April 15, 2008

April 15, 2008

Story: Change……. It's my first story yay!!

By c-melle

Disclaimer: well, Like Whoa by Aly and AJ is not mine, seriously people. and i don't own anything famous.

Chapter One

She sat on her front porch, sitting on one of those wrought-iron chairs, painted white, slouching with her legs crossed. On her lap was a blank, unused notebook, her pencil lying across the blank sheet of paper. The slight breeze blew on the edges. Her ear buds on her ear; the iPod classic in her pocket. The song blasted through its tiny speakers. It was Like Whoa by Aly and AJ, a pop duo made up of two sisters that she had always liked. She could barely hear it though because of the construction going on just a few yards away from her. The constant noises coming from the work crew was soothing in a way. She looked over quickly noting the three men wearing hard hats and talking. She fidgeted in her seat and uncrossed her legs. She looked over to her left. It was a simple view, blocked by three gigantic trees and all she could see were the tops of buildings down below and an old care house. She could see a few cars moving by too. This was one of the reasons why she loved where she lived; it was on a hilltop, like a little hide away from the busy town center down below. She noticed the wind grow colder, grabbed her pencil and notebook, and stood up. She looked around at her surroundings and sighed. Another town, another life. Just make the best of it Jazmine. Just make the best of it.

JBJBJBJBJBJB

"Jazmine, there you are, I was wondering where you were. Could you help me out with dinner please?"

That was her aunt, Cecil. She was her legal guardian. A few months before, her parents had died in a car accident. It had been devastating and totally unexpected. She had been sitting in the back seat, her dad was driving and her mom sitting shotgun. An ABBA album was in the CD player and all three of them had been happily singing along. They had been driving down an open road and nearing a four-way stop. The light was still green and they were driving along. Just as they were crossing the four-way section, when out of nowhere, a pick-up truck rams into the car and sends it slightly spinning away and crashed it slightly against on of the buildings. The impact from the crash was way too much for her and the last thing she saw were her parents intertwined hands and she passed out.

She had woken up a few days later, in an unknown hospital with tubes going in and out and around her body. The only person there was her Aunt Cecil, hunched over and crying slightly next to her bed. Aunt Cecil immediately called the doctor over once she saw that Jazmine was awake and they examined her. After the check, she had fallen back into a deep, untroubled sleep. The next time she had woken up, the sun was shining through the window, bright and sunny. She had felt a lot better than before, stronger, you could say. Aunt Cecil was there, in another set of clothes, and looked a lot better than when she last saw her. Her aunt asked her if she was feeling any better and if she wanted anything to eat. She said yes and her aunt went to get some food. She ate in silence as aunt told her that she was able to leave in a day or two. She looked out the window and quickly turned her head to her aunt. "Where are my parents?" She had asked, slightly afraid of the answer. Maybe they were in another room, she had thought, sleeping or watching the news. Her aunt had fidgeted and looked about ready to cry again. "Jazmine…" she had started and she knew before hand that something was wrong, terribly wrong, "Jazmine, your parents, Oh God, your parents. They're dead sweetheart. They couldn't make it. They… they… died on impact" her aunt had said, breaking into tears as she said it. Jazmine sat on the bed processing what her aunt had just told her. No, no, that's not true. We were gonna go to Disneyland during break and mom was finally going to ride the rides with us. She had promised. And then we were gonna go to Hawaii to have some "fun in the sun" as dad had said. They couldn't just leave. Tears streamed slowly down her face as the realization broke in. She was an orphan; her parents were gone, off to heaven, leaving her alone. Aunt Cecil somehow knew that she had just realized it and took her in her arms. Right then and there, she poured out all her feelings and let herself be taken care of. For the first time in her entire life, she was deathly scared.

