tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48976648777748958062024-03-21T16:59:38.937-07:00Chasing NikkiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4897664877774895806.post-1456688417383064712012-05-22T05:11:00.002-07:002012-05-22T05:11:43.063-07:00Chasing Nikki Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uv2-6HEVjrc?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4897664877774895806.post-57235840567837515132012-04-21T15:42:00.000-07:002014-05-05T15:51:44.574-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Read a sample chapter from the book:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Chasing Nikki<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Voted<b> </b></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Top 100 Best Book of the Year</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">by Amazon!</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By Lacey Weatherford</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Moonstruck Media - Arizona</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Copyright © 2012 Lacey Weatherford<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter One</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
I took a
deep drag from the joint before passing it to the girl next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She clasped it easily, lifting it to slip
between her plump lips. I watched her inhale deeply before I looked away,
turning back to concentrate on the fire dancing in the dirt ring before
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes wouldn’t adjust though, and
it kept swimming in and out of focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man, I’m cross-faded already,</i> I
thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again it would probably be
more surprising if I weren’t, considering how much I’d been partying
lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I were being totally honest,
my days were starting to run into one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My life was definitely not what it had been before ... everything, but I
didn’t want to think about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I reached
for the bottle of beer sitting on the ground and lifted it, taking a heavy
swig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even notice the bitter
taste of it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling numb,
and that’s exactly the way I wanted it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Hey,
Chase.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl leaning against me
nuzzled the underside of my jawline, placing a little kiss there as she traced
a finger down my chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wanna get out
of here and go someplace we can be alone?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe later … um ….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chuckled as I pushed her away slightly with
my elbow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What’s so
funny?” She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout as she stared at me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“The fact I
can’t remember your name,” I replied bluntly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’re a
jerk!” she said, shoving me hard and getting up to walk away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I caught
myself before I fell to the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes,
I am!” I shouted at her retreating figure, and I tossed back another long
swallow of my beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did feel sort of
sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really should remember her
name, seeing as we’d been dating for weeks now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I glanced
over to where my friend, Connor, was making out with his girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was funny, but I could remember his name
just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave another chuckle and
leaned against the large rock behind me, closing my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must not be blitzed enough yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Someone
shook me, and I woke with a start, not realizing I had fallen asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a moment, I was unsure where I was. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Hey,
buddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where’s your keys?” Connor’s
voice broke into my hazy thoughts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Keys?” I
questioned, confused.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re too drunk to drive, and my mom is
threatening to send my dad out looking for me if I’m not home in the next
thirty minutes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Not cool.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Party’s over, bro.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I grabbed my
beer and slowly got to my feet, while Connor hollered over his shoulder for the
two girls to get into the truck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
He turned
toward me, narrowing his eyes a bit before letting out a laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Feeling a little unsteady there?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Maybe,” I
replied with a grin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My friend
offered me an arm, and I leaned heavily against him for support as we made our
way to the vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I briefly handed my
drink to one of the girls in the truck so I could reach into my pocket to drag
out the keys and hand them to Connor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
He helped me
inside and closed the door before going around to the driver’s side.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Be careful
with my truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my baby,” I joked as
we started off down the bumpy road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It’s in
better hands than yours right now,” Connor ribbed back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I thought I
was your baby,” the girl beside me said, squeezing my thigh with her fingers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wonder where you got that
idea?” I replied as I lifted the bottle to my lips.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She sucked
in a hurt breath and pulled her hand away, but I just couldn’t bring myself to
care.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’ll
never make it home in time,” the other girl whined as we left the desert road
and turned onto the highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re at
least twenty minutes away from town still.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yeah? Watch
me.” Connor laughed, hitting the gas heavily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The engine revved loudly, and the truck shot off down the road, causing
the scenery to flash by in the blur of the headlights.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I closed my
eyes, fighting the nausea the motion caused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of a sudden I felt sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clenching my teeth, I gripped the door handle, trying to calm my
stomach. I wrestled with the overwhelming sensation, trying to control it for
several minutes before finally giving up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Dude, pull
over.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I can’t,”
Connor replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“My mom will kill me if
I’m late.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’m gonna
throw up, man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pull over!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Connor let
out a stream of cuss words and hit the brakes so hard I felt like I was going
pitch right through the windshield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What the
