Love and Truth

By Kathryn Perez

Eighteen year old Nicole Harrison spent her high school years devoted to academics and dance leaving little time for a life, let alone a boyfriend. After years of dreaming, she boldly leaves her world behind in order to expand her dancing abilities and horizon in Okinawa, Japan. 

After a bad break-up that left him reeling, American born Jonathan Hayes has immersed himself in a playboy lifestyle in his mother's home country of Japan. That is, until the night he sees the beautiful and innocent Nicole on the balcony of his neighbor's home. One chance moment and one unexpected girl causes Jonathan to question his bad boy ways once and for all. 

As Nicole learns to navigate an unfamiliar country, can she also learn to navigate a complex relationship? And will Jonathan's past continue to catch up with him, or will he be able to show Nicole the truth of loyal love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kathryn Perez
• Release date: Oct 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502563019

Kathryn Perez

Kathryn lives with her husband and two children in her hometown in East Texas. She's a self-proclaimed book junkie and music infused writer.

Book preview

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Love & Truth

Copyright © 2014 by Kathryn Perez

Cover design by Sarah Hansen of Okaycreations.net

Interior book design by JT Formatting

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Title Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

MOM FLIPPED ON the light in my room. Wake up, Nicole! She shuffled around, picking up the cap and gown I’d left on the floor the night before. How many times are you going to hit the snooze button this morning?

Last night, I had practically collapsed, exhausted from all the festivities my family felt necessary for my celebration. An outsider would think that I had just graduated from Harvard Law or something. It was just high school graduation, but all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents came in for the occasion. Mom made a huge spread and threw an elaborate party. While my friends were celebrating around bonfires and drinking from kegs, I was here with my family, drinking punch and listening to Gran talk about how fast time has flown by.

I may have been disinterested in this party, but I loved when Gran visited. Ever since I was a little girl, she’s mesmerized me. It seemed as though she could do anything and she always did everything well. She could plant the best flowerbeds and vegetable gardens and had the most perfectly manicured lawn on the block. She had been divorced three times and often told me that ‘a strong woman doesn’t need a man for anything, but if a good one comes along, hold on tight.’

She lovingly called me Nicole Ray or Honey Bunch. She loved the outdoors and lived on a gorgeous piece of Texas lakefront property, where she taught me how to water ski, fish, and swim. She drove a sports car and liked to dress to the nines. I was fully convinced that my gran was invincible, and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. Listening to her talk last night about my love of Texas horny toads, frogs, and lizards made me smile, because I remembered how much my dad hated me touching all of those critters. But my gran would just wink and smile.

All of that had changed now. I was all grown up, so searching for critters under rocks was in the distant past. I spent the last four years playing the good girl, walking the straight and narrow by spending my time studying or at the local dance studio. My dad started me dancing when I was two years old. He called me his princess ballerina. I loved it and used to scream when it was time to take off my tutu. I wore it so often that my mom used to hide it.

Dance and music became part of me. I branched out, taking many styles of dance through the years, even though my teachers and father insisted I focus on ballet. To tell the truth, ballet was not my favorite. I could get lost in contemporary dance, feeling the lyrics and pouring my emotions into my movements, the music as my guide. Jazz was electrifying and I loved just letting go. Ballet was so reserved by comparison, so controlled, just like my life. I wanted to be free, I wanted to let go, but that was not acceptable. Even though that was mostly my choice, I really didn’t think that my parents would let it be any other way. I spent my nights and weekends in the studio, and fit in my homework whenever possible. Other girls came into class on Monday mornings talking about shopping at the mall and the hot guys they saw at weekend parties. I always felt like an outsider. I wasn’t unpopular and I had friends, but my life revolved around school and dance. My friend, Annie, was the only person that really knew me outside of school or the studio, and we had been friends since preschool.

Growing up in our tiny East Texas town, you were certain to end up graduating with the same people you played puzzles with back in Miss Janine’s preschool class. Everyone knew everyone, which made for some good gossip, that’s for sure. Annie had been upset, but not surprised that I was skipping all of the after-graduation parties. I think she was hoping that since high school was over, maybe things would change a little.

No such luck.

