Finally 18

Finally 18...
written By El Cesana 1999

INTRODUCTION 
I sat in the class room looking around the place. My heart was beeting and  I relised i had grown up, it was finally my final year at school, my HSC year, the year that my futour depended on. But did I know this year there were going to be a lot of changes.
 I was growing up and I was finally old enough to do a lot of things, if I was old enough to do my HSC... 
         "Jodie read chapter two of the book and answer the questions," demanded miss Kelsy our english teacher. everything we studies from now on would go towards out hsc, that really scared me, what if I'd fail? I was acting all paranoid.
 I just sat reading the book word by word... I drifted off in my own little world of imagination within the book.

The bell rang and i stormed out of the class room.me and my gang were going to hang out in the cafe near our school. the wind was blowing as we got out of the school and walked down the road. The fresh air pressed against my face and i let out a little shiver. we walked to the cafe and sat down.
        My friends were the same age as me eighteen this year.There was Madeline who was purelly a snob, not to us to people who weren't our friends. She had a new boyfiend every month and was the only one of us five  friends who wasnt a virgin. i had never had a boyfriend so i didnt know anything about relationships. Then there is Jaycee she is really pretty and a model and recently got dumped and heart broken by her long commited boy-friend. Then there was Jared the only guy in our group. he was gorgous and hadn't had a girl friend in ages since his last one hurt him heaps. He was the softy out of all of us, he was the nicest and cutest guy ever. last but not least there was Abi who was the brainy one, if she would fail an exam her parents would go beserk and she was aiming to be a lawer. all i knew is i wanted to do something that involves art or writing.
          We were drinking our hot chocolates and relaxing what we did almost every school afternoon. 
"Well did you hear like the new matchbox20 song? its like so awsome," smiled Madeline "i wonder what it's like to be a superhero i wonder what......" she bagan to sing as we all looked at her she had a terrible voice she then blushed and stopped.
"I'm tired,' yourned Jared , I laughed
"What's so funny Jodie?" he asked
"it's cute how you say that," I replied he was really cute and i couldnt help giggle.
"You are all pathetic," commented Abi
"just like you," butted in Madeline
"hahaha," said Jaycee sarcasticly. Sometimes we would sit there and they would have this big meaninless conversation and i would just listen on and wonder if life was pointless.
         we went to the local public school, and had a private school just around the corner from us.  we hated them the girls and the boys they always thought they were better than us and went to a praive school, and we were either middle class or poor. all of a sudden three of them walked into the cafe two boys and a girl. there was Brad who was really cute what a shame he was such a barstard. He would always tease me when he saw me in the street. But once when we danced at a party I remembered thinking he wasn't such a bad guy but, then did something which i can't remeber to change my point of view again.
         Then there was Daria and Len who were obviously going out from the way they were acting. they were the types who thought they were better than everyone else. Brad was more like us, he was in a posh school, but was a scolarship student. so he wasnt rich which meant he must not have fit in with them on the inside but he surelly looked as if he did on the outside.
        They walked our way as I looked over at Madeline who like usual was acting like a slut infrount of them.
"Oh public school losers" bagged  Len, Daria held onto his waiste and kissed his neck
"Hey dont bagg those losers they aint worth it," said Brad as he looked over at me and smiled and turned away
"Hahaha," laughed Len as they walked to there table
"What a bunch of fags," gasped Madeline
"I agree," replied Jared as he eyed me, I was looking in their direction
"I smell love,' said jaycee
"You do?" aked Abi who like me had never had a boyfriend
"Yes I do," smiled Jaycee looking over at me I blushed
"What the hell?" I asked as  Madeline finally got it she was such a bimbo sometimes, suited her bleached blonde, hair.
"Oh Jodie likes Brad," she spat out
"I do not," I said in protest as they all started to laugh at me
"Shut the fuck up or they will hear you," I said but they continued to laugh so I left the cafe.
         I was walking home pretty pissed off. How dare they occuss me of having a crush on Brad, this was so, so not me. I mean i have always dreamed of having a boy-friend but not someone like Brad. i mean I wanted my first boy friend to be someone who was more.. more.. i dont know more not Brad I guess. But I did think Brad was cute but that meant nothing.Now I had all these idea's in my head. Was I ever going to have a boy friend or was I going to be alone all my life? I didnt wanna think about those kind of things they would depress me.
             