hell?” I yelled, as I braced myself against the dashboard and turned to look at
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That was
when I noticed the red and blue lights flashing behind the truck, and the sound
of a short clicking siren filled the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I glanced down at the container of beer I had tucked between my legs and
started laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yep,</i> I thought, dragging a shaky hand
through my short dark hair as the truck came to a complete stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tonight
is about to get fun.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I opened my
door and puked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The door to
the holding cell clanked open loudly against the wall, and I groaned as I held
my head in between my hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Were all
jails this loud, or was I being specially punished?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wasn’t it enough that I’d spent most of the
night vomiting into the toilet in the corner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At one point I was almost sure that death would’ve been more beneficial
to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You reek,”
a soft voice said, and for the first time I felt a real momentary stab of
regret, as I looked up into my mom’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I quickly cast my gaze back to her feet so I wouldn’t have to see the
disappointment in her eyes and noticed the boots of an officer walking toward
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Time to go
home, son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your mom has posted bail.” He
grabbed me by the elbow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’m not
your son.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I yanked my arm from his
grasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Back off.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Look, Mr.
Walker, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s up to you.” He took hold of me once
again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I growled
under my breath and turned aggressively toward the man, intent on showing him a
thing or two, jail time be damned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Chase.” My
mom’s voice had almost a pleading quality to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Haven’t we been through enough?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I turned to
look and saw the tears brewing in her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That bit of guilt returned to prick at my conscience. I clenched my jaw
so hard it felt like my teeth might break, but I backed down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A few
minutes later I watched as my mom signed her name—Tori Lynn Walker—with a
flourish, and I was allowed to leave the police station in her custody.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Where’s my
truck?” I asked, scanning the parking lot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Where do
you think it is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been impounded.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Are we
going to get it now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“No.” She
hit the clicker on her key chain to unlock the doors to her red Toyota.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“When, then?”
I asked, trying to ignore the dull pounding ache in my head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She sighed
heavily as she glanced at me over the roof of the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m going to sell it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Suddenly the
dull pounding resembled a roar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Excuse
me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“No. Excuse
me, but I can’t take watching you drink your sorry butt into oblivion
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You aren’t being
responsible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a vehicle is a
privilege—one you clearly don’t deserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’d been the one driving it last night, you would be in a whole lot
more legal trouble than you are right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Connor is being charged with the DUI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ve been charged with underage drinking and possession of an open
container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the smell on you, I’d
say you were lucky there isn’t a marijuana charge against you too.” She slid
into the car and slammed the door behind her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I did the
same, intent on arguing with her, and instantly regretted the movement, my head
throbbing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“So now
what?” I leaned back against the seat, suddenly feeling too tired to
fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Am I grounded?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For how long?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Oh, it’s
going to be much worse than that for you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What do you
mean?” I didn’t like the tone of her voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Well, first
we have your court date on Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then after we find out what the judge has in store for you … we’re
moving.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What?” I
said incredulously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can’t do that!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I have, and
we will!” She threw the car into gear and pulled out from the parking
space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Where?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“To live
with Grandma and Grandpa.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You aren’t
serious, are you, Mom? Please, say you’re joking about this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you really want to make my life a complete
living hell?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My mom hit
the brakes hard as she came to the stop sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could see the anger written plainly on her face, but when she spoke
her voice was soft again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“The only
person responsible for making your life hell is you, Chase.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Mom,” I
groaned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please don’t.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It’s
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d been talking to them about it
already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made the plans final as soon
as I found out you were arrested last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grandma and Grandpa are waiting for us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I can’t do
this, Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take us there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be even worse than it is here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no possible way for me to fit
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like Hicksville there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Dad hated it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandpa is totally insane and ....” my voice
trailed off when I saw the hard look in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Neither of
us spoke again for the rest of the ride home, but I was biting the inside of my
mouth in an attempt to keep my comments from spewing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it would only hurt her more, and
despite everything I’d done to add to her burdens, that had never been my
intention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t trying to be bad or
