1. How I Lost Love

Haven tells us how she got so far off track.

When I was fifteen, Thom was seventeen,  he asked me to Homecoming with him my sophomore year. My mom had gone insane the month before the dance, dragging me to fittings for the dress every week, just in case. She splurged on jewelry and other accessories she thought I would need. You would have thought I was getting married with the way she acted. It was crazy, the way she reacted to one little school dance. I guess she felt that it was her last chance she'd have to find me a guy as perfect as Thom.

At the dance, Thom and I where slow-dancing, his hands on my hips and my arms around his neck. He was gentle and caring, always asking me if it was okay if we went over to see his friends or to get some punch. While we where dancing, we where talking about where Thom was going to college the next year. 

"I'm thinking Harvard or Columbia." he said as he looked down at me. 

I nodded, my heart doing little thumps in my chest as he spoke.

 Thom had soft blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was smart. He knew what he was going to do with his life. He was going to be a lawyer, he told me. Thom didn't really want to be one, but his dad had pushed him down the path throughout his entire life.

"I just want him to be proud of me" Thom said, his blue eyes sad. "It'd be a great accomplishment for me to see him like that."

I smiled at him reassuringly, like I knew what he meant. I didn't. My mother had always been so supportive of my decisions, as I have with hers as well.

"You'll make your dad proud, Thom." I said to him as the song ended.

His eyebrows shot up, that smile still on his handsome face.

"You think so?"

"Definitively." I nodded.

Thom kissed me as a thank you. His lips where soft, His kiss deep and delightful.

We broke apart and I looked at him.

"Good?" He asked, nervously. I could tell.

I nodded and then I kissed him again, with more spirit than he had when he kissed me.

After that? History. Thom and I where inseparable for months on end. In the time we where together, we went to art shows, museums, and other practical field trips all the while we where together. Thom didn't like typical romantic things. He found them cheesy and unimportant. He never had to impress me. He knew what I liked and so we mixed it up into things we both would enjoy. We never had an ice cream date though, or a trip to the movies to see the latest horror flick. Thom and I never cuddled on New Years or went to the beach for a barbecue with all my old friends.

We where smart. My mother didn't care about my change in behavior. It was better. I was getting better grades and making honors. I'd signed up for calculus and left the drama and art clubs. I stopped partying with all my old friends. They didn't call anymore, anyways. All I needed where my study groups, Thom, and the rest of the smart kids to get by. My new idea of fun was a trip to a craft store. I found the mall a foolish and immature place to go. In a way, Life was good. I was picking through what I needed and what was just for pleasure. I didn't need fun, I realized. I needed knowledge, education, and a job to make money.

One day in February, I'd been cleaning my room, and I found Thom's history book, so I thought I'd drop it off at his house on my way to work at the library. I walked the four blocks to Thom's and I went in without knocking, just as I had so many times before that day. I found Jessica and Thom on the couch, kissing. He had his head buried in her neck when I finally spoke.

"Thom?" I had squeaked, ever so quietly.

He jumped up, shocked. Thom was clearly not expecting me.

"Haven! What are you doing here?" he asked as he tried to calm himself.

"Haven, it's not what it looks like, I swear!" Jessica sputtered.

I threw Thom's book to the floor and I ran out of the house. I ran all the way back to my house and when I got into my room, I flung myself down on my bed, crying. 

That's the day I lost it. I lost all the hope I had in love. After Thom, I went through guys like a kid with candy. Once I didn't have a taste for the guy anymore, I threw him out and got a new one...I didn't see anything wrong with it.

Author's Note

Hope its okay..

Reviews

[Caitlyn Murray]

I love it! Great book!

[idk]

I really like this. It was very good and i'm going to read more for sure

[MiyaAron]

Over all I thought it was very good. I tripped up on the opening, "My mom had gone insane the month before the dance, dragging me to fittings for the dress every week, just in case."
Dragging me to dress fittings once a week. (only an idea, of course)

"In a way, Life" should life be capitalized?
I think you should tweak this sentence a bit.... "I needed knowledge, education, and a job to make money." The last this sentence doesn't read as smooth as the rest.
Just a few things like that, am I out of place.. Its your baby of course...

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good opening chapter. I like the way you described getting ready for the dance. The description of the story is very good. Insuring each situation was important. The ending was honest and strong words. Easy to lose control and not know what we need and want. A strong ending to a excellent opening chapter.
Coyote

[J.W.]

GREAT WRITE!!! It had me hooked to the very end, which is rare, I usually skim when I'm reading, so consider yourself honoured to be one of the few writers who can hold my extremely short attention span. Kudors.

[HeIsWe]

This is really good, it sad that he cheats on her though. I love it!!!!

[Egoless]

awesome! great concepts and makes me want to read more!

[InkSlinger]

A solid write.. it's never what it looks like!!

[Bridget Murphy]

It's really good!! I like the way you set up the scene of the dance, and the scene where thom cheats on her,Write the next chapter as soon as possible!!!!:)