Winning Hearts -17 – Story

*Vanessa’s P.O.V*

Jasmine drops her car keys in shock, “WHAT?!”
“Yeah. He told me Saturday night.”
“And you’re telling me NOW?!”
“You in no way answered your phone.”

She frowns, “Yeah. My cousin stole my phone.” A smile lights up her face. “Oh my God!! At last! I am so happy for you!” Jasmine envelopes me in a huge hug. She pulls back just as David approaches us. “Guess what?”

“They finally admitted their really like for each other?”
My mouth falls opens. “How did you realize?”
His eyes widen, “He did it? I mean.. You guys are going out now?”
“Yes! Finally!” Jasmine lets out a small jump.
“Finally! We had been acquiring worried. Jazz and I.”
“I know.” Jazz nods, swallowing her smile.

“Hey Mark.” David greets as a pair of arms come around my waist and pull and back towards a hard chest.
“Hey.” Mark kisses my cheek. “Hey.” He mumbles, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Hey.”

“We had been just telling Vanessa how worried we had been. Jazz and I had decided that the best way to make you two admit your adore would be to kidnap you two separately and then lock you up and threaten you. But thank God, we don’t have to do that.” David says having a completely straight face.

“Mmmmm.”
“Sheldon, Stuart, Shaw..” Justin hesitates, “and Jasmine. Get to your classes.”
“You know, I think our English teacher has a spot soft for me.” Jasmine says purposely as he walks past her car.

Justin turns around, an amused smile playing on his lips. “Just get to class the four of you. And I hope that all of you have your homeworks.”
“Homework?!” I exchange a glance with Mark. “What homework?” I ask Justin.
He turns to Jasmine, “You in no way told them?”

“Uh… I in no way had my phone with me! My cousin stole it.”
“And you didn’t call David and ask him?” He turns to me.
“What? Oh… Yeah.. I did. But… Justin! You could have told me.”

“No, I couldn’t have. I’m you brother how was I to know that you had English homework? The teacher side of me doesn’t clash using the brother side.” He looks at David.

“Why couldn’t you tell them?”
“I was going to… but then when I called them… one thing came up.”
“Really? Because they had been smooching and creating out all weekend. I didn’t see them talking on their phones.”

“Oh really?” Jasmine turns to us and my cheeks burn.
“See you in class.”

I swear, girls act like little children sometimes. Justin’s busy searching via everyone’s work when Makayla, a girl that so has one thing against me… I’m not sure what exactly, speaks up.

“Mr. Stuart, I don’t think Vanessa has her homework.”
My jaw drops. Justin glances at me then back at Makayla.

“Ms. Smith, thank you for your concern, but I think I know how to do my job. I suggest you get back to your work.”

Her eyes widen and she nods. I shoot Justin a smile as he glances around the class.
I swear, does it appear like we’re in second grade?

By the time it’s lunch, everyone knows that Mark and I are going out. I get several glares from girls. Is there nothing else happening in the world?

“Stop.” Jasmine grabs my arm as we’re walking down the hallway. “Listen.”
I incline my head towards the girls talking on my left. I exchange a glance with Jasmine as I listen to them. Oh my God. This is ridiculous.

“Ahem.” I clear my throat.
They turn around and glare at me. Most of them at least. Makayla’s standing in the middle of the group.
“Any problem ladies?” Mark ask as his arms come around my waist and he pulls me close.

Makayla’s glare turns to a smile as she sees Mark. At that exact moment Justin walks by and Jasmine stops him.

“You know Makayla, I never ever stopped Mark from dating anyone. He was never ever interested in you… or anyone else as far as I know. I would never ever stop him if he was. And as for Mr. Stuart… he’s my brother. And sorry to burst your bubble but he doesn’t date his students. So, I’m not sure I see how I’m preventing them from doing ‘anything’.”

Makayla’s still glaring at me, but I can see several of the girls shooting glances between Justin and me.

“What’d she say Ven?” Justin asks and Makayla’s eyes slightly widen when she hears my nickname. Didn’t believe me, did you?
I smile, “Nothing. We’ll talk later.”

There’s a huge soccer game coming up, the last week after our finals and so Mark and his team have after school practice. Jasmine and I usually stay and watch them play, but Jazz had promised her mom to babysit her little brother, so I was sitting alone on the bleachers, watching the guys practice. Well, not exactly alone. There had been people scattered all more than the bleachers, doing homework, listening to music or just watching the fun.

As the guys come out of the changing room, Mark turns to me and blows me a kiss. It’s been two days and I still can’t believe that that gorgeous boy loves Me. Me!

Justin sits down beside me just as they start playing. He’s got a bunch of papers in his lap but after five minutes of staring at a paper and then glancing up in the game, he gives up and dumps them in his backpack. He then starts commenting about the game and occasionally tells me a story of what used to happen at his football games in college. I’m completely immersed in the game as Jason steals the ball and starts kicking it towards the net, Mark being the goalie, when Justin suddenly asks, “Who’s that?” I appear away and follow his gaze to see the coach standing and talking to a girl in the edge of the field.

“The coach.”
“No not him.”

I lean forward in my seat and appear in the girl. She’s wearing a white blouse more than a pair of fitted black jeans and her long black hair’s pulled back into a pony that bounces up and down every time she moves her head. Her tiny built and the pencil behind her ear, leave no doubt in my mind as to who she is.

“That’s our librarian. Amber. Works here in the mornings and goes to college in the evening.”
“Oh.”

I glance at Justin, curiously. Even though he’s turned back to the game, I lean back and watch him and catch his eyes roaming more than to Amber every couple of seconds. When she starts walking away, he follows her with his eyes. I suppress the urge to ask him concerns and scare him off.

