I just want to take a moment and reflect, laugh and make fun of myself. I wrote this gem when i was 15. Looking back at this very moment, i love it. Though it shows a very tiny amount of literary talent or genius, I feel this is my "Harry Potter" or "Narnia". This is where my imagination has flourished most. And for that, I love it. That is also why I will never give it up.
A tale about a boy destined for greatness, a girl destined for a boy, and a love that will last an eternity.
Young Jonas, along with his best friend Leah, are unexpectedly thrown into the intricate world of magic. Their lives are flipped inside out, but with Jonas' mother and aunt to guide them, they will learn to grow, love and most importantly, survive. The most horrifying reality is that Jonas is not only responsible for protecting himself but also the ones that are closest to him.
With his natural talents with magic, Jonas begins to grow not only into a skilled wizard but into a young man. Far from the ordinary he was accustomed to, Jonas finds himself weilding powers far beyond his control and when put up against the most powerful force of evil ever known, Jonas must find it in himself to fight for his life, or lose it.
A tale about a boy destined for greatness, a girl destined for a boy, and a love that will last an eternity.
Young Jonas, along with his best friend Leah, are unexpectedly thrown into the intricate world of magic. Their lives are flipped inside out, but with Jonas' mother and aunt to guide them, they will learn to grow, love and most importantly, survive. The most horrifying reality is that Jonas is not only responsible for protecting himself but also the ones that are closest to him.
With his natural talents with magic, Jonas begins to grow not only into a skilled wizard but into a young man. Far from the ordinary he was accustomed to, Jonas finds himself weilding powers far beyond his control and when put up against the most powerful force of evil ever known, Jonas must find it in himself to fight for his life, or lose it.
Chapter One:
It was a cold summer’s day, ridiculously cold for July. A rather attractive boy was walking through the side yard of his three-story home in Cape Cod. His house was large, white with blue shutters that gave the home a cozy look. His mother was marvelous at gardening, thus a large patch of daisies and roses sprouted in the yard. There was thick green grass coating the ground beneath his feat. A large oak tree stood a skew to the boy. In comparison he looked minuscule. In reality, the boy was not even a boy; he was a young man, mentally at least. At only eighteen the boy’s intellectuality was equivalent to that of a 70-year-old man. Everyone told him he was eighteen going on thirty and growing up way too fast. How cliché.
A nametag dangled from the boy’s belt; tied around the leather, a long red lanyard draped down his leg. At the end of the lanyard the boys name tag resided. His name, “Jonas“, was written in bold white letters in the center of the card. Below it read “Michaels”. Jonas had always enjoyed his name, it was unique and he knew no one else who shared it with him. The only thing he disliked about his name was that there is a band called The Jonas Brothers, and in Jonas’ opinion, they weren’t worth obsessing over.
Around his neck he wore a beautiful, silver locket, with a vibrant cobalt stone and an engraving “credereTuus alte”. The locket had been given to him by his mother right after his father had passed away. All he knew was that it had belonged to him.
He had just returned home from work with his friend Leah trailing behind him. It was a Friday which meant he had the whole weekend to relax; no work. Jonas was intelligent and did well in school. Every year he had taken honors and advanced placement classes. He wasn’t the smartest kid at school but he always ranked top ten; at least. He was passionate about learning and loved to write. He was a freshman at Princeton but since it was summer break, he was home with his mother. He’d resume his classes in the fall as a sophomore.
As Jonas walked through his yard, he gazed up at the sky. The sun was lovely on this summer afternoon. It burned with a passionate flare that only a July sun could do. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. This for New England was unusual. And the intensity of the suns blaring rays did not accommodate for the cold weather.
Jonas passed by his mother’s gardening shed, and he idled to take into account the bronze skin he’d slowly developed from spending all his time at the beach. Although most people already told Jonas he had looks worthy of the gods, he felt slightly less attractive than people said. He was raised modest, it was who he was.
The way he chose to dress was different and unique. He never followed trends or styles; he simply wore whatever he felt. It made him feel rebellious. He had dark, lengthy hair, with bright blue eyes, and a killer smile. Though his hair was naturally blonde, he preferred to keep it darker. He reached about five foot nine and loved it. All his friends liked to tease him about his size, for he had broad shoulders and a tall skinny torso, giving him a very slim, model look.
His best friend, Leah, always said he was “drop dead gorgeous”, and it always made him laugh. He and Leah had been friends for years. It all began the day Jonas turned eight…
“Mom, is that an angel?“ Jonas’ lyrical voice spoke quietly and smoothly. Glancing up from her book, she glanced in the direction he was pointing. A young blonde girl, around Jonas’ age, was skipping lazily across the lawn in the direction of their small gathering. The fence separating the two years had not been put up yet so Leah’s entire year was visible from Angela’s perch. Behind her, Charlie, Jonas’ father, Anna, his grandmother, and Lily, his aunt all watched as Jonas marveled in the girls aura. The remaining members of his family stood by the house, watching innocently and continuing their simple chat. This girl radiated some kind of beauty only Jonas understood.
