**Um, you guys, I just thought of the ugliest twist.....extremely
corny.....if this is getting a bit boring or uneventful for you guys, then
be honest, and I'll put the twist in here......I mean, the story in my head
is sort of at a fork in the road......and I can choose which way to
go.......i'm kind of shying away from the twist, but if you want it in
here, then i'll put it in and write with all my heart........R & R and tell
me.....and no, i dont want to tell you what the twist is, but......ugh, it
is just too corny......here ya go anywayz....**
"And, oh my gosh, when they were in the staircase? With that lady? And she let one?" laughed Jay. Everyone chuckled with the memory of that particular scene. Nick looked at his watch.
"You ladies like coffee?" he said charmingly. I grinned and looked at Gwen.
"Of course," she said, smiling at Jay. I smiled at Nick.
"All right then, let's go," he said. I frowned slightly. He had looked away from me. I had done something; it was probably the alley fight. Great, someone else who was afraid of me.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trotting up next to him. Gwen and Jay were lagging behind this time.
"Starbucks, of course," he said. He gave me a small smile. "There's one on every corner, right?" I nodded, smiling mechanically. What was wrong with him? He seemed almost...nervous. I tried to ignore it, but it was itching at me. We reached a Starbucks, which was, ironically and quite to our amusement, just around the corner. I ordered a tall vanilla latte, which I had been drinking since I was eight. I sipped the savory liquid and grinned at Gwen, who was drinking her usual caramel machiatto. Jay and Nick both got Frapaccinos.
"So elegant," I told him, grinning. He smiled sheepishly. We sat down at separate tables, on account of they were made for two. I looked at Jay and Gwen, a few feet away, and took a gulp of coffee.
"Whatcha thinkin'? asked Nick absently, looking at them. I made a decision.
"Just that you aren't making any sense," I answered, looking at him. He stared back uncomfortably.
"Oh?" he said. I nodded slowly.
"Yep," I said. I glanced at Gwen. "They would've done better without us." He stared into his plastic cup.
"You sort of told me Jay wouldn't have gone alone with Gwen," I said, trying not to sound too accusatory. "They just seem to want to be alone. That's what I'm thinking." I took another drink.
"I just thought, you know, he'd like some company-," he said. I shook my head.
"You knew, I'm thinking," I said. I didn't know what I was doing. Things were rolling off my tongue, and I had no power to stop them. "If you don't want to say why, tell me." He shook his head but didn't say anything. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Since when did I confront people like this? This was the 'Gwen' thing to do, not the Jessi thing.
"Please talk," I said quietly. I didn't know Nick that well, but I noticed that his whole mood had changed. He wasn't confident anymore, but seemed self-conscious. I wasn't sure, but I thought maybe it wasn't me he was uncomfortable with. Well, I could always ask, I thought logically. "Did I do something?" I asked, then kicked myself. Why would you ask that? said the voice in my mind. Are you completely insane? "Yes," I muttered to myself.
"No, no," said Nick hastily. "You didn't. And I know what you're thinking. That was weird, but it's not that. It's me," he added. I grinned involuntarily.
"Where have I heard that one before," I said wryly. He smiled.
"Nah, you believe me," he said.
"Okay, then what's wrong with YOU?" I blurted. That was the second time in as many minutes that I had to bite my tongue. But this time I got a laugh out of him.
"Can't tell ya now," he said mischievously. I gave him a friendly punch on the arm.
"Yes, please?" I begged. He shook his head, and I perceived that his mood was serious again. He looked at me urgently.
"I can't tell you now," he repeated. I looked at him curiously. "It's not important. Just forget about it, please? Don't think of it anymore. All it'll do is drive you nuts. Only one of us should have to deal with that," he added with a sour smile. I smiled back uncertainly, and his look softened. "Don't worry about it." I let it go, for the moment, reverting back to a previous conversation.
"Wasn't that a bit of an assumption, thinking that I'd have heard about you and Katelyn?" I said absently. I was over kicking myself. I couldn't help it. Putting duct tape over my mouth would be the only effective thing.
