Page 82 of Palm South University: Season 2
“Mama, Bàba, this is Jess. She’s my Big Sister in the sorority.”
Bo’s mother bows just slightly but her father narrows his eyes further before spouting off something in Chinese to Bo.
“Please, at least join me for one drink before you leave. We’ve just met,” Jess says, motioning for them to take a seat. Bo looks to me for help but I just shrug, feeling as helpless as she does. Painting on a forced smile as everyone sits back down, Jess turns to my mom. “How was your day? What did you do?”
“Oh we had a wonderful time! We toured the house and sat front row at the game. Oh, and then Ron did karaoke!”
Dad smacks her leg playfully. “So did you! Should I pull up the video on my phone, Cher?”
Mom cackles, reaching out to touch Jess’ arm, clearly oblivious to the tension at the table. Jess just listens patiently, sipping from her beer intermittently.
“Ashlei sang with me. She was actually kind of amazing. Who knew our little princess was keeping her singing talents a secret?”
Jess laughs with Mom, waving her empty beer bottle at a passing waitress. “Oh, she’s quite good at keeping secrets.”
“Jess,” Skyler warns, silently signaling to the same waitress not to bring her another damn drop.
“What?” Jess scoffs, balancing the bottle between her forefinger and the table. “The girl should get an award. Do they have one for that sort of thing? We could always make one.” Her lazy eyes find mine again. “Most Likely to be a Lying Bitch—Ashlei Daniels.”
“We’re leaving,” Bo snaps, pushing her chair back again as her parents lift themselves from the bench.
“I think I know what this is about, Jess, and I understand why you’re upset,” my dad says, his hands up just a bit. When I filled my parents in on the website last night, I told them my suspicions that Jess was far from okay with the whole situation. He’s talking to her like she’s about to jump off the ledge of a building. Right about now, I wish she would. “But maybe we should talk about this later.”
“Huh,” Jess surmises, chewing on Dad’s words. “I don’t know. Now seems like the perfect fucking time to talk about it, actually. Especially since we’ve got the whole fam damily here.” She gestures to Bo and her parents and suddenly my entire body is alert. I feel it—something bad is about to happen.
“What is she talking about, Bo?” her mom asks, brows bent inward in confusion.
“Nothing, Mama. Let’s go.”
“What, you don’t know?” Jess interjects before barking out a loud laugh. “Oh, please, let me be the one to fill you in.”
“Jess!” Skyler hisses just as I warn, “That’s enough, J-Love.” My parents and I stand together, ready to escort Jess out to a cab.
“You see, your lovely daughter here, my precious,sweetLittle, has been keeping a secret from me. From all of us, actually.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” my mom tries, but Jess just keeps talking louder.
“Don’t worry, she’s not alone, because Ashlei was part of all of this, too.”
“Big, please,” Bo pleads.
“But now, their secret’s been leaked—because they’re all over a website. And wasn’tthatjust the peachiest way to find out that two of my best friends are lesbians.” She pauses and my stomach sinks through the floor. “Together.”
Everyone is silent for a stretched moment and as Jess’ face crumples, I know she regretted the words she said before they even left her mouth. But now it’s too late. And after just three quiet seconds, chaos erupts.
Bo’s hand flies to her mouth as her parents start screaming at her in Chinese while my parents scream at Jess in English. Skyler pinches the bridge of her nose and I flop back down into my seat, feeling the weight heavy on my chest. I can’t breathe, I can’t speak, I can’t think.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Bo yells so loud her voice cracks and tears break on her cheeks. Her parents are still screaming, fingers waving, faces red with anger. Bo snatches her purse off the table and I shake myself out of my trance, jumping up to pull her into me.
“I’m so sorry.”
When I touch her, her parents go absolutely ballistic and she rips away from my grasp.
“Not now.” Bo snaps as her parents shove her toward the door.
“Just call me later, it’ll be okay,” I lie, calling out after her. She turns just enough for the light to catch the fresh tears on her cheeks and I suck my bottom lip between my teeth, knowing in my gut that nothing is okay, least of all this.
Whipping around, I pin Jess with my glare, chest heaving as what she did finally settles in. “Are you fucking happy, Jess? Is this what you wanted? You aired our dirty laundry so now you can feel better about yours?”