Drawn to her, he dropped one of his presents, a shiny red fire engine, and dashed out of the sandbox towards her. Finally noticing him, Leah stopped and waited for him to approach. The first thing Jonas noticed when he got to her was her eyes. They were bright and beautiful. The kind of green perfection of an immaculate emerald diamond combined with all the beauty of heaven and the brightest rays of sunshine all twinkling in this one pair of eyes. To say the least, they were the most beautiful things Jonas had ever seen. When she smiled, her lips twisted in an almost frustrated way and as she began speaking Jonas’ befuddlement became hard to hide. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard; strained and harsh. Noticing his reaction, she pointed to her throat,
“Laryngitis.”
“Oh.” Lost for words, this was the best the caught up eight years old could mutter. They stood just staring at each other. Examining every inch of her, Jonas listed in his mind all the games he could now play with someone. He has lived for such a long time with just his parents. He was delighted to have a neighbor his age.
“Leah darling, time to get washed up for lunch.” A woman’s voice rang out through the yard but the two kids just stood, examining each other. A young woman, in her mid thirties, blonde and tall, came trotting off of the back porch of the house wearing a fancy yet very casual skirt that hugged tightly to her hips. Her white blouse had stains clearly from lunch preparations. She had a strong face that greatly resembled Leah, his new neighbor.
She seemingly glided over to the two youngsters and then noticed Jonas’ family standing over beneath the canopy, constructed just for the occasion. A bright banner hung from the supports declaring Jonas’ seventh birthday. Several balloons and streamers cluttered the atmosphere but for a seven year old, the decorations were perfect. As the woman stepped into Jonas’ families’ yard, Leah and he followed. Still unspoken, they walked together, slightly separated.
“Hello. I’m Nicole Lewis. This is my bumbling bunch of joy Leah. We just bought the Astaire estate next door. Today’s our first day here.” As she reached out shaking each of Jonas’ family members’ hands, Angela’s eyes met Nicole’s.
“Finally, We’ve been waiting for you- well for someone to buy that old place.” She smiled politely correcting herself. Her soft brown eyes focused on Nicole as if she were reading her carefully, like a highly crucial map.
Nicole smiled nicely; letting her soft brown hair blow in the wind she flipped her head to clear it from her face. She took a seat beside Angela and spoke softly.
“You were expecting us right?” A smirk was on her face.
“Of course we were. Just not so soon.” Angela also smiled. Al, Jonas’ grandfather took one of the footballs from Jonas’ pile of toys and strode off into the yard with Jonas’ father Charlie at his heels. As they began to pass the ball between themselves, Jonas snapped back to reality. He had been distracted from thoughts of house and tag and the rules of hide and seek when Leah turned to him.
“I’m seven.”
“Well” he spoke very competitively. “I’m eight.” He smiled genuinely. Hands on hips, he stood chin high and shoulders straight, awaiting her admiration.
“I know.” She grinned. Her blonde hair was tightly hung in a neat ponytail. Jonas noticed how soft her skin complexion was.
“Can I ask you something?” He leaned forward, whispering. Nodding, Leah leaned forward herself, dividing the space between them. Noticing in his peripherals the parents and other members of his party gazing lightly in his direction Jonas put his hand to his mouth as if to block them from hearing him.
“Will you be my…” His words were cut off by Nicole.
“Come on dear, it’s time to go. You’re pasta is going to get cold if you don’t get back inside to eat it. You can come back later and play, Angela, I mean, Mrs. Michaels,” insisting to install the proper title for Angela in Leah’s mind she emphasized the Mrs. “already said they’d love to have you.” She rubbed Jonas’ head and smiled at him. She then grabbed Leah’s hand and began pulling her toward her house.
Struggling to fight her mother’s force, pushing her towards the fence, Leah broke free and darted to Jonas. Quickly kissing him on the cheek and turning to run she halted, turned, and quickly shouted, “Happy birthday boyfriend!” Just as the words reached Jonas she was turning to her mother who now wore a mask of slight irritation on her solemn face. Blushing, Jonas mustered no more than a slow wave. At eight, having a girlfriend was the coolest thing ever. He couldn’t wait to tell Sam, his babysitter.
“Hey hot shot,” His grandmother’s words caught him off guard. “we got a few more gifts for you.” Trotting back to the area of the party, Jonas began thinking again of his new friend. In his mind, a girlfriend was just a title, a name. It meant nothing to him. Let alone did he know how much it would mean ten years later.