"Oh, I didn't mean to sound conceited," he said, grinning apologetically. "It's just, it was kind of a public thing. She makes everything public," he added bitterly. He took a slurp of his drink. "I thought everyone heard it, or at least heard of it. I guess it's better that you didn't."
"So, um, do you want to talk about it?" I asked awkwardly. I was a bit new to this whole 'share-your-feelings' thing, and not very good at it so far.
"Well..." he said. He took another gulp. "Not really. I'd actually like to forget I ever met her. Thank you, by the way," he added. I looked bewildered.
"Me?" I said, confused. "What did I do?"
"You knew," he said. "You knew what she was like. You had an outside point of view. You saw how she was. And because of that whole, er, thing," he paused, mouth quirking, "You let me in on it. I didn't realize how bad she was." I shrugged.
"Well, you're welcome, I guess," I said. "Honestly, I don't know how that happened. Normally, I wouldn't have done a thing like that. I probably wouldn't be talking to you either," I blurted. I felt my cheeks turn scarlet. I had a tiny hope that he wouldn't have noticed that last remark. He looked amused.
"Oh, yeah?" he said. "Why wouldn't you talk to me?" So much for not noticing. I shrugged, trying to brush it off.
"No reason," I said, avoiding his eyes. "Just, different crowds, you know." C'mon, Nick, let it go, pleaded the little voice in my head. "Why'd you agree to this anyway? Just to get back at-," I stopped myself. That was not something to say to him. "Never mind," I said hastily. He had the grace to look abashed.
"You honestly think I would do that?" he said slowly, eyes wide. I shrugged, gulping my coffee uncomfortably. "Why would you think that?" I shrugged again.
"Maybe just because, the only reason, you would....with me...." I muttered. I shook my head. "Never mind," I said again. He started to shake his head.
"You really think that," he said, unbelieving. "You think that the only reason I would go out with you is to get back at someone?" I muttered something of the oh-no-of-course-not variety.
"You do," he said accusingly. He trailed off, at a loss for words. I tried not to smile at his disconcerted attitude. He seemed truly offended. I sat stonily for a moment. Trying to figure what the hell was so wrong with me that I would say something like that. We sat there for a few uncomfortable minutes.
"Well, I should be heading home," said Gwen suddenly. My head snapped up. I blinked a few times and shook my head slightly. I felt as though I had been sleeping. I was, obviously, still a bit preoccupied.
"What're you up to at home?" I asked Gwen absently, toying with the zipper on my jacket.
"Oh! I didn't tell you!" she said suddenly. I jumped slightly, and she grinned. "Mrs. White said I'm a key in for the Queen."
"Oh? They know it already?" I asked. I was slightly interested, but only for Gwen's sake.
"Well, she hasn't posted the parts yet," she amended hastily. "She just hinted that I'll probably get it. In fact, I think auditions are still open." I nodded dimly. How, HOW, could you have said such a stupid thing, scolded that voice, thinking of Nick. You basically accused him of being a shallow jerk, it added spitefully. You said it, I didn't, I replied automatically.
"You should try for Ophelia," teased Gwen, smirking. "So sullen all the time." I smiled, leaving out the fact that I thought Ophelia was anything but stoic.
"Yeah," agreed Nick. "You are pretty taciturn." I gave him a Look.
"Oh really?" I said provokingly. "And how do you know what 'taciturn' means, Mr. I-don't-really-care-about-school-so-I-get-bad-grades?" He grinned.
"I read a dictionary, just for you, babe," he said tartly.
"Ooh, ouch," I said, smiling again. I put my hands up, palms facing him. "You win." I turned back to Gwen.
"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked. "I mean, why do you have to get home?"
"Oh, I've got to make my practice costume," she said, resuming the conversation. I remembered suddenly that Gwen made her own clothes, because, as she put it, 'all the factory-made clothes were the same.' I nodded. There was a silence, and I resumed my lecture with myself. Since when have YOU had a problem with 'foot-in-mouth' disease? inquired a voice. I mean, you are like the shyest person in the world. And now, you can't shut up. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that we almost passed my apartment.
