Read Arousing Love, a teen novel for Free Online

clear night, and Joanna turned her face to the star-filled
sky. “See Zach, God’s an artist too.”
    I looked admiringly at Joanna’s sleek
silhouette. “He sure is. I’m a mere imitator of his artistry.”
    I could just make out her smile in the dim
light.
    We reached the edge of the campground, and
Joanna stopped. “You don’t have to come any farther.”
    “Alright.” I guessed she didn’t want her
parents to see us together.
    “Goodnight.”
    “Goodnight.” I leaned in to kiss her. She
gently touched her lips to mine but teasingly kept them just out of
reach of a full kiss, drawing me closer until my hungry lips caught
hers and we kissed passionately, our bodies pressing against each
other.
    She pulled away breathlessly. “I really have
to go.” She hesitated a moment longer, before quickly walking
away.
    I watched until I’d lost sight of her, then
retreated back to the shack.
    Alone in my room, I tried to understand what
I was feeling. I liked her so much it was actually painful, I ached
to be with her. If this is infatuation it sure feels like
love.
    There was a knock at the door, and I rushed
to open it thinking Joanna had come back to me.
    “Hey.” It was just my friend Josh.
    “Hey.” I tried to hide my disappointment. I
went over and covered the painting with a dust cloth. I didn’t want
him to see Joanna like that.
    “So what’s up with you?” He flopped onto my
bed.
    “You don’t wanna know.”
    “Come on man, spill.”
    I sighed. “I think I’m falling in love.”
    Josh looked amused.
    “Yeah, and she’s not even sixteen yet, and
she’s only here for two weeks then goes back to Colorado. I know
it’s stupid, but when I’m with her it’s like the happiest I’ve ever
been.”
    “You gotta stay away from the young ones.
Toss her back and keep fishing.”
    “She thinks we’re meant to be together, like
it’s fate or something.”
    He shook his head. “You’ve gotta end it, man.
Tell her you’re not meant to be. How ‘bout I set you up with
someone who’ll make you forget all about her. I know this girl,
she’s a real babe, and you’ll soon know the difference between a
sixteen and an eighteen-year-old.”
    “You’re not helping, man. I don’t know if
I’ll ever meet a girl like this again. She’s something
special.”
    “All girls are special. You just haven’t had
enough of them to know that. You should come out with me. I’ll
introduce you—”
    “Nah . . . thanks man, I just wanna be left alone.”
    “Alright.” He got up. “You watch yourself
with that girl though, dude. She’s too young to handle.”
    He pushed open the door and looked back at
me. “Hey, I’ve been there. It sucks but you’ll get over it. See ya
in the surf.”
    “Yeah, see ya.”
    The door closed behind him, leaving me alone
again with my thoughts. I closed my eyes and immediately pictured
Joanna’s smiling face. I liked her so much. “What should I do?” I
said aloud to the empty room, or perhaps it was to God.
    I removed the dust-cover and looked again at
her portrait. She was truly beautiful, a perfection of symmetry and
proportion. It was definitely the best thing I’d ever painted.
    I saw my parent’s Bible still lying there by
my bed, and in a flash of inspiration, I knew how I was going to
finish Joanna’s portrait.
     
    It was late when I finally put down my
brushes. I stood back and admired my work. Her figure was floating,
her hair spread about her, her eyes closed like she was asleep. A
flowing ribbon curled loosely around her with the inscription: ‘Do
not arouse or awaken love until it so desires’. She was a sleeping
beauty awaiting love’s first kiss.
    I was really pleased with it. I couldn’t wait
to show Joanna.
    After a quick cleanup, I crawled into bed and
drifted off to sleep with Joanna’s beautiful image still lingering
in my mind.
     
     
     
     
    Three
     
    Five p.m., but no sign of Joanna. I waited
for her outside the store, and eventually