Jonas always felt Leah was superior to him with looks. She was smart and funny, gorgeous and creative. He loved how her long, blonde hair draped down her back and how her beautiful eyes glistened in the light. He could spend countless hours gazing into her eyes, like windows revealing everything she was. Everyone said they were meant to be together, but Jonas felt unsure of his feelings for her. Sure, he had feelings for her but he didn’t think she felt the same. She had always dated the “tall, athletic, captains of the football team” type of guys; and he clearly didn’t fit that description.
They had experienced so much together; first kiss, first big fight, first dance, first drink, and a lot of other firsts. Most of them were dares or just curiosities that kids find intriguing. The day Jonas met Leah he knew there was something special about her. She was slightly younger than him, but he didn’t mind. She was very athletic and could beat him at anything. She enjoyed wrestling and catching Jonas by surprise whenever she could. They spent tons of time together; Jonas loved her company.
As Jonas walked towards the house he was totally oblivious to where he was stepping and just as he came apon a small depression in the groumd. When his foot caught the hole, Jonas completely lost balance and toppled forward. Leah, who had been a few feet behind lunged forward in an attempt to catch him. Unsuccessful, she too fell to the ground.
Jonas rolled from his side onto his back. His knee felt pressured and when he raised his knee to look, and a thick green smeared covered the light denim of his jeans. He sighed and rolled to face Leah. She had her head resting in her hands and she swung her feet back and forth in the air. She lay on her stomach facing the beach opposite the house. Her hair was layered with thick tints of gold and auburn and glistened in the bright sunlight. She was wearing a checkered belt that she had stolen from Jonas months ago.
Sneakily Jonas sat up, reared back his hand and smacked Leah in the back of the head.
“Hey!” she shouted to him, “What was that for?”
“That’s a nice belt you got there; where’d you get it?” He smirked tightly and she focused on his eyes. They were blue; like the sea blue, only less green. His eyes fit him perfectly.
His face was perfectly composed and it undeniably was beautiful. His nose thinned out at the top and left the perfect amount of space between his eyes. His lips were thin but thick enough to be noticed. They were wide on his face and when he smiled it spread from ear to ear. His hair fell gracefully over his face and draped his eyes in a curtain of dark brown strands. Occasionally his hair would shine with a glimmer of sleekness; noticed only by the ones who stared long enough to absorb his true beauty.
She had been falling in love with him for some time now. Everything about him made her feel warm. When his skin caressed hers she felt a shock of passion surge through her. She kept her silent infatuation a secret, so not to elude him to the truth. She gazed into his eyes although Jonas did not see her gaze; but her gawking, grinning stare. He chuckled and she didn’t move.
She had become so entranced in Jonas’ physique that she had failed to notice his hand nagging at her shirt. Overwhelmed with an extreme lust for Jonas, Leah shook her head to regain reality. He tugged lightly to attain her attention.
“Hey, you there girl, where did you go?” He looked at her tentatively and a look of concern flashed across his face.
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking,” She paused. “What were you saying?”
“I was saying that we should go to a movie or something. I’m wicked bored, and I think my mom has company over.” He nodded his head at his house indicating the back door being wide open.
“And besides, I heard that new movie, um” he paused to think “Saw is out and it’s crazy. Kaleigh said it was blood and guts through and through. She said it was so gross her Dad even got grossed out.” He smirked. His rising intonation emphasizing his desire to see the movie. “It sounds perfect for us.” She looked thrilled, but not really.
“Joe…” she held his name so it sounded more like Joeeeee than Joe. “You know I hate blood and guts. And Erin told me that it’s a blood and gore fest. I’d really rather not.” She tried to plead him out of his decision but his mind was set.
“Leah, we’re going and that’s that. Now…” he was climbing to his feet and she tugged at his arm.
“If we go you better be prepared to protect me from the big scary monsters and if I get nightmares I am calling you.” She smiled innocently and climbed to her feet. He reached his arm around her and placed it just below the small of her back. Her heart raced. She had hoped he would kiss her; but being a guy he did otherwise. He apparently didn’t realize he was leading her on, but regardless, he reached slickly into her back pockets and slipped her car keys out.
She drove a brand new shiny red Mustang GT convertible; complete with a custom stereo and nearly immaculate leather interior. The black seats and black make up of the dashboard stood out against the sleek red exterior and the mirror like windows made the car even more impressive. Jonas slipped into the driver’s seat, threw on his safety belt and turned the car on. The engine revved, and he threw it into drive. Leah had hardly gotten into her seat before the wheels were spinning and the car was racing out of the drive.
As they sped through town Jonas noticed Leah had been watching him closely. He ignored it and continued to drive. When he pulled into the parking lot at the theatre she was still glancing at him. He had enough. Turning the ignition off and turning to face her he spoke loudly.
“Is there something on my face?” Frustration was growing in his voice.
