J O R D Y N
point of view
July 16th 2019
i take a deep breath of smoke and blow it back out. why can't i stop? i want to, but at the same time i can't. i can't smoke by the house anymore either. Brinley will lose more and more respect for me if she sees me again, so i walked to the nearby park. i sit at the top of a slide listening to the crickets and shortening my cigarette.
a cold breeze strikes me and i slowly pull my legs in and hug my knees. suddenly, i turn my attention towards the sound of a skateboard approaching down the sidewalk. as the person gets closer and rolls under a street light, i catch a glimpse of a boy. hot. i breathe in sharply and the smoke fills my lungs too quick causing me to cough. the boy notices me, stops riding his skateboard, and begins walking in my direction.
"hey." he greets, standing at the bottom of the slide. "you alright?"
"i'm fine." i assure him trying my best not to let out another loud cough. the boy wears army green khakis and a black hoodie and even though it's dark i notice his hair is slightly wavy and a chestnut color. he has good style too.
"ah." he nods before running up the slide and sitting next to me. "are you really alright?"
"you kind of took my breath away." i chuckle, "literally."
"that's a first." he says.
"really?" i turn towards him surprised.
"definitely. and you're not too bad yourself." he smirks.
"what a compliment." i say blankly.
"i'm just joking. you're really beautiful." he looks into my eyes and i feel my heart melt. it's not dark enough where we we wouldn't be able to see each other, especially since we're sitting so close. "uh, you smoke?" he asks pointing at my cigarette in my right hand.
i sigh. "well... i'm not proud of it. that shit they teach you in middle school about addiction... it's real."
"i understand," he rests his hand on my knee as if to comfort me, "i too was addicted to nic at one point."
"how'd you fight the urges? i feel like i can't survive without it now." i rest my head on my knees and turn my head towards the boy.
"i'll admit it was really hard, but it was the best thing i ever did for myself. i'm so much happier now." he explains.
"but, the reason i started was to feel something. anything. i fell into a deep depression at the end of my freshman year of high school and it's like smoking and drinking were my escape."
"trust me. it's really worth it in the end." he looks at me with a sad smile.
"i really need to stop. i'm sick and tired of feeling like my life depends on it. i know deep down that it doesn't but i can't resist." i shake my head.
"i can help you." he says.
"you'd do that? we only just met."
"yeah. we just met and i can already tell that you're an amazing girl."
"you don't even know my name." i laugh.
"let me take a guess, i'm kind of psychic." he puts his hands up to his head and makes a face of concentration. "Sylvia."
"nope." i laugh, "not even in the ball park."
"ok well you try to guess my name then." he leans back onto his elbow and i do the same.
"hmmm." i start, "Trevor?"
"you got the first two letters correct, actually." he says surprised.
"i guess i'm the psychic one, then." i say in a sarcastically smug tone, and he shakes his head, chuckling. "i'm Jordyn."
"pleased to meet you, miss Jordyn." he holds out his hand for me and as i place my hand in his he kisses it softly. i can't help but giggle. what? i never giggle. "the name's Troy. Troy Bolton."
"what? no way." i scoff and take my hand away from his.
"no, really. it's just a coincidence. so many people have told me it's from this movie called high school musical, but i've never actually seen it." he shrugs.
"i'm not buying it." i shake my head with a smile.
"you will one day when your name is Jordyn Bolton." he says, "has a nice ring doesn't it."
did this boy really just-
"terrible." i laugh, "terrible ring. but, bold of you to assume i'll marry you one day."
"i can feel it." he lays all the way back now with his hands cushioning his head and staring up at the stars, feet still dangling down the slide. "i already told you i'm psychic."
"might not want to make a career out of it." i chuckle. i study him and his perfect features under the moonlight. i can't find a single flaw. i can't help but smile, foolishly.
"you might wanna take a picture." he says, not looking at me but still up at the sky "it'll last a lot longer."
"shut up." i lay down all the way next to him. we sit there for what feels like forever and talk about our life stories. i tell him about my family and how we had to constantly be moving. how my dad was there one day, and the next he wasn't. my past relationships good and bad. they're mostly bad.
