason came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.
“Hey,” he said more calmly than before, “heard you come in,” he looked down at the food and said, “That looks good.”
Mary picked up a piece of chicken and put it into Jason’s mouth. Jason licked his lips and made a “this is good” sound.
“Let’s go eat, I’ve got the movies in the TV room,” she suggested.
Jason and Mary sat on the floor and leaned against the couch. Mary turned on Happy Gilmore and Jason started in on his Chinese food.
They fell asleep to Save the Last Dance, cuddled together on the couch.

7
In the first week of February, Mary was going through the mail and found a letter from her family. When she opened it, she read;
Our Dearest Mary,
How are you sweetie? We’re doing fine. We didn’t want to do this to you so near your birthday but we have to tell you sometime. Honey . . . you are our adopted daughter. We couldn’t have anymore kids and we wanted a daughter. I’m sorry. I’m not there to tell you myself but that leads me to some more news. Since you’re 18 or almost, we’ve decided that the house is yours now. We will give you any money you need and help you with college, but, I guess what I’m trying to say is . . . we’re not coming home. But we will be visiting. If you want to visit us, we will pay for a plane ticket for you to come to eastern Australia. I know it’s a big move but we are just going to start anew here and I thought that you wouldn’t want to leave your home and friends. I hope you’re ok.
Love Always,
Mommy Dad
& Johnny
PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART
All of us are going to visit during Christmas and if you want to find out about your birth-parents you can call the adoption agency at 555-7061. I love you!
Mary put down the letter and sat down on the front couch. Silent tears started to roll down her face. It had seemed like they weren’t coming home, she thought. But I never thought it would actually happen.
Mary decided she wasn’t going to let it take over her whole life. First she’d take a small nap to get the crying and tears out of her system and then call Jason to come over and hang out for a while.
*****
Again Mary was in the hospital room with the woman and her daughter. This time the woman was crying.
“What’s wrong?” Mary tried to comfort the woman. She didn’t even look up. Mary put a hand on Mrs. Briteson’s shoulder, only to find out that she didn’t feel it at all.
Mary looked over at the girl in the bed. Fear had crept into her eyes. Mary couldn’t see the girl clearly. She tried to move closer to get a better look but the doctor came in again.

“Mrs. Briteson? You’re daughter has a small concussion, but we don’t know when or if she’ll come out of her coma. When she was in the accident the car was jarred badly and her head was hit by a piece of metal. We’ve done all we can for her for now,” she told her.
“Alright, thank you. Have you gotten a hold of my.....”
Mary’s mother’s voice faded again and Mary fell back, she fell back into the warm darkness and woke up.
*****
She called Jason and asked him if he wanted to come over and hang out for a while.
When Jason got to her house she had changed the sullen atmosphere of the house by putting some loud music on and baking apple cookies. The smell was comforting to her.
When Jason walked into the kitchen, he found Mary dancing around and baking at once. She turned around and said, “Come dance with me.”
He went around the counter and grabbed her hands and they both started dancing and being silly. When the song was over Mary put the last two batches of cookies in the oven.
“So, what’s up?” asked Jason.
“Oh not much . . . my family isn’t coming home,” she said.
Jason looked up, “Isn’t coming home ‘till the end of February, right?” he asked.
“No. They’re moving to Eastern Australia. But they said that they are gunna visit around Christmas,” Mary told him.
“I’m sorry. What are you gunna do? Your not moving with them are you?” Jason said, fear was now growing in him, he didn’t want to loose her.
“No!” she exclaimed, “I couldn’t leave everyone behind and besides, I love you too much!”
He smiled and said, “Thank you. I couldn’t stand it if you left.”
“I’m not. Now I have this house to myself and I know the
truth,” Mary said.
“Wait a minute. They gave you this huge house? All to yourself?!” he asked amazed.
“Yeah!” she smiled big and said, “Oh and they also told me I’m adopted. So I guess it was like a happy birthday, here’s a huge house and you get to find your real family!” Mary remarked almost in tears.
Jason walked over and gave her a hug. They turned off the radio and waited for the cookies to finish cooking. When the cookies were finished, they went up to Mary’s room and Jason cuddled Mary to sleep, in his arms.