It was 7 a.m. on Saturday, the morning after graduation, and I had to go into the studio for five hours. Unlike my peers, who were probably hung over and asleep, I was eating a banana and drinking a protein shake, listening to my mom go on about how old she felt having a high school graduate for a daughter.

I can’t believe it, Nic. It’s hard to believe that just eighteen years ago, you were a tiny baby in my arms.

I didn’t see what the big deal was.

Mom, you’re not old. You still look great and you did a good job raising me. Isn’t that the upside?

Nic, you’re too sweet, even though I don’t agree.

Ever since my parents divorced last year, she was totally self-deprecating.

I was dumbfounded when I heard they were divorcing. They moved on so effortlessly that I was confused. This wasn’t how my friends described their parents’ divorces. It seemed normal for Mom and Dad, so painless. I rarely saw my dad any more. He came to my graduation ceremony and gave me a gift, but that was it. I was headed to his house tonight to stay for the remainder of the weekend. Other than random comments here and there, Mom continued on as if everything was fine. All the while, I felt like I lost my whole family.

My mom went on being supermom, going to every school event and field trip, sitting on the school PTO board, and volunteering in my classes. She was the Martha Stewart of moms, baking, cleaning, and doing crafts. My gran raised her, and that meant always striving for domestic perfection. As a little girl, I thought Mom had super powers, because she could do anything she set her mind to, just like Gran.

My dad had a girlfriend now, and I was not her biggest fan. My dad knew. He made sure she wasn’t around when I’d visit, and I never asked about her. That was just a subject that I preferred to stay away from.

I threw my banana peel away, ran to the bathroom, and swept my long, thick brown hair into a tight bun. I threw on a leotard and tights, a pair of sweats, and my dance jacket. There was no need for makeup; I would just sweat it off during the five hours of dancing. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I never thought about guys. They were a distraction I couldn’t afford anyway. Dance took up all my time, and boys were time-consuming. I watched many friends be overtaken by a relationship; it was nauseating.

I put on my shoes and opened the front door.

Bye, Mom, I hollered. I’m headed to the studio and I’m going to stay at Dad’s. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Have a good practice, she yelled back. Say hello to your father. It was too weird! It was like they were buddies or something. She always said to say hello, and I never did.

The studio was alive with people rustling around and getting ready for class. Some of the dance moms were huddled together, probably secretly thinking up new ways to stab each other in the back or make their kids better than the others. The rest of the moms were reading books or chatting up friends. There are two types: the normal moms of the studio who are genuinely nice to each other and purely supportive of their kids and their dancing, and the ego maniacs that live vicariously through their children.

My mom is neither, because she never comes to the studio any more, not since the divorce.

I changed out of my sweats and jacket, put on my jazz shoes, and headed into Studio A where my teacher, Ms. Jenny, was waiting for me to show up for my private.

Hey, Nicole! How was graduation?

Hi, Ms. Jenny. It was okay. Nothing spectacular.

Only you would be unenthusiastic about high school graduation, she said, laughing.

I shrugged and started warming up. I didn’t know what she meant.

Nicole, did you even go to any after-parties?

Here we go. She sounded just like Annie, who was probably hung over. I hadn’t heard from her today, but seeing as how it was still early, she was surely sleeping off her partying.

No, Ms. Jenny. I didn’t go out. I had to be up early for practice this morning, and I knew it was best to stay home. Plus Mom and the family had a party for me.

You know, you could have scheduled your private for another day. I was confused when I saw it on the books.

I knew she meant well, but it really didn’t matter to me what day it was. This was my routine and I always stuck to it, whether it was graduation or not.

It’s fine. Really, Ms. Jenny. You know this is where I would rather be anyway. This is my second home.

She smiled and pressed play on the stereo system. Alicia Keys’ velvety voice flowed through the room and my heart smiled. I loved everything about the studio: the music, the smell, the mirrored walls staring back at me, showing me all I could be. We warmed up and the hard work began. My private sessions were so I could concentrate on my technique and improve on any weaknesses. My dad always pushed me to be the best and told me never to settle for less.

Perfection is not attainable, he used to say, quoting Vince Lombardi, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. So, I strived to catch excellence in every competition and every recital.

