{A/N: Hey everyone! I am so sorry I have neglected this story a little bit, but here it is again! I decided to jump a little bit into the future in this chapter. Things were going well with Juli and Bryce, so I decided to skip ahead to high school. This is three years later. I hope that's okay with you! Well, I hope you like the chapter. Please review once you're done. I love reading the reviews. Well, bye! Happy reading!}
{3 years later}
BRYCE'S POV
"Bryce! It's time to get up for school!" I hear my mother shout. I open my eyes and squint. What time is it? I glance at my watch and notice that it is very early in the morning. It's too early to be up.
I stand up and walk over to my closet. I open it and grab some clothes. I get changed and run downstairs.
"Morning Mom!" I shout. I walk into the kitchen and see Chet. He smiles up at me.
I'm in the eleventh grade now. I'm in high school! High school has been great. I am on the baseball team with Garrett, but we still aren't friends. We still kind of talk to each other, but he isn't my friend. He will never be my friend again.
Oh, and Lynetta? She's at college. She attends Colorado State University. I don't know why she went there. I think it's because she met a boy there when she was visiting the college and she fell in love with him. They aren't dating, but she wants to date him. She's an English major. I don't understand why she couldn't attend a college closer to home, but she's Lynetta. She wanted to go to someplace different. She wanted to go to a place new and exciting! I think she just wanted to get away from our family and the drama. I don't blame her. I want to get out of here too.
"Bryce, do you have any tests today?" Chet asks me. I grab an apple and eat it.
"Yeah, a math test," I say. He opens his newspaper.
"Did you prepare for it?" he asks. I nod my head. Yes, Chet. I always study for my tests. I'm a good student.
"Don't I always?" I ask. He smiles and reads his paper. Mom walks into the kitchen and kisses my cheek.
"Hello honey," she says. I smile and wave at her.
"Hi Mom," I say. She hands me a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. I sit down at the table and eat the bacon. I don't eat the eggs. I'm still a little freaked out to eat eggs.
"Do you have any plans this weekend?" she asks me. I shake my head. Juli and I were going to go see a movie, but she has a huge science project due Monday. She needs this weekend to work on it.
"Nope, I'm free," I say.
"You aren't doing anything with Juli?" she asks. I shake my head and eat my apple.
"Nope. She has a huge science project to work on," I say. Chet looks at me and smiles.
"She's a smart girl," he says. I nod my head. Yeah, I know Juli is smart. She is working so hard on getting into a good college. Her older brothers are attending a community college. They tried the music thing for a while, but they failed at it after the first year. They still have their band, but they're majoring in business now.
"Well, I was wondering if it was okay if I could invite Peter over for dinner? You two haven't really properly met," she says.
Yeah, Peter is this new guy in my mom's life. She started dating him about two months ago. She's already fallen head over heels in love with him. I don't really care for the guy. He always shows up late for their dates and always brings her back home late. I can tell that Chet doesn't like him either. He always winces when Mom mentions him.
"Whatever you do is fine with me," I say. I stand up and grab my backpack.
"You won't mind?" she asks. I shake my head. I could care less what she does with this man. I'm going to be out of the house in another year or so. If she marries him, I won't have to deal with him that much. Chet will have to, but he can stand up to the man. I can't.
"It's okay. I have to get to school," I say. I lean down and kiss her cheek. I smile at Chet and run outside. I see Juli sitting under her sycamore tree. The tree has really grown a lot. It's big now! I have watched Juli climbing it several times.
I walk over to her and smile. I lean down and kiss her on the cheek.
"Hello," I say. She smiles up at me. She stands up and brushes the dirt and grass off her skirt.
"Hey," she says. I grab her hand and we walk to the bus stop. Our relationship is perfect. We never fight or anything like that. We understand each other. We both love each other and won't do anything to jeopardize this relationship.
We arrive at the bus stop. I see Garrett with his latest girlfriend. He has a girlfriend every two weeks. He can't seem to keep them with him for more than one month.
He looks up at me and smiles. I smile slightly and turn to Juli.
"So, guess what my mom said this morning?" I ask her. She shrugs her shoulders.
"You really are from Mars? I would so believe that," she says. I laugh and shake my head. She makes me laugh all the time.
"No, I'm not from there. I've told you that many times. She's bringing Peter over for dinner this weekend," I say. She gasps and looks up at me.
