Arousing Love, a teen novel by M.H. Strom Read Free Book Online Page A

wasn’t
real. I knew I was in love, my heart ached with it, it was so pent
up inside me longing to be expressed.
    She pulled away, smiling up at me through her
tears, then, as if unable to speak, she just turned and walked
away.
     
    Getting ready for bed that night, I saw my
parents’ Bible still sitting there. I picked it up and started
reading, beginning in the New Testament because I wanted to read
about Jesus.
    I thought I already knew the Bible from all
the Sunday school lessons I had as a kid, but I was surprised by
what it actually said—especially what Jesus said.
    I couldn’t help but compare it to my parents’
lives. I couldn’t see anything of their religion in what Jesus
taught. They were more like the Pharisees who judged everyone by
outward appearances and kept empty rituals and laws. Jesus was
radical—all about loving others and giving up everything for God.
He didn’t care what people thought of him, he hung out with the
worst people. This was the real Jesus—not the church version. I
bet Jesus wouldn’t even be welcome in most churches today. He’d be
too radical for them.
    I put the Bible down and turned out the
light. In the darkness I thought to say a prayer.
    “Thank you for bringing Joanna into my life.
Please God, allow us to keep seeing each other. I really care about
her.”
    It was the first time I’d prayed since I was
a little boy, and it made me feel reassured somehow, like I had a
new-found hope.
     
    •••
     
    I usually slept late on weekends, but this
Saturday I was already up and heading over to the campground before
8am.
    There was no sign of life at their
campsite.
    “Anyone here?” I called.
    “Just a second.” Joanna’s muffled voice came
from the smaller tent.
    “What are you doing?” I could hear her
shuffling around inside.
    “I’m getting changed. Hang on.”
    She burst out of the tent. “Hi!” She beamed,
her eyes sparkling with happiness. She threw her arms around me and
we kissed.
    “Is that where you sleep?”
    “Yep, that’s my tent. My parents sleep in the
other one.”
    “Where are they?”
    “They went out somewhere. They wouldn’t want
us to be alone together. We should go find my friends or
something.”
    “Can’t we be alone for a while, just to
talk?”
    She shook her head and pouted. “My parents
are so strict.”
    “They’re just protecting you.”
    “Yeah, from you!” She laughed.
    “You need protecting from me.” I grabbed her
around the waist and drew her to me, kissing her giggling
mouth.
    I looked into her beautiful, smiling face.
“You know, I was thinking . . . the only way we could keep seeing each other after the summer, is
if I moved to Colorado.”
    Her eyes widened. “Are you serious? You’d
move all that way to be with me?”
    “Would you want me to?”
    “Yes! I really, really, really, really,
really want you to.”
    I laughed. She was so cute. “It’d be hard
though. I’d need a place to stay, and a job. I don’t have much
money. I guess I need to know if we’re really that serious to even
be thinking about it.”
    “I’m serious. This isn’t just a crush, I’m in
love with you. I know this is real. It’s different from anything
I’ve ever felt before.”
    I smiled. She made me feel so happy.
    “Is there . . . ” She hesitated. “Is there anything I
can do to show you I’m serious?”
    “Like what?”
    “You know . . . anything?” She seemed to hold her
breath, waiting for my answer. I didn’t know what to say.
    “Come on, let’s go find your friends.”
     
    We found Matt, Lizzie and the other guy at
the far end of the beach. I felt a little jealous watching Joanna
chatting and laughing with her friends. I didn’t wanna share her
with them, I wanted all of her attention.
    Matt was flirting with Lizzie and saying
suggestive things, but she was totally not interested. It was fun
listening to their banter. I started to relax, and found myself
laughing at their dumb jokes. They were