New Beginnings

Chapter 11

I spent the morning cleaning every corner of my apartment and then I soaked in the tub getting ready to spend the evening with Colton.

I knew he got off work between 12 and 2 depending on the job, so I waited, and waited. Around 6, I decided to send him a message.

Me: Hey Colton! Wanted to see what time you wanted to hang out?

I saw the bubbles and waited for his response, which never came. By 9, I realized he wasn’t coming or even bothering to respond to my message.

All I can think is there seriously has to be something wrong with me. I walked to the bathroom and looked at myself.

My hair was past the middle of my back and had turned a darker blonde. I didn’t wear much make-up but I had really long eye lashes and pouty lips. I believed I was pretty. Not a super model, but pretty. However, I was starting to second guess myself.

Realization hit hard. I wasn’t good enough for my own father, Luca, Trent, and now Colton. I crawled in bed with those thoughts circling my mind.

I tossed and turned all night long and after my morning run I called Saralynn. I asked her to take me to a salon outside of this tiny town. I really needed to get a car.

That afternoon, I decided it was time for a change. I had my hair cut to fall just above my shoulders, making me look a little older. I also had my hair bleached to be a platinum blonde. My skin was still quite tanned from the Florida beaches.

I decided to start small with the make-up but it was more than I had ever used. I got a straighter to pull the wave out of my hair. Finally, I went shopping for a few outfits.

I got some short shorts, tight jeans, and some clothes that actually showed my figure. I worked hard on this body and it was about time I showed it off.

I also ended up buying a black Jeep with the help of Saralynn.

That evening, Evan and Issac showed up as normal for our Sunday dinners. They still had lunch with the family but they came to my house for dinner. They were like the little brothers I didn’t know I wanted.

“Dang you look good.” Issac said, checking me out from head to toe.

“So I usually look bad?”

“No, you usually look nice, but now you look hot.” He added.

“What is the occasion?”

“I needed a whole change. I moved but I was still the same old me.”

“Well, I liked the old you but Issac is right, you look hot.”

After dinner we sat around talking about school and, girls they liked.

“I don’t want to be like Colton or Hunter,” Evan said.

“What do you mean ?”

“Hunter has been chasing Becca for the past 4 years and she uses him and controls him but refuses to commit. Colton just keeps running back to Abby. She is just a horrible person, but at lunch today we had to watch him wait on her hand and foot.”

Hearing that Colton went back to Abby made my stomach drop and I now know why he never called.

I guess the kiss was only one-sided.

“Our first game is next Friday. Are you going to come?” Issac asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday morning came and my new appearance surprised the entire bakery, including my customers.

It was around noon when Jackson walked in wearing a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt.

I was surprised to see him and dressed in casual clothes was a surprise.

“Marie… I didn’t think it was possible for you to look any better than you already did.”

I felt my cheeks turn red.

“Thank you. I am surprised to see you here.”

“I have been working a lot lately but I finally secured the deal I was working on so I can work more from home.”

“Which explains the jeans,” I said with a smile.

He chucked. “Yeah…So I have been wanting to ask if you would like to have dinner with me?”

“Like a date?”

“Exactly like a date.”

“I would like that very much.”

We exchanged numbers and as soon as he was out of the bakery, Saralynn started jumping up and down.

“He finally asked you out.”

“Right.”

“You are so lucky. He graduated before I was in high school but he was extremely popular.”

“I guess in a small town that matters.”

Walking up the stairs to my apartment, my phone started ringing. I looked to see it was Jackson already calling me.

“Hello.”

“Hey, it’s Jackson.”

“How are you?”

“Not good. I couldn’t stop thinking about you all afternoon.”

“I don’t know how that could be a bad thing.”

He laughed into the phone, causing me to have butterflies.

“No, I guess it’s not a bad thing. I really don’t want to wait till this weekend to spend time with you. How about dinner?”

“I could eat.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Great, I will pick you up at 5. Where do you live?”

“Above the bakery. There is a parking lot behind the bakery and you can’t miss the stairs to my apartment.”

“Great, I will see you in a few hours.”