8
On the first day of midwinter break it started to snow. Jason and Mary decided they’d go up to the mountains to sled. They were also calling their friends to see if they wanted to go with them.
“Hey girls! Me and Jason were wonderin’ if you and Chelsea wanted to come to the mountains to go sleddin’?” Mary asked over speaker phone to Jean and Chelsea.
“Sure. Sounds like fun! When?” said Jean.
“Oh, like forty-five minutes or so I think at least,” Mary told Jean.
“OK, we’ll come to your house and leave behind you guys,” Chelsea suggested.
“See yah then,” Mary said and hung up the phone.
*****
“Sam! Hey man!” Jason said when his friend answered the phone.

“Jase? Is that you? Long time no talk! Where you been?” Sam asked.
“My girl had some family problems I was helpin’ her through. But, I was wonderin’ you wanna go sleddin’ in the mountains today? ‘Cuz otherwise I’m gunna be surrounded by girls!” he gave a small laugh.
“Really? How many girls?” Sam asked interested.
Jason gave another little laugh and said, “Well Mary is coming and she’s inviting two of her friends, Jean, short for Jeanetta, and Chelsea.”
“Sure I’ll come, when?” he asked.
“I guess forty minutes or so,” answered Jason.
“Then I’ll be there soon,” he replied.
*****
Eventually the group met up at Mary’s house and got into the two cars and drove off. When they arrived at Brown Bear Lodge, they had a light lunch. Then, in pairs of two, they rode up to the sledding
slopes.
Mary and Jean went down first on the two person sled. When they got to the bottom of the hill they slid into a small hill of lightly packed snow and were covered in it.
*****
The small crash made an image of the girl from her dream in the hospital bed flash through her mind. She now had a clear view of the girls face. In the dream she remembered that she couldn’t see it clearly, but the image she got now scared her. The girl was her.
*****
She recovered quickly so no-one noticed what had happened.
Next, while Mary and Jean we’re bringing up their sled, Sam went down on his inner tube. He managed to stop before hitting the snow, but he slipped and fell when he stood up. By that time Jean and Chelsea were ready to go. They went down on separate sleds and halfway down they bumped into each other and almost fell off the sleds. Sam had just got to the top in time to see them spray each other with snow. They all laughed.
Sam liked the way they could laugh at each other. But his gaze was met by Jean, who smiled big and gave another short burst of laughter. She liked Sam. Jean wouldn’t tell him of course, but she did like his sincere ways and soft eyes.
While Jean was lost in a world of her own thinking about Sam, Jason and Mary took their two person sled and sled down so fast they fell off and landed in each other’s arms. Jason looked up and got an
exciting, playful look in his eyes.
“What?” Mary said when she noticed it.
All of the sudden he hit her with a small snow ball on her
head. She gave a sarcastic scream.

“I know you did not just do that!” she said flirtatiously and
tackled him playfully onto the snow. The others were soon at the bottom playing in the snow fight.
After a few more hours of sledding and snowballing the small group of friends went back to the lodge. There they decided to stay the night. They rented two rooms with two beds each and the guys went into one room, the girls in the other.
*****
Late that night Mary went down to the lobby to sit in front of the fire, she hadn’t been able to sleep, the flash of her in the hospital bed and the dream that had comeback to her was bothering her. A few minutes later Jason came down and they wrapped a blanket around them. They talked in front of the fire. Talking to Jason always made her feel better, even if she didn’t let him know everything that was bothering her.
Jean had heard Mary get up and couldn’t get back to sleep. She silently left the room and Chelsea, and snuck over to the guys’ room, little to her surprise Jason wasn’t there. Sam lay quietly asleep in his bed. Jean sat down on Jason’s bed and watched Sam sleep. He was like a sleeping child, innocent looking.
While Jean was watching the snow fall outside, Sam woke up
slowly and saw her silhouette in the moonlight. He liked her. He thought Jean was like an angel sitting in the moonlight. When she looked back and saw Sam was awake she got nervous.