“No, you just look really good today. I couldn’t help it; you know I think you’re hot.” She smiled and jumped out of the car. Before she did however she snagged the keys from the ignition before he could and she bolted to the entrance. He caught up to her quickly and seized her in his tight grip. He held her up in the air and spun her around in a circle as she kicked and laughed. When he set her down she hugged him tightly and she smiled at him. He walked her into the theatre and purchased her ticked. As they approached the concession stand he asked what she would like. Her reply was simple.
“You should know.” A hint of enthusiasm was in her voice. He smirked and she rushed over to a bench opposite the snack stand. She reached it just as a herd of large, elderly looking women sat down. There was no room for two of them but Leah wasn’t about to move. She had a perfect view where she was. She watched as Jonas flipped his hair out of his face like a surfer would do. She watched how his hips were high and his butt was firm and athletic looking. He was wearing light blue jeans that made his legs look lanky but very nice. He had huge feet in her opinion but she was okay with that. If they were any smaller he would look strange. His chest was broad and the sweater he wore emphasized the muscles and made him look extremely fit; which he was. She watched how his eyes located her snack of choice and heard how his voice smoothly requested a box of junior mints from the cashier. She felt a pang of jealousy as she witnessed the girl glance at Jonas with desirable eyes. He smiled politely and glanced over his shoulder at Leah. When their eyes met she quickly averted her gaze so he wouldn’t notice her staring. He was glad she was staring though.
For years he had been after her, trying to get with her. He was pretty much head over heels for her but to him; she was way out of his league. She was so beautiful and alluring. He imagined himself running across the crowded lobby of the cinema, and embracing her tightly in the kiss of his life. Her lips were like the Holy Grail to him. He would give anything, absolutely anything to kiss her. His mind twisted around the idea as he walked towards her with a diet coke and a box a junior mints for her and a coke for himself. She accepted them gratefully and led the way to the movie.
He let her walk ahead for two reason. One, she had the tickets and two; he could not help but stare at her when she was in front of him. Her long beautiful hair draped over her back in the most beautiful way. Her hips swayed in the most scrumptious movements and her long, model legs completed the look. He ogled over her until she suddenly turned to tell him to hurry for their movie was beginning. She picked two seats near the back and settled in quickly. He was so jealous of every guy she’s been with. And none of them were him.
He envied the way she looked at models and actors with those desiring eyes. He wanted her to look at him that way. The movie began but Jonas’ mind was set on Leah. He didn’t really think much he just imagined how her lips would taste, how her skin would feel, and things like that. Jonas didn’t really have a best guy friend, but didn’t really need one either. He had Leah. Not that he minded but he had no one to talk to about her and someone would be better than no one.
As they headed into the theatre, a cute girl sitting cross legged on the ground smiled at Jonas, clearly ignoring Leah. She was wearing a set of while Gucci shades that were clearly meant to look highly conspicuous. Smiling back, Jonas passed the girl sullenly and quickly forgot about her.
As the movie played on Leah’s arm constantly gripped Jonas’ as a scary scene would pass. About five minutes into the movie, the entire thing became one long, gory, frightening scene and Leah’s arm permanently attached itself to Jonas. He tried to conceal his grin but assumed it was spread across his face from ear to ear. Oh well.
When the movie ended Leah rushed out of the theatre and into the girl’s bathrooms. Jonas didn’t have to go but he figured he would give it a shot seeing as Leah had a tendency to take forever in the bathroom, changing her hair or doing her makeup over and over again. He sighed as he walked casually into the men’s bathrooms.
When he was finished he was washing his hands when he noticed in the mirror a man standing behind him glaring at him jealously. Jonas turned to face the fragile old man. He was short and he wore a gray sweater and khaki pants. His shoes had Velcro straps and his cane had an eagles head as the handle. The man looked at least 80.
“Is there something I can do for you sir?” Jonas tried to be polite but was slightly frustrated that some creepy old man was staring at him in the bathroom.
“Oh no. I’m sorry young man I just saw a movie with my wife and when I caught sight of you, you just have exquisite good looks. Sort of like a student I had several years ago. His name was Charlie. He had blonde hair though.”
Jonas lost his breath and gasped loudly.
“Is there something wrong? Are you okay?” The old man look frightened. Jonas noticed several people were staring as they exited the restroom.
“Charlie was my father’s name. He had blonde hair. I look just like him so I am told.” Jonas tried to breathe calmly. The old man smiled at him.
“Ah ha, there you go. That’s where you got it. Are you smart too? Your father was a brilliant man. I knew him very well. It was terrible when he passed on. Well bless you boy and keep in mind your looks are a gift. And if you share your fathers mind, that too.” And with that the man turned and departed. Jonas never even got his name.
