Scandalous Summer (any suggestions for a better title?)

Chapter One (Zoe's POV)

"I gave him a chance." That's the voice of my best friend, Charlene, on the other end of the line at her apartment building, which is almost next door to mine. It's totally great because that means I can drop by to hang out whenever I want and vice versa, especially since it's summer.

"To Anson? I knew that would happen," I, say, shaking my head in disapproval.

You see, the whole story begins here...

Both Charlene and I are only 14 years old, in grade eight, going on to high school next year. I can't believe time's gone by so fast?-in four years, we'll be in University! It's daunting but exciting at the same time. These are supposed to be some of the best years of our lives, and for now, I'm neutral on that. Right now, it's summer and it promises to be a scandalous one. Just the other day, Charlene confessed to crushing on Anson, the brother of a guy in our grade. A guy who just happened to like her back too. Boy, was I shocked! Because the thing is, although he's really nice and pretty cool, he's almost 2 years older than us, which makes him a junior. Which is obviously not a good thing, because it might be hard to find tings you have in common…and he might put pressure on you to do things you don't want to do, you know? And, she's only ever talked to him online and never in real life, so he might turn out to be a real jerk. But still, I guess it's better than him being a total stranger, right?

And as for me? I have my share of problems too, so maybe I shouldn't be talking. You see, I have a crush on a guy who has a girlfriend. Sad, I know, but I can't seem to make myself stop. Although I don't believe that love can be turned off so easily, like a tap, anyway. Maybe it's his heart-stoppingly gorgeous looks. Or his really really great sense of humour. Or simply because he's so nice, to literally everyone, even the nerds and rejects. Either way, there's that something about him that makes me want to melt whenever he's around. And I hope to God it won't get me into any trouble…

"I know he's older," Charlene begins, but I cut her off.

"Charlene! He's 2 years older! Have you even thought about what that might mean?" I ask her, aghast.

"Of course I have! You know I'm more cautious than that, Zoe," she says. And I have to agree with her, this is a girl that triple-checks every single test she takes. "But I really like him, and I know he really likes me too. I told you about his confession the other day, didn't I?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "Something about how he just said ?'I love you' in the middle of your conversation on MSN, right? That's really romantic, Charlene. Really."

"Zoe, don't be so pessimistic," she says. "What's important is that he meant it, ok?"

"And how do you know he meant it, Charlene? Can you read his mind? Because seriously, it could've just been a dare from his friend, Adrian. You know what he's like." Anson's friend, Adrian, is a complete genius, who got straight A's in every subject. He's also a complete idiot, who liked to talk about pervy things. High school boys.

"Well…" Charlene paused. "I just know."

"Right," I reply. "Well, have you told him that you like him back yet?"

"No," she says, giggling. "I don't want to just say it suddenly, like he did, you know? But I don't want to make it really mushy and embarrassing too. Anyway, I've got this feeling that he sorta already knows. For some reason."

"Ok..." I say. How the hell would he know anyway? But hey, I guess it's just the Charlenian logic that I'll never quite understand."Then maybe you should just take some time and think about it some more. And think about what being with a guy 2 years older than you would be like."

"I guess I will. How are things between you and Eddie?" Charlene asks. I wince a little at the mention of him."Is he still with whatshername?" Charlene could never remember Eddie's girlfriend's name.

"She's Bar," I correct. "And they're still together, it seems. No signs of a fight or tension too. Although he did talk to me on last night," I add as an afterthought.

"Well, that's got to be something," Charlene says encouragingly. Nah, guys like him are direct and these little signs really don't mean anything at all. "If you guys keep talking, you can become close friends and when he breaks up with her, which we know he will eventually, he'll turn to you and then?-"

"Charlene, Charlene, Charlene," I sigh. What has happened to my best friend? "Since when have you been the hopeless romantic?" I ask rhetorically.

"Ever since Anson, I guess," she says dreamily. "I think I just might be in love."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at how cheesy this is. "Ok, whatever you say…"

"Anyway I have to go now. I've got to start getting ready for dinner. My parents are dragging me out to have dinner with my dad's boss and a bunch of other people. I'll talk to you tomorrow then, ok?"

"Ok, bye, Char," I hang up the phone, still shocked by Charlene's confession. I hope against hope that she decides not to go through with this. It's just better for everybody in the end. But if she does, and I have a bad feeling she will, I hope he won't hurt her. Because if he does, I swear I will use my bare hands to strangle him.