“I... I’m sorry! I couldn’t get back to sleep and I wondered if you guys were awake and . . . ”
He sat up and said, “It’s all right . . . ” the covers had come off him and Jean saw he worked out.
Sam got out of bed and sat next to Jean. They looked out the window and Sam leaned against the foot board. She looked over at him and then moved to lean against his chest. They sat there watching the snow fall outside and eventually fell asleep.

When Chelsea woke up in the morning she noticed Jean and Mary were both gone. First she checked in the guys’ room and saw Jean and Sam together. She didn’t want to wake them. She left and wrapped her robe around her. Then she went to look for Jason and Mary. Like she’d expected, they were in each others arms, asleep. Since it was six in the morning, she decided she’d go to sleep again and talk to them when they woke up.
Later on Mary, Jason, Jean, and Sam woke up. They decided they’d go back to their rooms. All four met when they were slinking back. They all fell asleep again, dreaming of each other until noon.

When everyone woke up and stayed up, they had lunch and got packed. They were checked out at two and left.

9
A few days later Mary was at her house getting ready to go out with Jason. He was taking her out, just the two of them, for he birthday. She hadn’t spent all day getting ready like she usually
would, but had left it to last minute because he’d said specifically, not to dress fancy.
“You ready to go?” Jason asked as Mary opened the door. Jason was picking her up for her birthday dinner.
“Yeah, just let me grab my purse,” Mary replied.
Jason had told her not to dress up, but to dress comfortably. He was taking her to the beach, then to a carnival. Afterward, a small surprise party was arranged by him at her house.
“So, where we goin’?” Mary asked as she got into the car.
“You’ll see,” he replied with a smile.
Jason gunned the car down the freeway and soon stopped the car next to the beach.

The beach was fenced off, but there was a hole in the fence
to crawl through. When Jason and Mary got out of the car, Jason grabbed a basket, he’d brought. They walked out onto the beach. Mary took her sweatshirt off and tied it around her waist, then took her sandals off and carried them. They walked for a few minutes just looking at the sunset. Once they were along the beach a way Jason took a blanket out of the basket and spread it out on the sand.
As they ate, they talked little and watched the sun set slowly on the horizon. Surfers were slowly finishing for the night and a
small beach party was slowly gathering. Jason and Mary finished their food and left the partying teens to them selves.
As they drove to the carnival, Mary kept asking where they were going. She finally gave up and turned on the music. When they arrived at the carnival, Mary looked excited, Jason had thought it would be nice for her, to get her mind off what her family had done.
*****
Mean while, back at Mary’s house, their friends were decorating for her surprise party. They had the front room decked out in a 70's theme, for fun. Mary’s cake was a disco-ball with 18 candles on it.
***** soon pus
When Mary got to her house all her friends yelled “Surprise!” Then she said hi to everyone and was head toward the couch to open her gifts. She got many gifts but her favorite was what Jason got her. He had bought her a large teddy bear that, when you pushed it’s stomach, said, “I love you so much!”
When Mary opened it, Jason said, “I found it when we were at the mountains. Hope you like it.”
Mary’s eyes lit up and everyone could see that she loved it, “Thank you!” she said as she gave Jason a big, warm, hug.
After the party everyone pitched in to help clean up. Then a
few people left but the rest stayed the night. They slept down stairs and Mary and Jason slept upstairs.
A few weeks later Jason and Mary were preoccupied, like
their friends, studying for the finals. First quarter of second semester was almost finished.
*****
“Hello?” Mary answered the phone one day after school.
“Hey, feel like takin’ a break?” suggested Jason on the other end.
“But I have to work . . . ” she sighed.
“You’ve been working for a week . . . straight!” he complained.
“I know but I wanna get good . . . this stuff counts major on a college application,” replied Mary.
“Yeah, but . . . ”