Jonas leaned against the sink and took a deep breath. Looking in the mirror he took a long hard look at himself until he realized he was too confused from what had just happened to even begin to understand it. After a few minutes of mirror gazing he stumbled out of the bathrooms long after Leah had and she took his arm and led him to the exit. She hadn’t even noticed the look of shock on his face. When they reached her car he climbed into the passenger seat and she swerved out of their spot and got right on the highway. She babbled the whole way to his house about how cute the lead zombie was and how the ghosts had been sort of cute as well. As they were pulling into Jonas’ driveway she finally came up for air and she looked to Jonas confused.
“What’s wrong?” she was just noticing how pale and scared he looked.
“Some guy, He said I looked like Charlie. Like my dad. He thought I was Charlie. I don’t know why it bothers me it just seems so strange.” A frown crossed his face but he did not look sad. He looked frustrated. She turned in her seat to face him.
“Look Jonas, you do in fact look a lot like your father but…” she put an extended emphasis on the “but”.
“You are so much cuter than he was!” she could hardly get the words out before she burst out laughing. Of course, he laughed with her.
It was a cold summer’s day, ridiculously cold for July. A rather attractive boy was walking through the side yard of his three-story home in Cape Cod. His house was large, white with blue shutters that gave the home a cozy look. His mother was marvelous at gardening, thus a large patch of daisies and roses sprouted in the yard. There was thick green grass coating the ground beneath his feat. A large oak tree stood a skew to the boy. In comparison he looked minuscule. In reality, the boy was not even a boy; he was a young man, mentally at least. At only eighteen the boy’s intellectuality was equivalent to that of a 70-year-old man. Everyone told him he was eighteen going on thirty and growing up way too fast. How cliché.
A nametag dangled from the boy’s belt; tied around the leather, a long red lanyard draped down his leg. At the end of the lanyard the boys name tag resided. His name, “Jonas“, was written in bold white letters in the center of the card. Below it read “Michaels”. Jonas had always enjoyed his name, it was unique and he knew no one else who shared it with him. The only thing he disliked about his name was that there is a band called The Jonas Brothers, and in Jonas’ opinion, they weren’t worth obsessing over.
Around his neck he wore a beautiful, silver locket, with a vibrant cobalt stone and an engraving “credereTuus alte”. The locket had been given to him by his mother right after his father had passed away. All he knew was that it had belonged to him.
He had just returned home from work with his friend Leah trailing behind him. It was a Friday which meant he had the whole weekend to relax; no work. Jonas was intelligent and did well in school. Every year he had taken honors and advanced placement classes. He wasn’t the smartest kid at school but he always ranked top ten; at least. He was passionate about learning and loved to write. He was a freshman at Princeton but since it was summer break, he was home with his mother. He’d resume his classes in the fall as a sophomore.
As Jonas walked through his yard, he gazed up at the sky. The sun was lovely on this summer afternoon. It burned with a passionate flare that only a July sun could do. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. This for New England was unusual. And the intensity of the suns blaring rays did not accommodate for the cold weather.
Jonas passed by his mother’s gardening shed, and he idled to take into account the bronze skin he’d slowly developed from spending all his time at the beach. Although most people already told Jonas he had looks worthy of the gods, he felt slightly less attractive than people said. He was raised modest, it was who he was.
The way he chose to dress was different and unique. He never followed trends or styles; he simply wore whatever he felt. It made him feel rebellious. He had dark, lengthy hair, with bright blue eyes, and a killer smile. Though his hair was naturally blonde, he preferred to keep it darker. He reached about five foot nine and loved it. All his friends liked to tease him about his size, for he had broad shoulders and a tall skinny torso, giving him a very slim, model look.
His best friend, Leah, always said he was “drop dead gorgeous”, and it always made him laugh. He and Leah had been friends for years. It all began the day Jonas turned eight…
“Mom, is that an angel?“ Jonas’ lyrical voice spoke quietly and smoothly. Glancing up from her book, she glanced in the direction he was pointing. A young blonde girl, around Jonas’ age, was skipping lazily across the lawn in the direction of their small gathering. The fence separating the two years had not been put up yet so Leah’s entire year was visible from Angela’s perch. Behind her, Charlie, Jonas’ father, Anna, his grandmother, and Lily, his aunt all watched as Jonas marveled in the girls aura. The remaining members of his family stood by the house, watching innocently and continuing their simple chat. This girl radiated some kind of beauty only Jonas understood.
Drawn to her, he dropped one of his presents, a shiny red fire engine, and dashed out of the sandbox towards her. Finally noticing him, Leah stopped and waited for him to approach. The first thing Jonas noticed when he got to her was her eyes. They were bright and beautiful. The kind of green perfection of an immaculate emerald diamond combined with all the beauty of heaven and the brightest rays of sunshine all twinkling in this one pair of eyes. To say the least, they were the most beautiful things Jonas had ever seen. When she smiled, her lips twisted in an almost frustrated way and as she began speaking Jonas’ befuddlement became hard to hide. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard; strained and harsh. Noticing his reaction, she pointed to her throat,
“Laryngitis.”