"Whoa, isn't this you?" asked Nick, glancing at the address. I stopped, tripping slightly.
"Ow, yes," I said. I gave them all hugs; squeezed Gwen tightly, embraced Jay awkwardly, and hugged Nick with a blushing face. When he let go, he still held me firmly, forcing me to look him in the eye.
"I'm serious," he said. I pretended to look curious, but I knew what he was talking about. "Nothing but genuine interest would make me ask you, - never mind," he rushed. He let go with an awkward duck of the head. "See you at school." I glanced at Gwen and Jay, but they were already on the way to Gwen's house a block over. Nick started off the opposite way, alone, shoulders hunched. I stared after him for a moment, then slowly started to climb the stairs. This was very strange. I had been virtually invisible from first grade until sophomore year. Now, a junior at sixteen years old, everything that all the other girls seemed to have started in seventh grade was suddenly and violently rushing at me like an avalanche. And I was discovering that I didn't like it very much. A lot of things that I had wished for last year, the year before that, were starting to happen. Now, I found myself willing everything to go back to normal. I looked up with surprise at my door. I had gone up the elevator and down the hall without noticing. I stuck my key in the lock and turned it. Then I heard the voices.
"Why won't you just trust her, Pete?" I heard my mother shout. I closed the front door softly. They were in their room. "You know she's not impulsive; she wouldn't put herself or anyone else in danger." I heard a muffled thump, and thought my dad had taken his shoes off and thrown them on the floor. I was now in the hall, a few feet away from their door, pretending like I was going into my room. I strained to listen. I felt my hearing sharpen, and I could hear every word.
"...either, Mary Jane," my dad was saying. "You know I was a nerd. Who would've thought I would do some of the stuff I did after high school? No one, because they didn't know. And that's the point MJ. No one can know. It would be a threat to her life." I heard a sigh.
"C'mon, Pete," she pleaded. "I mean, you were just bursting to tell me when we got married, just like you were ecstatic to tell her. You know from experience that it was pure torture not having anyone to talk to. I think, if she had Gwen, she wouldn't feel alone." My father let out an impatient breath.
"She has me," he said, so quietly I could barely hear him. There was a silence.
"I know, hun," said my mom. "You're the best guide she could have. But she needs more than a guide. She needs someone to confide to, someone to share the secret with. She's sixteen years old, for crying out loud! Trust me, Pete, I was there. It's worse than hot pokers having to keep a secret. But it's a little better when you have just one friend, to share, to talk to." I could almost picture my mom's face, hopeful and pleading. I could also feel my dad's wall of disagreement start to crumble.
"I just don't know, MJ," he said. "I don't think it's safe." I heard a chuckle.
"Jessi's my daughter, and I love her very much," said my mom. I could hear the smile in her voice. "But she's not exactly the social butterfly, hm? Who else would she tell besides Gwen?" I felt a small wave of indignance rise up at this, but quelled it because, though I may not like it, it was basically the truth. Who would I tell but Gwen? You already told her, didn't you Jessi? said a nasty voice. I imagined myself punching the owner of the voice. Suddenly, the door opened and my dad was staring at me sternly. I looked back at him, trying not to show my surprise and slight panic at being caught eavesdropping.
"No using your powers to spy on your mom and me," he said seriously. I stared at him, eyes wide, for a few more moments, then snorted. He looked surprised. I burst into laughter, slightly hysterical from the stress of the last three days.
"Oh my God, Dad, do you know how completely ludicrous that sounded?" I asked him, wiping my watering eyes. He grinned at me, shaking his head. He glanced at my mom, then back at me.
"Well, yes, anyway," he said professionally. "I'm assuming you heard what we were talking about?"
"Somewhat," I said cautiously. I felt suddenly tired, and wanted to collapse on my bed. He rolled his neck, and it cracked loudly. I made a face.
"Well, we've decided," he said wearily. "You can tell Gwen if you want to, but no one else!" I walked over and gave him a big hug.
"Thanks, Dad," I said into his shoulder. He pulled me away from him and stared into my face. Then a look overcame his face, a look of pure astonishment, and then dread.
