Hi there!
I've been writing quite a lot lately. I guess you could say I'm officially obsessed :P
I started having second thoughts about making Jenny 15 years old. I think she is a bit young. I should have made her a year older or so. But then, on the other hand, her being so young and innocent, kind of plays an important role in the story. So I'll just keep it that way. I just had go get that off my chest.
Thanks for reading! It makes me smile! :)
- Stine
Chapter 11 – Trouble is my only friend
I sat on the bench for a while, but it was cold, and I finally stumbled my way home. I didn't want my parents to see that I had been crying. They would only start asking questions. Questions I couldn't answer. Not now.
I ran upstairs as soon as I got home. But my mum wouldn't let me get away that easy. A moment later, she was knocking on my bedroom door.
"Jenny? Are you all right?" she asked. She sounded worried.
"I just needed a bit of air." I mumbled. "I didn't feel good. I'm awfully tired. I'm going to bed."
"Can I come in?" She asked. "Just for a little while."
"I'm not feeling good."
"If you're sick, I'll have to come in." she said
"I'm not sick." I assured her. "I just need a little time alone."
"Ok." She said at last. "I'm here if you want to talk."
I heard her footsteps disappear down the stairs again, as I fell back on my bed. I cried myself to sleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt sick. I ran to the bathroom, and threw up. On the way back to my room, I met Frances. She had just gotten out of bed.
"Good morning." She said. "You look awfully pale. Are you not well?" she asked.
"I just got sick." I mumbled. "I feel terrible."
"Keep away from me!" she burst out. "I don't want to catch whatever it is you've got."
"Thanks for your sisterly compassion." I mumbled sarcastically, and went back to bed.
I didn't want to go to school. I felt queasy and dizzy, and just the thought of John and his betrayal caused tears to well up in my eyes. I was in a terrible state. I couldn't bear the thought of facing my classmates, and have to pretend that everything was ok.
After a while, my mother came up to talk to me. Frances must have told her that I wasn't feeling good. My mum had a worried look on her face.
She put her hand on my forehead to make sure I didn't have any fever.
"It's all right mum, honestly." I said. "I bet it's just something I ate."
"Are you sure that's everything?" she asked. "You didn't look too good when you came in last night either. Are you sure there's nothing else bothering you?"
I quickly nodded. I couldn't tell her. She wouldn't understand.
As if she could read my mind, she quickly added: "Even though you think I'm old, I used to be young once. I reckon I still know a thing or two about how it's like. You can talk to me."
"It's fine mum." I said. "I'm just not feeling good. That's it." I gave her a smile that I hoped came across as convincing.
She sighed. "Ok. Stay in bed and rest. Call me if you need anything. I'll be downstairs."
She left my room. I pulled the sheets over my head, and wanted to disappear. I wanted a hole in the ground to hide in, until John came back and told me he had made a terrible mistake, and that he had realized he couldn't live without me.
"In your dreams Jenny." I mumbled negatively to myself.
The thing that hurt the most was that Paul had been right the whole time. I was "just another girl" to John. But a part of me still refused to believe it. The way he had looked at me and the way he had whispered sweet things in my ear. It couldn't just be tricks to get me into bed, could it?
I realized that he probably had used the same tricks on her. I suddenly felt sick again. I didn't know whether it was the thought of them together, or something else. I stumbled out to the bathroom and threw up, for the second time that morning.
By the time Frances got home from school, I felt a lot better. I didn't feel sick any more, and I had even got my appetite back. Mum was out grocery shopping, and I was doing some home work.
Frances came into my room, and sat down on the bed. She told me she had some news.
"I talked to some girls at school today. They know the girl John was with last night. Her name is Cynthia. Apparently he introduced her to the band as his girlfriend."
"He did?" I asked, trying my very best to hide my feelings from my sister. She had no idea how little I wanted to hear about all this.
"That lucky girl!" Frances sighed. "I'd give a lot to be with a boy like him."
"You'd give a lot to be with any boy." I replied, hoping it would make her change the subject. It didn't. She ignored me, and kept on talking about John.
"He is so handsome there should be a law against it. Have you seen his eyes?" she chirped.
"Frankly Frances, I don't give a damn about that Lennon guy." I snapped.
"Take it easy. I won't bother you anymore!" she said offended, and got up.
"Jeez, you're cranky today." She mumbled on her way out of the door. "I bet someone has their period coming up soon."
I froze by the sound of her words. My period. How long had it been? I should have had it a week ago. Or was it two? I slowly put two and two together, and everything made sense. I felt sicker than ever.
The truth hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't even sixteen years old yet. I had only been in love once in my life. I had just gotten my heart broken. And now, I was pregnant.