“Oh.” Lost for words, this was the best the caught up eight years old could mutter. They stood just staring at each other. Examining every inch of her, Jonas listed in his mind all the games he could now play with someone. He has lived for such a long time with just his parents. He was delighted to have a neighbor his age.
“Leah darling, time to get washed up for lunch.” A woman’s voice rang out through the yard but the two kids just stood, examining each other. A young woman, in her mid thirties, blonde and tall, came trotting off of the back porch of the house wearing a fancy yet very casual skirt that hugged tightly to her hips. Her white blouse had stains clearly from lunch preparations. She had a strong face that greatly resembled Leah, his new neighbor.
She seemingly glided over to the two youngsters and then noticed Jonas’ family standing over beneath the canopy, constructed just for the occasion. A bright banner hung from the supports declaring Jonas’ seventh birthday. Several balloons and streamers cluttered the atmosphere but for a seven year old, the decorations were perfect. As the woman stepped into Jonas’ families’ yard, Leah and he followed. Still unspoken, they walked together, slightly separated.
“Hello. I’m Nicole Lewis. This is my bumbling bunch of joy Leah. We just bought the Astaire estate next door. Today’s our first day here.” As she reached out shaking each of Jonas’ family members’ hands, Angela’s eyes met Nicole’s.
“Finally, We’ve been waiting for you- well for someone to buy that old place.” She smiled politely correcting herself. Her soft brown eyes focused on Nicole as if she were reading her carefully, like a highly crucial map.
Nicole smiled nicely; letting her soft brown hair blow in the wind she flipped her head to clear it from her face. She took a seat beside Angela and spoke softly.
“You were expecting us right?” A smirk was on her face.
“Of course we were. Just not so soon.” Angela also smiled. Al, Jonas’ grandfather took one of the footballs from Jonas’ pile of toys and strode off into the yard with Jonas’ father Charlie at his heels. As they began to pass the ball between themselves, Jonas snapped back to reality. He had been distracted from thoughts of house and tag and the rules of hide and seek when Leah turned to him.
“I’m seven.”
“Well” he spoke very competitively. “I’m eight.” He smiled genuinely. Hands on hips, he stood chin high and shoulders straight, awaiting her admiration.
“I know.” She grinned. Her blonde hair was tightly hung in a neat ponytail. Jonas noticed how soft her skin complexion was.
“Can I ask you something?” He leaned forward, whispering. Nodding, Leah leaned forward herself, dividing the space between them. Noticing in his peripherals the parents and other members of his party gazing lightly in his direction Jonas put his hand to his mouth as if to block them from hearing him.
“Will you be my…” His words were cut off by Nicole.
“Come on dear, it’s time to go. You’re pasta is going to get cold if you don’t get back inside to eat it. You can come back later and play, Angela, I mean, Mrs. Michaels,” insisting to install the proper title for Angela in Leah’s mind she emphasized the Mrs. “already said they’d love to have you.” She rubbed Jonas’ head and smiled at him. She then grabbed Leah’s hand and began pulling her toward her house.
Struggling to fight her mother’s force, pushing her towards the fence, Leah broke free and darted to Jonas. Quickly kissing him on the cheek and turning to run she halted, turned, and quickly shouted, “Happy birthday boyfriend!” Just as the words reached Jonas she was turning to her mother who now wore a mask of slight irritation on her solemn face. Blushing, Jonas mustered no more than a slow wave. At eight, having a girlfriend was the coolest thing ever. He couldn’t wait to tell Sam, his babysitter.
“Hey hot shot,” His grandmother’s words caught him off guard. “we got a few more gifts for you.” Trotting back to the area of the party, Jonas began thinking again of his new friend. In his mind, a girlfriend was just a title, a name. It meant nothing to him. Let alone did he know how much it would mean ten years later.
Jonas always felt Leah was superior to him with looks. She was smart and funny, gorgeous and creative. He loved how her long, blonde hair draped down her back and how her beautiful eyes glistened in the light. He could spend countless hours gazing into her eyes, like windows revealing everything she was. Everyone said they were meant to be together, but Jonas felt unsure of his feelings for her. Sure, he had feelings for her but he didn’t think she felt the same. She had always dated the “tall, athletic, captains of the football team” type of guys; and he clearly didn’t fit that description.
They had experienced so much together; first kiss, first big fight, first dance, first drink, and a lot of other firsts. Most of them were dares or just curiosities that kids find intriguing. The day Jonas met Leah he knew there was something special about her. She was slightly younger than him, but he didn’t mind. She was very athletic and could beat him at anything. She enjoyed wrestling and catching Jonas by surprise whenever she could. They spent tons of time together; Jonas loved her company.
