Bound & Beloved

Chapter 1 "Disaster"

Tomorrow was my last day at Honaker High “home of the Tigers”, and I couldn't wait. I had been accepted to Harvard University in the fall to study Social Sciences. I couldn't wait to get out of this town. My name is Gabriella Stone,”but everyone calls me Gabby”, and I am from Honaker, Virginia a small town, population 1,449, that sits back in the middle of nowheres ville Virginia. I had lived here all my life, and had never traveled very far from here either. I lived with my mom, dad, and brother in a double wide trailer back in the “boondocks”, which is basically back in the country off to yourself. We were surrounded by trees, grass, dirt, and more trees. My dad was a boss in the coal mines, and we had a happy childhood going out and riding four wheelers with my parents, and riding around the back roads at night as a teenager with my friends. My dad worked hard to get us anything we wanted and needed growing up. He spoiled us to no end. I was a daddy's girl and proud of it. In Honaker we had a dollar store, pizza place, and two gas stations. I wanted to get out and see the world, and the diversity in it, because there definitely wasn't any here. The only diversity we had were that some people may have had relatives who were Indian. I wanted better for my life. I didn't want to just get married to a coal miner and have babies. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but I wanted more, and going to school at Harvard was going to provide that for me. The next morning I was awoke by my alarm blaring in my ear. I grabbed my cell phone and quickly turned it off. I seen that I already had a text from my best friend Amanda, and quickly read it. Amanda: Oh my god it's our last day of school together! I'm gonna cry :(!!! By the way make sure you look hot, it will be the last time you see Bobby Lynch!! Bobby was my boyfriend, up until the middle of this year when I found out he was cheating on me with the school slut, Emily Anderson. I had thought I loved Bobby, but when he cheated on me I realized it was only infatuation. I mean who wouldn't be attracted to his 6”2 rock hard body, or his gorgeous blue eyes, and golden brown hair, but I dumped him on the spot. I was proud of myself, and so glad I had not lost my virginity to him “it wasn't for his lack of trying.” I quickly shut off my phone, and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe how much I had changed in the last two years. I was a “late bloomer”. My freshman and sophomore year of high school I had Straight dark dull brown hair, dark brown eyes, pale skin, glasses”that at least helped cover the freckles that were scattered across my nose and cheeks,” and braces. I had no boobs or butt whatsoever. I was just a stick figure, and then the summer of my Junior year that all changed. I finally hit puberty and it was like I magically sprouted overnight. I came back to school that year wearing a 36c cup bra, no braces, I had traded the glasses in for contacts, and started laying in the tanning bed. I had gotten my hips and butt, and had highlights put in my hair. I had also learned to do my make-up in a way that accentuated my eyes and freckles. I had learned to love them and not hate them, and the same went for my self-esteem. I was happy with myself now and didn't care what anyone else thought. I jumped in the shower and quickly showered and shaved. I went to my closet, “still in my towel”, and grabbed my ripped straight leg jeans, my pink and blue crop top that I had gotten from Rue 21, with a tank underneath, and my Nike tennis shoes, I had just bought. I was gonna look incredible. I straightened my hair with my flat iron and carefully applied my makeup, making sure everything was perfect. After I got dressed I grabbed my jean jacket just in case. I jumped into my Chevy Cobalt my parents had given me for a graduation present. They were so proud of me for getting into Harvard, I probably could have gotten anything I wanted, but I was ecstatic over the car. I pulled out of the driveway and went to pick up Amanda. She only lived five minutes down the road. We had grown up together and been best friends since Kindergarten. She had also gotten into Harvard. We were going to Cambridge together, and we were going to be roommates. We had both worked so hard to get into Harvard together. We had missed out on so many things in high school, but were going to catch up quickly once we got to college. I pulled into Amanda's driveway and beeped my horn. Amanda came out of her house wearing just about the same thing I was wearing except different colors. We had coordinated on purpose. She had grabbed a jacket to, I laughed to myself, we were so