"Oh," he said quietly. There was a silence. He walked past me, into the living room, and sat down on the couch. I followed him curiously. "Oh," he said again. He looked at me. "You told her already?" I felt my face waiver, and almost burst into tears at his expression.
"Oh, dad, I'm sorry," I said, rushed. "It's just, Gwen's my best friend, and I KNOW she would never betray me like you were talking about, and I didn't want her to keep thinking that I didn't trust her, because she already sensed something was wrong, and, -" My dad cut off my hurried blabbering.
"It's okay, Jessi," he said kindly. I bit my lip. "It's fine. But that's not all I saw." He looked at me expectantly. I stared at him, mystified.
"What?" I said blankly. He raised an eyebrow.
"Anything, exciting, or unusual happen tonight?" he inquired. I racked my brain. The image of the man in the black trench coat flashed across my eyes.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, stepping backward into my mom.
"Oof," she breathed. "Ow. What's going on?" She looked back and forth between my dad's severe expression and my red face. My dad stood up and crossed his arms.
"Jessi..." he said warningly. I avoided his face.
"What," I said. I was a horrible liar, and it was showing. I stole a glance at him, then broke.
"Oh, all right!" I said irritably. I paused. "Can I get my PJs on first? Before I tell, -"
"Yes, yes," said my dad hastily. "But you WILL tell us." I slumped into my room.
As I thought of the happenings of the night, I couldn't help but think that my life was only half as exciting as it was bound to be later. Suddenly, something completely random entered my head. Something that Nick had said, just as we departed: "Nothing but genuine interest would make me ask you, - never mind." I froze in my tracks taking of my jacket. 'Genuine interest,' I thought uncomfortably. Was that the kind of interest I was thinking of?
"And, oh my gosh, when they were in the staircase? With that lady? And she let one?" laughed Jay. Everyone chuckled with the memory of that particular scene. Nick looked at his watch.
"You ladies like coffee?" he said charmingly. I grinned and looked at Gwen.
"Of course," she said, smiling at Jay. I smiled at Nick.
"All right then, let's go," he said. I frowned slightly. He had looked away from me. I had done something; it was probably the alley fight. Great, someone else who was afraid of me.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trotting up next to him. Gwen and Jay were lagging behind this time.
"Starbucks, of course," he said. He gave me a small smile. "There's one on every corner, right?" I nodded, smiling mechanically. What was wrong with him? He seemed almost...nervous. I tried to ignore it, but it was itching at me. We reached a Starbucks, which was, ironically and quite to our amusement, just around the corner. I ordered a tall vanilla latte, which I had been drinking since I was eight. I sipped the savory liquid and grinned at Gwen, who was drinking her usual caramel machiatto. Jay and Nick both got Frapaccinos.
"So elegant," I told him, grinning. He smiled sheepishly. We sat down at separate tables, on account of they were made for two. I looked at Jay and Gwen, a few feet away, and took a gulp of coffee.
"Whatcha thinkin'? asked Nick absently, looking at them. I made a decision.
"Just that you aren't making any sense," I answered, looking at him. He stared back uncomfortably.
"Oh?" he said. I nodded slowly.
"Yep," I said. I glanced at Gwen. "They would've done better without us." He stared into his plastic cup.
"You sort of told me Jay wouldn't have gone alone with Gwen," I said, trying not to sound too accusatory. "They just seem to want to be alone. That's what I'm thinking." I took another drink.
"I just thought, you know, he'd like some company-," he said. I shook my head.
"You knew, I'm thinking," I said. I didn't know what I was doing. Things were rolling off my tongue, and I had no power to stop them. "If you don't want to say why, tell me." He shook his head but didn't say anything. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Since when did I confront people like this? This was the 'Gwen' thing to do, not the Jessi thing.
"Please talk," I said quietly. I didn't know Nick that well, but I noticed that his whole mood had changed. He wasn't confident anymore, but seemed self-conscious. I wasn't sure, but I thought maybe it wasn't me he was uncomfortable with. Well, I could always ask, I thought logically. "Did I do something?" I asked, then kicked myself. Why would you ask that? said the voice in my mind. Are you completely insane? "Yes," I muttered to myself.