CHAPTER ONE
I was sitting in maths class trying to do an equasion. Why did we need to know equasion? aljebra? where were they gonna get us in life? nowhere! But what I had to do is what I had to do. I bit on my pencil trying to think how to do this shitty work sheat but it was useless. I looked over at madeine who was sitting beside me. She didnt really care about school but I was hopeing she knew the work.
"Do you know this shit?" I asked she gave a fake laugh
"Nope,"she said
"Then what is that?"i said pointing to her answers
"I just copied it from the back," she grinned i looked at her concerned
"If you wanna pass ypour HSC you  need to change your act," I said concerned.
"Like I care," she grinned we both started to laugh. But i know I wanted to pass my HSC no matter what.
"I am going to be a model so why would I need a hsc?" she asked
"So why are you waisting your time at school?" I replied
"Like I always tell you...I need my social life," she smiled I couldnt help crack up because of how pathetic she really was. What if one day she becaume fat and ugly and couldnt be a model then what would she do then with a shit hsc mark? some people are very ignorent.
           That afternoon i decided to go straight home since I was really tired from school. I was on my way home as i felt as if someone was following me and i turned around to see Brad standing there.
"Um hello?" I said as he staired at me
"Oh miss public school girl has a free period and is leaving school early," he teased
"Would you get a life?" I asked as he still continued walking this time next to me.
"I have a life, not like you," he said i couldnt help notice how blue his eyes were, but who cares he was a jerk.
"Ok," I gasped not really looking at him,as much as he pissed me off, he made me nervice.
"So babe what are you doing tonight?" he asked i was shocked noone had ever called me babe.
"Why would you care?" I asked after I relised what I said I wanted to kick myself
"Shit I was just curious I better leave now before you blow up at me," he said making a weird face
"I am sorry," I said as he smiled and walked away. I looked at him walking away and I wondered what would it be like if I did have a boy friend. What it would be like to kiss a guy, to feel him hugg me close, to feel his lips press against mine... This was all a dream i wished would becaume reality one day.
         Me, madeline, Jared, Jaycee and Abi were walking in the park that night. We had just saw the movie Good Will hunting, starring the babes Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and decided to take a night walk in the park. I  looked at Jared wondering why he enjoyed being the only guy in our group.
"Hey Jared why do you like being the only guy in our group?" I asked wishing I didnt open my mouth
"Let another guy join I dont mind," He smiled at me
"I am just interested, i'm growing up becauming curious," I said

"Beats me," he replied
"You know I think he likes having us girls crawling at his feet,"  said Madeline giving him a sexy look he just cracked up
"Please........ i dont think so.. I just like you girls, you're great company," he explained
"Why thank you," I  said looking at madeline still giving him sexy stairs and him ignoring them.
"This is like so boring I wanna go home and study," Said Abi
"Is that all you ever do study?" asked Madeline
"Atleast I will get somewhere in life" replied Abi, she knew about growing up.
"I will too, I will be a model," smiled Madeline 
"Yeah Maddie in ya dreams," laughed Abi 
"Whos talking? well I'm one million times more attractive as you cow!!" said Madeline, I hated the bitch fights they would get into sometimes. Abi was a bit over weight and not the best looker, so she got offended when madeline who was model like bagged her.
"Abi the day you becaume a model is the day pigs would fly.. go on a diet girl," said madeline in a serious tone
"Go fuck yourself Madeline," replies Abi half crying i walked her way and put my hand on her shoulder
"Ignore her its prolly madelines time of the month," I mocked as she wiped away a single tear and smiled
"Yes whatever you say jodie," saidd madeline as we continued to walk. I really didnt understand my friends some times. Madeline and Abi were such good friends so why did they act like enemies sometimes? was it really Madelines time of the month? not that i really wanted to know. 
"I used to be a model, the job isnt as good as it looked," said jaycee
"Keep outof this!" frown Madeline. Wen all headed home.
      When i walked in my house my parents were fighting like usual. about anything possible. I couldnt stand it so i walked straight upto my bed room. I found my letters on my desk as usual. Mother would put them there when the mail would come.i opened a letter in a rather large white envelope and read it.
"Brad's 18th Birthday Party, Bondi Scout hall Feb 17th 1999. 8pm till morning!! Be there bring a friend." I read it and felt like a really big dork about how I acted with Brad earlier, but he started afterall. Why was Brad my enemy inviting me to his eighteenth party? i really didnt understand but there were a lot of things I didnt understand in life.