make things harder on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only
trying to forget it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The memories
resurfaced in my mind for the millionth time, despite my desperate attempts to
ignore them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Happy seventeenth birthday, Chase!” my dad
said, smiling as he handed me the keys to the gorgeous white extended cab Dodge
Ram pickup, with dark tinted windows, sitting in the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Are you for real?” I exclaimed as I took
them and hurried toward the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
can’t believe you got it!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My dad laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, it was either that, or listen to you
go on about it every time we drove past the dealership together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even got it in your favorite color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still think the cherry red one was better
though.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“No way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>White is always the best,” I replied, and he chuckled again.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“White isn’t even a color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s … white, like the absence of color.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my favorite.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grinned as I opened the driver’s side door
and hopped in, running my hands in awe over the steering wheel before leaning
over to check out the stereo system.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“So, do you like it then?” Dad’s voice broke
into my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I love it!” I said, sliding from the
vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He clapped me into a big bear hug, patting
me hard. “You deserve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re a great
kid!”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Thanks, Dad.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Don’t forget I love you,” he added
quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now get to school, and hurry
straight home after football practice tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom’s going to need some help with your party.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Yes sir.” I smiled, bending to pick up my backpack
I had dropped on the concrete. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Sorry I won’t be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try to call you tonight from Denver.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Okay, sounds good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope your meeting goes well.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I climbed inside the truck and started it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He stood in the driveway, waving at me as I
drove away and headed to school.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That night I came home from practice to find
my mom sobbing on the couch, nothing ready for my party. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What’s the matter?” I asked, dropping my
gear and hurrying to her side.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Your dad’s secretary called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His plane crashed on the way to Denver.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What?” My heart sank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is he okay?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“No one on board survived.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Her words seared into me, sinking like a
branding iron, burning through every layer, and for a moment I forgot to
breathe.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I took a
deep gasp now, bringing myself back to reality as I realized I was holding my
breath once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hands were
clenched into fists, and I flexed them, forcing myself to relax as I turned to
stare out the window.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That was the
day my life had turned for the worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything, it seemed, started falling apart in that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad’s estate was settled and most of the
money went to pay off the debts of our family’s high priced lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lost our ritzy Canyon Heights home and
moved from Scottsdale to a cheaper neighborhood in Mesa, Arizona.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I had to
change schools, which caused me to lose my spot as quarterback on the football
team, and the friends I had seemed to disappear into the woodwork.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
No one cared
I was an all-star athlete at my last school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went from being popular, to just the new face in a sea of four
thousand others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A few kids
from the partying crowd befriended me early on, and I quickly joined in with
them, eager to escape the things banging around in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They invited me to hang out that weekend, and
when they passed the blunt to me, it suddenly seemed to be just the thing I
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little something I could get
lost in to help take the edge off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
All it took
was one time, and I was hooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
never really considered myself the drug and alcohol type, but that soon
changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lived for the next party,
knowing I’d be able to sink into that blissful numbness waiting for me there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to hide my new lifestyle from my mom
in the beginning, and was fairly successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over time though, I started growing more careless as I sunk deeper into
things, and she started growing suspicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I knew she was catching on when she started grilling me about being late
and who I was with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I became the
master of evasion with her, unwilling to give up the new world I’d created for
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started grounding me for
breaking the rules, or she would take away my phone and truck for the
weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly solved that problem
by keeping a little stash hidden in my room, breaking it out when she would
leave for work, or I’d lock my door, turn up the music and climb out the window
onto the roof to smoke.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My dealer
was a hot girl from school, and I started dating her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes she would come over to party with
me all day at the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom never
knew that some of the worst things I’d ever done happened right in my own
bedroom while she was punishing me. Thankfully, she’d never caught on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I had a nice
system going, and I thought things couldn’t get any worse—until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now my mom was dragging me to live on a ranch
in the middle of Podunk-freaking-nowhere with my psychotic grandpa who believed
ranching was the be-all, end-all, to learning life lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Even before
my dad died, I hated going there to visit because all I ever did was work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d spent entire vacations, feeding cows,
straining milk, planting giant fields of corn, and mucking out stalls until I
was sure the manure smell would never come off me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I quickly