“Tell you what, give me until six-thirty and I’m all yours for the rest of the night,” she cut him off.
“Ok, it’s a date,” said Jason. They went to work for a couple of more hours.
At six Mary stopped working and got ready to see Jason. They had decided to meet at the theaters to see a movie.
When they got in like for the movie they were going to see. They had gotten the last two tickets and had found two seats together in the back of the theater.
By the time the movie was over it was just after eight-thirty, they drove to dinner at a small diner. There they talked about friends, sports, events in the world, and pretty much anything but school.
Jason dropped Mary off and kissed her goodnight.
*****
When Mary got inside, she decided to rest for the night. She went up stairs and turned on some soft music and lit some candles. Mary got out of her date clothes and into her pajamas and let her hair down.
She walked into her bathroom and started washing her face. When she was ready for bed she picked up one of her novels and read by the light of her candles. In a few hours she decided to go to sleep Mary blew out her candles and crawled into her bed.

10
During school Mary and her friends started to plan for college. Mary and Jason were trying to find one to go to that had both of their interests as a top priority because they wanted to attend college together. At this point they were still looking for the right one.
They finally decided that they were going to lay out their different main interests, then choose which college would suit them both. It turned out that both of them liked photography, world languages, and astronomy.
It was hard finding a school with all these subjects but, they found a college about ten minutes out of town, that they both applied to. They also applied to three other schools for safety.
*****
After finals were finished Mary and Jason went out for a
celebration lunch, after school. All of their friends went with them to a local pizza shop. Between them they took up two tables and
ordered three extra large pizzas. When everyone was finished the slowly departed. Jason and Mary were the last to leave.
In the car on the way to Mary’s place Jason said, “Mary could we talk?”
“Yeah, is everything ok?” she had a soft look in her eyes.
“Mm hmm, everything’s fine. It’s just I’ve been thinking, about college and us. I think we should move in together,” he said.
Mary looked up at him now alert to what they were talking about. “Where did this come from?” she asked trying to keep calm.
“Um... over the past few weeks I guess. If you don’t want to it’s ok. It’s just I don’t ever want to loose you. And I think about you all alone in that huge house...”
“I think it’s a great idea!” she cut in.
“You do?” he sounded astonished.
“Yes, I mean you’re already over there most of the time. And that huge house is so lonely,” she said.
“When?”
“I don’t know, soon. Like over the summer maybe?” she suggested, “We could start moving some of your smaller things over and when it’s only the big stuff left we can higher a mover,” she said, trying really hard to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“Sure,” he said as he pulled the car into the drive and turned of the engine.
Mary leaned over and kissed him. He held her close and
they kissed. For a few minutes they held each other tenderly in the car.
When they got inside they slowly made their way up the stairs. They go to Mary’s room and laid on her bed and kissed each
other. Tonight they were both caught up in the moment. Being so comfortable with one another, they went all the way.
They stayed in the next day.
Since the TV was in the basement, and it was so cold, they had moved it up into Mary’s room. Both watched television most of the day.
Eventually they got out of bed, but only to get food and water. After getting tired of watching TV, both Mary and Jason went into the study to pick a book to read. Mary’s parents had a fairly good collection of novels. They picked a drama series and took it upstairs and sat cuddled in the window seat and took turns reading aloud to each other.
*****
Almost a week later Jason had most of his clothes moved into Mary’s parents’ old bedroom. They had decided to auction off her parents’ stuff, to get some extra money.

