Chapter 9

(Before)

A seventeen-year-old girl lies on her bed listening to grunge music. She felt disconnected from the world, as if music was her only refuge.

She closed her eyes and drifted away, letting the music take her away from reality. Her thoughts and worries slowly faded away, until all that remained was her and the music.

Then she heard a knock on the door. "June? June woke up its time to go."

June took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Reality slowly focused again. She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and opened the door.

Her mother was on the phone talking to her client in the kitchen. Her mother didn't make her breakfast...again. June decided to go to the restaurant for breakfast. She grabbed her keys and wallet, and headed out the door.

June also grabbed her now favorite book; The Road to Home, written by her favorite author. It was the perfect way to pass the time while she ate.

She had just opened the door when she heard her mother calling. "And where do you think you're going?"

June quickly closed the book and tried to come up with an excuse. She stuttered, "I was just... uh... getting something to eat."

Her mother raised an eyebrow and said, "You can eat later. We need to go now."

"Why now?" June asked.

Her mother sighed. "We need to leave if we want to check into the dormitory you're living in. You're moving to Eastwood Academy today, and we have to be there before 8am. So come on, get your things together and let's go!"

June rolled her eyes. "Why today? School doesn't start till Tuesday."

Her mother replied sternly, "Because you need to get settled in and acclimated to your new environment. No quit acting like a brat and get in the car."

The grunge girl looked out before replying to her mother. "You're the one who's acting like you care about me fitting into the new environment, but the truth is you don't care about me. Your goal is to get rid of me as fast as possible."

Her mother stood speechless, unable to reply. The girl turned on her heels and walked away, leaving her mother alone in the hallway.

Walking to the side enjoying the morning, June felt the sun on her skin and watched the birds flying in the sky. She took a deep breath and continued walking, feeling the fresh morning air fill her lungs. She smiled, knowing she was free.

She walked all the way to Bob's diner, went to the drive-through and pressed a red button. "Welcome to Bob's Diner. What can I serve you?"

"I'd like an omelette and a coffee, please," June said. Bob's Diner was her favorite spot to go for breakfast and dinner. During the early hours of the morning, she enjoys the quiet atmosphere of the diner.

She heard the cashier sigh through the voice box. "June, how many times do I have to tell you? If you want to place an order, do it in the diner, not in the drive-through."

June rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath. "I know, I know. I just thought it would be easier this way. I mean it's just an omelette and coffee, right?"

"*Sigh* Whatever I know you won't change. Just wait outside the window for your order, okay?"

June nodded and walked away, towards the back of the diner. She stood by the window, waiting for her order to be ready. A few minutes later, her omelette and coffee were delivered to her.

The cashier opened the window and handed June her order. The cashier was a friendly young man with a kind smile. He had a nametag that read "Liam" and was well-dressed in a neat uniform and had a friendly demeanour.

June thanked him and wished her a good day. She then sat down at a corner table and ate her omelette.

While looking out the window, Liam didn't take his eyes off her. As June noticed Liam's gaze, she called him out. "Okay, Liam," she said. "What are you looking at?"

Liam blushed and averted his gaze, embarrassed. "Oh, uh nothing...just you...it's boring when there's no one around in the morning. Why do you always place an order every morning?"

"It's a habit," she said, her voice gentle. "I like the sound of the coffee machine, it reminds me of home. It's a way to start the day with a cup of warmth, you know."

"I totally know what you mean!" Liam yelled. "I always have coffee when reading in the morning," he added. "It's a ritual that I look forward to."

She smiled and nodded in agreement. "I read a book in the morning too, it's nice."

"Really? That's so cool!" Liam exclaimed. "Maybe we could, g-go out and uh read...each other's books?"

June looked at him then took a bite of her omelette.

"What? You mean like a trip to the library?" June asked. "I can't. I have too much work to do." She sighed. "Maybe another time."

Liam smiled weakly. "Yeah, yeah, another time!"

Liam nodded and looked away. He knew it was wishful thinking to suggest a library trip in June. Maybe she rejected him because he was being weird again.

As June drank her coffee, she asked, "How's Felix's? Did he pay the loan?".

Liam sighed. "He's struggling," Liam said. "He's been trying to make the payments, but it's been hard. I think he's going to need more help."

"How long has he been trying?" I asked.

"For months now," Liam replied. "It's difficult for him to pay when someone is at risk."

"But how long does it take to pay off her medical bills?" June wondered.

"It can take months, even years," Liam said. "He has to work extra hard to ensure his family can afford ends meet." He sighed. "It's not easy to meet everyone's needs. He also thought he could drop out of school."