           walked down stairs to my mother who was washing the dishes and stood behind her.
"Mum I need you to answer a question," i said, she turned to me
"What dear?" she smiled
"Well you know Brad that guy I always used to complain about the real jerk?" I mumbled
"Hmm yes why?" she replied
"He sent me an invitation to his eighteenth by post!" I said
"How od," she replied "Maybe he likes you," she continues
"He does not like me,and ifhe does he surelly doesn't know how the hell to show it," I winged mother just laughed as i walked back upto my bedroom and looked at the invitation. How he wrote my name on the top "Jodie" and I smiled. What if he did like me? Wait a minute I was in my own little fantasy world who gives a shit if he likes me, I dont like him and I do not care.. or do I?

       




CHAPTER TWO
           Saturday afternoon and you wish you could relax when you can't. I found myself in the mall with Jared trying to pick out a birthday present, i could get Brad since it was his party that night.
"So why am I here again?" asked jared
"You are a guy so you know what guys like," I smiled
"I thought you hated Brad?" asked Jared looking at me oddly. I thought I hated Brad to but I seemed very keen on getting him a great pressie. Maybe i didnmt hate Brad as much as I hought I did.
"Um well he invited me to his party maybe he wants to make peace," I smiled as Jared made a face
"You dont like him do ya?" he asked as I fake laughed
"Ofcourse not," i replied half lying. we just walked off into a sports store.
"How about this?" said Jared as he picked up a Nike hat
"Would you like it?" I asked
"I guess so," he smiled as I decided I would get Brad the hat.
           We were walking to Jared's car as I got inside.
"You know what?" asked Jared I nodded "You are pathetic," he laughed
"I am now? what did I do?" i said looking at him but he didnt take his eyes off the road.
"You are just obsessing over a guy who is your enemy," he laughed
"I am not obsessing over ANYONE," I said as he was still snickering
"Shut up," I giggled as he stopped
"So are you going to admit you like him?" asked Jared
"I do not like Brad.. I am just flattered a guy is paying me a bit of attention, since I ahve never had a boy friend,"  I explained
"Am I not a guy?" jared said with a fake hurtfull look on his face
"Ofcourse you are, but your like a brother to me I have known you my whole life" I smiled. Our parents used to be family frineds so I did know him since I was a young child.
"you have a point there," he smiled as he continued to drive. what if Jared and I weren't so close, how would i feel towards him. I was finally old enough to fall inlove and I couldnt wait any longer, but as people say you cant hurry it, it has to come naturally. But i had a feeling if I want to fall inlove as bad as i do it will happen. it will happen in the near futour hopefully. 
          madeline decided to come to the party with me. She always showed up at parties she wasnt invited to and i didnt want to go alone and the invitation did say to bring a mate. So we showed up at the hall where heaps of people were.
"Shit I barelly know anyone here!" I said as Madeline looked at me
"No dah! they are all from his pathetic private school..." said Madeline making a face
"O'kay lets go see where Brad is," I sujjested as we walked into the hall. I saw Brad in the corner with a drink in his hand talking to some blonde cheer leader type. 
"We better not desterb him," I said as madeline walked his way
"Hey Brad,"she smiled, showing of her figure in a dress that hardly covered her body.
"Oh um hi, who are you?" he asked
"Jodies friend, i am sure you have seen me around," smiled madeline as I walked there ways
"Oh jodie I didnt think you would come and wanna hang out with us private school snobs," he laughed as the blonde cheer leader walked away
"Well i guess I am here," I smiled blushing and hiding my face with my hair
"Have a drink girls have a drink," he said as he walked away.
"Do you want one?" asked Madelne picking up a beer
"No thanks," I replies "I dont drink, and since when do you drink?" I asked her as she took a sip
"Since now," she said in a hyper voice
I was finally old enough to do a lot of thiongs but I didnt want to drink. Was I holding on to my childhood?or just playing my cards very carefully?
         As the song lulabby started playing Brad grabbed me to dance. We slow danced to the song.
"She grew up with the childeren ofthe stars, In the hollywood hills in the bolovard, her parents through big parties everyone was there, folks like Denis Hopper and Bonnie n Cher. She feels safe now in this bar on farfax, I know she cant let go and she cant relax. b4 she hangs her head to cry, I sing to her a lylaby. I sing everythng is gonna be alright rokaby rokaby, everything is gonna be alright rokaby rokaby.....rokaby. she still lives with her mum outside the ctiy in that street a half  mile...." as the song went on a tried not to look into his eyes I was feeling really emabrresed but I felt him breathing on me, and I actually felt like i did that first time we danced at a party.  "...her friends all tell her she's really pretty, but she'll be a whole lot prettier if she'd smile once in a while, but you know even her smile looks just like a frown, coz shes seen her share of devils in this angel town. everythings gonna be alright rokaby rokaby everythings gonna b alright, why dont you rokaby hey rokaby rokaby...." the song finished as Brad and i quickly pulled away from eachother and I blushed a little bit.
          I smiled as he walked away to a couple of his mates and I stood in the corner with madeline
"No guys you like?" I mocked as she gave me a dirty look
"I am not in the mood,a few have shows interest but I have blow em away," she replied. Madeline did have her days when she only wanted to watch in
"How amny of those did you drink?" I asked
"A couple," she replied
"Are you crazy," I said looking at her
"No i am not crazy, i am just trying to get drunk, once in my life do something I know will be fun," she said as i just stood there next to her. Len and Daria the two poshest people i have ever met walked our ways...
"Oh look who is here," said Len as i tuned away from him
"Hehe," giggled Daria, who was a worse bimbo than Madeline sometimes.
"Do you have a problem," shouted Madeline who was quite tipsy
"Yes you both were not invited," he laughed. I turned giving len a evil look
"Brad invited me!!" I said as he turned looking at Daria they both walked away. I was really tired and decided to go home. I had to pull Drunking Madeline home.
        We only lived a few blocks away so even though it wasnt safe we walked home. I had to get her in her room without her parents waking up and finding her drunk. this would be a real challenge now. Why do i always get myself into such shit? so I took her to her house
"Where is your bloody key?" I asked as she handed it to me
"Thank you," i said as i opened the door. Slowely i walked her upstairs to her room. When sghe was in there I sneeked out making sure i didnt make much noice and walked home.
            I walked down to my place. I felt the night wind blow in my face and I felt a shiver. I could see a full moon in the sky. i looked at it and wondered if it had meaning behind it. my hair was blowing in my face and i didnt have an elastic to tie it back with. i just walking home hoping that there were no maniacs out there who were gonna rape me or something. It was a saturday night after all. 