Two days after she heard the news, she was let out of the hospital. After her aunt broke the news, she couldn't stand the place with its bare, white walls and the smell of people in pain. She had also felt numb, just letting her Aunt Cecil help her with everything. They were going back home, and she had been afraid tog go back but she had to. Aunt Cecil was going to stay with her for the time being. She had locked herself in her room when she got home, not looking anywhere but straight ahead. Her house held too many memories, like the old, worn couch in the living room where she and her parents had sat watching endless old movies and the china in the kitchen where she had broken more than a few pieces but her mother just laughed it off. Her aunt had decided that she had needed sometime alone and she had been grateful for that. She had stayed up late looking at old photo albums that included her parents. She had learnt not to cry anymore. Near midnight, she crept out of her room, her teddy bear in hand, and went into her parents' room, savoring the scent of her mother's perfume and her dad's old shaving cream. She spent the night there.

A few days later, she was sitting with her aunt in a private room in the courthouse. A lawyer was reading her parents will. They wanted her to live for the rest of her school year with her Aunt Cecil but she was supposed to go to her mother's best friend and family during the summer. They were supposed to be her godparents or something like that. She hadn't really cared at that time. She had inherited all her parents' money but only a fourth of it was accessible to her for now and she would get the rest when she turned 18. Her house and its belongings were going to go to the capable hands of Aunt Cecil until, you guessed it, she turned 18. After, she and her Aunt had decided that it was best that she lived the remainder of her senior year with her aunt. So for the last few months, she had lived at the top of the hill where her aunt lived.

"Of course Tita, what do you want me to do?" she replied as she shook herself out of her reverie.

"Can you set the table, please?"

"Sure"

Jazmine worked without thinking, moving as if she was programmed to do it. She thought back to her parents' funeral. It had been a bright, sunny afternoon, even though it was slightly cold. Both caskets, she remembered, were a deep mahogany and on top were wonderful bouquets of lilies, orchids, roses, violets, and of course, jasmines. The air was filled with the flowers many sweet scents. No one was wearing black with the exception of the priest. Jazmine had practically forbidden everything black for the funeral, even dark colors. She wanted it to be bright and she herself had worn a bright printed dress that had blues and oranges and greens and pinks and purples. Everyone had respected her decision, wearing their brightest. Many cried for their deaths but Jazmine had cried for their lives and their memories and the future that they could have had. Her aunt had sat next to her, silently crying, and her best friend, Lily Carmicheal, had sat of her other side crying too. Her parents had been like Lily's second family and vice versa. She finished setting the table and her aunt put the food down in the middle. They said their prayers and started to eat.

"Have you finished packing Jazz? You know you leave tomorrow" Aunt Cecil said.

"Yeah, can you please pass the salad?" she replied. She didn't want to think about moving, yet she had to honor her parents' wishes. She didn't want to leave Lily and her friends behind. Didn't want to leave her family's graves and her house. She had just gotten used to the fact that she wasn't living in her home anymore but Aunt Cecil's. But she had to and she just told herself to suck it up. Her aunt passed her the salad bowl.

"I can't believe that your senior year is over Jazz. It seems like you just started" her aunt said, smiling at her.

"Yeah, it's been a blur" she said, smiling back. It really had been with schoolwork, and sports, and dance, and thinking about college, everything just went by so fast. Prom had come and gone, her escort, her longtime best friend, Chris. He wasn't her boyfriend or anything but she had turned down every offer until it was the day before prom. Chris's girlfriend, who was also one of her closest friends, Sam, had to go off to one of her cousins wedding that night so she couldn't go. They had fun, goofing off and dancing until the break of dawn (hello! After parties!) and had a blast. Two days after, they held their own prom for Chris and Sam, which had been amazingly cute. Jazmine, Lily, and Cammie, another of her friends, could not stop aw-ing at the couple. Aunt Cecil was just really happy that slowly, Jazmine had started to open up to her and her friends.

"So when is my flight again?" Jazmine asked after a silence.

"It's at 5, so you still have time to say goodbye to Lily and your friends, but we need to get to Logan airport by 4 alright?" her aunt answered, finishing her meal.

"Yup" she said, also finishing her meal.

