The Summer Of Our Lives, chapter 2
It was the last day of 6th grade. Liv and I had just stepped off the bus. Our shoulders were aching from the massive amounts of used notebooks in our backpacks and we were sweltering in the June heat. As we made our way down Liv's street towards her house, I couldn't help feeling excited. Somehow, I felt that this summer was going to bring us good times and good fortune. For one thing, we each had the boyfriend of our dreams. For another, the two of us had planned the ultimate late-night, candy-and-soda-filled sleepover ever for that very evening.
There are several things you should know about Olivia and me. One: We were not the most popular, if you know what I mean. Two: I was fine with that, if it meant maintaining a low profile. Three: Olivia was not, especially if it meant maintaining a low profile. And now Liv had gotten herself in love with Green Day.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you. Liv said they were the best punk rock band in whole world. I didn't doubt that. If you wanted Liv Thompson to like you, you HAD to be the best in the world. What I couldn't fathom for my life was why LIVY liked a punk rock band. Olivia was undoubtedly the smartest person I ever met - her IQ probably hovered around 170 - but she was also the sort who had never disobeyed her parents in her life. You know, a goody-two-shoes. Not exactly the punk rock type.
As we headed down Shady Road, Liv's street, she was telling me about some Green Day contest she had entered a few weeks ago
"Because they're the best punk rock band in the world." This is what she always said, and she always said it like a plain and simple fact. They were the best band, and that was that. End of discussion.
"But seriously. They sing about drugs."
"No they don't."
"Yes they do. How can you explain "Give Me Novocain"? Novocain's a drug."
"Not one people use to get high."
"Is, too. People sniff it, and -"
She stopped walking. "Cassie," Liv said slowly, "That's COCAINE!"
"Oh," I said. Liv stopped at the end of her driveway to get the mail. She closed the little black door and we listened to our footsteps crunch the gravel of Liv's driveway as we made our way towards the house.
"Bill...bill...letter for Mom...," Liv said, as she flipped envelopes onto the kitchen counter. "Dad's worst nightmare, my cell phone bill, and -" she stopped, holding the last item, a plain black envelope with her name and address on it. "What the hell is this?" She sat down on the couch and opened it. "Dear Olivia Thompson," she read, "We are pleased to tell you that you are our grand prize winner. You will receive four front-row tickets to the next Green Day concert."
Liv let loose the most ear-shattering scream I had ever heard in my life. "Cassie!" she shrieked, abandoning her perfect grammar, "We're gonna go see Green Day!"
There are several things you should know about Olivia and me. One: We were not the most popular, if you know what I mean. Two: I was fine with that, if it meant maintaining a low profile. Three: Olivia was not, especially if it meant maintaining a low profile. And now Liv had gotten herself in love with Green Day.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you. Liv said they were the best punk rock band in whole world. I didn't doubt that. If you wanted Liv Thompson to like you, you HAD to be the best in the world. What I couldn't fathom for my life was why LIVY liked a punk rock band. Olivia was undoubtedly the smartest person I ever met - her IQ probably hovered around 170 - but she was also the sort who had never disobeyed her parents in her life. You know, a goody-two-shoes. Not exactly the punk rock type.
As we headed down Shady Road, Liv's street, she was telling me about some Green Day contest she had entered a few weeks ago
"Because they're the best punk rock band in the world." This is what she always said, and she always said it like a plain and simple fact. They were the best band, and that was that. End of discussion.
"But seriously. They sing about drugs."
"No they don't."
"Yes they do. How can you explain "Give Me Novocain"? Novocain's a drug."
"Not one people use to get high."
"Is, too. People sniff it, and -"
She stopped walking. "Cassie," Liv said slowly, "That's COCAINE!"
"Oh," I said. Liv stopped at the end of her driveway to get the mail. She closed the little black door and we listened to our footsteps crunch the gravel of Liv's driveway as we made our way towards the house.
"Bill...bill...letter for Mom...," Liv said, as she flipped envelopes onto the kitchen counter. "Dad's worst nightmare, my cell phone bill, and -" she stopped, holding the last item, a plain black envelope with her name and address on it. "What the hell is this?" She sat down on the couch and opened it. "Dear Olivia Thompson," she read, "We are pleased to tell you that you are our grand prize winner. You will receive four front-row tickets to the next Green Day concert."
Liv let loose the most ear-shattering scream I had ever heard in my life. "Cassie!" she shrieked, abandoning her perfect grammar, "We're gonna go see Green Day!"