CHAPTER THREE
Sunday morning should be a morning you go out and have fun. But no way I have to spend it walking around the mall totally broke with Jared, madeline, Jaycee and Abi. Abi stressing about her weight and how diets dont work, Madeline talking about how gorous she is, jared just being the Jared we know, and jaycee like usual just butting into everyones affairs.
"guys we have been around the mall maybe twenty times now dont you think we should like go somwhere else?" I said breaking the silence
"Jodie I havent decided if I want the earings from Gypsy's or the earings from Granny Mays yet," explained Madeline
"Well if you havent decided by now get them both!" I gasped
"Jodie Jodie, you have to learn how to shop girl!" replied Madeline
"Whatever I'm outa here," I said as I turned away
"Bye," said Jared as I walked away. Hearing Abi still complina about her wait and Jaycee try to give her advice. Life really got on my nerves sometimes.
        I waited at the bus stop impaciently since I missed the bus and had to wait a couple of minutes till the next bus came. All of a sudden a car pulled up and bibbed the hawn I walked towards it. I looked in the window it was brad.
"Want a lift?" he asked
"Its alright the bus should be here soon," I smiled
"No hop in the car," he insisted as I gotinto the car and he drove
'Where to?" he asked
"Home.. you know where i live, from when you and your pathetic mates used to stay out there are tease me after school, in primary," I replied he laughed
"Oh sorry about that but they reconed you were a good target," he replied
"I was? why?" I asked
"Well you would get upset about ANYTHING," he said
"Well still you were jerks," I said looking at the floor of the car,which was really clean. It looked like anew car I wonder where he got the money to pay from? since he wasnt rich.
"Do you have anything to do at home?" he asked
"No.. why" I replied
"Then why dont we hang out?..."he started   "..what do you think about a movie?" he continued
"Ummmm," i started thinking about if i'd have enough money
"Sure," i said as he smiled at me
"So now I have to turn around the car again and go straight to the mall," he laughed as he turned around the car to go to the cinemas in the mall. Why the hell did I agree to go to movies with Brad? this was all way to weird.
           We walked into the peach black cinema to watch payback. The Mel gibson movie that he wanted to see so I had to agree just to make him happy. We sat down in on eof the middle rows beside eachother. He was munching on pop corn as I had a mineral water. We sat and watched the movie. It was a pretty good movie, much better than i thought it would be. We walked out of the cinema as Len and Daria walked our ways.
"Oh Braddy boy," smiled Len
"Len..ah what are you doing here?" he asked
"No what are you doing with this.. this, whats her name, Jodie," said len
"Jodie??um well i was just gonna give her a lift home, she kinda well I was going to give her alift home yeah," he replied
"Oh common she can get a taxi, you aint her slave," said  Daria in a quite iritating voice.
"Look guys just let me drop her home I told her I would give her a lift, we wouldnt want miss piublic school girl to ....oh look just let me give her a lift," said brad
"To what brad? to spend my money on a ride home? you are pathetic just remember you are a scolar ship student!" Isaid as I ran off. Brad didnt even bpother to follow me, he was such a jerk next to his mates how could I have ever thought he had changed? how was i so dumb? I walked home with tears in my eyes. Because of how dumb I was.
         I hated my life everything would always go wrong. i seriously wished I was dead sometimes. why couldn't i have a bf? Abi never minded not ahving one,she was to into her study. Madeline and jaycee always had Boyfriends, if they only know how I envy them.
      My phone rang as Ipicked it up.
"Um hello?" I asked
"Is this Jodie?" the voice answered like she had been crying
"Um yes," i said "And who are you??" I asked again
"This is Jaycee," Said jaycee who was on the phone
"What is a matter?" I asked
"Can youpleas ecome now, to um the hospital," she cried
"Jaycee what is a matter?" I asked in a panak
"Its Jared he umm got hit by a car, Jodie come hurry," she said as she hung up the phone. She didnt tell me what hospiual so I rushed to the localhospital.
       i ran upto jaycee, abi and madeline as we all imbarcced into a hug.
"Is he dead?" I cried
"They are operationg on him," Replied Madeline I couldnt help but birts into tears
"I told him to be more carefull but he ran he ran to this shopand it hit him it just hit him," cried jyacee
"Jaycee calm down," I said in tears
"Calm down?? why should I he shouldnt have got hit its not fair Jodie it isnt," said jaycee
"He is a nice guy G-d help him,"cried Amy
"He will be alright,"said madeline wiping away a single tear
"Do his parents know?" iasked
"They can't contact them,"replied Abi
The nerse came outof his room.
He is alright, you should be able to visit him but he is asleep. He will wake soon we hope and then we will see if he is fully okay," she smiled
"Thanks," I mouthed