As I stretched, it hit me that this was my last week at the studio. It had been my second home for so long and I was going to miss it dearly. I was leaving for Japan in a week, and I’d been so focused on exams and finishing school, I hadn’t realized how fast that day was approaching.

Everyone had expected me to go to Julliard or some other prestigious performing arts school, but for once, I decided to think outside the box.

I was born in Okinawa. My dad was a government contractor and had worked overseas on the Japanese island, where I was born at a Naval Hospital. I was only six months old when we moved back to the States, but I always wanted to visit the place where I was born. At the beginning of my senior year, I began researching dance academies and host family programs overseas.

Of course, Annie thought I had fallen off the deep end.

Holy Santa Claus shit, Nic! she screamed. Japan? What the fuck for?

I want to see where I was born. I’ve read a lot about it and you should see this place. It’s magnificent, truly beautiful.

Nic, there are plenty of fucking beautiful places right here in America. You don’t have to go traipsing off to Tokyo. I get that you were born there, but you only lived there for six months. Actually, no you didn’t. You ate, slept, shit, and then ate, slept and shit some more. That’s all you did. You were a baby! It’s not like you’re going to go back and reminisce about your childhood.

First of all, it’s Okinawa, not Tokyo. And yeah, you’re right, but it’s still my birthplace. Plus it’s exotic and the culture is amazing. I’ve lived my entire life in a perfect little box, all wrapped nicely with a pretty bow on top. I’m ready to rip that shit off and go out in the world to see new things and meet new people. I want to find myself.

She didn’t argue any more but she did put one last bit of wisdom into the mix. "Okay, I can see that you’re set on this bat shit crazy adventure. You want to go Eat Love Pray, I can follow that. But for the love of baby Jesus, please get laid while you’re there. Then, as soon as you do, I want a full report. There are military guys all over that place. It’s probably like a hot guy convention on a daily basis, and you know those Marines are just dripping with sex appeal. Actually, the more I think about it, the more jealous I am that you and your fine ass will be over there for a year soaking up the sand and sun with The Few and The Proud."

Really, I’m not going there to have sex with a bunch of jarheads. I’m going there to learn about a new culture and to dance. That’s it. You know how I feel about the whole relationship scene, it’s not for me.

Nic, holy hell, it’s not the end of the world to like a guy. If you tried it, you might actually enjoy the company of the opposite sex.

Maybe one day, I said.

I loved Annie and her X-rated mouth. She was funny as hell and never afraid to say what was on her mind. She had a heart the size of Texas and I could always count on her. For some reason, she was fascinated with my nonexistent sex life. Not that she had much experience in that area, either. She had done it with one guy and now she acted like Dr. Ruth.

But that was the last thing on my mind. Once I started reading about Japan, I knew it was what I wanted.

The conversation with my parents not only stunned them, but me as well.

If you think that I’m allowing my teenage daughter to live overseas, my dad said, you’re out of your ever-loving mind.

For her part, my mom shook her head silently.

Dad, Mom, I love you both, but this is my decision. I’ve never given you any reason to not trust me. I’ve earned this and I want this.

Nicole, I know you’re responsible and I know you’re trustworthy, my dad said. What you don’t understand is that this world is unsafe and you’re a beautiful young woman who’s vulnerable to the crazy people out there. You’ve never been away from home for longer than a few weeks for summer dance camps. There’s a hell of a lot more for me to fear for you than whether you’re going to be responsible or not.

I knew right away this was going to be a tough sell, but the look on my dad’s face told me it would be harder than I originally thought.

Dad, I’m not going to be alone. I’ll live with a host family. People do it all of the time. Just like exchange students.

His brow creased and he rubbed his temples. Nic, I just—

Bradley, I think we should let her do this, my mom interjected. She’s apparently thought a lot about this and she has her mind made up. She is a good girl and we shouldn’t stand in her way. As long as we ensure that she’s placed with a stable family, I think we should let her go.

My jaw dropped in disbelief as she rendered me temporarily speechless.

