***The Lemon and Iced Tea*** Chapter 1: Define Love!

by Ashley in a balloon; the only way is up.

     James Gemburg was a girl (surprising many people due to her masculine name) that had a sharp train of thought. She was able to focus easily and not be side tracked, despite her always wondering about things. When James sets her mind to something, she does it. And not just does it. She thoroughly does it. Also, she was curious, but as the old saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. And this time, satisfaction didn’t bring it back.

     One faithful afternoon, James was counting her steps while she walked back home. She sang a little song to herself for self-entertainment, but then a song of laughing and girlish talking caught her ear. James looked up. It was a bunch of 8^th grade girls, like James, all walking and huddled together like male penguins during harsh winters in Antarctica , trying to survive. They seemed to be whispering and giggling, and James assumed they were sharing 13-year-old girlish talk that would make no sense later in their lives, so James didn’t bother. James wasn’t like them. She liked looking toward the future, toward things that would matter later in life. That didn’t mean, however, that James wasn’t laid back. She was very laid back, it just that she couldn’t understand the trouble of trying to be childish and then when you’re 18, you can’t be childish.

      “Hey James Lames!!” one of the girls shouted out across the street to James. “Are you jealous of me? I just got Pex Harold as my boyfriend!!”

     James lifted an eyebrow at her. “Why are you asking if I’m jealous?” James asked questionably, even though she knew the answer. Pex was James best dude friend, and rumors, of course, spread as they started middle school. Eventually, Pex got caught up with popularity, leaving James behind. “Pex is a dork anyway.”

     “Oh come on! You know you’re jealous.” The girl said teasingly, eager to see an angry comeback.

     James replied coolly, “Pex looks for all the pathetic things in girls. Now I see why he’s going out with you.”

     The girl was a bit angered by first, not getting the response the girl wanted, and second, because James was always good with comebacks.

     “James, you don’t know anything about love, do you?!?” the girl shouted out. Her friends turned to face James and hear her reply.

     “Maybe, but a lot more then you.” James said and started walking again.

     “Oh yeah?! What’s your proof??”

     “Lets see…You’re only 13 and you’re going out?”

     “Yeah, cause’ I learned what love is early!”

     “Highly doubtful. You and him change during teen years and probably won’t click later on, so therefore, he is a waste of time.”

     “How do you know? Oh I see!” the girl smirked. “You like him but he left you because there were cooler people!! So you think he’s a waste of time.” She snorted, “You are so stupid! He likes cooler people then you and you were mad. How immature, James! You can’t define love, even if you tried!” The girl and her friends laughed. James just kept walking, without saying anything, knowing she won’t win this argument even if she tried. James noticed she felt cold and uncomfortably sad, but she tried to brush it off, like she always does.     

     Those girls are just too persistent and mean, James thought. Their lives aren’t going anywhere with that attitude.

     As James opened the front door of her house, she poked her head from the door frame and looked around. No one was there and the house was quiet. James’s steps echoed in the living room from the wooden flooring. “Hello?” James yelled out. James jumped on the sofa and lied down. “Ugh…” James moaned out in frustration. When I’m in high school this will all change. I’ll have real friends and maybe a really good boyfriend… James thought to comfort herself. She didn’t want to be bothered by those girls. She had better things to do.

     James got off the sofa and walked in the hallway and into the kitchen. Turning clockwise the button that warmed up the stove, James also grabbed some of yesterday’s rice, soy sauce, butter, and veggies. As she made her style of fried rice, the phone rang. James leaned over with all her might and grasped onto the phone.

     “Hello, Gemburg residence.” James said sweetly.

     “Hi, its Pex.”

     James gulped for a moment. What does this jerk want?!

     “What is it?” James asked in a bit of a hostile tone. The voice fuzzed for a moment, and James assumed he had sighed.

     “I’m sure you’ve seen my new girlfriend, Mericile. She tends to show off.” Pex said heavily.

      James laughed for a minute, but stopped herself, remembering how much of a idiot he was. But, idiot or not, Pex always seemed to know how to cheer James up.

     James exhaled heavily and her heart dropped at the memory of the incident while James was walking home. “Yeah I saw her. She tried to shove it in my face that you were her new boyfriend, but seriously, I don’t care. Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

     “No, actually. I was just asking. I wanted to say sorry about last year and the year before that. I didn’t ignore you for ‘better’ people! It’s just…” Pex paused.

     “It’s just you wanted to be popular and you didn’t consider my position. Well, now you know I’m probably having the worst year of middle school when its actually suppose to be my best! And, now realizing how much of a jerk you are, I’m kind of glad you went with the popular people. Goodbye, jerk.”

     “No wait Ja-“ Pex shouted out, but James cut off the line by hanging up.    

     It was about 8 o’clock when James’s mom finally came home. “Sorry hun!” Mom said to James in apology. “Work was brutal!” James sighed.

     “It always is, Mom. It always is.”

      James’s dad, who came home around 6 o’clock, said from across the room, “Don’t be hard on your mom, James. She works hard.” James cried out, “I know! But I always end up cooking dinner!!” Dad laughed heartily. “You and your mother cook very well. Don’t complain about your talent!” James sighed again.

     Next day at school, James was at her locker and an envelope fell out. James picked it up, curious. It said on the cover;

     To: James Gemburg

     From:  Mystery Guy

     James thought, ok… What is this about? Another tease letter? James opened the envelope. Inside there was a piece of ripped wide-ruled line paper, and on it, it said:

     Like a piece of sliced lemon and some ice tea,

      I think together, you and me,

     Could be so much fresher and as happier can be.

      I’m sorry for my past mistakes,

     I almost threw away the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

     I am in deep regret, please believe me.

      Please be with me, on the journey of life,

     I can’t go on without you.

     Would you go out with me?

     James, at first, thought of it as Pex. But he couldn’t write something so… touching. Could he? James was absolutely taken in by the words. Anyway, Pex has a girlfriend. He wouldn’t look at anyone else until he dumps her, as far as James knows.

     “Hey.”

     James turned around. There, standing right in front of James, was Pex. James dropped the card. Three words echoed in James’s mind.

     What is love…?