Troy talks about his family and how they're not even his family. he's been a foster kid since his parents died in a car crash when he was 7. talks about his foster homes good and bad. mostly bad. says the one he's in now is probably the best yet and i smile for him. we probably talked for hours before i finally decided that i needed to go home. my phone had died and i didn't even know what time it was.
"i gotta go." i sit up.
"i don't. my foster family won't even notice i'm gone." i give him a look. "i said they're the best i've had yet, i didn't say they were perfect." he combs his fingers back through his hair.
"can we do this again sometime?" i ask.
"here." he takes my right hand in his left and grabs a sharpie from his back pocket. He bites down on the cap and takes the marker out then brings it to my hand and writes what i'm assuming is his phone number on it.
"anytime. and i'm going to help you." he sits up and grabs hold of my hand. "i promise you." we look into each other's eyes and i never want to look away.
"thank you." i whisper.
"first step." he takes my pack of cigarettes, "get rid of these."
"i don't know if we should jump into it that quickly." i reach for them but he pulls them away.
"you need to trust me." he says. "do you?"
i wait a few moments before responding. "yes." i breathe. i let go of his hand and walk down the slide. he stays up there.
"you really shouldn't." he smirks.
"what?"
"my last name isn't really Bolton." he sticks his tongue slightly out of his mouth to wet his lips. "i love high school musical."
"i knew it." i shake my head. "so what's your actual last name?"
"Picardi." he replies, i can tell it's sincere this time.
"see that sounds a lot better." i laugh. "Jordyn Picardi."
-
July 17th 2019
the sun had begun to set beneath the horizon
leaving an array of vibrant colors. I had texted Troy earlier that day and asked if he'd go to the cheesy carnival with me. I knew Brinley and all her little friends would be here and she made it seem like it was going to be fun. Troy and I have been standing in line for the ferris wheel for awhile now.
Troy takes my sunglasses off where they once rested on my head and puts them on himself. "I look hot don't I?" He smiles at me and I can't help but smile back.
"Very." I grab my sunglasses back. "But those were $150. no touch."
"God," he chuckles, "You rich people and your expensive meaningless things. I could get a pair just like those from target for 20 bucks. It's the brand your paying for, not the quality."
"Oh, I know." I wipe off the lenses. "But I'm materialistic, basic, and shallow."
"You're not shallow." Troy's expression softens. "You may be basic," he laughs. "but you're definitely not shallow. I can tell that and I've known you less than a day. You were pretty quick to text me by the way." He cocks an eyebrow.
I texted him right after I got home from the park that night. We then proceeded to facetime until 3am. somehow we never ran out of things to talk about. For some strange reason I feel some sort of deep connection to Troy and I barely know him. Sometimes you just know. "I like you." I shrug.
"I like you too." he gives a quick half smile before we realize that the line had moved up and it was time for us to get on the ferris wheel.
"cmon." I grab Troy's hand and pull him towards the ride. We usually talked nonstop, but as the ferris wheel brought us around in circles neither one of us had anything to say. We sat in a comfortable silence looking at the sunset. I've always had a special appreciation for sunsets.
-
August 24th, 2019
my hands slightly tremble by my sides as I await Troy to come pick me up for the first day of school. We'd become quite close. I think we might be falling for each other but nothing has been made official. I clap my hands together to stop the nervous trembling. How many new schools have I went to? I shouldn't be this nervous. But I am. My anxiety constantly hangs over me like a storm cloud.
I also suppose I'm a bit more nervous for starting this school because I know we're staying here in the valley for awhile. Mom had already made the announcement that we're moving again after she gives birth, but that gives me almost an entire school year so I want to make a good impression.
I didn't want to be one of the girls who tries really hard on the first day and goes all out with their outfit. I didn't want to be pinned as a try hard. All I wear are grey lululemon shorts and a purple hoodie. I have on my air forces. They're the only shoes I wear. I also didn't do anything with my hair. I threw it into a low ponytail and called it done.
The sound of a skateboard catches my ear and I turn to see Troy roll up in front of me. When he said he was going to pick me up I assumed he had a car or something. "Hop on." He nods at his skateboard.
"What?" I nearly laugh. "How are we both supposed to get to school on that thing?"
