Same Grounds, Jessica Pham [books to read in your 20s .txt] 📗

"Wait! Don’t go! I love you. You’re my world, the reason for my existence. Please stay with me.” Michell called after me.
I turned around, but kept my eyes on the ground. I couldn’t face him. He closed the gap between us in three long strides. He cupped my chin with his fingers and lifted my face so my eyes met his. I stared into the his deep, dark eyes. “I love you, Christy. No one else. You brighten my day. I wake up every morning and think, ‘I’m so lucky to have her.’ You’re my shining star. Please don’t leave me.” He looked deep into my eyes.
I swallowed and closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes, I smiled through my tears. “I love you Michell. Only you.” And with that, he closed the distance between our lips and kissed me gently. My arms snaked up to his neck and his arms around my waist, leaving no space between us. We pulled back for air and he pressed his forehead against mine. “I love you, Christy.” He breathed.
“Aaand…CUT!” Bill, our director yelled through his megaphone.
We immediately ripped apart, wiping our mouths and dusting ourselves free of each other’s germs.
“You suck at kissing.” I said to Tristen. “Well, you’re a sloppy kisser. My dog

could kiss better than you.” He retorted. “How do you know your dog

kisses better than me?” I snapped.
“I’ve kissed her.” He deadpanned.
“Why don’t you go off to Wonderland with her and get married then?” I shot at him.
“Maybe I will, anything to get away from you

." He shot back in disgust. “Ladies, gentlemen, would you two stop fighting for one minute?” Bill asked in frustration.
We both ‘hhmphed’ and stalked off into our dressing rooms.
I opened the door and flopped onto my couch. I immediately took my contacts out. They were so annoying! They’re like a bug that’s stuck in your eyes and you can’t get it out. I stuck them inside their container and threw them on my dressing table. I squinted my eyes and everything was all blurry.
I searched blindly for my big glasses. I like 'em big because it covers my whole eye. I tried wearing the little rectangular ones, and it didn’t work out very well. I finally found them and shoved them on. My eyes adjusted and I flopped back on the couch. I blew out a puff of air. I still had a 5 page paper due tomorrow and I didn’t even start it yet!
I groaned and walked over to my backpack in the corner. I pulled my laptop out and started typing.
Three hours later, and I was still typing. I yawned and stretched. I resumed typing but my eyes wouldn’t stay open. I rolled over on the couch into a comfy sleeping position and fell asleep.

I woke up to someone poking my side. Hard. "Hey you, nerd. Wake up! Studio's closed."
I slowly opened my eyes and they zoomed in on Tristens face. Which was inches away from my face. I gasped and pushed him as hard as I could away from me. "What's your problem?" he yelled. I sat up straight, "How did you get here?"
"I walked through the door... you know, for a nerd, you sure are stupid." he observed. "Well, for a jock, you sure are fugly." I retorted. "Studio's closed." he pointed to the door. I pushed my glasses up, "Why didn't you leave then?" "I had to wake you up." he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Smart ass."
"Why, thank you."
"Just get out." I said, frustrated. "Sir, yes sir." he saluted and walked towards the door. "I'm not a dude!" I yelled at his back. "You sure about that?" he scoffed and walked out the door. I grumbled and reached in my backpack. I pulled out a mint and popped it in my mouth. I gathered all my stuff. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and hurried to the door. I stopped about half way to the door. Wait, why should I hurry? If he's still out there, I could annoy him by walking as slow as possible!

I walked towards the door in slo-mo, and I even turned off the lights in slo-mo. After 5 minutes of walking in slow motion, I got tired of it, and resumed walking at a normal pace.
I reached the entrance and opened the door that lead to the parking lot. I pushed my glasses up and popped another mint in my mouth.
"Finally! Took you long enough!" Tristen suddenly emerged out of nowhere, scaring the living crap out of me. I screamed and clutched my heart He laughed at me, "You should've seen your face! It was priceless!"
"I'm glad I amuse you." I said sarcastically.
"Why are you still here?" I added as an afterthought. "You're my ride." he said.

"If you

think you’re

stepping one foot into my

car, you’re delusional.” I hissed. He had followed me all the way to my car, and now we’re currently standing beside it, bickering. “You have

to drive me home.” He smirked.
“I don’t have

to do anything!” I shot back. “Yes, you do.” “No, I don’t”
“Yes.” He argued.
“Hell no!” I yelled.
“Yes.” He said.
“No.” I said.
“No!” He said.
“No.” I said and crossed my arms in triumph. He can’t trick me! Insert evil laugh, now. “Whatever.” He groaned and opened the door to the passenger seat. It opened. “You know, you should really lock the door.” He smirked and closed the door.
I huffed angrily and stomped to the driver’s seat. Maybe I should dump him on the side of the road…

“Sometime today…” Tristen pointed to the key in my hand. I sighed heavily and turned the key in the ignition.
I drove to my house and parked my car in the driveway. I opened the door a little forcefully and slammed the door. “Out.” I pointed to his house, which was right next to mine. He rolled his eyes and got out of the car. He walked across the lawn to his house.
I unlocked the door to my house and locked it behind me. “Hey Mom! I’m home!” I called out. All I got was silence. I shrugged. She’s probably still at work.

I did all of the usual things I did before I went to bed. I glanced out my window and I could see the lights inside Tristen’s room and a dark figure moving around.
I feel like a creeper…

I hastily turned away and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up to my mother’s yelling. I groaned and slammed a pillow over my face. “Five more minutes…” I mumbled. “No! Wake up! You’re going to be late for school!” my mom bust through my door and yelled.
I groaned and sat up, scratching my neck. She walked out the door and I got up and trudged to the bathroom. I did my daily routine and went down for breakfast. I ate, and said ‘bye’ to my mom. I walked out the door to my annoying neighbor’s front door. I knocked on it and waited for someone to answer it.
The door opened and Tristen’s mom greeted me, letting me in. My mom made it my job to wake Tristen up every morning claiming that ‘he has so much potential and can’t waste it on sleeping all day’ and even his mom agreed. My job is to go up to his room every morning and sing. My voice was horrible and it could wake a person up from a year long coma. That’s how bad my voice is.
I trudged up the stairs and pushed his door open. His room looked like a typical teen boy’s room: dirty crap everywhere, clothes on the fan, posters of girls, that kind of stuff. He was sprawled on his twin bed, his head and legs hanging off of it. He looked innocent when he was sleeping, but looks can be decieving. He’s just plain evil when he’s not unconscious.
I knelt down next to his ear and took a deep breath, then let out the first words of Payphone by Maroon 5. His head jerked up and he took a sharp intake of air. I sat back and sang some more, and by the time I was halfway done with the song, he was awake. He sat up rubbing his eyes and narrowed them at me.
I shrugged and walked back down the stairs and passed Mrs. Wilson. “Bye sweetie. And thanks for waking Tristen up, you’re the only one that can.” She smiled. “No problem.” I smiled and walked out the door, to my bus stop.

After the bus dropped us off at the school, I headed straight for my locker. I needed to study extra hard for this test in History. I spun my combo and opened my locker. I stuck my head in it and dug around for my textbook.
"A-ha

." I muttered when I found it. I flipped to the chapter we were on and re- read it. With half my body still in the locker. I leaned my elbows against