"Do you need help cleaning up Auntie?" she asked. She was raised to always be polite.

"No, no, take this night off. Rest, talk, watch T.V. this is your last night here. Have fun" Aunt Cecil said, shooing her out of the room.

"Are you sure?" she said, turning around and looking at her aunt.

"Of course I am"

"Would you mind very much if I went out? I said I'd meet Lily and co. at In and Out today" Jazmine asked.

"That's even better! Go. Have fun. You deserve it!" her aunt said, grinning.

"I'll be fine, I promise" she reassured. She loved her aunt because of that. She was so laid back; it was like having a cool older sister. That was about 12 years older than her. She smiled and turned around. She quickly went up the stairs to get her tote and essentials and went back down. She could hear the radio blasting Kiss FM and her aunt humming along to it. She was going to miss her. She put on her old, worn, black Converse low tops, yelled bye to her aunt, and went out the door and into the cool June air.

She drove down to In 'n Out and she was greeted by her group of friends as she entered. She laughed. They had taken up two booths in the back and were probably the largest group in the fast food place. She waved hello to Candace and Emily behind the counter and walked over to her friends.

"What's shakin' Jazz?" Lily said, smiling goofily at her.

"Nothing much, you know just trying not to think about tomorrow" well, Jazz was never one to keep anything from her friends.

"You're messing with our flow man" Mike said as she sat down. He wrapped her in one o his famous bear hugs and she hugged him back.

"Sorry. I'll just shut up now and I swear I'll have fun tonight. Scout's honor" Jazz said, trying her best to keep a serious face but a smile kept breaking through. Her right hand was over her heart and her left hand was raised. Her friends looked at her strangely for a second and then they all broke out into fits of laughter.

"You are an idiot, you know that right?" asked Chris after the whole laughing fit thing.

"Yeah, I kinda noticed" she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Good. If you didn't, we'd be slightly worried" Amy, another friend, said, faking concern.

"oh, yeah, 'cuz I'm the only crazy one in here" Jazz said, scooching over in the booth to sit properly. She rolled her eyes as she put her bag down. She looked up to raised eyebrows and questioning looks.

"Why you guys lookin' at me like that for?" she questioned confused. They all rolled their eyes at her.

"What??" they ignored the question and just continued with their conversations and their food.

"One day, you'll get it Jazz" Lilly said, patting her back sympathetically.

"Get what, Lils??" she exclaimed as Candace came over to get her order. The night went on with many laughs and stories. Jazz enjoyed herself with her friends and she almost forgot that she was leaving the next day. ALMOST, being the key word here.

JBJBJBJBJBJB

The next day dawned bright and early. Jazz groaned and rolled to the other side of bed. 8:30 AM. Ugh, why people, why do I have to get up so early? She thought. Because you're leaving to day that's why, another part of her brain said. She sat bolt upright when she thought this. Oh, yeah. She sighed pushed the covers away and started her morning. She took a quick shower, blow-dried her straight black hair, and looked at her suitcases. She grimaced. Now I have to dig for my clothes? Great! She thought as she opened one of suitcases. It took her 20 minutes to get something that she liked. She picked out a black t-shirt with a slight v-neck that said "Eco-Friendly Style" in green lettering with a tree, light-washed jean shorts, jade green low top Converse, and she topped it al off with wooden and beaded bangles on her wrists. It was casual and airplane friendly and totally her style. She had three suitcases, two big and one medium. The big ones were for clothes and some other things, the medium one for shoes and essentials. She also had her canvas tote which said "Save the World" in green that surrounded a big red heart with a blue and green world inside it. She basically had everything in there. Her black Mac Book, some of her favorite books, DVD's and CD's (the rest were in her suitcases), her iPod, her Alias, a notebook, a few pens and pencils, her mascara, a camera, and her wallet and passport and ticket. She was also bringing her Gibson vintage acoustic Hummingbird that her parents had given her when she was 10. That meant it was eight years old but it was still in good condition. She didn't know to who or where she was going and, to be honest, she didn't want to know. It was like an adventure. She dragged all her suitcases down the stairs while her aunt got her carry on and guitar case. After, they went to eat their breakfast. Both of them ate their breakfasts in silence.