Liam shook his head. "And all the while, the bills keep coming in." He looked away, his expression full of sadness. "It's a never-ending struggle for them."

June said, "I wish I could do something for him." Liam nodded with a smile.

"Me too, but I'm sure he appreciates all the help we can give him." June smiled and got up from her seat.

"Thanks for the breakfast. I really should get going. I'll see you later." She waved goodbye and left the restaurant.

"I'll see you later too!" Liam yelled, but regretted it. Slapping his forehead, he called himself an idiot.

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June walked for a few minutes around the streets. It was a habit of hers that she felt a sense of peace and belonging as she observed the familiar sights and sounds of the neighborhood.

In a few more moments, she sat down, pulled out her book, and read. "The Road to Home" is a book about the journey of a woman who finds her way back to her true self. It follows her as she discovers courage and strength to face her fears and reclaim her identity. It is a story of resilience and hope.

It's non-friction as the story was based on a true story. The book offers a message of hope and inspiration to anyone who has ever felt lost or stuck in life. It encourages readers to take a brave journey and find their own paths, no matter how difficult it may seem. It is a reminder that we can find our way home.

She loves reading non-fiction. She often found solace in the histories and stories of people who had traversed a difficult path to find their own success. She felt that she could relate to their struggles and, more importantly, draw strength from their courage.

She often asks herself why non-fiction isn't as popular as fiction books? It's just a bunch of made-up stories from the author's imagination, while the non-fiction stories were based on REAL people and real events.

And fuck the religious books that were clearly written by men trying to control the populace. Non-fiction has information that can help us grow and learn more about the world around us. It has the potential to open our eyes to a new perspective.

She was drawn to the story when she heard a girl call. "Good morning, I noticed your outfit and it looks really stylish. Where did you get it?"

She turned to see a stranger her age standing beside her. She was blonde, fit, and wearing her sports outfit, clearly she was off jogging.

June didn't know how to reply, so she just stared. The woman pulled out her best smile, "Hey, is it alright with you if I rest here for a bit?"

June nodded and the girl sat next to her. June felt awkward and didn't know what to say. The woman smiled and said, "Hey, what are you reading? Looks pretty interesting. What genre is it? It looks like a thriller. Are you into thrillers?"

A confused look crossed June's face as she stared at her. "Thriller? Are you kidding me?"

When June was about to answer, she said, "I love your style. It looks amazing. Are you in a rock band? Or do you play a musical instrument?"

Just then, her phone rang and she picked it up. It was a text message from her mother asking her to arrive at school as soon as possible.

June was a shock as she realized she was late for her dormitory. She quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out, leaving the girl without saying a word. She knew that if she was late for her dormitory, she would be in trouble. She started running towards school as fast as she could.

She was out of breath when she finally arrived at school, and she was relieved to see she wasn't too late.

There she saw her mother waiting at the school gate."June! Where have you been? It's almost an hour! Don't you want to live in your dorm room?"

June was embarrassed and apologized. She lied that she had taken the wrong turn and had rushed to school.

Her mother sighed and said, "Let's go. We don't want you to miss the dorm tour."

The mother and her daughter walked to the school reception. The mother registered her daughter for the tour and waited for the guide. The guide arrived and began the school tour.

The guide showed them the classrooms, the library and the sports facilities. They spoke to some of the teachers and students and got a better understanding of the school. At the end of the tour, they go to the dormitory where June is most eager about.

June was surprised to find out how much the dorms had to offer. She found it to be quite spacious and comfortable. She was definitely looking forward to living there.

"And here is the dormitory where you will live," the administrator said as they saw the building. June was impressed with the modern amenities the dorms provided. She couldn't wait to settle in and start living in her new home.

Just then, her mother's phone rang. As soon as she picked it up, she answered. She turned to June when she hung up. "June I'll be going now," her mother said. "Take care and keep in touch. I love you."

June hugged her mother and watched as she walked away. Then she turned to the administrator and said, "Let's go inside."

The administrator and June walked into the office and June filled out the required paperwork. After completing the paperwork, the administrator handed June a key to her new room. June thanked her and went to explore her new home.

After a few minutes, June found the building she'd be living in. "Okay, let's see here, which room has the number 143?" she asked herself.

She looked around until she spotted the door with the number on it. With a smile, she opened the door and stepped inside.

The dorm was exactly what she expected - small but cozy. She quickly got to work unpacking her belongings and decorating the walls with her favorite posters.

She made sure her bed was comfortable and her room was organized. With everything in its place, she felt ready to start her school life. But for now, she needs to think about finding ways of getting money.

She opened her computer and searched for part-time jobs. She found a few websites and sent her resume to a few companies. She was hopeful that she would get a job soon.

