Told by Jovanna.

“Hi Daddy. Yeah, school is okay. A bit boring sometimes in the regular classes ’cause I know the stuff. Yeah of course I’m getting A’s.”

To be honest, I didn’t really have to study that much. I could usually cram at the last minute and remember everything pretty good. And I did like to read a lot, so that helped with my quest for knowledge and with my vocabulary and spelling.

Advanced Math is fun. I passed the algebra section easily, but geometry is not fun. Will I ever need this stuff in medical school? I’m not sure.

“Bye Mom, I’m going out to the art gallery. See you in a few hours.”

I like the art gallery. There’s so many great pieces, and you always discover something new each time you study a piece.

Speaking of pieces… there’s two right there. Mom and Grammy warned me about the genies. But I was undeniably curious.

“Hi Mr. Montigo. I think you know my mom, Jemma Watley.”

“Sure do. Too bad she got grabbed up before I could get to her.”

“Oh. Sorry… I guess. Anyway, Cyrus is in some of my classes. Is he too shy to talk to me?”

“Naw, he’s just being anti-social. Go chase him down. Guys like that.”

“Hi Cyrus. I’m Jovanna. We’re in some of the same classes.”

“Yeah I think I saw ya before.”

“I really like your hair—”

“Ugh! Why does every girl comment on my hair?! Only like, 95% of the Montigos have this hair. It’s not like it’s unique or anything.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were sensitive about it.”

“If it’s any consolation, my colored hair was passed down too, so I’m not all that unique either.”

“If that’s your idea of trying to flirt with me, it ain’t working. Besides, I got a girlfriend.”

“Sorry! Who?”

“Esme Jonso. Me ‘n her are a thing now.”

“Oh cool! She lives right across from me. Maybe we could like, double date or something. If I find a date, of course…”

“Yeah… well, hopefully you do. You seem like a nice girl.”

…/

I kinda knew Esme, since she was in my class too of course. All the young teens generally are in the same grade. And ’cause she lived across from us, I used to see her coming and going from time to time. I figure I needed more friends, so I went to visit her after school one day.

“Oh you live in that house right over there? Is that your parents I’m always seeing necking up on the front porch?”

“Ummm…”

It must have been pretty obvious how much my mom and stepdad made out. I could see them through Esme’s front window. I almost died from embarrassment!

“Y-yeah. He’s not my dad though. He’s my stepdad.”

“Oh sorry. Where is your dad?”

“He lives across town. I don’t see him much.”

“Oh. My dad is old. At least your step-dad is kinda hot.”

“Ew. Thats gross.”

“Anyway, I thought maybe we could hang out sometime or go to the burger joint and look for guys or something.”

“Actually I got a boyfriend, Cyrus Montigo.”

“Oh really…?”

“But we could look for a boy for you.”

“Okay!”

~//~