P.A. Kurch - On the Plus Side

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Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kurch, P.A.

Title: On the plus side / P.A. Kurch.

Description: New York: West 44, 2020.

Identifiers: ISBN 9781538385173 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781538385180 (library bound) | ISBN 9781538385197 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Teenage pregnancy--Juvenile fiction. | Pregnant teenagers--Juvenile fiction. | Life change events--Juvenile fiction.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.K873 Wa 2020 | DDC [F]--dc23

First Edition

Published in 2020 by

Enslow Publishing LLC

101 West 23rd Street, Suite #240

New York, NY 10011

Copyright 2020 Enslow Publishing LLC

Editor: Caitie McAneney

Designer: Seth Hughes

Photo Credits: Cover (pregnancy test) Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com; cover (calendar) mizar_21984/Shutterstock.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Printed in the United States of America

CPSIA compliance information: Batch #CW20W44: For further information contact Enslow Publishing LLC, New York, New York at 1-800-542-2595.

For Yazenid

OCTOBER

CHAPTER ONE

There I was.

Bryan Parker. The smart kid. The quiet kid. The polite kid. The kid who was always asked to help out. Even though I was only seventeen years old, people always said I was going places.

I never got into trouble. I kept to myself. Getting into trouble wouldve killed me. It wouldve killed my teachers, too. And my parents! If I ever got in big trouble with them, well

My parents raised me to be responsible. They taught me to admit my mistakes and fix them. I always did that, without fail. My mother was tough on me. She grew up in Korea with a big family. She wanted me to go to college, something that she never got to do. And my dad! He had been to several colleges. Right now, he was even teaching at one.

As a kid, I knew I wanted to be smart. Just like him. So I stuck to school and excelled at everything I did. By seventeen, I applied to college. I was going to make video games someday. I was sure of it, and I was counting down the months until graduation and life starting.

But then Id remember my boring, quiet life in the suburbs. I loved the idea of living in a big city. It was always busy and loud. I could never be bored there.

I was an only child and for good reason. My mom had nine brothers and sisters. My dad had four. They loved the idea of a simpler life. They also loved having their attention all on metheir one child.

My dads parents were very tough on him growing up. He wasnt allowed to make mistakes. He couldnt get into trouble. So when I was born, he knew that he wanted different for me, and he would tell me this all the time. Dont ever be afraid to come to me, hed say. No matter how much trouble you find yourself in, Bryan.

I know I did well. I stayed out of trouble. I kept a small circle of friends. I made my parents happy.

Sometimes, my mom would get in a mood where shed yell at me. Maybe my essay for school wasnt quite finished. She was very serious about school. Id sit there and listen to her lecture me, and then my dad, minutes later, would come to my door. Dont worry about it, hed say.

He knew it was okay to take breaks sometimes. Hed invite me into the living room to play video games for a while. My mom would sigh, telling him it was waste of time. My dad would then very gently remind her, Hes only a kid once, Jin.

The argument would end there. Well. Maybe just for today, shed say. She knew I needed a break from schoolwork and a quiet life. And thats how it went, for years.

Alyssa Holbrook and Evan OReilly were my two best friends. Alyssa and I started dating when we were juniors. I had known her since kindergarten. She loved everything about law and politics. She wanted nothing more than to become a lawyer. I swear, with her brains and attitude, she could be president.

And Evan! He was a year behind us. He was the most lovable geek I ever knew. Comic books were his life.

Sometimes all three of us would play video games together. Those nights werent complete without lots of junk food. My mom would tell us how she hated junk food. Still, though, shed buy it for us. She knew we were safer inside. Away from all of the trouble happening outside.

And we kept out of trouble. For the most part.

I never said we were perfect.

I was a senior now. October had just started. Evan was finding his way through his junior year.

And Alyssa? Alyssa had recently moved a whole town over with her moms and little sister, Laura. She was now in an all-girls school, and she absolutely hated it. The only thing she did like was being on Student Council. She put all of her political knowledge to the test. Still, though, she missed being in school with us. We didnt see each other as much, either. Her mom had also recently divorced her dad and remarried. Alyssa hadnt been taking things well.

On top of that, shed just had a family wedding in Virginia. She had been gone for two weeks and was missing us even more. All of us had school in the morning, too. Her moms, though, started driving back a little too late. We texted back and forth, but that night, she sounded annoyed. She was quieter than usual, too. I didnt think much of it. Not at the time, at least.

Evan and I were in my room as we played games. Time passed slowly. We waited to hear from Alyssa. Just something to know that she got home safely.

The conversations that Evan and I had were usually stupid. That night, though, was different. Our talk was more serious. The questions were largely for memy plans for work and school and Alyssa. Graduation was eight months away. And poor Evan! He still had another year. He didnt hide his jealousy well. Or at all.

Dont you get it!? Evan yelled. Youre getting out soon!

I shook my head. Its not like were in a prison! I replied.

Evan disagreed. School seems like a prison, he mumbled.

We talked about other seniors in my class. Some just didnt care anymore. Not me, though. I kept busy. There was no room for mistakes. I just had to get into college so I could get out of here. I secretly worried about Evan. He had two older brothers who were super tough on him. Me and Alyssa were his only friends. Without us, hed be lost. High school wouldnt be the same for him next year.

Flashes of color lit up my room. Suddenly, we stopped talking, as we focused on our game. Finally, Evan spoke.

So what happens? After college? he asked. His eyes were locked on my TV. My eyes didnt move, either.

California. Maybe Toronto, I answered. Thats where the best games are made. I thought about my dream life for a moment. I lost my focus on the game. I stopped playing. I let Evan win.

He glanced at me, half happy, half annoyed, and he set his controller down.

I dont know what Im doing yet, Evan said, almost sadly.

Youve still got time, I replied. You have a whole nother year!

Evan threw up his hands. Easy for you to say! he shot back. Youve had your life planned out since, like, fourth grade.

First grade, actually, I joked. And I get your point.

My phone buzzed. Alyssas name appeared on the screen. Evan knew it was her.

And you two, he said. Youve liked her since the fourth grade.

I laughed. Wrong again, Evan. Kindergarten, at least.