The Flaws of Perfection

Thump. Thump. Thump. As the sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears, I stared intensely at the brightly colored, yellowish green tennis ball that was about to be served by the brown-haired girl standing diagonally across the court from me. As I waited, the blazing sun burned my back like coals set on fire and drops of sweat rolled down my face. The next few seconds passed so quickly that I suddenly realize the ball coming towards me. I struck the tennis ball back towards its server and ran to the net to get ready to do a forehand volley. My opponent returned the ball by doing a forehand slice and I completed my pro-shot combination. As the tennis ball soared in the air, I noticed the brown- haired girl racing to the ball before it hit the ground. By a few seconds off, the girl missed the ball, which had hit perfectly into the corner of the court lines and bounced off the court.

"YES!" I shouted.

I had won my final game. I felt like my heart was bursting with joy and as I walked towards the net, I couldn't stop smiling. In a few long strides, I came to stop and held my light blue colored racquet in my left hand. With the net in between us, I stood face to face with the brown-haired girl and we shook hands, like all tennis players do after every match. Suddenly, the brown-haired girl forced a smile on her face and weakly stated, "Congratulations for winning first." I smiled back kindly and replied, "Thank you. Congratulations to you too."

It was five minutes before the awards ceremony, when my mother texted me back. I had texted her after victoriously winning my match, which had taken place about thirty minutes ago. As I read her text, I cried out in frustration. My mother was always too busy. As a fashion designer in New York City, she rarely came to Brooklyn to see me and my father. She had promised to come see me if I won first at this state tennis tournament, which was the tournament that would qualify me for nationals. After I hurled my tennis clothes into my light blue and dark violet tennis bag, I gazed into the mirror. My light blond hair glowed and my blue, crystal-like eyes began to water. I could feel an over-whelming sensation of sadness wash over me and although I tried to stop myself from crying, I felt rivers of tears tumbling down my high cheekbones and plummeting onto my perfectly smooth, tan arms that were hugging my body. This day was the day that I truly believed that my mother would never be by my side, but I never knew I had just made myself believe in the biggest lie of my life.
???

The birds chirped brightly as the sun's rays shined through my bedroom window. As I opened my eyes, I stretched and lightly climbed off my bed. I trudged towards the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush. My eyelids drooped and I felt like my head weighed a hundred pounds. Suddenly, I heard my phone buzz. My eyes snapped open and I scrambled back to my room. I scooped up my phone and glanced at the text message that had just been sent in. It read, "Happy Birthday, Grace!! OMG! I can't wait to give you your present. Love you lots! See u at school in a bit! XOXO Ashley." I smiled. I had almost forgot it was my 16th birthday. I couldn't wait to get to school. I got ready as quick as I could, pranced down the spiral staircase, picked up an apple and my keys from the kitchen, and got in my white BMW convertible. As I put my new $300 dollar sunglasses on, I cranked up the radio and let my long blond hair flow around me in the wind.

As soon as she arrived to school, Ashley ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug she could ever recieve.

"Happy Birthday, girl!!!", Ashley squealed.

"Aww... thanks, girl." I said back.

Suddenly, a loud screeching sound filled the air as a sleek, black convertible entered the parking lot. It zoomed through the parking lot until it found a parking space. Soon after, Ashley and I ignored the car and went back to our conversation. We laughed and walked up the front step of school. That's when I realized that for the first time, everyone didn't have their eyes on me, including Ashley. She had suddenly gasped and stared at someone who was coming towards us. He walked in long strides and I could see that why Ashley was in shock. He was beautifully handsome. He was tall, muscular, and had dark chocolate brown hair that was perfectly ruffled. As he came closer, I straightened myself and got ready to greet him. I felt as bees were swarming through my head until I finally concluded that he was a new student.

"Hi. My name's Zachery Gentleman. What's yours?"

His smile made his face light up and his smile was genuine. It wasn't the first time I had been confronted by a guy, but it was the first time I actually answered back and smiled my beauty queen smile that I knew make any guy fall for me.

"Grace Jackson. Are you new here?"

"Yep. Just moved in from New York City. I thought it might be better here in Brooklyn.


He winked at me and I stared at his sparkling blue eyes. I smiled back and we headed inside with Ashley, becoming his first friend .

