TOUR DATE
April 27-May 10, 2015
From
Chapter 3
Jeremy
texted me about an hour ago, asking to meet at the bot- tom of The
Barclay Bowl run. I stack my skis and poles in the stand outside the
lodge. Quarter-size snowflakes drift through the air. I squint into
the sun and follow the well-packed path towards Barclay. The slopes
are still crowded—everyone’s trying to squeeze in a few more runs
before the sun slips behind the hill.
My
heart quivers when I see Jeremy standing in the shade of a
thirty-foot Jack pine, leaning on his snowboard. I wave, but he’s
too busy texting to notice me. Who is he texting?
“Hey
Jeremy,” I call.
He
holds up one finger to me, like my mom does when she’s on the
phone. My heart sinks. A minute goes by before he smirks and stuffs
the phone in his pocket. He faces me and his smile lifts my spirits.
“Hey
Julia,” he says. He sounds serious—or something. I jam my hands
into my jacket pockets. I would’ve worn my mitts, but they are
soaked from my spills on the hill.
“How
were the black diamonds?” I ask.
“Awesome.
I smoked everyone up there.”
“Oh.
Good. I graduated off the bunny hill. I even did a few greens and
only fell twice. And look no broken bones.” I hold out my arms for
his inspection. His eyebrows rise as he gives me a cursory glance.
“Remember? Last time I went skiing, when I was eight—I broke my
wrist,” I explain.
“Right,”
he says and clears his throat, resting his snow- board against the
pine tree. “Listen, Julia, I wanted to talk to you about
something.”
The
wind picks up and snowflakes swirl around us, blowing my long bangs
across my face. I tuck my curls under the edge of my toque, so I can
see Jeremy. I cup my frozen, angry red hands in front of my mouth,
blowing hot air into them. It doesn’t help, so I stuff them back
into my pockets.
He
tugs me into his chest. “Tonight’s the night.” His mouthcrashes
down on mine. I try to respond, but my lips are so cold they barely
move. They ache under the weight of his lips. He pulls back, his
smile tight.
“What’s
wrong?” “Nothing. I’m just cold.”
“You
won’t be for long. Once we’re back at the chalet, I’ll get you
hot.” His lips caress my neck. “I need you, Julia. So much.”
Shivers rush down my shoulders, spreading over my body.
I
toss my head back, close my eyes, and sink into his embrace.
“Tonight,
we’re going to finally do it,” he murmurs; his voice is low,
husky. My eyes flash open. The tiny hairs at the back of my neck
prickle as I untangle myself from his arms, pushing him away.
“Wait,”
I say, fighting to comprehend what he’s saying. My hands rise in
front of me in the international accepted sign for “stop right
there, mister,” preventing him from saying any- thing more.
Jeremy
opens a tin of his signature extreme mints and pops a few in his
mouth. He crushes and swallows the tiny candies in seconds.
“Jeremy,”
I manage to whisper over the voice of panic that’s doing laps in my
head, “do you think we’re having sex—tonight?”
“Of
course. We’re out here, with no parents, it’s perfect.”
“But
Jeremy, I thought you understood.”
“I
do, and you wanting to wait to have sex is one of the best things
about you. It makes you special, but it’s been a long time. Now
we’re all the way out here…” his voice trails off as he runs
his hand through his dark blond hair. It stands on end, looking like
he just tumbled off a magazine spread. “And you do love me, don’t
you?”
“Love
you?” I say, pausing. We’ve never said that to each other before.
“Of course I do.”
“And
I love you.”
He
loves me. My breath catches. But I’m still not ready. I
blink fast to stop the tears that gather, preparing to spill. My
throat aches. I spin around, not able to look at him. Jeremy
coughs—quiet at first and then louder, continuing until I turn and
face him. He looks impatient. What am I sup- posed to do? Hot tears
slip down my face, stinging my wind- burnt cheeks.
I
try to speak, but all that comes out is a strangled, “I just
can’t.”
“Julia,
please don’t cry. Having sex is no big deal, really.
Everyone
does it. You need to get over your sex issues.” “I know, but I’m
just not—”
“Ready?
I know, you keep saying that, but we’ve been dating close to two
months and people who love each other have sex. Julia, I’ve been
really patient. And generous. Do you know how much this weekend
cost?”
“I—I—”
“You
know, Julia, people ask me what I see in you, and I always stick up
for you, saying how great you are. How we are meant to be together.
Maybe you don’t feel the same way I do.”
“Jeremy,”
I plead. “That’s not true.” “Maybe we need to take a break.”
“What?”
This
can not be happening! I’m 165 kilometres from home, being
dumped at the bottom of The Barclay Bowl run. How can this be
happening?
“No,
please Jeremy. You just said you love me.”
He
cringes and inhales. He holds it for one, two, three seconds. He
exhales and his spearmint breath stings my eyes.
“I
do love you, Julia. But I need to know for sure that you love me
back. I’ll give you some time to figure out what you’re willing
to put into our relationship.”
“What
does that mean?”
“It
means that you’re on your own tonight.” “But, I’m staying
with you—in the chalet.”
“I
don’t think that’s a good idea.” His grey eyes darken to near
black.
“You
can’t be serious?” Oh my God, where am I supposed to sleep?
I only have $40. This isn’t happening.
He
yanks me close. His face is an inch from mine. He huffs his anger
onto me.
“I
love you, Julia, but I need you to figure out how much you love me,
or we’re done. For good.”
My
stomach recoils and then collides with my sinking heart. Jeremy still
looks like his usual Tommy Hilfiger self, but I don’t feel those
dancing butterflies in my stomach when I look at him. I still feel
butterflies, but they aren’t in the mood for dancing. I turn my
head, but those butterflies are too fast. They race up my throat.
Macaroni and cheese splashes Jeremy’s brand new, first time worn,
Novella snowboarding boots. Four hundred and thirty bucks gone in one
KD barf.
Seriously
bad day.
you just never know who is going to be good with you or bad with you in life, but one thing is for sure love is definitely not dependent upon materialistic items or what one can offer. This book touches upon issues of social class and structure as well as psychological fears instilled via a partner in a domestic relationship. This is one of the best YA novels that I have read in a super long time! Carmichael definitely deserves a high rating for keeping in tune with reality as well as bringing meaning to what real good partners are not!
I rate this book a full five stars and recommend for all those that are dating age and up!
* I was given the book Forever Julia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and I have not been compensated for them.
·
JODI CARMICHAEL lives in Winnipeg where she can often be
found dancing in the living room with her two wildly imaginative daughters, her
patient and supportive husband, and a scruffy Border Terrier named Zoe. Jodi’s
previous book for young readers, Spaghetti Is NOT A Finger Food, won numerous
awards and has been a multi-week Bestseller.
Visit Jodi Carmichael at www.jodicarmichael.com
a physical copy
of
Forever Julia
by Jodi Carmichael
Winner Will Be Drawn
May 25, 2015
Thank you so much for such a powerful review. Writing Julia's story was at times very difficult, but I couldn't stop because the message was too important. Love is not abuse. Ever.
ReplyDeleteThis book really touched my heart! I can not tell you how important it is for books like this to be written! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThat is music to my ears!
Delete