Page 8

JENNY

Dane and I are cuddling on the couch as I see Brook come flying down the stairs towards us, tears falling from her eyes.

In a rush of panic, I sat straight up, “We need to leave right now!” She yells from over the blaring music. Giving her a quick nod, I turned to Dane and gave him a quick kiss on his lips.

“I will text you.” He gives me a worried look, then nods at me as Brook, and I make our way out of the mansion and down the heated marble driveway to my car.

What the fuck happened? I think to myself, as her and I throw ourselves into the car. I peeled out of the driveway and started to head down the winding hill and out of the open large metal gates.

“Brook, what happened?” I ask, as she just numbly stares out of my window, tears glistening on her pale skin. I grip the wheel tighter with my knuckles when she doesn’t reply. I have a million thoughts running through my mind.

Did someone touch her? Did some girl try to mess with her?

I could kill her for not responding to me. Letting me sit here in my thoughts as she just keeps her head leaned on the window.

Maybe she is just super drunk and has no idea why she is upset.

My thoughts continue to race. I decided to turn up the music since I would rather not sit in silence, ‘cause I know I am not getting anything out of her tonight. Routines In the Night by Twenty-One Pilots starts to play through the speakers.

The drive home seems longer than normal. I could hardly focus on the road, due to one too many drinks. I wanted to stay, but with the fear in her eyes, I knew that was not an option. I drove at least ten under the speed limit to make sure I would get us home as safely as possible. I can hear my phone beeping at me. Dane’s texts have littered my phone. I am sure he is not pleased with me driving home with alcohol in my system.

We reached the university parking lot around three-thirty AM. Once I park, Brook doesn’t say a word and just gets out, slamming the door behind her and making her way through the grass courtyard to the dorms. I sit there and watch her enter the double doors, then grab my phone, calling Dane.

RING, RING. “Hey, Dollface,” I hear his deep voice answer on the second ring. “You guys make it home okay?” I can feel my eyes start to burn, my anxiety rising.

“Yeah,” I say in a weak, shaky voice.

I can hear him sigh on the other end. “Oh, I am sorry, Dollface. Did you find out what happened?” he asks with concern in his voice.

“No, she wouldn’t even talk to me. All she did was cry and look out of the window.” I wipe my rolling tears off my face. “Dane, what if something happened to her? What if I didn’t care enough to watch her, make sure she was safe?” I continue to cry into the phone.

“Jenny, listen to me, you have done nothing wrong. Look, I already know what happened. I will fill you in more later about it all. Just a massive misunderstanding.” I shake my head in surprise.

“Wait, you know? How do you know? And why can’t you tell me?” I ask, as I start to raise my voice at him.

“I just can’t, Jenny,” he says as I let out a little laugh.

“Oh, you just can’t? That’s fucking bullshit, Dane! This is my best friend! I deserve to know what the fuck happened to her tonight!” I can hear him let out a low sigh on the other end.

“Then, you let her tell you.” And with that, the phone hangs up.

“Mother fucker!” I yell, as I hit my hand on my steering wheel, causing my horn to go off. I dial his number again and it goes straight to voicemail. “Fucking cute!” I yell again. I grab my purse from the back seat, and tear through it, grabbing my pack of smokes and taking a cigarette out.

Placing it between my lips, I light it and take a long pull as the cherry burns bright on the end. I let out a relieved sigh. This may not fix everything, but at least it starts to calm my fiery emotions. I was just about to start this car and make my way back to that asshole’s house and really let him have it.

I took a few minutes to calm down and figured it’s just best I finish my cigarette and then head inside to get some much-needed rest. Finishing my third cigarette, I turned off my car and made my way into the cold, quiet night, and headed towards the dorms. By the time I make it to our room, I see Brook is already passed out on her bed, snoring. I roll my eyes hard.

I am going to fucking kill her tomorrow for this silent game bullshit. Not even caring to change or wash off my makeup, I head over to my bed and fall into it. My eyes close as the darkness takes me.

The morning sun blares through the window, casting its rays right onto my eyes, making me wince as I open them. Fuck it burns. And oh, my stomach is not okay. I feel my stomach turn and bile start to make its way up my throat as I run to the bathroom and release all the mixed booze from the night before into the toilet.

I grip the sides and puke six times until I fall back against the wall my head pounds from the forceful throwing up.

“Just fucking great,” I say as I stand up and turn on the faucet, letting the cold water run. I bend down and put some water into my mouth, gargle and spit it out. I soak my face next with icy water. The sensation on my warm, sticky face feels amazing. I hop into a cool shower to help with my overheating body.

Grabbing my toothbrush, I put extra toothpaste on it and brushed vigorously for a few minutes. After I finished, I headed back into our room and saw Brook still passed out on her bed. She is gonna feel like shit. The thought makes me giggle a little. I grabbed my phone and saw I have a missed text from Dane.

DANE: Dollface. I am sorry. I know I should have just told you what happened last night. You already mean a lot to me and that wasn’t fair. I just wanted you to know that she was ok. Nothing bad happened to her. I hope you can forgive me. And I hope you and her will come back over so we can get this all settled.

I scoffed as I read his message. I decided not to reply right away, and headed out to grab some coffee and bagels. After about thirty minutes, I replied back.

Jenny: …Look, I am not trying to fight. I just wanted to know what happened to my friend and you couldn’t respect me enough to let me know. I don’t understand what the big deal is Dane.

DANE: …I didn’t tell you because It’s not mine to tell. Just look, trust me. Come over later. Or ask Brook herself. I don’t want to fight either. I just want to hold you again.

His words send a smile across my face. The thought of his muscular arms tight around my body. His lips on mine again. I can’t get this man off my damn mind. I take a deep breath and calm myself down.

JENNY: …Fine. But you have some SERIOUS making up to do.

Sending a winking face at the end, he sees the message right away and starts to message back, the little dots dancing back and forth on my screen.

DANE: …Oh dollface, I have so many ways I would love to make that up to you.

My face heats as I read his words, a little grinning devil emoji on the end. I send him a kiss face and make my way back up to the dorm room. When I open the door, I am greeted with a soft smile and Brook, sitting up in her bed, her eyes with an ‘I’m sorry’ in them. I smile at her and enter.