"Her new boyfriend? Well, isn't this a good thing? He's the first man she's bringing over for dinner since your parents split up," she says. I nod my head and sigh.
"I know, but you know that I don't like him. He's not the right man for her. They've only been dating for two months. He shows up late for their dates and he brings her home late. I mean, what are they doing so late at night?" I ask. She stares up at me and smiles. I shake my head and groan.
"No! They aren't doing that, Juli!" I shout. She laughs and shakes her head.
"I know! I just did that to see how you would react," she says. I roll my eyes and the bus finally arrives. I step onto the bus and hop into our usual seat. Juli sits next to me.
"I really don't like this man. I don't care if they get married, but I don't like him," I say. She stares at me with a concerned look on her face.
"Bryce, can I ask you something and you can answer me truthfully?" she asks. I nod my head.
"Yeah, I'm always honest," I say. She places her hand over mine and looks into my eyes.
"Do you not like him because you're still not over your parents getting a divorce?" she asks me. I laugh and shake my head. I squeeze her hand and smile.
"No, Juli. I understand why they got a divorce. My dad was crummy. They still loved each other. They just couldn't live with each other anymore. Besides, my dad is dating someone else too," I say.
Yeah, that's right. My dad is dating a woman with four children. They have been dating for six months. I only met her three times. I don't go over to my dad's place that much. I only visit him once a month. Our relationship isn't that good anymore.
"Well, do you want me to come to the dinner so it's less awkward for you?" she asks. I would love it if she came, but I know she has to work on her science project. I know she needs good grades so she can go to a good school. I also know she is working really hard to get scholarships.
"No, it's okay. I'll be fine. You have to work on your science project," I say. She smiles and squeezes my hand.
"Oh, Bryce, I can take two hours out of my schedule to eat dinner," she says. I glance at her and smile. She would do this for me? She would come to the dinner for me? I have the best girlfriend in the whole world!
"Oh, Juli, thank you!" I say. I lean over and kiss her on the lips.
"Hey! No kissing on the bus or I'll separate you!" the bus driver yells. We pull away from each other and I blush. It looks like our bus driver woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
We arrive at school. Juli and I walk inside and I walk to my locker. Juli's locker is on the other side of the school. I wish her locker was closer to mine.
"Hey, Bryce, are you taking anyone to the end of the year dance?" a girl asks me. I look up at the girl. She is tall and blonde. She is wearing a purple dress and too much makeup. I smile at her and close my locker.
"Yes," I say. I move past her and walk toward my first hour class, math. Girls flirt with me all the time, but I ignore it. I'm dating Juli and I wouldn't want to date anyone else.
Oh, yeah! The end of the year dance! It's an annual thing at our high school. When you're not a senior, you go a dance instead of the prom. It's pretty fun. I have been taking Juli to it last year. I'm looking forward to it this year.
This school year went by so fast. It's already May. I can't believe it. I have gotten really good grades during high school. Juli helps me with the harder subjects like science and math, but I do okay with it on my own. I get an occasional B here and there, but for the most part, I get all A's. Look at this Harvard kid right here!
I walk into math class and sit down in my seat. Garrett walks in after me. He sees me and smiles.
"Are you staying after for practice?" he asks. I nod my head. I always stay after for practice. I'm part of the team. I have to go to the practices.
"Yeah, are you?" I ask him. He nods his head.
"Yeah. Are you taking Juli to the dance this year?" he asks. I nod my head.
"Yeah, are you taking Amy?" I ask. Amy is his girlfriend by the way. He nods his head.
"Yeah, if we're still dating by then. You know, the dance is still two weeks away and we've already been dating for two weeks. This is usually the time when girls bail on me," he says. I kind of feel bad for Garrett. He really is a nice boy. He just has a bad temper and jumps to conclusions about people. That's what he did with Juli and now he seems to like her.
"I hope you two are still dating by then," I say. The bell rings and Garrett walks over to his desk. Our teacher, Mr. Adams, walks into the class and smiles at us.
"Morning students. Who is ready for this math test?" he asks. A lot of people groan and some people smile. I am one of the people who just don't do anything. I don't get mad about tests but I'm not happy to take them either.
"Well, you'll do fine. You're a smart class. Good luck," he says. He hands us the test and I stare down at it. I begin with the last question of the test. Why? Well, that's just the way I roll.
{A/N: Did you like it? Was it a good idea to jump ahead a few years? Or, did you hate it? Let me know in a review please! Bye!}
