No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
~ Aesop ~
Spotlight
Graduating college and knowing how the next chapter of your life will play out is a big deal, right? How
much more could someone ask for? Gwen has always followed every rule her mother gave her. With her future planned for her, she never really had the time for fun or boys. Never really learned how to let loose, go with the flow. What happens when all the plans she thought were laid out for her are pulled out from under her feet? Add in the mysterious man that pops into the flower shop stirring emotions she has never had before, and she is in for the ride of her sheltered life. Growing up is hard, and Gwen’s in for a growing experience she never planned on. |
Excerpt
"Gwen, we need to go out. Finals are finally over for
forever," Lena shouts from our shared bathroom. She
moved into town with her dad one weekend
unexpectedly in high school, and we've been inseparable
since, even finishing out our college years together.
Complete opposites, we are; she wants to go out every
night, and I like being home reading or surfing the
internet. Friends and even family have always wondered
how we became and stayed friends for so long, but that
is just the beauty of it. Balancing each other out is what
we do. I rein her in, and she makes sure I don't get stuck
on the couch.
Her spunky, outgoing attitude keeps my shyness
from becoming too introverted. Getting me to go out
more often and pushing my boundaries when my nerves kick into overdrive helps me keep the little social life I
have. Sad, I know, but I probably could just go to school
and then home every day and be happy and content.
Parties and get togethers I like, don't get me wrong, but
most nights after a long day I just want to relax on the
couch, watch TV, or read something good on my Kindle.
My childhood didn't allow a lot of extra playtime.
Sure, I did all the normal kid activities growing up, and,
of course, birthday parties and sleepovers when invited,
and I even had a few of my own. But when nothing was
going on, it was school, work, then bed. My parents have
owned their own business since before I was born which
means a lot of time was spent there. "Hard work is the
key to happiness," my mother always preached. Lena
always pushed her buttons with her carefree attitude.
"Was hoping to just chill because finals are over.
That doesn't sound too bad, does it?" I ask while getting
dressed, knowing that it will fall on deaf ears.
Graduating early has her keyed up even more.
Somehow we both had enough credits to graduate in
December instead of having to wait until May. Of course,
I said yes to get out early so I can go home and get started
on my career. Lena and some other peers just want to get
out early and be done with it all.
"Yes, it does. So, so bad. School is over forever,"
Lena says, dancing out of our tiny bathroom in an even
tinier towel. She has no shame. Her long, toned legs and
curves in all the right places means she has the body that
every woman dreams of. Plus, in the summer, her skin
just becomes tan. No sunburn, no too light or overly dark
tan, just right with no effort. Jealous, much?