With Love E-Book

Bethany Lopez

• Herausgeber: Bethany Lopez
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Melissa is turning sixteen and beginning her junior year. With a new job, and a new boyfriend, things are pretty hectic, but when things start becoming more difficult at home, Melissa soon becomes overwhelmed with responsibilities. Can she juggle her friends, family, a budding romance, as well as school and work? Getting older sure doesn't make things any easier!

Leseprobe

With Love

Stories about Melissa, Book 5

Bethany Lopez

Contents

Untitled

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Untitled

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Bethany Lopez

WITH LOVE

Copyright 2014 Bethany Lopez

Published Dec 2014

ISBN:978-1505207941

Cover Photograph by K Keeton Designs

Cover Design by Makeready Designs

Image Design by Once Upon a Time Covers

Editing by Red Road Editing / Kristina Circelli

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please don’t participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Created with Vellum

This book is dedicated to Chloe Meyer, who loves this series!

Chapter 1

How things change:

Wow, I never thought that turning sixteen would be so anticlimactic.

There’s not going to be a big Sweet Sixteen bash like Jess had. There’s not even a backyard barbecue like I had last year. It’s a day, just like any other, except with cake.

A lot has changed in my family over the summer. We’ve been learning to cut back, budget, and live with less.

I hate it.

Our house hadn’t taken long to sell … at all. We’re now in a three bedroom, plus bonus room, a few blocks away from the school. That’s the good news, we’ll still to go to the same schools … The rest of it’s not so great.

Since Megan and I are closest in age, and the same gender, we have to share the bonus room, while Mikey and Monica get their own rooms. Personally, I think it’s ridiculous, and feel that Megan and Monica should be the ones sharing. But, when I voiced my opinion on the matter, my parents shot me down, so now I have a roommate.

The messiest, smelliest roommate ever.

I’d used some of my dad’s fishing line and some dark sheets to put up a partition of sorts, and divide the room in half. That way I could still have a little privacy, and keep Megan’s mess out of my half of the room. It took a while, but after two months, we’ve finally learned how to coexist.

I’d been job-hunting all summer, but hadn’t had any luck until I spoke with the manager at the Arby’s on Telegraph Road. She said, once I turn sixteen, she’d hire me. I officially start tomorrow. I’m on the schedule and everything.

I’m a little nervous, but cannot wait to make my own money. Like I said, money around here has been pretty tight, so I haven’t been able to get new school clothes, or buy anything else other than school supplies.

My dad still works at Detroit Diesel, but he had to get a second job. He’s been working nights bartending. I guess he bartended in college, so he had some experience, but I was really surprised when he started doing it again. It just doesn’t seem like my dad’s scene.

My mom has been able to teach more online classes, and is able to do most of her work during Max’s naps, and after he goes to bed. I was helping her out with him over the summer, but now that I’m starting school, and beginning my new job, I’m not going to be able to help her as much.

I’m excited about working, and really excited about going back to school. Jess will be coming back from her dad’s this weekend, and school starts Monday. I’ll be happy to be able to see my friends every day again. With the move, and everyone being busy over the summer, I haven’t really had a chance to stay connected to my friends.

Except Jimmy, that is. Jimmy is the silver lining in my life right now.

We’ve officially been boyfriend and girlfriend for two months and seven days. We’ve been able to get together almost every weekend, and a few days during the week as well. Sometimes I go to his house, and sometimes he comes over to ours. He helped us move, and has even helped me watch Max a few times.

He’s perfect.

My parents like him, my brothers and sisters like him, and I get along with his mom. It’s totally weird, and the opposite of any other relationship I’ve had. We can hang out and read books, listen to music, or watch TV. I’ve never felt so able to just be myself with anyone the way I do with Jimmy.

In fact, he’s going to be the high point of my birthday, too. His mom’s going to drop us off at Cariera’s Italian Restaurant for dinner. I’m super excited, and cannot wait to wear my new dress. It’s my birthday gift from my Aunt Stephanie, who was just here for a visit. It’s a totally cute white dress with red roses, and it’s short, so short I hope I don’t run into my dad before I leave. I also got red heels, and a red sweater to go with it. I think I’ll leave my hair down and put big curls in it. I hope Jimmy likes it.

I need to go get ready, but when Megan gave me this new journal, I knew I had to get an update of my life down ASAP.

I know there’s stuff I’m forgetting, but I’ll be sure to write more when I get home from my date with Jimmy tonight. I’m sure I’ll want to write it all down right away, so I don’t forget anything about my birthday dinner!