"I'll show you if you get on." He combs his fingers back through his hair. I shake my head and step onto the board, holding Troy's hand all the while. He lightly pushes off and quickly hops on with me. He wraps his arms around my waist and I do the same to him. Not what I was expecting, but I'm not mad about it. It's mostly downhill from my house to school a few blocks away, which makes me wonder about how we're getting back, but that's a worry for later.
I don't wipe the smile off my face the whole time we're riding to school. When we go down a fairly steep hill, I even scream a little unintentionally, but I feel Troy wrap his arms around me tighter. "You won't fall." He laughs. "I got you."
-
September 6th, 2019
It's been almost two months since Troy and I met. I'm realizing that we've always acted and made remarks like we're more than friends, but neither one of us has ever truly acted on it. Since the very first night we met there's been something more than a friendship between us. Well, at least I feel it.
Things are just kind of unclear. I decide to text Troy. I need clarity.
JORDYN: can we meet at our park please?
TROY: Be right there babe.
See. He calls me babe, but we're not together... You can see where I'm a little confused as to where we stand. Troy's been helping me. Really. I haven't smoked for three weeks. I fell back into it one night when my anxiety overtook me and I ran to the park to smoke. I immediately regretted it but I couldn't stop. After three cigarettes I texted Troy to come help me. I physically could not stop.
I sat there on top of the slide where me and Troy met just smoking cigarette after cigarette and crying my eyes out wanting to stop but having no control. My hands were trembling. That was probably the worst anxiety attack I've ever experienced. When Troy finally got there he took me into his arms and held me like he'd never let go. I soaked his grey hoodie with my tears but he didn't even seem to mind. He didn't even say anything until I could breathe steadily enough to say something to him.
"I'm here." He finally said. "You're okay."
I've known since that night that I love him.
I await Troy at the park sitting at the top of our slide hoping that no kids wander along. Only the sound of crickets are heard around me until the faint sound of a skateboard starts getting closer. That's him.
I stand up and walk down the slide, readying myself. I have no clue as to what I'm going to say, but I can't keep going on everyday just pretending that I don't want him. I want him so badly.
"Hey." he stops under a street lamp, kicks his skateboard up into his hand and sets it down in the grass as he begins walking over to me.
"Jordyn?" He asks. I'm frozen in place. No, it's now or never. I take strides towards the boy. "Hey, what did you-" I cut him off with my lips. He's tense at first, but quickly relaxes into my lips and they start to move in harmony. He slowly takes one hand to my cheek and the other towards the back of my head, stroking his fingers gently through my hair. I get utterly lost. I don't know how much time we spend with our lips locked, but I love every second of it. Finally, we both pull away to find each other smiling.
"I didn't know if you were ready to-" Troy breathes. "Wow." His smile only grows.
"I'm better now. Really." I smile. "I'm ready for us."
"Well, then I am too."
B R I N L E Y
point of view
September 9th, 2019
"so kids." My mom had dragged us all into the living room again for another family meeting at 8am after she got back from the doctor. "We found out that it's not quadruplets... it's twins!"
My face slightly lights up. "So... does this mean we get to stay in the valley?"
"No, honey." She sighs. "I still want to be with your father for two babies at a time." I sink back down into the couch again.
"Does this mean you guys are getting married again too?" I ask, "Did you guys even ever truly get a divorce? I'm confused."
"We never really got a divorce. We got the papers and everything but neither one of us could bring ourselves to sign them." She explains. "So technically all this time we've still been married, yes. And now we're just going back on the road with him."
"I don't know how you expect me to just leave behind my life Ive rebuilt here." I cross my arms.
"Brinley, this may come as a shock, but the world does not revolve around you." My mom says.
I give an over exaggerated and sarcastic gasp and let my face fall annoyed once more. "I had no idea."
"As rude as Brinley is being about this," Jordyn turns her head towards me and eyes me. "I too want to stay. I used to think I didn't really belong anywhere, but i've actually made a few friends at school, and I have a boyfriend now. This is where we belong."
"Yes!" I wave a hand at Jordyn in agreement with her statement and look back at my mom before her words sink in. "Wait." I whip my head back around. "You have a boyfriend since when?"
"Technically three days ago... but it's kind of been for while." She explains.
"I'm kind of mad at you." I chuckle.
"Why?"