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Hours after hour, there was no response from any of the companies. She started to feel disappointed and discouraged. She decided to take a break and try again the next day.

She checked the time and it was 7:45 p.m. It was late and she realized she hadn't eaten. She decided to eat something to recharge her energy. She grabbed her bag and stepped out to get some food.

Stepping out of the school campus, she thought of grabbing a bite at Bob's Diner, maybe a humbugger? But then she paused when she saw a familiar face on the sidewalk bench.

"Calvin? Calvin Ashton?" June whispered to herself, unable to take her eyes off the man.

She hadn't seen him since her first year in high school and wondered what he was doing there. She slowly walked towards him.

"Calvin? Calvin!" June called him out. He looked up and their eyes met.

She smiled and he returned the gesture. "Calvin, do you remember me? In fourth grade?" she asked.

Calvin grazed at her puzzled. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

She laughed. "It's me, June. We studied at school together back then."

"June?" He looked at her closely and his face lit up. "June! Of course, it's been so long!"

He gave her a big hug and stepped back, studying her. "You look gorgeous! Man, you look different from my old photos. I hardly recognized you!

She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "It's been too long since we last saw each other. I'm so glad you remembered me. It means a lot."

He nodded and laughed, "Of course I did! How could I forget? And you starting to smile? Since when? You were like an emo freak back in fourth grade!"

She rolled her eyes, a trace of a blush on her cheeks. "Oh, shut up," she said, grinning. "It was like a decade ago. I'm not the same person I was back then."

"Well, anyway, it's cool I have got to meet you again after all these years." Calvin patted the bench beside him. "Do you want to chart? Or are you heading somewhere?"

"Chart? Sure, why not?" June replied. We began talking about the old days, catching up on what had happened during the years we were apart. It was great to reconnect with an old friend.

"So, this new girl you met yesterday you guys hung out with today in the city park?" June asked.

"Yeah, we had a lot of fun! She's really cool and we talked for hours. I think I'm gonna keep hanging out with her."

"Sure, what's her name again?"

A smile spreads across his face as he says, "Emmaline Bright. But I called her Emma.".

His eyes sparkled when he said her name. He spoke of her fondly, with a warmth and kindness in his voice. It was clear they had a special connection.

"Calvin, I know this is none of my business and it's random, but do you like her?" June asked.

Calvin blushed. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his eyes still sparkling. "I'd like her to hang out with me at least."

"If you like her that's fine, just don't break her heart like the womanizer you are." She turned away from him.

"What?" He looked at her, taken aback. "You know me better than that," he said, his voice gentle.

"Cut the bullshit Calvin. I know you've slept with girls at high school and I heard rumours that you slept with a school teacher."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I know I shouldn't have done it, but it was a long time ago."

She shook her head. "No, it doesn't matter. What matters is learning from it and moving on."

He then smirked, "So, how many guys have you been with?"

She frowned. "That's none of your business."

"Come on, it's been forever since we talked! Like someone? Anyone?"

"Just one."

"One? Who is he?" Calvin asked.

"His name is Luke," said June.

"Luke? Luke Wood from art class?" He said. "But was that like...eight years ago?"

"Yeah...I have never had a boyfriend since then."

She smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I guess I'm still looking for the right guy. Funny, I've been single for so long, I forgot how it feels to be kissed."

June sighed and looked away, a wistful expression on her face. She had almost given up hope of finding someone who would truly love her.

Suddenly, Calvin pops a question. "June, do you want to kiss?"

June slowly looked back at Calvin, her eyes wide open with surprise. "K-kiss? What do-"

"I mean I'm just asking. It's not a must if you want to kiss me."

Calvin nervously looked away, embarrassed. June felt her heart racing. She had never been asked for a kiss before. She was unsure of what to do.

However, she hadn't been kissed for so long and Calvin is a little cuter than before.

Without a word, June leaned in and kissed Calvin softly. Calvin's eyes widened in surprise before he smiled and kissed her back.

Yes, his lips were soft and warm. June felt her heart skip a beat as she melted into the moment. She remembered how nervous she had been before the kiss, and now she felt joy.

The kiss was electrifying, and June felt a surge of happiness. She wanted the moment to last forever, and for a few seconds, it felt like it did. Her eyes were closed and all she could feel was his lips on hers.

She never wanted the moment to end, but reality eventually returned. When they pulled away, she looked into his eyes and realized she had never felt so alive.

"C-Calvin?"

On June's turn, she saw the same girl she met earlier in the park. She looked heartbroken.

Then reality sticks her. "Oh god, is this Emma?"

Chapter end