by Joshua Laack
Chapter 17
The following weeks flew by at an incredible pace. Andrew continued to make new friends at school. It was amazing how soon he became known as one of the popular kids. He still didn't play any sports, but other students still wanted to hang out with him. Classmates he hadn't even had a chance to talk to yet or connect with at all said hi in the halls and even stopped to make the first connection themselves.
At first Jason was jealous of his friend's attention that was being shared with others. He was surly and didn't want to participate in Andrew's new happiness, but the good moods and positive attitude were catching and soon Jason was pulled in to the new crowds of people. He wasn't as popular right away, but he was Andrew's friend, so everyone accepted him too.
The biggest change for his friend came from a suggestion by Johari. About a month from the day Johari had walked into Andrew's life and began a change there for the better, Mikayla came into our group and began a change for Jason. She was a grade younger, but Johari seemed to think that she would be a good match for Jason so she set up a double date.
They met on Friday after school, out at The Fiesta, a Mexican grill in town. It was obvious that Johari had a good eye for matchmaking. The two of them couldn't keep their eyes off of one another the entire time at the restaurant. To both Jason and Andrew's surprise, Mikayla read fantasy and loved some of their favorite books as much as they did.
Andrew pondered that while they talked and ate their meals. Throughout their entire school careers, neither Jason nor he had found one person interested in any of the same things they had been. It seemed now that their loneliness had been self imposed. They could have found people like Mikayla earlier if they had been willing to look.
Sure the demon had made life difficult for Andrew, but he could have had friends and maybe even girlfriends if he had paid any attention to those around him instead of focusing inward on his misery. Andrew had blamed others for his sad life, but most of it had been his own choice. He promised himself again that night that he would not squander his future the same way that he had his past. He had so much time before him and he was going to enjoy every minute of it.
Andrew smiled over at Johari, thinking of the new life that was his because of her. So much was different now that she was here. She smiled back and his smile spread into a grin.