“Sweetie, I’m heading out to the mall for a brunch with Katie. Love you,” she yelled as she closed the back door. A few seconds later, I heard the garage door open and the sound of her green Explore, which we call Eddie, cranking up before pulling out of the driveway.

“Finally got the house to myself,” I muttered as I got up from the couch where I had been reading a fantasy book and eating some chips: my usual Sunday mid-day schedule. This is what happens when you’re a senior without a boyfriend, you’re best friend lives ten miles away, and your mom took the only car in the house out for a drive. I decided I might as well call Sarah’s cell if I couldn’t come over to her house.

“Hello,” she answered cheerfully.

“Hey Sarah, its Jess,” I responded.

“Done playing Guitar Hero already,” she asked jokingly.

“Ha ha ha. I was actually reading my book,” I said, knowing Sarah was probably rolling her eyes right now. “Besides, Guitar Hero is for Saturday afternoons,” I added, causing the both of us to crack up laughing.”

“Seriously, Jess, you need a boyfriend badly. You just can’t waste your time playing video games...Oh, I got an idea!”

“Suddenly, I feel very scared.”

“Shut up. This one really is good.” This time it was me who rolled their eyes. Sarah has a tendency to craft bizarre plans that don’t turn out how she expected them to ninety-nine percent of the time. “David can bring one of his friends from Columbus High over to that new pizza place and we can have a double date!” David was her boyfriend of three years now.

“All the guys at that school, except for David of course, are jerks and snobs who think they can get whatever they want all because their family is rich.” I can’t even count how many stories I’ve heard about girls like Sarah and I from Columbus’s sister school go out on a date with one of those losers and come back crying about the things they tried to pull on them. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re all a bunch of donkeys.”

“Yeah. Most of them are jack asses, but I’m sure at least one of David’s friends is reasonable enough.”

“Don’t think so. Why did our parents even sign us up for a stupid all-girl private school to begin with? More importantly though, why did we even agree to go to St. Luke’s?”

“I ask myself the same question everyday. I wish I was in public school so I could have gym class with some hot guys.”

“Um hello? Did somebody forget a tall, brown-haired, straight A student who happens to be your boyfriend?”

“No, but it wouldn’t be so bad seeing guys other than David more often.”

“I agree with you there.”

We continued talking on the phone until my mom came back and told me she had something important to tell me so I had better hang up the phone. I walked into the kitchen and helped her unpack the groceries which consisted of salad mixes, peanut butter, jelly, bread, chicken noodle soup, and frozen egg rolls-my favorite.

“So what did you call me in for,” I asked, not particularly eager to hear her answer. It was bound to be something bad.

“Do you remember meeting Katie,” she questioned, avoiding my own query.

“I think so. Isn’t she one of your co-workers from Boston University who came to our Christmas party with dark Sak Fifth Avenue boots,” I guessed. My mom’s only been working there as a professor for two years, but she has made so many friends there it was hard to keep track of them. I tend to use a strategy of identifiying names and faces to whatever they were wearing at my mom's latest party.

“That’s her.” Looks like my strategy works.

“Okay. What about her? Is she quitting? Has she put highlights in her hair? What?”

“No, she’s not quitting and her hair is still jet black. I called you over to discuss…something…the both thought would be a good idea.” If she was having difficulties finding the right words, I was in deeper trouble than I thought. I sighed.

“What were you…discussing?”

“Well, Katie and I were talking about how much potential you have, how pretty you are, and how smart you are.”

“That’s great. Did you guys decide to sign me up for some beauty pageant then? Frankly, I don’t think I’ll make it past auditions, but I;m game if you are.” She frowned at my sarcasm.

“Although I think you are gorgeous and would definitely place first in any beauty contest, that is not what we were aiming at.”

“You want me to be a model?” I was still joking around, but I think my mom thought I was being serious. She took a long breath and straightened her back.

“Katie has a son around your age; I think he turned eighteen last June.”

“He’s a freshman in college? Does he go to BU?” From the sharp glance she shot at me, I figured she didn’t appreciate my interruption and I decided to keep my trap closed until she was officially finished.

“He’s a freshman at Harvard.” I raised my eyebrows, but kept my mouth closed. “Justin-that’s his name- is tall, handsome, and extremely smart as I’m sure you’ve already concluded. He’s single too.”

Another hook-up? Do I look that desperate to people? I couldn’t help speaking up again. “Mom, I know I haven’t been dating in a while, but you don’t have to worry. Sarah has already offered to help me find a boyfriend. I can call her back right now and tell her I changed my mind.” Mom shook her head slowly.

“Honey, you haven’t even had your first kiss yet and you’ll be graduating from high school in three months. I thought it was time for me to intervene a little bit and give you a tiny push.”

“What does that mean? You already set up a first date?”

“Something like that.” I waited for her to continue. “Katie and I have arranged for you and Justin to get married. Not now. Most likely you’d wed after you graduate from college.” She rushed through the whole last bit that I almost missed it all.

“You’re joking right?” I laughed and playfully hit her shoulder. “You’re a little late on the April Fool’s trick there. I’ll admit that you almost had me going there.” Wait, why wasn’t she laughing?

“This isn’t a joke sweetie.” For some reason, what she was trying to tell me just wouldn’t click. This had to be a joke. It had to be. From her facial expression, I could tell that she wasn’t messing around which only made me angry.

“Mom, what were you thinking?! For all you know, I could have had boyfriends galore in college. How could you make a choice like that without me?” Mom was in the process of answering me, but I cut her off. “It’s 2008 Mom! We don’t do that kind of junk anymore. People marry who they want!”

“He’s not that bad of a person, Jess.” Her current composed, relaxed mood only irritated me further.

“I don’t care if Bob or whatever-his-name-is is a nice guy or not! Call Katie right now and say you changed your mind. Tell her to forget this whole marriage thing.”

“Calm down.” She tried to grab my arm, but I yanked it away, too upset to be touched. “I’m sorry Jess but I can’t take it back.”

“Why the hell not? Just lie and say you were extremley drunk and had no clue what you were doing."

Looking at the floor, she responded. “I signed a paper saying that I was okay with the arrangements.” That was the last straw, and I ran out of the kitchen without a second glance back. “I only did it for your own good. I didn't want you to grow up alone." I think I heard her say "like me" aftereards, but I was already out the front door by that time. I didn't know nor care where I was headed; I just needed to get the heck out of here.

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Weird story, I know, but I promise it will get more exciting next chapter. Please review so I can tell if I should keep writing more! Thanks :)