Megan did pick out a cool journal, I’ll give her that. It’s midnight blue with cool swirly patterns. I love it.

Speaking of Megan … Although we’ve figured out the whole roommate thing, I’m totally not looking forward to her becoming a freshman this year.

Yeah, you read that right … Megan is going to be a freshman. At my High School. Ugh!

Now, not only do I live and room with her, but I’ll be going to the same school as her too. So not cool. I mean … I won’t get a break. At all. Plus, she’s going to be in my school. In class with my old teachers. In my lunchroom. How totally embarrassing is that? Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.

Oh, well, no sense in worrying about things I can’t control, right?

I’m going to sign off now, and go get pretty for dinner with my guy tonight. After dinner, Jimmy, his mom, and I will be meeting my family back here, for cake and ice cream. I wonder if my parents will give me something for my birthday then. So far, my mom made me birthday breakfast in bed, birthday lunch, and I’ve gotten the journal from Megan.

That’s it.

I know I won’t be getting a whole new wardrobe or anything, but their oldest daughter only turns sixteen once, right? That should count for something!

Chapter 2

Better Than Expected

Okay, so I may have been totally overreacting in yesterday’s entry, because my birthday was … AWESOME!!!

Jimmy’s mom dropped us off at the restaurant, which was super pretty, and the food was amazing. Jimmy got the Barbecue Pizza, and I got the Cheese Ravioli, and we shared our food. Everything was so good.

Jimmy was dressed up in khaki pants and a button-up blue shirt. He’d recently cut his hair really short. Because of soccer and being outside most of the summer, he has a pretty nice tan too. In other words, he looked hot!

“You look beautiful, Mis,” Jimmy complimented me as he raised his water glass in a toast. “Happy birthday. I’m so happy that I get to have you all to myself on this special day.”

I’d flushed with pleasure at his words, suddenly no longer upset about not having a big flashy party.

“Me too,” I replied, clinking my glass to his.

We chatted throughout our meal, laughing as we fed each other from our forks.

“Our first game against Fordson is next weekend, can you be there?” Jimmy asked softly. I’d been to his soccer games before, but this would be my first time as his girlfriend.

“Of course,” I said with a smile, making a mental note to check the schedule when I started work. I hoped I wouldn’t already be on the schedule for next Friday night.

“I can’t believe summer’s already over,” Jimmy said before he took his last bite.

“I know,” I replied with a sigh. “It seems like summer just started. But… it will be cool to be back as juniors. Can you believe just one more year until we’re seniors? I swear we were just freshman, like, yesterday.”

“Yeah, I’m excited to start looking at colleges. It’s hard to decide where to apply. I mean, they definitely have to have a great soccer program, but it’s time for me to figure out what I want to study when I get there. Have you thought about it anymore?”

I took a sip of my water to clean out my mouth, and hoped I didn’t have any lingering ravioli or sauce in my teeth.

“I don’t know. Something with fashion, maybe … or photography?”

Jimmy nodded and replied, “Either of those would be perfect for you.”

I smiled at his words and felt his confidence in me warm my body.

He looked at his watch and cleared his throat.

“My mom should be here any minute. I’ll get the check, and then we should probably go.”

I nodded, sad that the date was already coming to an end, but happy about how sweet it had been. A perfect date.

When we were all paid up and walking toward the door, I put my hand on Jimmy’s arm, causing him to stop and turn to me.

“Thanks, this was the best birthday ever!” I gushed, leaning in as I tugged on his arm to get him to bend to meet me. I brushed my lips softly against his, then pulled back and grinned up at him.

He gave me a wink, then took my hand in his and we walked out to meet his mother. We both sat in the backseat, which was probably weird for her, but I loved it. Jimmy held my hand the whole ride home.

When we pulled up in front of our house, I leaned forward and offered, “Would you like to come in for cake and ice cream, Ms. Rogers?”

Jimmy’s mother said she would, so we all got out of the car and went into my house. When we walked in, the room erupted with a chorus of “Happy Birthday!”

I gasped, totally surprised, then looked around the room with a huge grin on my face. My family was all there, of course, along with Brian and Scott. Also in my living room were Kasey, Ellie, Joshua, Judi, Joe, and Kristin, whom I had begun hanging out with more this summer, since the guys played soccer with Jimmy. Finally, I saw Mrs. Campbell and Sarah, who are my friend Ben’s family, and friends with my mom. Ben is currently serving overseas with the Air Force.