Lara, I don’t believe you’re gonna undermine me in front of Nicole, he said, shaking his head. You never cease to amaze me lately, you know that? I had seen this look before. He stormed out the front door and we heard his truck’s tires squeal out of the driveway.

Mom, what’s going on with you and Dad? I asked. You’ve been weird lately and I’ve never heard him yell at you like that before. I’m really sorry, this is my fault, I said as tears started running down my face. She got up and put her arms around me.

Honey, your father and I are going through some stuff right now. It’s not your fault in the least. I looked up at her eyes and could see that she was distraught.

What do you mean, Mom?

Nicole, your father and I are getting a divorce. We were trying to wait until after your big dance competition to tell you, because we didn’t want you to be distracted.

I stared into my lap. I couldn’t look at her any more.

That was the day my idea of true love changed. It was the day my family cracked in half. In the end, my dad relented. I think he felt like he had no choice, because my mom had already agreed to it. The wheels were set in motion and he was powerless to stop them.

NICOLE, I CAN’T believe you’re flying off to fucking China, Annie whined. Just like that, to live with strangers, meditate, drink gallons of shitty green tea, and eat rice, noodles and raw fish every day.

I laughed. Annie, I’m going to Japan, not China. And they don’t just eat sushi and ramen noodles there, you know? How stereotypical can you be?

I rolled my eyes and continued packing for my trip. Annie sat in my wicker chair with her legs crossed, watching me.

Well, it’s just weird. I mean, what if you don’t like these people? Then you’re stuck living with them for a freaking year. I mean, you’ve got to have some reservations about this. Not to sound like a shitty friend or a bitch, but you’re not the most experienced person. You’ve lived a pretty damn sheltered existence. Now you’re getting on a plane and flying off to China or Japan or whatever—to another country that doesn’t speak English and writes in symbols! I’m just worried about you, that’s all.

I looked at her and smiled. Annie was the best friend I ever had, but she could really get on my nerves. Still, I appreciated her concern.

"I’ve researched my host family well and video chatted with them several times. I’ve told you this. I feel comfortable with them, and their seventeen-year-old daughter is so excited to have an American come to live with them. She wants to learn more about American culture and she said she always wanted a sister. To tell you the truth, I always wished I had siblings too. And you already know her parents are both fluent in English! The mother is an English teacher at a local high school so communication won’t be a problem.

Annie, I’m tired of being predictable, tired of being good girl Nicole. You’re always telling me how I’m not a normal teenager and how you wish I’d loosen up and be more outgoing. So here I am, being loose and outgoing. I folded a shirt and shoved it into my suitcase hastily. I couldn’t believe her. Now that I was trying something new, she was being hyper-critical.

She got up from the chair and grabbed my arm. Nicole, I love you. You know that. You’re my best friend. I guess I was just hoping you’d change your mind. I want to support you in this. I really do. I’m just going to miss the shit out of you, that’s all. How am I going to survive without seeing your face every day? She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

Okay, none of this, I said. You cannot cry. Because if you cry, then I’m required to cry, too. So dry it up and help me pack because I’m trying to fit an entire wardrobe into three mid-sized suitcases.

We laughed and she picked up a shirt and started folding it. I was grateful for the help. The only thing I loved as much as dance and music was clothes. Even though I did most of my shopping online, I had tons of clothes and shoes. I had no idea how to fit everything in my suitcases, but I was sure going to try.

Nicole Harrison! Annie gasped and held up a pair of my panties. Why in the name of God do you wear these ugly ass granny panties? I swear, it looks like you could parachute from the Dallas Lincoln Plaza with these. Why don’t you get online and order some panties that don’t look like they came from your gran’s drawer?

I shook my head again. She could be so stubborn. Annie, I’m sorry if the idea of walking around with a tiny strip of dental floss up my ass is not appealing to me. They’re comfortable. Why does it matter? No one but me sees them anyway. Seems like a waste of money.

She didn’t say anything and I was thankful. We finished packing and I checked my phone. Dad knew I was leaving today but he wasn’t riding with us, so I sent him a text.

Me: I’m all packed up and we are heading out to the airport soon. Make sure you get there in time for me to say bye to u. K, luv u! :)

He replied a minute later.

Dad: Yes,