Cars and Love ( The true final)

Cars and Love1

By Tiffani Wilson2

Chapter 13

It was just a regular Thursday morning when I headed out to the bus stop. “I”, is Connie Hill, it wasn’t the nicest name my parents could give me, but it was their hope to have a second baby and name it Connie. It wasn’t a long run from my house to the bus stop, but it was just long enough to give me time to think about my struggles with life. I was born in my mothers arms, but soon after I was born, my mother died of a terrible heart attack. My father now tries to fill in for my mother by becoming my chauffeur, the cook, and a fashion consultant, at least he got one of them right.4

Last night he tried to give me a haircut in my sleep, boy, did I let him have it! He is obsessed with the fact that my hair is TOO LONG! I mean, come on Dad! It is shoulder length hair, if you want to see long hair, than look at Rebecca Rishorld! Her hair is past her hips! If I let my hair get that long, my dad would probably strangle me with it. 5

I was very mad at my father, not only did he try to cut my hair in my sleep, he let my brother look at one of my favorite books, and he almost ruined the whole thing. My bother is Romone, he is a pain, even though he is two years older than me, he looks upon me as though he is greater and wiser, and I am a piece of dirt stuck to his foot.6

This morning as I was eating some of my Dad’s disgusting food, he looked at me, sighed and then he said,7

“Connie? Sweetie?”8

I answered with a glare,9

“What?”10

He looked at me with sad eyes and said,11

“Connie, I have to tell you something, sweetie…”12

“What do YOU want?”13

“Connie….”14

He looked scared so I answered in a sweet tone,15

“Yes, Daddy?”16

“I have cancer sweetie, prostate cancer.”17

I stared at him with horror,18

“When?”19

“I went to the doctor’s for my checkup last week, and he told me this morning that I had prostate cancer, and that it was totally treatable, but right now…… we don’t have enough money for the treatment…”20

I raced out of the room, unable to think straight, I fell to my knees by my bed,21

“Why me? Why me god? What did I ever do to you?”22

I looked at the clock, and rushed out of my room. I grabbed my backpack and raced out the door, and I still heard the echo of him calling to me.23

“Connie!”24

Chapter 225

I ran all the way to the bus stop, but I didn’t get there in time, I watched the bus pull away as I rounded the corners. Oh well, school wasn’t that far away.26

I ran back to the house and grabbed my bike and some pepper spray. I looked up in disagreement at our shabby old apartment. It was a tall apartment, but it was an old brick one. It was littered with graffiti on both sides that faced the alleyways, a classic New York apartment. I couldn’t have hated it more than I did today.27

Dad looked out the window from our second story apartment and yelled,28

“Connie! Do you need a ride?”29

, as hard as it was, I ignored him. I needed time to think on my own, and I didn’t need my dad breathing down my shoulder every minute of the day.30

Chapter 331

As I rode up the hill, the middle school came in view. It was an old, two-story middle school, and it is a very cheap school. That is why I am sent there almost every day of the week.32

I walked into the school and went to the attendance office for a late pass. The lady at the front desk, Ms. Ryan, looked up at me from her reading glasses and shook her head at me.33

“Late again, Miss Hill?”34

She asked. I smirked as she shook her head again and handed me a late pass.35

It was spooky walking through the halls of Glenbrook middle school, but I was used to it by now, being late so many times. I looked up at the clock. It was second period. I missed math class,36

“Oh well.”37

I said sarcastically.38

I walked into one of my least favorite classes, science. I used to love science, but ever since Patricia Arnolds moved into my class, it all changed.39

As I through the flimsy metal door, I walked into what they call a classroom, and I walked into one of my least favorite sights.40

“Patricia.”41

I said flatly,42

“Connie the Cranberry.”43

She said with a smirk. Many of the kids around us laughed, and I shot them all a look.44