As Jonas walked towards the house he was totally oblivious to where he was stepping and just as he came apon a small depression in the groumd. When his foot caught the hole, Jonas completely lost balance and toppled forward. Leah, who had been a few feet behind lunged forward in an attempt to catch him. Unsuccessful, she too fell to the ground.
Jonas rolled from his side onto his back. His knee felt pressured and when he raised his knee to look, and a thick green smeared covered the light denim of his jeans. He sighed and rolled to face Leah. She had her head resting in her hands and she swung her feet back and forth in the air. She lay on her stomach facing the beach opposite the house. Her hair was layered with thick tints of gold and auburn and glistened in the bright sunlight. She was wearing a checkered belt that she had stolen from Jonas months ago.
Sneakily Jonas sat up, reared back his hand and smacked Leah in the back of the head.
“Hey!” she shouted to him, “What was that for?”
“That’s a nice belt you got there; where’d you get it?” He smirked tightly and she focused on his eyes. They were blue; like the sea blue, only less green. His eyes fit him perfectly.
His face was perfectly composed and it undeniably was beautiful. His nose thinned out at the top and left the perfect amount of space between his eyes. His lips were thin but thick enough to be noticed. They were wide on his face and when he smiled it spread from ear to ear. His hair fell gracefully over his face and draped his eyes in a curtain of dark brown strands. Occasionally his hair would shine with a glimmer of sleekness; noticed only by the ones who stared long enough to absorb his true beauty.
She had been falling in love with him for some time now. Everything about him made her feel warm. When his skin caressed hers she felt a shock of passion surge through her. She kept her silent infatuation a secret, so not to elude him to the truth. She gazed into his eyes although Jonas did not see her gaze; but her gawking, grinning stare. He chuckled and she didn’t move.
She had become so entranced in Jonas’ physique that she had failed to notice his hand nagging at her shirt. Overwhelmed with an extreme lust for Jonas, Leah shook her head to regain reality. He tugged lightly to attain her attention.
“Hey, you there girl, where did you go?” He looked at her tentatively and a look of concern flashed across his face.
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking,” She paused. “What were you saying?”
“I was saying that we should go to a movie or something. I’m wicked bored, and I think my mom has company over.” He nodded his head at his house indicating the back door being wide open.
“And besides, I heard that new movie, um” he paused to think “Saw is out and it’s crazy. Kaleigh said it was blood and guts through and through. She said it was so gross her Dad even got grossed out.” He smirked. His rising intonation emphasizing his desire to see the movie. “It sounds perfect for us.” She looked thrilled, but not really.
“Joe…” she held his name so it sounded more like Joeeeee than Joe. “You know I hate blood and guts. And Erin told me that it’s a blood and gore fest. I’d really rather not.” She tried to plead him out of his decision but his mind was set.
“Leah, we’re going and that’s that. Now…” he was climbing to his feet and she tugged at his arm.
“If we go you better be prepared to protect me from the big scary monsters and if I get nightmares I am calling you.” She smiled innocently and climbed to her feet. He reached his arm around her and placed it just below the small of her back. Her heart raced. She had hoped he would kiss her; but being a guy he did otherwise. He apparently didn’t realize he was leading her on, but regardless, he reached slickly into her back pockets and slipped her car keys out.
She drove a brand new shiny red Mustang GT convertible; complete with a custom stereo and nearly immaculate leather interior. The black seats and black make up of the dashboard stood out against the sleek red exterior and the mirror like windows made the car even more impressive. Jonas slipped into the driver’s seat, threw on his safety belt and turned the car on. The engine revved, and he threw it into drive. Leah had hardly gotten into her seat before the wheels were spinning and the car was racing out of the drive.
As they sped through town Jonas noticed Leah had been watching him closely. He ignored it and continued to drive. When he pulled into the parking lot at the theatre she was still glancing at him. He had enough. Turning the ignition off and turning to face her he spoke loudly.
“Is there something on my face?” Frustration was growing in his voice.
“No, you just look really good today. I couldn’t help it; you know I think you’re hot.” She smiled and jumped out of the car. Before she did however she snagged the keys from the ignition before he could and she bolted to the entrance. He caught up to her quickly and seized her in his tight grip. He held her up in the air and spun her around in a circle as she kicked and laughed. When he set her down she hugged him tightly and she smiled at him. He walked her into the theatre and purchased her ticked. As they approached the concession stand he asked what she would like. Her reply was simple.
“You should know.” A hint of enthusiasm was in her voice. He smirked and she rushed over to a bench opposite the snack stand. She reached it just as a herd of large, elderly looking women sat down. There was no room for two of them but Leah wasn’t about to move. She had a perfect view where she was. She watched as Jonas flipped his hair out of his face like a surfer would do. She watched how his hips were high and his butt was firm and athletic looking. He was wearing light blue jeans that made his legs look lanky but very nice. He had huge feet in her opinion but she was okay with that. If they were any smaller he would look strange. His chest was broad and the sweater he wore emphasized the muscles and made him look extremely fit; which he was. She watched how his eyes located her snack of choice and heard how his voice smoothly requested a box of junior mints from the cashier. She felt a pang of jealousy as she witnessed the girl glance at Jonas with desirable eyes. He smiled politely and glanced over his shoulder at Leah. When their eyes met she quickly averted her gaze so he wouldn’t notice her staring. He was glad she was staring though.