DING! Class was finally over and everyone rushed out of their classrooms, ready to get home. I, however, sprinted towards the girl's locker room, wanting to get ready for tennis practice as fast as I could. After changing in my black tennis shirt and white air drift shirt, I took my light blue tennis racket and went out to court. As I looked up, I sucked in my breath, surprised to see Zachery playing on the court with the best tennis player on the boy's team. His shirt was loose on him, but still outlined his muscles and I could tell that he was winning easily. After his game point, he grinned when he saw me and raced over to give me a hug. I smiled up at him, for he was at least a head taller than me, and instead of practicing, we ended up just talking for hours. It was then when I got to know Zachery and have my first boyfriend.

Months passed and Zachery and I were known as the "Golden Couple". Truthfully, I thought agreed and thought we were a perfect match. He had so many similarities with me, including the fact that he was lonely like me. His father was a medical doctor, like mine, but his mother was also a medical doctor. He told me that his parents would rarely come home and at times, he felt so small and alone that he would shout and just listen to his voice that would echo in his three story mansion. When he first told me this, I bursted out laughing because I did the same thing. I told him that I was so thankful to have him and told him he could technically be my twin brother. We both laughed until our chests started hurting and we played tennis. Of course, I won.

It was two months before the school year would be over. Two celebrate our eight month anniversary, Zachery and I were going to one of the famous diners in town. Being a gentleman and wonderful boyfriend, he picked me up at my house at 6pm and we went the diner. I could tell that something was bothering him by the forced smile on his face, but I didn't question, afraid it would ruin our evening. It was around 7:30pm when we were done eating. Our plates were almost squeaky clean and we were about to get dessert, when I got a phone call from my mother. I told Zachery I'd be right back, walked out to the front of the diner, and answered her call. As I talked to her, I leaned against Zachery's car and I fought with her , for the 10th time this month. Just when I was about to finish my call, I saw Zachery coming out of the diner. When I looked into his eyes, I was shocked to see something inhumane and scary. Then, it was suddenly gone in a second.

Five days after our eight month anniversary, I was doing my homework when I suddenly heard my doorbell ring. I slowly went down the spiral staircase and glanced at the person at the door. When I realized it was Zachery, I smiled happily. He was wearing a black hat, gray T-shirt, and dark jeans. I was puzzled because he usually never wore gray and he said that he hated hats because they ruined his hair. When I was almost finished coming down the stairs, our eyes met and suddenly a wave of fear washed over me. His blue eyes were dull, but they looked like they were going to rip me apart. His gaze slowly move down my body and I feel bare with my black shorts and tight PINK shirt I was wearing. I stood where I was and just stared until he finally spoke.

"Grace, come out. NOW."

I shook my head.

"I need to talk to you. "

His eyes felt as if they were piercing through me and I felt my stomach turning. I shook my head once again and I shrieked when he banged on the door. I quickly darted my eyes at the phone that was in my dad's office.

"Grace, if you even touch that phone, I will knock down this door."

My hands started sweating and my head felt as if I was going to explode. Questions raced through my head. Should I call my mom? What time did Dad say he was coming home? Will Zachery really knock down the door? Where is the Zachery that I know? Where is my sweet boyfriend? Where did he go? Finally, making my decision, I sprinted towards the phone. As I racked my brain for my mother's phone number, Zachery shattered the glass door and I screamed. Maybe my mother answered her cell phone or maybe she didn't. I never found out.
???

Waaah.... The baby's cries echoed through the huge house. Grace Jackson rushed into the baby's room to comfort her own child and sang it a lullaby until it was cozily sleeping in her arms. It had been a year since Grace Jackson had been assaulted. She was now 17 years old and still went to school. When first pregnant, she was bullied and pushed around, for no one knew what had happened to her. However, rumors and gossip spread like wildfire. Whenever they saw her, she was called a whore or a slut and insults flew at her, like bombs falling from the sky. She would cry for nights and would refuse to eat anything for days. She was so depressed that sometimes, she never went to school and on some days, locked herself in her room until her father would come home from work. Her father finally made her confess what happened and reported it to the police. Alas, Zachery Gentleman was arrested and Grace could rest in peace, but Grace was still troubled and a mess. Her mother had heard about the hard times Grace was having and flew to Brooklyn first thing. If it wasn't for family, Grace would have never been able to withstand through the hardships she went through for the 9 months she was pregnant and the 3 months after. She finally realized that the biggest lie she made herself believe in was that her family would never be next her to support her, even during times she thought was impossible.