Short story
Hi everyone! This is a short story, not a chapter book or part of a series. I’ll be submitting short stories daily while working on my upcoming book, so you all have something to read from me. I hope you enjoy it!❤️
My name is Jada, and I’ve wanted a dog ever since I was little. But we never got one. It made me sad, but I had to move on. As I got older, I heard other kids talk about how much they loved their dogs, and I wanted to feel the same way.
By high school, I learned to ignore those comments. Just because I didn’t have a dog didn’t mean it was the end of the world. I focused on my studies, worked hard, and became an A honor roll student.
My mother was a stay-at-home mom. She had beautiful black hair, always tied in a bun. I wasn’t an only child—I had an older sister named Jane. She had smooth brown skin and silky black hair that was short. I looked like the rest of my family, but I always kept my poofy hair in a bun. I was insecure about a lot of things, especially my lips. They weren’t as plump as other girls’.
I didn’t want a dog anymore. Really, I just wanted a boyfriend.
The next day after school, I went for a walk and stopped outside a shop with pets inside. I bit my lip in excitement. Okay, maybe I still did want a dog. But I knew I couldn’t have one. As I walked home, I noticed a family moving in next door, but I didn’t think much of it.
At home, I started my homework while my mom cooked dinner.
“Hey, Mom!” I called out.
“Yes, sweetheart?” she answered, stepping into the living room.
“Did you see who was moving in next door?”
“Yes, I actually met them. They seem like a sweet family,” she said.
That night, after my shower, I went to bed. The next morning, as I took my usual walk, I heard something loud behind me. A big, brown, furry dog barked, startling me. I screamed in shock. The dog stopped, wagging its tail.
“Sorry about that,” a handsome boy called out, stepping out from the gate next door. “Maroll! Come here, boy.” The dog turned and ran to his owner. The boy looked about my age—fit, like he worked out—and had striking emerald-green eyes.
“You okay?” he asked, walking up to me with his dog at his side.
“Y-yeah,” I stammered.
“You don’t have to be scared of Maroll. He’s actually a scaredy-cat,” he said with a smile.
I nodded. “He looks cute… but intimidating.”
“Sorry about that again. What’s your name?”
“J-Jada,” I said.
“That’s a beautiful name. I’m Lucas.”
I smiled. “That’s a nice name.”
“Well, I should get back inside before Maroll scares someone else.”
I nodded as they walked off. My heart pounded. A handsome boy just talked to me.
The next day at school, there was a knock on my classroom door. The teacher opened it, and in walked a familiar face.
“Everyone, this is a new student. Please treat him with respect,” Mrs. Marcy said.
Lucas scanned the room, his eyes landing on me. He smiled. “Go ahead, Mr. Anderson, take a seat anywhere you’d like.”
He walked down the aisle, students watching him curiously. He sat right next to me, leaning in.
“I didn’t think I’d see anyone I knew here,” he whispered.
I smiled and nodded, my head screaming in disbelief. Twice now! And he sat next to me? Oh. My. God.
After class, he caught up to me. “So, it seems like you’re my only friend right now.”
“Yep,” I said, reaching my locker.
“So I was thinking… if you’re not busy, maybe you could help me study sometime?” he asked.
I blinked in surprise. “Me? You want me to help you study?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Sure, yeah, of course.”
“Great. See you later, then.”
I stood there for a minute before it hit me. Wait. Today?
When I got home, I set my backpack down as Jane walked out, dressed for a party.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Mom’s taking a nap. She just got back from an appointment, so don’t wake her.”
I nodded and started my homework when I heard a knock at the door. I quickly got up and opened it.
Lucas.
“Hey!” he greeted.
“Shh!” I hushed him. “My mom is sleeping.”
“Oh, sorry,” he whispered. “Ready to start?”
“Yes, come in.”
We sat down to study. He listened carefully as I explained our English lessons and even let him borrow my notes.
“Wow, you have neat handwriting,” he said.
“No, I don’t. You’re teasing me.”
“I’m serious! Compared to mine, look.” He scribbled his name.
I giggled.
“See? Even you’re laughing.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“No, it’s okay. I just wanted to see you smile,” he said.
My heart started pounding again.
His phone rang, breaking the moment. “Hello?” he answered. “Sorry, Mom, I was just studying… Okay, I’ll be home soon.”
A pang of disappointment hit me.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you in class tomorrow?” he asked as he stood up.
I nodded. “Sure.”
The next day, I saw him laughing with other students. Girls surrounded him, giggling at his jokes. Jealousy twisted inside me.
By the end of the week, everyone was talking about a party. When we studied together, he brought it up.
“I don’t know if my mom will let me go,” I admitted.
“Then just sneak out,” he suggested.
“I don’t know…”
“Trust me,” he said.
“Alright… I guess I can.”
“I’ll be waiting outside your house.”
That next night, after my mom fell asleep, I put on a pink dress and sneakers, then slipped outside. Lucas was waiting.
“Wow, you look cute,” he said.
Cute? That’s it? But… I guess cute is good.
“Thanks. You look nice too.”
At the party, girls swarmed him. Jealousy ate at me, so I wandered into a quiet room. When I stepped back out, I saw him—close to a girl with long black hair. Too close. Kissing close.
Tears stung my eyes as I ran out.
“Hey! Why’d you leave?” he called, catching up to me. His smile faded when he saw my face. “What’s wrong? Did someone hurt you?”
I shook my head. “You did.”
“What?”
“I saw you… kissing her.”
“Jada… I wasn’t thinking. The only person I’ve been thinking about is… you.”
I looked up at him, my heart pounding.
He stepped closer. “I really like you.”
He cupped my cheek and kissed me. His hand slipped around my waist, pulling me closer.
As we parted, breathless, he whispered, “I didn’t kiss anyone like that before. Please… don’t be mad at me.”
I smiled. “Fine. But only if you kiss me again.”
He grinned and pressed his lips to mine once more.
The next day, I walked past his house, and Maroll ran to me. This time, I wasn’t scared. I reached out and petted him, smiling.
Lucas jogged over. “Looks like he got to you before I could.”
“Want to go for a walk?” he asked.
“Sure.”
As we strolled through the park, he took my hand. Nothing felt better than walking with the boy next door I liked—his hand in mine, his dog by our side.