"I'm really going to miss you Jazz" her aunt started, looking at her with sad eyes.

"I'm going to miss you too Tita. Living with you has been a blast and a half" Jazz said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Good. And why do you have all those bags missy? It seems like you're moving out of the house for more than two and a half months. I feel slightly insulted by this" her aunt said jokingly reprimanding her.

"Well, I don't really know where I'm going; and no Tita, you're not going to tell me; so I just brought all, well most, of the things I had" Jazmine grinned sheepishly.

"Well, if you if you insist on me not telling you who it is, then I won't. So what are you going to do today?" her aunt questioned. She stood up place her bowl of cereal in the dishwasher and turned to Jazmine. Jazz had a thoughtful yet faraway look in her eyes.

"I'm going…" she started.

"I'm going home and then to visit mom and dad" Jazmine said, a soft smile on her face. Aunt Cecil just smiled and nodded her head.

"Well, just don't stay there all day, you've got to say goodbye to a few more people" Aunt Cecil said before turning back around and started to wash the dishes. Jazmine sighed and looked at the clock. 9:45 AM. She stood up quickly, left her dishes in the sink, kissed her aunt in the cheek, and clambered up to her make-shift room. She did a quick look over to see if she forgot anything and went back downstairs and grabbed her tote. Before she walked out the door, her aunt called her back.

"Jazmine, do you want me to stay here or pick you up from where ever you are when we need to go?" her aunt asked.

"Um, can you pick me up?"

"Of course. Now be careful, alright?" Aunt Cecil said, with knowing eyes and a raise of her eyebrow.

"I'll be fine Tita" Jazz answered back as she walked out the door.

A few hours later, Jazmine was still sitting near her parents' graves under a shady oak tree, with her notebook open. Her pencil was writing away and she was completely lost in her own little world. She didn't hear the soft footsteps that were coming closer and closer until the said something.

"Hello? Earth to Jazmine! Where are you?!"

"Holy Mother of… Are you trying to give me a heart attack??" Jazmine said, clutching her notebook to her chest and glaring up at her friends: Lily, Chris, Sam, Cammie, and Mike. They were her closest friends and she'd known them since they were all practically in diapers. Well, except for Sam and Mike. Sam moved there during fourth grade and Mike during the sixth, but the all were pretty tight.

"Don't be hatin', we brought peace offerings" Mike said, smiling (that boy was always smiling) and held up a picnic basket. She looked over at the others and saw they were holding different picnic things. Chris was holding a small cooler, Sam was carrying a blanket and utensils, and Cammie was holding paper plates and cups, while Lily was holding a boom box.

"What's the boom box for?" Jazmine asked eyebrows raised.

"Music, duh. We can't have a picnic without some music" Lily replied.

"We're in a cemetery, you know that right" Jazmine said, real slowly.

"I know that but I figured you would be here all day, so why not bring the party, or the picnic, to you" Lily said. Sam started putting down the blanket and Chris put down the cooler.

"Ok, cool, but slightly creepy at the same time" Jazmine said, looking on as her friends set up the picnic.

"Just go with it Jazz. It's our last day here with you, we all wanna make the best of it," Cammie said, stopping her help with the work and looked at Jazmine with her electric blue eyes. Some people might say that Cammie was a ditz and all because she was blonde but what people didn't know was that Cammie was probably one of the most chill and zen and balanced a person can be. And everyone who knew her loved her for that.

"Well then, let's have a picnic shall we" Jazmine said, putting away her notebook and pencil and started to help set up.

"That's our girl" Chris said, handing out drinks to everyone. They all took them but waited.

"To friends and family and always being there for each other, friends for life, baby!" Jazmine exclaimed, toasting her friends, her parents, and everything else. They all cheered and drank their sodas. Everything was going to be alright.

