Romance is in the air, and that’s a fact… but will things really turn out the way Casey hopes?
It’s Spring Break of her sophomore year, and Casey can finally relax and have some fun. But you can always count on life to bring a few twists and turns, and for Casey, her family and friends, the twists include some unexpected invitations. And the choices they make - given the facts they have to go on - will determine some of those turns.
From preparing for an English class debate to shopping for the perfect prom dress, bring a sense of humor and join Casey as she continues to ask the hard questions. How do you know when a relationship is “right”? Are knowing the facts in a situation really all that you need?
And, God, would You please just send me an email and tell me exactly what to do?
“Just the Facts” is the second book in the High School 101 Series.
Each book in the High School 101 Series focuses on a class that teens are usually required to take. In this book, the subject is English, and each chapter begins with a quote related to that, sometimes serious and sometimes funny. Common situations that all teens face, as well as current issues (in this case illegal immigration) are also addressed, all from a Christian viewpoint.
One of my favorite parts throughout the book is the honest, funny, back-and-forth texts and conversations that Casey and her friend Ben enjoy, as they get to know each other better. The book is fast-paced and changes scenes often, much like real life, and keeps the attention of younger readers.
Chapter 7
Facts
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
~ Mark Twain, American writer
Controversial Subjects
1. Darth Vader vs. Darth Maul, for worst villain?
2. Pit Bulls- to ban or not ban as pets?
3. Blue M&Ms vs. Red M&Ms - which is better?
4. Best babysitter- male or female?
5. Should candy be used as a reward in class?
It was Ben’s turn. “I dunno,” he said dubiously. “Even though I really do
want to know if blue M&M’s are superior to red M&M’s, somehow I
don’t think your English teacher is looking for these kind of topics. “ He
looked pointedly at my paper plate, where I was fastidiously separating
my handful of candy into color groups.
“I want to win the most points,” I argued. “I bet nobody else will think
of these topics.”
“Because they’re stupid,” Ben agreed.
I chose to ignore that remark, and reached for a blue M&M. After an evening of Uno, Monopoly, pizza and popcorn, the little kids were upstairs watching a Disney movie, James had disappeared into his room, probably to call Lauren, and Ben and I lingered in the kitchen, popping M&Ms, chatting about everything and nothing. I had shown him
my freshly painted bedroom, making sure that Riley stayed in the room
with us at all times, updated him about Jackson and Marla, and filled him
in on all the little details of the past week. I chattered on and on, finally
bringing out my English notebook in an act of desperation, just to keep
him there, and keep him listening, and try to get him to talk Something
was off, and I knew it.
We both knew it.
As Ben sat there at our kitchen table, I finally allowed a few facts to
step out of the shadows of my heart, and into the light. I had missed Ben
this week. He was always on the edges of my thoughts. There was no one
else, no one, that I would rather be talking about stupid stuff with.
And somehow, all of those facts were making me too nervous to talk
about more important things. Why?
Giving up, I made an unusually wise decision. I just…stopped.
I stopped talking, stopped trying to pretend things were normal, and
allowed the silence that seemed to scare me, to just sit at the table with us.
I let it be.
We both kept eating M&M’s of course, because there was no use
letting perfectly good fuel go to waste. But finally, Ben pushed the bag
away, looked at me intently, and seemed to make a decision.
“Here’s a topic,” he said quietly. “Why didn’t you go out on a date
with Colton tonight? He told me he was going to ask you.”
I looked at him quizzically. Why would he tell you that, Ben? But before I could ask the question aloud, he answered it.
“He asked if it was okay with me,” he said slowly. “If it was okay with
me to ask you out. He thought we might be, you know, more than just
friends.”
The thought that other people, including Colton, could see something
in my relationship with Ben that looked like “more than just friends” made
my hopes rise, and my stomach flutter. Was it the way Ben looked at me?
Or the obvious ease between us? Then the tummy butterfly took a dive, as
I realized what Ben was saying.
“So you told him to go ahead and ask me,” I said, making my voice as
expressionless as I could manage. “Because you told him that we’re just
friends.”I made the mistake of looking into Ben’s chocolatey brown eyes,
and saw the honesty there, but also that guarded look that I had seen once
before. I looked down quickly, unreasonably hurt.
“Casey,” he said softly, reaching across the table, and tentatively
touching my fingers. His hand was warm, his voice gentle. He had never
held my hand before, and it felt agonizingly good, and right. But he was
just being kind. Comforting. A friend.
And that’s when Jackson walked in the kitchen door. “I’M HOME!”
he announced cheerfully. “M&M’s, YEE-HAW!” He grabbed the bag, and
then noticed Ben’s hand, still covering mine, not pulling away. Jackson
eyed Ben carefully, “It’s LATE, ya’ll,” he stated, even though it wasn’t
even 11:15 according to the oven clock.
I stood up abruptly, slipping my hand out from under Ben’s. “I’m
going upstairs to check on the kids,” I said quickly. “It’s past their
bedtime. Hope you had a good date, Jackson, and thanks for your help
tonight, Ben.” I said it all in a rush, very composed, but inwardly I was
panicking, needing to get out of that kitchen, pronto.
I made it to the stairs, before I felt the first tear roll down my cheek.
Jackson: You okay, sis?
Me: I will be.
Jackson: let me know if I need to beat someone up
Like teddy bear Jackson would really do that, but still. I appreciated the step- brotherly concern.
Me: thanks
I didn’t hear a word from Ben, which was fine because I was
mortified. How could I have revealed my feelings to him like that? I had
only just recognized and accepted those more-than-friends feelings for
him, to myself, tonight at the kitchen table. I had been nowhere near ready
to let Ben have a peek at those feelings!
But more than anything, I felt a pang of sadness, like I had lost
something precious. How could my easy, comfortable friendship with Ben
ever go back to the way it was? It would surely never be quite the same,
with him thinking I wanted more from our relationship, when he so clearly
did not feel that way.
I skipped my prayers that night, and just cried, quietly, so I wouldn’t
wake up Riley, asleep in the other twin bed.
I think God heard my heart anyway.