CHAPTER FOUR
"Shut up Madeline all you can talk about is you!" I shouted as we were walking to visit, Jared in hospital
"All I asked was if my black roots were showing to much thats all," she frown
"Look i am just in a bad mood," i replied
"Yeah whena rent you?" she laughed
"What is that suppost to mean?" I asked
"Nothing dont worry," she replied as Brad walked our way
"Look i will see ya there okay? i need to talk tosomeone?" i said
"Ok see ya good luck," she said 
"What do you want?" I asked Brad
"Came to say sorry about the other day," he replied
"I am sorry to.. that i ever thought you could change," I replied
"Look I really enjoyed the movie, with you whatever just like my friends would go mad if they found out I had asked you out," He said
"Asked me out? it was only as friends," I replied
"Thats the thing jodie, it wasnt," he replied
"What do you mean?" I asked
"Jodie dont you get it? I like you and I wanted to go out with you on a date," he said
"A date?" I asked
"Yes, and I ruined any chances i had didnt I?" he asked
"Look Brad your friends can not tell you who you should go out with and if you were to go out with me..I mean someone like me... yeah its your buisness not there's," I blushed
"You know you are right there, so how about we go out now?" he asked
"No, I am going to visit a friend in hospiatal," I said
"Why is he in there?" he asked
"Dont worry," I replied
"So how about tomorrow?" he smiled i had never had a bf and maybe Brad wasn't such a bad  idea after all.
"Look Brad I have to go," I said
"So its a no?" he asked
"I did not say no," I frown
"So its  a yes?" he smiled "..come on i cant play your silly immature games," he bit back at me
"Look if i am so immature I think you are asking the wrong girl out," I said as I walked away
"Jodie wait, Jodie," he shouted as he followed me
TO BE CONTINUED.......