JBJBJBJBJBJB

A few more hours passed by as the six friends ate and talked and reminisced old memories (AN: reference!). Time flew right past them until Jazz finally had to go. She felt a fresh wave of tears just behind her eyes. She looked at her friends, her best friends. Sam and Cammie were already crying and she hugged them both first.

"We'll miss you, Jazz. So very much" Sam said, her tears sliding down her cheeks. She still looked so pretty even when she was crying. Chris was so lucky to have her. Jazmine smiled sadly. Cammie, Cammie was just amazingly comforting. She was probably one of the few people that she completely trusted and Jazz was so sad not to have her near when she was confused or scared. She let go of them and they sniffled, Jazz then looked over at Mike. He opened his arms to he and they hugged each other like they wouldn't see each other again, and, to some extent, they wouldn't.

"Take care Jazz. Don't hurt your self too badly, alright?" he said, trying to lighten the mood. She laughed through her tears and punched his arm playfully. He was like her older brother. He was there for her, like Cammie and Sam, whenever and she would definitely miss him. She turned to Chris.

"Well, don't just stand there, Give me a hug" he said, jokingly reprimanding her. Jazmine went over and hugged him. He too was her older brother in every sense although kinda kooky like her. He has always been there for her, never judging and always fun to have around. She slowly let some tears fall.

"I'm gonna miss you kid" he said slowly, kissing the top of her head and ruffling her hair. She smiled. Jazmine turned to Lily. She wasn't crying or anything, she just looked beyond sad. Lily had always been the strongest out of the group. When they were little, they called themselves the Power Rangers and even though Lily wasn't a guy, she had always been picked as the Red Power Ranger (and if you wanna know, Jazz was Pink, Cammie was Yellow, Sam was White, Mike was Blue, and Chris was Black). Jazmine wasn't fooled though. They have been best friends for way too long and they knew each other way too well for that. She went over and hugged her.

"Man, I'm definitely going to miss you so much Jazz" Lily said.

"Me too Lils, me too"

At that point everyone had come around and gave Jazmine a huge group hug goodbye.

"I'm going to miss you guys so much. Promise that you guys will call and text and e-mail and all that stuff" Jazmine said as they broke out of the hug, wiping away the tears that had fallen.

"Everyday" they all said in unison. They looked at each and laughed. They watched Jazmine walk over and pick up her things and go towards the car that was waiting for her. She turned around and waved goodbye. She got into the car and her aunt started the car. A few seconds later, she was out of sight.

The car ride to Logan airport was quiet. Aunt Cecil knew not to pry or bother Jazmine, so she just left her thoughts alone. Jazmine was just looking out the window, not thinking anything at all. She was just listening to her iPod, which was on shuffle. The words to the songs came and went out the other side of her head. When they finally arrived at Logan, she jumped from her seat and down to the pavement. Aunt Cecil was opening the back, so she went to get a trolley. They quickly and silently put the bags on the trolley and went inside. They went through all the motions and by then Jazmine only had her guitar and tote. Just before she went inside to the terminals, her aunt stopped her.

"You know, your mother and father would have been so proud of you, sweetheart. You've grown up to be a wonderful, talented, and amazing girl. Be good and be safe, alright? More good things will come your way, I promise you" her aunt said, pulling her into a huge hug. She hugged her back just as tightly.

"I'm going to miss you, Tita" Jazmine said, giving her aunt just one last tight hug.

"I'll miss you too. One more thing, take this, you'll need it" her aunt said and put an envelope in her hands.

"Now go! Before you'll miss your flight" her aunt exclaimed, pushing her towards the terminal. Jazmine did one last turn, waved goodbye, and went through. New life, you better be ready, 'cuz here I come!

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Please, pleas, please review. this is my first story and i will love to get some feedback from you guys, And. i promise that that there is Jonas in this story and i'll upload as fast as i can.
Thanks!!3