But could Justin have finally found someone that interests him?

*Jasmine’s P.O.V*

“I’m sorry. I have to go. I can’t do this anymore.” I grab my bag and stand up.
Teddy gets to his feet, “Jasmine, what’s wrong?”

I turn away from him, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Nothing.”
“What can’t you do anymore?” He asks gently, taking a hold of my arm and creating me turn around.

I pull my arm back, “I can’t do… this!” I gesture around us with my hand. “Whatever this is! I respect your feelings Teddy and I’ve trusted you. I know you had been hurt in your last relationship and I’m not expecting you to tell me what happened. But if you aren’t going to let it go or give me a chance, then I’m sorry. You realize I like you. I care for you much more than I’ve ever cared for any guy, but I can’t go on like this.” I pause, but he doesn’t say anything. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out.”I’m sorry.” I run out of his living room, almost colliding with his elder sister in the hallway. Her eyes widen as she sees my face, but before she can say anything, I’m out of the front door and running to my car.

I drive down some blocks before pulling up by the curb. Lowering my head to the steering wheel, I let my tears free. I think about calling Vanessa, but I glance in the clock and change my mind. She’ll be with Mark. They’ve been together a week and they’re even much more inseparable now.

I shake my head, wondering if I’ll ever experience that kind of enjoy…

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Note from the Author of Winning Hearts

Replies to comment for chapters 15 and 16!!

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Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed chapter 16 and their confession… We had been all waiting for it!
Anyway… I was asked a very interesting question. Now that they’ve confessed, what subsequent? Exactly, what exactly is subsequent?

Well, I COULD keep it a surprise… but given that there are only several chapters left, it won’t hurt..
The story’s called Winning Hearts… so there are still some much more hearts that need winning more than.. =P We need to know what happens to Jasmine and Teddy and if Justin ever gets a girl… I’d say there are about..3 or 4 chapters left, in the most five… So the story might finish off this week. You in no way know!! =)

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Replies to comments

Chapter 15

Lucy – Aww! I’m so glad I was able to make your day! Tsk, tsk. Reading at work?! Lol, kidding. BTW, if you don’t mind me asking, what do you work as? And you’re very welcome for the chapter!

Aashna – No! You don’t have to apologize! I was joking, although, your compliments DO make me blush…

Thank you SO much and I’m super glad that you keep falling in enjoy with my story… And Mark! I really like him too. I know that he’s someone in my head, but I still enjoy him… Take care and Lots of Really like.

Sally – Thanks!! And yeah, I enjoy him too!

Emma – I was torn between deciding when to make them kiss, either when they had been confessing or when they ended up kissing. Thanks to you though, I was able to make up my mind! Thanks a bunck and hope you enjoyed the kiss!

Kristina – You realize, it’s a relief that I was alone and no one saw me smiling like an idiot at my phone, they’d definitely think I’d gone bonkers. But, they weren’t reading your comment, had been they?

You’ve left me speechless, I swear, I don’t know what to say. I guess I can say I probably know what you mean about loneliness ‘tugging at my heartstrings’ especially at that time of night..or early morning..because you see someone very very special to me is leaving and I have No idea what I’ll do.. So I know how you feel…

Now on to far more cheerful topics.. I’m not certain Why exactly, but when I was listening to She Will Be Loved, the scene where Mark’s driving to the hospital with an unconscious Vanessa crossed my mind. I’m not sure why. Anyway, I listened to Give Into Me..and you’re right.. It can be used to describe Mark & Nessa… ooh! And I Definitely agree with you there! Adam Levine Is Gorgeous…

Not to worry, you didn’t scare me. Hope you enjoyed reading the rest!

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Chapter 15 (2)

Lucy – Lool! Glad you enjoyed!

Jamie – Thank you! I can, really? I’m so glad to hear that!! Hope you enjoyed the rest!

Emma – Thanks!

PH – Thanks! I was so relieved to receive your comment..to hear that u had been still alive ;D I’ll continue Drown Me In Adore once I’m done with this. Which’ll be soon! Enjoy Reading!

Aashna – Thank you! Really? I was scared I wouldn’t get the scene right.. And Oh. My. God. Some thing I, Sammer, wrote actually made you gdmt goosebumps?! Now that’s an achievement…

You know, when I read a very good book, that’s exactly how I feel, like I’ve watched a movie..but my writing has that effect? Wow. Thanks…

Darkskull – Thank you! And I completely agree.. I’m not mad or sad or upset.. I did ask for comments not compliments..they don’t always have to be excellent.. Yeah, the story’s dragged a bit, but there had been a couple of things that had been super boring to type up but people wanted to read them so.. yup. And okay, sticking to reality, for sum people, it takes an incident to make them open their eyes… I guess Mark needed that to confess to Nessa… BTW, just curious, but are you a guy or a girl?

Cynthia – Thanks! I’ll take it as a compliment..and I’ll keep writing as long as you keep commenting! At least drop a line in once in a while and Thank you for saying I’m pretty awesome… You definitely are too!

Ria – Thanks! I’m happy you adore it! Happy Reading!

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Chapter 16

Darkskull – Thanks!

Sally – Thank you!

Lucy – I know! Big brothers, what can I say? I know, twelve years is a long time. Thank God we didn’t have to wait that long! The note in the leading was mostly for you! And Thanks for everything!

PH – I know, finally! It was amazing? Thanks! Hope you enjoyed the rest!

Katie – Lol, I know… Finally! Thanks!

Enjoy Reading!

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