For the time being Jason would have his things in Mary’s parents’ old room. To make sure things didn’t move to fast for them.
Their friends said that, when it came time, they would help Jason and Mary move Jason’s bigger items to their house.
On the first weekend of spring break Mary was at the city’s small auction house, getting prices down for the items being
auctioned off.
Jason was busy in the back helping move things with their other friends.
They were only half way through the auction and they had already made nine thousand dollars. The bigger items, of Mary’s parents’ stuff, was all that was still left to auction off.
By the end of the auction everything had been sold and Jason and Mary had made twenty thousand dollars, after they’d paid the auction house and their friends.
They used that money to by new furniture for the living room and the lounge. The rest they used for some bills and their college fund.
When the end of spring break came around all of Jason’s stuff were in their house and Jason had left his apartment, forever.
*****
The night before school was back in session, for the rest of the year. Mary went to sleep with an uneasy feeling in her stomach. After selling all of her family’s stuff, bedsides her’s, she felt like she had just tossed them aside. She didn’t want it to be like that thought she loved her family.

That night she fell into a sleep deeper than usual and it wasn’t a dreamless one either.
*****
Gently Mary was woken by the sound of a TV distant in a house that looked familiar. She was laying on a bed that seemed to
be in an upstairs room. Mary tried to move but her leg start to feel heavier than ever. Mary looked down at the foot of the bed and her foot was in a cast. Mary never remembered getting injured but, her leg hurt her so she didn’t try to protest against the cast.
She found some crutches in the middle of the room. She grabbed them upon getting out of the bed. Which in itself was a hard task. Her head was bothering her badly and moving it took quite a bit of pain.
Once on the crutches and out the room, she started down the hall. After a few minutes Mary got used to the automatic swing of using the crutches and was moving along at a good pace through the house.
When Mary got to the top of a long flight of stairs she hesitated on trying them, but only for second. She got down the first one just fine. When she was half of the way down Mary’s crutches slipped and she let a small scream escape her lips.
*****
Jason was shaking Mary awake. Mary was back in her own room next to Jason, in their bed.
“What was wrong?” Mary asked Jason why did you shake me awake. She started to rub her shoulders, Jason had shaken her quite harshly.
“You were screaming and flailing about. Were you having a dream?” Jason explained, a look of pure concern in his eyes.
Mary couldn’t remember her dream. If it was one that had
made her scream, “I don’t think so, I don’t remember having one,” she hated the uncertainty in her voice. Usually she could remember her dreams especially ones that made her scream in her sleep. She got up to go get a drink of water from the bathroom, maybe that would help her sleep better, she thought.
When she got out of the bed and started to walk to her bathroom her leg hurt her worse than anything she could remember. She didn’t want to alarm Jason so she walked like everything was good until she got to the bathroom. She shut the door like she was going to use the W.C. and sat down on the toilet to check her leg. She pulled up her pant leg and found a large bruise, like when she’d hit her shin on the corner of the wall last year. She decided she must have gotten it in her sleep, after all Jason had said she was twisting around.
“You ok in there?” Jason asked, through the door.
“Yeah just going potty. I’ll be right out,” she tried to sound like a little girl.
She quickly got a glass of water, flushed the toilet, and went out to the bedroom. She laid down next to Jason and went to sleep as soon as her eyes closed, the rest of the night dreamless.

11
The next day Mary, Jason, Chelsea, Sam, and Jean, were all down at the local zoo for a head start on the weekend.
The sun hoped through the trees down onto the sidewalk
where Mary and Jason, along with Chelsea, were. Sam and Jean had gone off in search of the polar exhibits, they were Jean’s favorite.
Chelsea was off buying feed for the animals in the petting zoo.
“They’re so soft,” Mary said as she petted a baby goat.
“Yeah, normally they are really gentle creatures,” said Chelsea, as she came up with a bag of feed. She handed a little to both Jason and Mary, and started feeding one of the baby goats in the next area.
When the feed was all gone, Jason looked at his watch and said, “We should probably head over to the main eating place to meet Sam and Jean there, it’s almost one.”
“Ok,” Mary said and called to Chelsea, “Hey, let’s go we gots ta meet Sam and Jean!”
They all walked over to the red barn that was in the middle of the zoo. It had been made into a nice restaurant, quiet unless a school field trip was visiting. The five had cut after noon classes to enjoy the sun.
They had all gotten their letters from the colleges they had applied to and had decided to open them together.
Jean and Chelsea had applied to colleges majoring in foreign languages and ancient mythological studies. Sam, Jason and Mary had all applied to cultural colleges, with many different types of arts. Sam had gotten two letter back and Jason and Mary had each gotten three letters returned, along with Jean and Chelsea.
“Ok, on three we open one each,” Sam said as they sat down with their food. They all nodded back, “One, two, three!” he said and everyone opened on of their letters. They were all silent while they read their letters.
“Jason? Which one did you open?”Mary asked.
“The on from north Academy Arts, what about you?” he returned the question.
“The one from West Point, I didn’t get in there, but it’s all good ‘cause that was my third choice out of the three letters I got back. How bout you? Did you get in?” she inquired.

