Life Matters - Book 3: Life Matters, #3

By M.L. Stimpson

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults.

Between Friends - After a night of drinking with friends, Mika, a senior, faces the consequences as she finds out that she is pregnant by Raphael. His reaction leads Mika to believe that the best thing to do is terminate the pregnancy. Later, Raphael apologizes, but is he too late?

Broken Promises - Rachel’s boring social life gets a boost when she meets Isaac, but he soon leads her into a world that Rachel never dreamed she would enter.

A Night to Remember - Kasey and Lydia have been friends since elementary school, but their friendship is tested when a handsome, dangerous guy turns them against each other.

Ready for a Change - Kadarius Johnson can’t wait to turn 18 so he can drop out of school. His first obstacle, however, is to squash the beef with J.T. before someone gets hurt.

The Brink of Day - Day doesn't want any trouble, but apparently Justin and his friends do. When the vice principal offers little help, Day wonders if his martial arts training will finally come in handy. This fiction/non-fiction-style hybrid release offers a chance to explore a short story plus think critically about media commentary.

A Secret Between Sisters - Kim's mother's boyfriend, Joe, looked like trouble from the start. Can Kim protect herself and her little sister from Joe's advances?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Right Track Academic Support Services
• Release date: May 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513068480

Book preview

Between Friends

Mika wiped her eyes dry and got ready for school. She had to carry on until she knew for sure whether or not she was pregnant. Mika ate her second cereal bar while she waited for her friend, Elisia, to arrive. She could only hope her increased appetite was a result of nervousness.

As usual, Elisia picked Mika up for school in the green Nissan Altima that her doting big brother, Chris, had given her for her 18th birthday only a month ago.

So? Elisia asked as Mika hopped in the front seat.

Still don’t know, Mika sighed.

Okay, we’re going through with the plan, Elisia said. We’re gonna go the store to get the test. Then we’ll go to our morning classes because I’ve got that exam in English that I can’t miss. We’ll sneak off campus at lunch time, skip the afternoon classes so we can go back to my house and you can take the test and find out if you’re pregnant.

I don’t want to take the test, Mika declined. Let’s wait another week.

"That’s what you said last week, Elisia said as she turned left onto Bradley Street and headed toward school. We’ve got to know for sure."

I don’t need to be skipping any more classes, Mika said, I’m gonna have a lot of make-up work to do. My grades are going down.

Hey, Elisia reasoned with her, that’s because you haven’t been doing your work in any classes for the past few weeks. You’ve been worried to death about whether or not you’re pregnant. You have to find out, Mika. It’s not gonna go away.

Maybe it’s not there. Mika tried to give herself a ray of hope.

Well, there’s only one way to find out.

––––––––

Right after fourth period, Elisia and Mika left the campus as though they were co-op students. Mika sat in the car as Elisia went in to buy the pregnancy test. Moments later, Elisia gave Mika the ‘thumbs up’ as she came out of the store with a package under her arm. Elisia smiled. Mika couldn’t help but smile back. Elisia was always cheerful.

Girl, Elisia remarked as she started the car, that thing was almost thirteen dollars! She casually tossed the package to Mika.

I owe you one, Mika sighed as she took hold of the box.

"No, you owe me thirteen!"

Mika turned on the radio and tried to take her mind off what was happening. She wished she could go back and replay the Saturday that started this whole mess. It was supposed to be one of the best days of her life – Elisia’s 18th birthday party – at the Summit Suites downtown. Chris rented a room and threw Elisia a big bash. The only problem was: Chris wouldn’t let anyone drink alcohol in the hotel room because, for the most part, their friends were under 21.

This didn’t pose too much of a problem because many of their friends didn’t drink, and the ones who did would just get their drink on before they came to the party. Chris really didn’t care what they did outside of the hotel room, so long as he wasn’t the one distributing the alcohol.

Mika was a casual drinker. She drank on special occasions. At first, she was a little disappointed that Chris was being so strict about the alcohol, but after their friends, Eric and Raphael, told Mika she could just meet them in the parking lot and drink in the car with them, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

That night, Mika made the first few trips downstairs to the car with either Felecia or Maria. After the second trip, Eric decided to come into the party with them while Raphael remained behind. A little after midnight, Eric began to worry about Raphael

Hey, he said to Mika on the dance floor, I’m gonna go check on Raphael. He hasn’t come into the party all night.

Youuuu’re right. Mika’s slurred speech seemed comical. She laughed at herself. Wait a minute, y’all got any of some more of that gin in the trunk?

Yeah, I think so.

I neeeeeed onliest one more of that gin. She grinned.

Help yourself, Eric smiled at her. And bring Raphael back up with you.

Okey-dokey. Mika gave him a full smile and raised her right hand just above her eyebrow to salute him.

In all honesty, Mika didn’t remember much of what happened once she got back in the car with Raphael. She started out by asking him if there was more gin. They laughed. They kissed. One thing led to another and another and now to all of this mess, skipping school with her best friend to take a pregnancy test and find out if the rest of her life was going to be forever altered by the events of one Saturday night.

Have you told him? Elisia asked.

Huh? Mika jumped out of her memories. Told who what?

Have you told Raphael?

No. She shook her head. I don’t want to get him all worried for nothing.

Well, you’re worrying, aren’t you?

Yeah. You know I am.

"Okay, well...he needs to be worrying,