learned to invent reasons not to go there by joining all the sport teams at
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Games and practices didn’t allow
me to leave town much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the summer
I worked as a lifeguard for one of the local pools, and trips to grandpa’s
house became fewer and farther between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even my dad volunteered to stay home with me, sending Mom away to see
her parents by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The car
pulled into the driveway, and I hurriedly exited the vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rushed into the house ahead of my mom and
locked myself in my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sank down on
the bed, stretching out to bury my face into the pillow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Her
declaration had shocked me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
back, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, I could admit I was on a massive downward spiral, failing classes,
not playing sports—not caring about anything in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I submersed myself in partying and trying to
cover the hurt inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom threatened me
on several occasions that I better straighten up my act, or I wouldn’t like the
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was all talk
though, and never did I think she would resort to moving again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Silver
Creek, Arizona. I couldn’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would never survive there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t
even anything to do—unless kids really were into cow tipping these days. And
the only weed a teenager could score was probably the ones growing on the sides
of the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I slammed my
fist into the headboard and felt my knuckles split open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked to see the blood running down my
fingers before I flopped back to my pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let it bleed,</i> I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I don’t
even care.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My phone
buzzed in my pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dug it out,
seeing the battery was nearly dead after not being charged during the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You home?”
The screen showed a text from Conner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yeah. You?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad yelled for an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Says I’m going to jail.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I felt sick
to my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sorry, bro.” I typed
back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Guess we
finally got caught.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Guess
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom’s making me move to Silver
Creek—with my grandpa.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Man! I
think I’d prefer jail,” Connor replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The phone
buzzed once loudly as it died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tossed
it onto the nightstand and buried my face back into the pillow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Everything
was so messed up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“The
sentence is a five hundred dollar fine, and one hundred hours of community
service, as well as a weekend rehab session on the destructive nature of
alcohol and drug use.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge’s gavel
struck down, and I tried to keep my expression neutral as I left the courtroom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You got off
easy if you ask me,” Mom said once we stepped outside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Easy? You’re
kidding, right?” I complained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do
I need rehab for? I’m not addicted to anything.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You might
not be, but you’ve been abusing substances, and addiction usually follows
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s a good call on the
judge’s part.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I kept my
mouth shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguing wasn’t going to do
anything but get me into more trouble.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’re
lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could’ve suspended you and
kicked you out of sports, not that it matters since you haven’t played anything
since football season anyway.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“So now
what?” I asked, wanting to get off the subject.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Now you’re
going to pay the fine out of your checking account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we’ll make an appointment with the court
liaison so we can get your rehab and community service transferred to Silver
Creek.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I
groaned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please, Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t there anyway I can talk you out of
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise I’ll be better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just stay here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“No, my mind
is made up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the change in
environment will be good for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’ll be nice to feel like part of a family again.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not Grandpa’s family,</i> I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy was a hard nose about
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He expected things to be
done a certain way, at a certain time, and you couldn’t argue with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I knew part
of my grandpa’s attitude came from being a corpsman in the Marines in his
younger years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d learned to love
rigid order, and he brought that over into his everyday life when he left the
service.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It’ll be
like living in the middle of a military barracks,” I grumbled, pausing at the
door to the office my mom was ushering me into.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Maybe that
won’t be as bad as you think,” she replied, looking up at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We can both use a little structure in our
lives right now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Speak for
yourself,” I replied under my breath, but she heard every word.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Do you
remember where we’re at?” She arched an eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t need any more attitude from you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Let’s just
get this over with,” I said with a sigh and walked quickly through the door,
but she grabbed my arm, turning me back to face her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Trust me,
Chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only want what’s best for you.”
Her direct look was full of emotion, and it caused me to feel a moment of
regret again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t hurt her any
more than I already had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t
deserve it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’m trying
to, Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really am.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
© Lacey Weatherford Books/Moonstruck Media, LLC.<br />
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