“Yeah, I did,” he seemed happy.
Out of all the letters that were opened only a few were acceptance. Sam and Mary both got into the schools they wanted most and their second choice schools. Jason, Jean, and Chelsea all got into only the schools they want most.
After seeing which colleges accepted them, Jean, Sam, and Chelsea all had to leave, but Jason and Mary wanted to visit the polar bears. There was a rumor that were having cubs.
*****
Later on that night Mary and Jason went to the beach to watch the sun set. Jason parked the car just off the freeway, near West Point. Some freshman and sophomores had gathered on the beach for a party.
The wind whirled wildly as the sun set on the water. It made the water look as if it was in flames. Mixing the sea breeze, the amazing sunset, and the wind that whirled to the music and teenagers into a frenzy, made for a fantastic night. It felt alive as they walked down the beach, away from the teens.
*****
“Jean!” Mary exclaimed when she opened the door to her house. Jean looked deathly pale, her arms had bruises like someone had tried to grab her. Her dress was torn and her hair was a mess. “Come in, quick!” Mary ushered her inside to the kitchen.
They sat down. Jean’s lip started to quiver. She held her stomach and used her free hand to brush some hair away from her face.
“What happened sweetheart?” Mary asked in a soothing tone. She had known Jean for a time, she was a tough chic. Mary had never remembered her being, terror struck.
“He hit me! I-I tired to get away but h-he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back I l-landed on my back! It hurts so much Mary!” she said through harsh sobs.
“Jean, who hit you? Who did this?” Mary asked trying to hide the worry from her voice.
“Eric! My step-dad! He said I was because I skipped my classes and got home to late!” Jean said exasperated.
“That’s no reason to hit you! Have you been to the hospital?” the urgency, to get her friend taken care of, was creeping into her voice.
The Jean looked up, her eyes were sullen and far away, “he
didn’t just hit me! He beat me!” she finally admitted, then she shook her head and whimpered, “No, I haven’t gone to the doc’s yet.”
“Well first things first, we’re getting you to the doc. Then we’re gunna move you in one of the spare bedrooms!” Mary decided for her. She tried to protest but Mary just held up her hand and went to get her car keys and coats for her and Jean.

In a couple of hours Jean had her stuff at Mary’s and was getting ready to go to the clinic, to pick up her prescription. It turned out she’d not only been bruised really bad but Eric had also caused her to bleed internally.