“Girls.”45

Said Mrs. Croons with a warning tone.46

“Sorry Mrs. Croons.”47

I said. Patricia just rolled her eyes.48

I sat down at the only empty desk in the middle of the room. It was one of the best seats though, since it was next to Nick. Nick looked at me as I sat down and I shot him a smile. Then I looked on the other side of me. Oh great, just my luck, I was sitting right next to Patricia.49

Patricia and I have this thing. On the very first day of seventh grade, she tripped me in the lunchroom, sending my pudding flying. I watched as the pudding flew through the air and landed on the principals pants. The whole room went silent.50

“Connie hill?”51

He said through clenched teeth,52

“Report to my office, immediately.”53

I hung my head as I followed him to his office and promptly earned a weeks worth of detention. I have hated her since.54

Another reason I hate her is that she thinks she is much better than everyone else is, and for some reason, that automatically makes her popular. Everyday there is a group of kids that follow her, their motto is,55

“Your wish is my command, Patricia.”56

It makes me want to throw up.57

I used to envy her; I often sat down and compared myself to her. She had everything, she was rich, she had blond flowing hair, she had boys and she had charm. Much different from my life, I am poor, I have brown wavy hair, I do not have charm or boys. I do have one thing she doesn’t have though. Friends.58

Chapter 4 59

I sat down at the lunch table, relieved it was lunchtime. I smiled at my best friend, Stacey.60

“Hey, Stace.”61

“Hi, Connie.”62

We talked about the pop quiz in language arts class as we waited for the others to arrive. Nick came into the lunchroom and was heading straight for our table, when I heard a fire-breathing dragon call him over to her table,63

“Hey Nick! Come over here!”64

I glared at Patricia as she looked at me with a smug smile.65

“Just leave her alone Connie, she is just trying to get to you.”66

Said Melanie. I looked at her, Lance was sitting next to her, they were some of my other good friends.67

“Hey, are we still on for tonight?”68

Asked Stacey.69

“Oh, yeah.”70

“Ok then! My Mom can’t give us a ride, so we have to ride our bikes, I rode mine to school, you?”71

“Mines out front, I missed the bus, so I rode it to school.”72

“Cool.”73

Chapter 574

I was walking out of the building to get my bike when I saw Patricia and her army crowded by the steps.75

“And what did he say?”76

asked one of her followers,77

“He said no… he said no to me! He said he would rather have the Cranberry!”78

She stopped when she saw me. She stomped over to me and stuck a finger in my face,79

“I can’t believe you!”80

She yelled,81

“You think you’re so tough because he chose you over me? Just you wait until tomorrow morning, and then you’ll be sorry you messed with me!”82

She stomped off with her army following close behind and questioning her.83

I raced off to get my bike and wondered what she was talking about.84

When I saw Stacey, I told her what Patricia had said,85

“Boy! How much coffee has she had today?!”86

She got out once she finished laughing. That is one reason why Stacey and I are such good friends, she has a good sense of humor, and I am able to follow it.87

We then continued biking over to the mall to get a new matching pair of earrings.88

After settling on a pair of silver hearts, we left the mall and both went our separate ways to go home.89

Chapter 690

I ran to the bus stop early in the morning, so I wouldn’t be late and miss the bus again. I don’t think I could stand walking in late one more time.91

I watched the cloudy sky as kids started arriving at the bus stop. I stared with great interest as one of the boys arrived, with his curly blonde hair and his baggy shorts, I once again stuck a label on him as cute. I am not proud of this, but it has become my pastime to label people in my head. I know it seems kind of judgmental, but, hey, it was how my mother was too, and even my father can’t argue with that, and he usually argues with everything I say.92

The cute boy ran a hand through his hair and laughed at a joke his friend, Kyler, said. Kyler stared at Nick, and then he laughed and said,93

“Nick, if you run your hand through your hair one more time, I swear it’s going to fall out!”94

, Nick blushed and smiled a bit. The name echoed through my skin, it was calling to him,95

“Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick…..”96

It was calling to me.97

I let the name echo for a while before I shook it off and looked across the street. I saw a car coming toward us, it was going fast, real fast. About 90 miles per hour, and it was swerving all over the place. I glanced over at Nick for a moment, he was laughing again. I looked back at the car, it was about to hit us, it was about to hit Nick. 98

My mind was saying to get out of the way, and my heart was yelling out to Nick, I jumped in the way of the car and shoved Nick out of harms way. He yelled, kids screamed, I blacked out.99

Chapter 7100

Memories of my childhood were flashing right before my eyes, it all started when my Mother had the heart attack, I watched as Dad held her hand when she was in the hospital, and I stared as Dad broke into tears when they told him it was too late.101

I wanted out of this place, I screamed I called out for Dad, Mom, my brother, I called for Nick. 102

I found myself looking at this morning’s breakfast; I was eating my Dad’s failed cooking attempts, when he announced that he had prostate cancer. I couldn’t even begin to believe this. I rushed to my room, tears and all. I screamed at god, how could he do this, who would throw all this trouble on a twelve-year-old girl?103

My life was a mess, our family was being torn apart, and we were poor. How would we live? Would I have to go out of school? I suddenly felt violently ill, what was happening. I couldn’t take this anymore, I screamed all the names I knew, I wanted Mom to be alive, this wouldn’t be happening if she was here. I screamed her name as loud as I could. No one came to save me104

Chapter 8105

I woke up. I looked at my surroundings, where was I? I heard a rustle of paper and I looked over. Dad. He looked over at me and smiled,106

“Nice to see your finally awake princess.”107

, I tried to roll my eyes, Family nickname, I thought to my self.108

“Where am I?”109

I had never had such difficulty speaking before, and it was just a mutter!110

Dad was about to say something when a nurse came in. Wait. A nurse?111

“What happened, where am I, who are you?”112

I rushed all the words out, it sounded like one jumbled together sentence.113

The nurse looked concerned and asked,114

“Don’t you remember?”115

“Remember what?”116

I was so confused. She looked at my father, and then she left. Dad sat down in a chair next to my bed,117

“Connie... You are in a hospital… You jumped in front of a car to save someone’s life…”118

His voice droned off. I looked him straight in the eyes,119

“Ha-ha, Good one Dad.”120

I smiled at him, he just looked at me. I started to get up,121

“I CAN’T GET UP!!!!”122

I screamed,123

“Connie, you have to relax, honey, just relax.”124

I kept on thrashing around until a group of doctors came in and poked me with a needle,125

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!”126

I suddenly felt very sleepy, and once again, I blacked out.127

Chapter 9128

“Ouch.”129

Those were the first words I spoke when I woke up. A nurse smiled at me,130

“Good morning Connie… Here you go sweetheart.”131

She handed me the newspaper. Right there, smack dab on the front cover. I had made headlines.132

I managed to smile at her, she smiled back and put a tray across my bed, it had some cereal on it and some pills,133

“Why are there pills on the tray?”134

I asked.135

“Connie, sweetie…”136

She stopped, and handed me a mirror. My head was wrapped in bandages, I could see lots of blood that had once ran down my head, and it was now dried, like a tattoo. 137

She handed me some x-rays and left the room. I watched as she walked out, noting the polka dot socks, and labeling her as nice. 138

I glanced down at the x-rays, looked back up, then quickly looked back down, the x-rays showed pictured of all the cracks in my head, I moved to the next one an x-ray of me arm, it showed all the cracks. I looked at my arm. It too was wrapped in bandages. I looked at the last one of me foot, and decided it would be better not to ruin my appetite by looking. 139

I ate some of my cereal, and labeled it as cardboard. I drank some water and swallowed the pills, in the process, I almost barfed them back up.140

Chapter 10141

The nurse came back with some gifts and cards. She smiled,142

“These are from your Father, He had to go to work today and he told me to leave these with you, oh, and this one is from a very sorry looking boy, he said he would be back later in the day to see you.”143

She handed me the armload of gifts and placed the gift from the,144

“very sorry looking boy”145

, on the stand next to my bed.146

She was a very nice woman, for she stayed with me while I opened my gifts to keep me company. 147