much alike. Amanda had always been beautiful with her to die for figure, blue eyes, and honey blond hair. I had always envied her for being so perfect. She opened the door and got in the car giving me a hug and we headed to school. “Are you nervous?” Amanda asked. “Me, nervous” I laughed, “Hell No, Bobby can eat his heart out, and this town can kiss my ass, when I leave.” “Exactly my thinking girl,” said Amanda proudly. We pulled up to the school and we both got out and went into the high school. “Are you ready for this? I asked Amanda” “I was born ready! She said with such confidence I was a little jealous” We headed down the hallway and all eyes were on us. I felt like people were staring before I even looked. As I walked up to my locker I felt a hand on my ass. I quickly turned getting ready to slap the pervert when I seen Bobby. “What the hell do you think your doing? I half screamed at him” “Whoa babe! He said laughing, I just wanted one last feel before you take off to the big city.” I rolled my eyes “I'm not yours to touch anymore Bobby, and it's not like you got very far when I was! I stated matter-of-factually.” “b***h!” He growled walking away. For the rest of the day school was just ordinary, we watched movies every class. I told all of my friends and teachers goodbye, and shed a few tears. I was too excited to leave this place to be to bummed out, besides I had my best friend going with me. Seventh period “the last period of the day” Amanda stopped by to let me know she was going to a party after school, and since I was spending time with my family that night I decided not to go. When I got home my mother and father were sitting on the couch. My mother had her head on my dad's shoulder, and she was crying. “What's going on? I asked concerned” “Gabby honey, started my mom. Please come and sit darling, we have some news we want to discuss with you.” I went and sat beside them on the couch, thinking the worst, I mean who had died? My mom took my hand in hers. I could tell she had been crying for hours because of her puffy eyes. “”Gabby, your dad got laid off from the coal mines today! She said through her tears.” I looked at my father who cast his eyes down to the floor ashamed. I had never seen my dad like this. He was the strongest most confident man I knew. “Dad, everything will be okay. They need you there, and with the unemployment you will draw we will be able to make it until they hire you back. I explained” “Gab,” I didn't like the way he said my name at all, “Honey with me being laid off I'm not going to be able to finish the payments to Harvard by the deadline.” I was stunned and speechless. My only way out of here was slipping through my fingers. I was trying to think of anything I could. “How much do we have left to pay?” I asked “20,000” stated my dad. “We were going to get a loan,” explained my mom, “but with your dad being laid off no bank is going to approve it.” “It's okay guys,” I said trying not to sound heart broken, “I will figure something out and everything will be fine.” I could see how devastated my parents were and I didn't want to hurt them any worse by having an outburst or letting them see me cry. “I'm gonna go lie down for a while!” I said getting up from the couch. I went to my room, falling on my bed with my head in a pillow balling my eyes out. I must have cried for an hour when finally I got up and wiped my eyes. I had to tell Amanda, she was going to freak. We had planned on going to Harvard together since the third grade. Gabby: Hey I have some terrible news. Amanda: What is it girl! You got me freaking out. Gabby:My dad got laid off from the mines today! They still owe 20,00 dollars on my tuition, and can't get the loan now to pay it. I don't know what to do. Amanda: Listen baby girl, we will figure this out! I know everything will work out! Get ready and I'm coming over to get you. We are going to go to The Mall in Johnson City, and go shopping and figure this out. You know I think the best when I'm shopping. I giggled, that she did. Amanda was the best shopping buddy and she always came up with her best idea while she was spending money, but I didn't have the money to spend at the mall, when I was trying to come up with the money for college. Gabby: Girl I can't do that. I gotta save money for college not spend it...... Amanda: It's on me!!!! Do not argue with me you know you will lose, so get ready now!!! I knew not to try and argue with her, Amanda had won state in the debate club. I quickly got up wiping my face and reapplying my makeup. I would just wear the clothes I wore to school today. I wasn't in the mood for the mall, but I couldn't sit here and dwell on it and make myself crazy.