12
“So how is Jean doing?” Sam asked Jason during Metals shop.
“She’s doing better, but she still doesn’t feel good. She’s got a doctors appointment on Thursday. I’m gettin’ out during lunch to take her. Do you wanna come?” he asked.
“Yeah! I haven’t been able to talk to her all week, with sports and all. Which lunch?” Sam asked.
“Second, just meet me in the parking lot behind the science lab. Then we’ll go pick her up,” Jason told him.
“Alright,” he paused as the bell rang, “see ya then!”
*****
“Jean?” Sam called as her and Jason walked in the Victorian during lunch on Thursday.
A faint rustle and muffled voice came from the upstairs. Sam took the stairs two at a time and rushed into Jean’s new room, “Hey, how are you feelin’?” he asked softly.
“I’m alright, better than I was,” she tried a smile but it came out as weak as her voice. She sat up and Jason walked in.
“You ready to go?” he asked. She nodded and reluctantly pulled the covers back. Sam helped her into the wheelchair, Jason had brought over. Both guys carried Jean and the wheelchair down the stairs.
When Jean got to the hospital she had X-rays done, to check out the damage in her rib cage. Then she had the doctor doing a regular check up on her to make sure the internal damage wasn’t severe. When it was all over Jean had a brace around her ribs and a refill for her prescription.
*****
After a week Jean was able to move around the house without help and she was only a few days from going back to school. For the end of th year graduation and games.
There was an end of the year concert the night before Jean would go back to school. She, Mary, and Jason all planned to go, so Jean could see everyone.
All three of them drove in Jason’s ‘99 Honda. He pulled up in the student parking-lot and got a spot near the choir door. They went in and everyone was hanging out, prepping for the first song.
Most of their friends were on stage. They had all worked very hard for this performance since it was their last in high school. They wanted it to be a memorable one, which they were going to make it.
Half way through the performance Jason escorted Mary out to the picnic table in a small courted area, of their school. He had said he wanted to talk about something.
“Jason, what’s up? What did ya wanna talk about?” Mary asked a smile on her face as she looked from Jason to the setting sun. She felt like she could fly tonight. Things were just to good to be true, she thought, they can’t get any better.
“Now I know that this isn’t the proper way to do things but I believe tonight is the right night to do this,” he said confusing Mary.
She pulled her stare away from the sky setting behind him, readying for night. She looked him in the eyes, they were sparkling with anticipation, “What are you talking about , Jason?” still looking confused as ever.
The next moves Jason made were the most exciting thing to happen to Mary since she could remember. Jason pulled out a small velvet box decorated in forest green and royal purple designs. He knelt down on one knew and opened the small box. Inside was a gold band that had three small diamonds set on either side of one blue sapphire in the middle.
“Mary? I know that im not the perfect guy in the world. But I do know that I am in love, in love with a woman with such spirit, strength, and courage, than I have ever seen in anyone I know,” he paused, Mary was now understanding with a full view of how deep his love ran for her, “Mary, will you make me the happiest star in the heaven’s when I look to you for an answer, be my wife?”
By this time Mary was in tears of happiness, “Oh my good!” she sobbed out. “Jason I wouldn’t be happier if I said yes!”
A big smile full of love slipped onto Jason face and light up right through his eyes. He slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her. They held each other gently in the rising moon. Then they walked hand-in-hand back to the choir room. They arrived just in time to see the last number coming on stage. All her friend, in the choirs, were on stage. She and Jason sat with Jean in the back of the audience. As they watched, Mary tapped the bottom of her ring on the arm rest. Jean looked over at her in irritation, then looked down. The ring astonished her. She look back up at Mary, with a big smile on her face, Mary whispered, “Later.”
At the end of the concert all of the seniors rushed on stage and made the concert memorable by spraying the front audience with silly string and sparkles. Everyone laughed and ran off the stage as the choir instructor said into the microphone, “The class of 2005 ladies and gentle men!”
Everyone started clapping as the audience was on their feet.

