A Life Like Mine by Jorie Saldanha

Adam started to snicker again.
    CoolCatAsh:  What’s so funny?
    Adam121212: You are
    CoolCatAsh:  I’m still mad at you
    Adam121212: Sorry
    CoolCatAsh:  You’re the one that’s really thick
    Adam121212: So
    CoolCatAsh:  Whatever, just tell me the rest of the story
    Adam121212: Now that you know how much I took you know why it was such a serious crime
    CoolCatAsh:  Yeah. You got caught
    Adam121212: No. The reason I went to therapy is because Lena convinced me to ask my foster parents for help. Lena said that she wouldn’t turn me in which made me like her and I thought I owed her
    CoolCatAsh:  What about once you dumped her
    Adam121212: She got really mad at me and said that she would tell her dad what I had done
    CoolCatAsh:  What did you do to keep her quiet?
    Adam121212: I let her tell everyone that she dumped me
    CoolCatAsh:  Oh that’s why I thought that she had dumped you.  Why were you at the movies with her?
    Adam121212: Like I said she found out that I liked you
    CoolCatAsh:  And she blackmailed you into going with her to make it so I wouldn’t like you
    Adam121212: Yeah. I would tell the cops what I did but then I’d go to jail
    CoolCatAsh: What did you do with the money?
    Adam121212: I returned it
    CoolCatAsh:  How
    Adam121212: I gave it to Lena and she gave it to her dad. They stopped looking for the thief
    CoolCatAsh:  Then you’re fine. Why don’t you reveal yourself so she can’t hold anything over your head anymore?
    Adam121212: I could do that. You’re right. I should. I really hated the way that she made me look like her boyfriend in front of you. She made me kiss her and everything. It was so gross. Do you forgive me?
    CoolCatAsh:  Yes
    Adam121212: Thanks. You don’t know how much this means to me
    CoolCatAsh:  You’re welcome. Just turn yourself in, now
    Adam121212: I will soon
    CoolCatAsh:  Good
    Adam121212: Can I call you Ash again?
    CoolCatAsh:  Yes
    Adam121212: Ash?
    CoolCatAsh:  What
    Adam121212: Will you go with me when I turn myself in
    CoolCatAsh:  Why
    Adam121212: I’m nervous
    CoolCatAsh:  Sure
    Adam121212: Thanks
    CoolCatAsh:  Your welcome, but I have to get back to my homework
    Adam121212: Okay
    CoolCatAsh:  Bye
    Adam121212: Bye
     
                  I signed off. I couldn’t believe how right my friends had been. I felt so stupid. How could I have let my jealousy get the best of me? I mean, he was trying to tell me the truth, and I wouldn’t listen. I thought he was the biggest creep, when all along, Lena was the one who’s skankiness was showing. I can’t believe that she was so mean that she had tried to get him away from me. She was never going to change! What a loser.
                  “Okay class. You may talk now. You’ve been quiet all hour, you may have the remaining twenty minutes to chat quietly,” Mr. Backs said closing his book as he started to grade papers.
                  “Ash, what were you doing on the computer?” Keri asked me.
                  “I was IMing Adam,” I answered.
                  “Why would you want to do that?” Tina asked me. “I thought he was the bad guy after what he did.”
                  I turned and saw Adam looking at me, “No. He had a good reason.” I turned back to my friends.
                  “Well, what was it?” Allie asked me.
                  “It’s no big deal.” I said.
                  “Come on don’t keep us in suspense,” Keri pleaded.
                  “I’m telling you, you’re not going to care.”
                  “At least tell us what he said,” Tina begged.
                  “He said he was sorry.” I stood my ground.
                  “That’s it?” Allie asked.
                  “I can’t believe you forgave him just because he asked you to!” Keri got a little angry.
                  “No,