For years he had been after her, trying to get with her. He was pretty much head over heels for her but to him; she was way out of his league. She was so beautiful and alluring. He imagined himself running across the crowded lobby of the cinema, and embracing her tightly in the kiss of his life. Her lips were like the Holy Grail to him. He would give anything, absolutely anything to kiss her. His mind twisted around the idea as he walked towards her with a diet coke and a box a junior mints for her and a coke for himself. She accepted them gratefully and led the way to the movie.
He let her walk ahead for two reason. One, she had the tickets and two; he could not help but stare at her when she was in front of him. Her long beautiful hair draped over her back in the most beautiful way. Her hips swayed in the most scrumptious movements and her long, model legs completed the look. He ogled over her until she suddenly turned to tell him to hurry for their movie was beginning. She picked two seats near the back and settled in quickly. He was so jealous of every guy she’s been with. And none of them were him.
He envied the way she looked at models and actors with those desiring eyes. He wanted her to look at him that way. The movie began but Jonas’ mind was set on Leah. He didn’t really think much he just imagined how her lips would taste, how her skin would feel, and things like that. Jonas didn’t really have a best guy friend, but didn’t really need one either. He had Leah. Not that he minded but he had no one to talk to about her and someone would be better than no one.
As they headed into the theatre, a cute girl sitting cross legged on the ground smiled at Jonas, clearly ignoring Leah. She was wearing a set of while Gucci shades that were clearly meant to look highly conspicuous. Smiling back, Jonas passed the girl sullenly and quickly forgot about her.
As the movie played on Leah’s arm constantly gripped Jonas’ as a scary scene would pass. About five minutes into the movie, the entire thing became one long, gory, frightening scene and Leah’s arm permanently attached itself to Jonas. He tried to conceal his grin but assumed it was spread across his face from ear to ear. Oh well.
When the movie ended Leah rushed out of the theatre and into the girl’s bathrooms. Jonas didn’t have to go but he figured he would give it a shot seeing as Leah had a tendency to take forever in the bathroom, changing her hair or doing her makeup over and over again. He sighed as he walked casually into the men’s bathrooms.
When he was finished he was washing his hands when he noticed in the mirror a man standing behind him glaring at him jealously. Jonas turned to face the fragile old man. He was short and he wore a gray sweater and khaki pants. His shoes had Velcro straps and his cane had an eagles head as the handle. The man looked at least 80.
“Is there something I can do for you sir?” Jonas tried to be polite but was slightly frustrated that some creepy old man was staring at him in the bathroom.
“Oh no. I’m sorry young man I just saw a movie with my wife and when I caught sight of you, you just have exquisite good looks. Sort of like a student I had several years ago. His name was Charlie. He had blonde hair though.”
Jonas lost his breath and gasped loudly.
“Is there something wrong? Are you okay?” The old man look frightened. Jonas noticed several people were staring as they exited the restroom.
“Charlie was my father’s name. He had blonde hair. I look just like him so I am told.” Jonas tried to breathe calmly. The old man smiled at him.
“Ah ha, there you go. That’s where you got it. Are you smart too? Your father was a brilliant man. I knew him very well. It was terrible when he passed on. Well bless you boy and keep in mind your looks are a gift. And if you share your fathers mind, that too.” And with that the man turned and departed. Jonas never even got his name.
Jonas leaned against the sink and took a deep breath. Looking in the mirror he took a long hard look at himself until he realized he was too confused from what had just happened to even begin to understand it. After a few minutes of mirror gazing he stumbled out of the bathrooms long after Leah had and she took his arm and led him to the exit. She hadn’t even noticed the look of shock on his face. When they reached her car he climbed into the passenger seat and she swerved out of their spot and got right on the highway. She babbled the whole way to his house about how cute the lead zombie was and how the ghosts had been sort of cute as well. As they were pulling into Jonas’ driveway she finally came up for air and she looked to Jonas confused.
“What’s wrong?” she was just noticing how pale and scared he looked.
“Some guy, He said I looked like Charlie. Like my dad. He thought I was Charlie. I don’t know why it bothers me it just seems so strange.” A frown crossed his face but he did not look sad. He looked frustrated. She turned in her seat to face him.
“Look Jonas, you do in fact look a lot like your father but…” she put an extended emphasis on the “but”.
“You are so much cuter than he was!” she could hardly get the words out before she burst out laughing. Of course, he laughed with her.