My Dad had given me some books and some candy, along with a balloon that said, 148

“Look on the bright side; at least you’re still here to read this corny balloon!”149

I then opened the small box on the table. I found a jewelry box. When I opened it, I found a very beautiful necklace with a silver angel at the end.150

Just then, there was a knock on the door, I put on the necklace as the nurse went to open the door. 151

When she came back she was not alone, she had someone with her. When I saw who was with her I blacked out. 152

Nick.153

Chapter 11154

I woke up a couple of minutes later listening to the voices of someone talking,155

“I’m sorry, sweetheart; she was just scared to see anyone, that’s all.”156

Then I heard a deeper voice,157

“Oh, ummmm, maybe I should just come back another time…”158

I coughed and opened my eyes. 159

He was standing at the end of my bed. The nurse smiled and left.160

“Hi Nick….”161

I said sleepily162

“Hi… Connie.”163

I smiled at him. I closed my eyes a bit, Jeeze, I was so tired. 164

I heard him drag a chair over by the bed. I opened my eyes a bit. He grinned sheepishly and said,165

“Sorry bout that Connie”166

I smiled It was quiet for a while. 167

“Nice necklace”168

“Thank You for the necklace Nick.”169

I watched him blush.170

I was so sleepy. I closed my eyes and was like that for fifteen minutes. I felt something on my forehead, and then I heard running footsteps, and a door slamming. 171

It took a moment for it to hit me. A kiss.172

Chapter 12173

I found out that the person who was driving the car was in the hospital I was in. The doctors told me I could go once I was feeling better. It so happened that that day was the day after Nick kissed me. The doctors let me go see her if I stayed in a wheelchair, they said I was well, but I was not well enough to walk yet.174

Once I agreed, I went to her room. When I opened the door of the room they sent me to, I almost had a heart attack. Patricia was sitting on the bed, she smiled grimly up at me and said,175

“Told you so.”176

After a long violent screaming match, the doctors told me I had to leave the room, my heart rate was going up, and they said I needed to calm down.177

The police came to question me later that day. I told them about the threat she gave me. When they asked why I just said,178

“The guy that she liked doesn’t like her, but he likes me.”179

When I said that, they walked out of the room and started to argue with each other.180

I was told later that Patricia was mentally unstable, she was token to a rehab, until she regained her sanity, then she was moved to a jail, where she would face murder attempt charges.181

Chapter 13182

It was boring at the hospital; I did get many gifts though. When people read the newspaper, they sent me gifts to make me feel better, most of the cards I got were telling me to get better, and others said they were proud of me.183

I got out in time for summer. I was sent to bed rest for a couple of weeks. On my last week of bed rest, my Dad said that he had to go to work, on his way out he ran into someone, 184

“Oh! Sure you can!”185

I heard Dad’s car go down the road until I couldn’t hear it. 186

I heard a knock on my bedroom door,187

“Come in…”188

I said faintly.189

Nick came into my room with a bouquet of flowers,190

“How’s our patient?”191

I smiled.192

“I’m doing fine.”193

He smiled. 194

He tripped on a box coming toward me,195

“Oh, What a Prince Charming.”196

I stated dramatically.197

He smiled as he got off the floor. He leaned over and kissed me as he sat on the edge of the bed,198

“Connie, you are an angel, you should know that. If it weren’t for you… I might not even be alive by now.”199

I smiled at him,200

“Don’t you see, Nick, fate has brought us together, and it’s all because of two little words; Cars and Love.”201

It’s still worth living202

When I went back to school the next year, everyone knew about the car incident. Patricia was back in school, but her social status had changed, she was now an outcast. Students are nicer to me than they were but they take pity on Patricia and her snobby ways, I am lucky that I still have my circle of friends, and I was very lucky that Nick became a part of my circle of friends. I used to think that life was not worth living, with all its’ downs, but now I know that life is all its cracked up to be.203