"I told you everything about Benny, yet I don't even know your apparent boyfriend's name, much less that you even had a boyfriend." I smile and shake my head.
"Bullshit, Brinley." Jordyn rolls her eyes. "You basically denied your feelings towards Benny until you were dating."
"Okay," my mom interrupts. "That's enough you two. But Jordyn, since your dad isn't here right now I'll have to meet the boy before you can keep seeing him."
"Oh, my God, okay." Jordyn shakes her head, annoyed.
"What's his name?" Evelyn asks.
"Troy." Jordyn replies.
"Oh, I do remember you mentioning a Troy one time..." I say. "Is he the one helping you get better?" It was no secret to anyone in my family at that point that Jordyn had indeed been smoking in the past and had great issues with it. Even my mom knows. Come to think of it, Jordyn hasn't come home smelling like smoke in weeks. Whoever Troy is... i think I approve.
"Yeah... he really has been helping." Jordyn looks towards my mom.
-
Still, the one thing that i'm dreading the most circles in my mind. I'm moving away again. And I have to tell Benny soon. Right now DeNunez is the only one that knows.
"Something on your mind?" Benny asks me, placing his hand on mine. We'd been sitting on my roof waiting for the sun to set.
"No," I lie, "Nothing at all." I avoid his eyes knowing that he'll see right through me.
"You just looked like you were deep in thought." He shrugs. I don't say anything back. Neither one of us say anything for minutes.
"One day I want to get out of the valley." Benny finally speaks.
"Why?" I ask. "Well, I suppose you'll be a baseball star, traveling all over the place."
"No." He shakes his head slightly. "I mean, maybe. I hope so. But I meant like... I want to see things and have experiences."
"I like the valley..." I smile. "I feel safe here. At home."
"I guess you've had your share of traveling, huh." Benny chuckles.
"Yeah." I smile. "But it's not only that. Most of the places I've traveled to were small nothing towns filled with close-minded and shallow people. Plus, I was practically dragged. I always dreamed of the day I'd get to come back to the Valley."
"You missed me." Benny grins and leans down to crash his lips on mine.
"oh, not everything is about you, Rodriguez." I giggle and push him away slightly before he looks deep into my soul with those rich brown eyes once again and an adoring smile set upon his face and I pull him back in for another kiss.
"Hm." He he smirks. "You sure about that?"
"I missed all the guys, too." I shrug. He eyes me. "Okay, maybe not as much as i missed you. But still a fair amount."
"all I can say is there's nothing in the world that can make me happier than the fact that I get to be your boyfriend." Benny says. "I always felt a deep connection to you when we were younger but I never knew how much I'd depend on you for everything. You smile, I smile. You're upset about something, I get upset about the same thing for you. You're the most important thing in the world to me, and I'm so happy that you're staying in the valley now. We can go through all of high school together and walk across that graduation stage hand on hand. Who knows where life will take us after that, but I'm confident we'll always be together." He takes his hand and tucks a few strands of hair behind my ear.
I was going to tell him tonight. But it's like he knew. It's almost like said all of that to make me feel worse about moving away again. I shut my eyes tightly and sigh.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"Fine." I reply. "I think i know why I love it here so much. It's not so much the place... it's being with you." I move over and position my legs so they're laying across Benny's and it's almost like he's cradling me. I rest my head on his shoulder. "I think you're my home."
"There's not a single doubt in my mind that you're my home as well." He says, his body vibrates against my ear with every word.
"I was numb for so long before I came back here." I admit. "You made me feel things again. You made me feel like that child I once was and you knew with hope in her heart. You made me feel alive again. Like I wasn't just going through the motions, but really living. It's you. It always has been and always will be you, Benny."
"It's you and me, okay?" Benny strokes his fingers through my hair gently. I love him. I do. I know I do because when I look at him and I'm around him it's like nothing else matters.
-
omg i'm sorry I know it took me FOREVER to update but here's this weird chapter. The dates jump all over the place and I hate it I wish I would've built up what Jordyn and Troy have over time but whatever i wasn't thinking about that haha
anyways hope you enjoyed this :) please let me know if you like seeing other povs like Jordyn and kind of background to her life and stuff or I should just stick with Brinley and Benny.
love y'all!
published: 5/17/21♡