Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
“You’re milking the weather for one last chance at seeing Kane in his swim trunks!” Chastity says, shoving my arm.
“Of course I am. God, if only I was older… or he was younger…” I sigh hopelessly.
“Trust me, you’d rather be older. Younger guys are like Billy and the rest of the boys at school,” Chastity concludes.
Chastity could have her pick of any of the boys at school. She’s the complete package—brains, beauty, and as sweet as pie. But she’s laser-focused on school. In my opinion, too much so. Also, dating is something that is frowned upon by Chastity’s strict parents. No wonder they gave her that name! It’s like some kind of metaphorical chastity belt, yet it’s also literal… her name is Chastity for crying out loud!
“Somehow, I’d bet Kane still acted like a man in high school,” I disagree with her view on all younger guys.
She shrugs me off before mulling the thought over for a second.
“Yeah, I guess. I bet your dad was still a gentleman when he was our age too.”
My eyes shoot over at Chastity with my brows raised curiously.
“What?” she asks innocently.
Stifling my giggle, I respond with a shrug of my shoulders.
Chastity won’t admit it, but I know she has a little crush on my father. She finds ways to slip his name into our conversations, and if she comes over to my house, she asks where he is. If Daddy happens to be home, her face is beet red the entire time he’s near her. I’m pretty sure my father thinks Chastity’s natural complexion is maroon.
The bus pulls to a stop in front of us. Along with all of the other teenagers on our bus stop, we get onto the vehicle. The ride is noisy, with a million conversations taking off among the kids.
“You girls coming to the rager this weekend?” Bruce Davis asks from behind us.
“No,” Chastity answers quickly.
“You’re no fun,” Bruce sighs.
She bats her pretty blue eyes at him and shrugs.
“If getting high at a party is your idea of fun, then I guess I’m not.”
“How about you, Renee?”
“Maybe,” I shrug my shoulders. “I’ll have to see what Billy wants to do.”
“Alright.” Bruce smiles and looks over at Chastity. “If you change your mind, your Uber is on me,” he winks at her.
Chastity smiles at him, and as soon as Bruce is distracted, I nudge her with my elbow.
“I think someone has a crush,” I whisper.
“I do not!” she gasps.
Laughter escapes my lips as Chastity overreacts at what she obviously perceives is an accusation toward her. I love getting a rise out of my best friend.
“I mean, Bruce has a crush on you, goober,” I say softly.
“Oh,” she sounds surprised as she looks back at him briefly. “Really?”
“Yup, but I know you don’t have time for dating,” I smirk at her.
“What’s the point? I’m going away to college in a few months.”
“It’s the beginning of the school year, Chas. And what’s the point?” I scoff at her. “There’s that whole popping your cherry business that could be fun.”
My words are more to embarrass her than anything else. The blush quickly takes over her alabaster skin as she shushes me.
“Renee!”
“What?” I giggle as the bus turns onto our block.
Chastity and I bounce off of the bus and head halfway down the street before going into our separate houses. I walk through the door of my quiet, three-bedroom house. It’s just my father and me living here; it’s always been the two of us, ever since my mother ran out on us before I could even walk.
Apparently, Mom hadn’t been ready to be a wife and mother, nor do I think she ever will be ready. I tried reaching out to her when I was twelve by sending her a friend request on Facebook. She must have blocked me because suddenly, I couldn’t find her profile anymore. I made Chastity search from her Facebook account, and sure enough, my mother’s profile popped up for her.
Ever since then, I stopped wondering how my mother was, or who she was. She still didn’t want me, so I stopped wanting her.
Besides, my father is amazing. He has always been there by my side, supporting me financially and emotionally. He took me to get my first bra and explained about periods. He warned me about boys and sex. I can talk to him about anything, and I’m so grateful for that.
I will admit that my rebellious nature is probably due to craving the extra attention that I missed out on from not having a mother, but other than that, I’m fairly well-adjusted, in my opinion.
I jog upstairs to my bedroom and throw my backpack down on the floor. Peeling out of my school uniform, I let out sigh of relief. I’m always eager to get out of that confining button-down blouse that I have to keep tucked into my stupidly short skirt.