13
Once everyone was exiting the concert, Jean rushed Mary out of the show hall, “where did you get that!” she asked dazzled by it.
“Hold on! Let me get the other.”
After Mary rounded up all her girls they stood in a corner of the choir room. Chatter started up, they all started asking her was she was so excited about. The she held up her left hand. They all looked at it, then at her. All of the sudden the hugged her in one group hug.
“So? How did he do it?” asked Chelsea.
“He took me just as the sun was setting, into the court and said the most beautiful words, and asked me. I told him, ‘I couldn’t be happier if I said yes!’ and then he slipped it on my finger! Isn’t it amazing? The sapphire is as clear as the seas depths,” she said to her friends.
“Well have you set a date yet?” Jean inquired.
“No. We haven’t had a chance to talk yet, but I believe in the next year at most,” she replied.
A week later school was out and Mary was sitting around, outside in her back yard, with her friends. They were having a small over night to celebrate the end of high school. They were all talking about their plans for the next year, and what they were going to do with boyfriends, among other things.,
Jean noticed Mary looking up at the stars coming out. She laid down next to her friend, “So, what are you thinking about, lazy lady?” smiling as Mary looked away.
“Nothing really, just thinking,” she replied.
“‘Bout what?” Jean inquired, “Jason?”
“Well... yes and no..,” she paused, “I was just thinking, things are to good to be true.”
Mary didn’t like the chill working it’s way up her spine. It felt like a bad omen.
“Hey, everything will be just fine. You two are way to in love for anything to break you out of it,” she reassured her.
“Still, something feels wrong. But it’s probably just nerves. Your right, nothing to worry about,” she sighed again.
*****
The next night had a long soothing bath listening to night time jazz. Than she laid in bed watching the news, wishing Jason was back from his summer trip, he and his pals went on every year.
The news channel was doing a small section on an accident that had happened in Eastern Australia. About a girl almost out of high school, who had gotten in a car crash. “The girl is still in recovery but the hit from the crash came straight at her vehicle and caused her to break into a coma. She has been responsive once or twice, but all she’s been able to do is to part her lips slightly and make a small amount of sound. Now this was about three to four hours after the crash. Doctors remain hopeful, most people aren’t responsive. They say things are to good to be true for this young girl,” the news caster finished the segment and Mary turned off the TV and fell asleep.
I wonder why that story gives such a deja vu feeling, she thought just before she fell into an exhausted deep sleep.

Epilogue

Mary awoke in a hospital bed. Very confused of why she was there. As she opened her eyes slowly, a woman looked up who sat beside her.
“Oh my god, baby, can you hear me?” she asked.
A sharp pain went through her head at the direct sound of the woman’s voice. Mary nodded only making the pain worse. She looked at the woman, it was her mother. She didn’t know how she remembered this but she was certain of it.
“Mom? Where am I?” she asked weakly, “Why am I in the hospital? And I thought you said you weren’t coming to visit ‘till Christmas. And where’s Jean and Jason?” Mary wanted to know. She looked down at her hand, the ring her had given her was gone!
“Who? What are you talking about sweet heart?” her mother looked confused by Mary’s questions.

“Where is my ring!” Mary tried to shout, but it came out weak as ever.
“Sweetie, lie down. You need your rest. You’re in Eastern Australia, with your family and friends. You’ve been in the hospital, with a coma, since Christmas break. Now just try to rest, you’ll be fine,” her mother tried to sooth.
“You’re not making sense mom!” Mary exclaimed, finally finding her voice.
The doctor came in and put a liquid into the tube in her arm. Mary immediately calmed down.
“Now Mary, I need you to listen to me closely. Just after Christmas break started you were in a serious car accident. The on coming car hit your car head on. You were alright but you were knocked unconscious. After you got to the hospital you were
diagnosed with having a coma. Now, you’ve obviously awakened but you will be some what disoriented,” the doctor tried to explain.
Mary sat in her hospital bed, in her hospital room, taking it all in. She now realized the girl she had seen the night before on the TV hadn’t been real, it had been her, her brain telling her it was time to wake up to reality. Finally she muttered to herself, “I told her it was to good to be true.”

THE END

It still has a lot of work to be dont on it but this is the first story ive ever written i wouldnt mind i being published one day if you have any tips on that please e-mail me and if you have comments be my guest but please please please please DONT copy it and use it for yourself! its my personal work. ALICIA COPELAND COPYRIGHTED

Life is always dissapointing you just have to look hard for the good things and hope you land on your feet.
o yea dont hold back, im still learning this.