"No, no," said Nick hastily. "You didn't. And I know what you're thinking. That was weird, but it's not that. It's me," he added. I grinned involuntarily.
"Where have I heard that one before," I said wryly. He smiled.
"Nah, you believe me," he said.
"Okay, then what's wrong with YOU?" I blurted. That was the second time in as many minutes that I had to bite my tongue. But this time I got a laugh out of him.
"Can't tell ya now," he said mischievously. I gave him a friendly punch on the arm.
"Yes, please?" I begged. He shook his head, and I perceived that his mood was serious again. He looked at me urgently.
"I can't tell you now," he repeated. I looked at him curiously. "It's not important. Just forget about it, please? Don't think of it anymore. All it'll do is drive you nuts. Only one of us should have to deal with that," he added with a sour smile. I smiled back uncertainly, and his look softened. "Don't worry about it." I let it go, for the moment, reverting back to a previous conversation.
"Wasn't that a bit of an assumption, thinking that I'd have heard about you and Katelyn?" I said absently. I was over kicking myself. I couldn't help it. Putting duct tape over my mouth would be the only effective thing.
"Oh, I didn't mean to sound conceited," he said, grinning apologetically. "It's just, it was kind of a public thing. She makes everything public," he added bitterly. He took a slurp of his drink. "I thought everyone heard it, or at least heard of it. I guess it's better that you didn't."
"So, um, do you want to talk about it?" I asked awkwardly. I was a bit new to this whole 'share-your-feelings' thing, and not very good at it so far.
"Well..." he said. He took another gulp. "Not really. I'd actually like to forget I ever met her. Thank you, by the way," he added. I looked bewildered.
"Me?" I said, confused. "What did I do?"
"You knew," he said. "You knew what she was like. You had an outside point of view. You saw how she was. And because of that whole, er, thing," he paused, mouth quirking, "You let me in on it. I didn't realize how bad she was." I shrugged.
"Well, you're welcome, I guess," I said. "Honestly, I don't know how that happened. Normally, I wouldn't have done a thing like that. I probably wouldn't be talking to you either," I blurted. I felt my cheeks turn scarlet. I had a tiny hope that he wouldn't have noticed that last remark. He looked amused.
"Oh, yeah?" he said. "Why wouldn't you talk to me?" So much for not noticing. I shrugged, trying to brush it off.
"No reason," I said, avoiding his eyes. "Just, different crowds, you know." C'mon, Nick, let it go, pleaded the little voice in my head. "Why'd you agree to this anyway? Just to get back at-," I stopped myself. That was not something to say to him. "Never mind," I said hastily. He had the grace to look abashed.
"You honestly think I would do that?" he said slowly, eyes wide. I shrugged, gulping my coffee uncomfortably. "Why would you think that?" I shrugged again.
"Maybe just because, the only reason, you would....with me...." I muttered. I shook my head. "Never mind," I said again. He started to shake his head.
"You really think that," he said, unbelieving. "You think that the only reason I would go out with you is to get back at someone?" I muttered something of the oh-no-of-course-not variety.
"You do," he said accusingly. He trailed off, at a loss for words. I tried not to smile at his disconcerted attitude. He seemed truly offended. I sat stonily for a moment. Trying to figure what the hell was so wrong with me that I would say something like that. We sat there for a few uncomfortable minutes.
"Well, I should be heading home," said Gwen suddenly. My head snapped up. I blinked a few times and shook my head slightly. I felt as though I had been sleeping. I was, obviously, still a bit preoccupied.
"What're you up to at home?" I asked Gwen absently, toying with the zipper on my jacket.
"Oh! I didn't tell you!" she said suddenly. I jumped slightly, and she grinned. "Mrs. White said I'm a key in for the Queen."
"Oh? They know it already?" I asked. I was slightly interested, but only for Gwen's sake.
"Well, she hasn't posted the parts yet," she amended hastily. "She just hinted that I'll probably get it. In fact, I think auditions are still open." I nodded dimly. How, HOW, could you have said such a stupid thing, scolded that voice, thinking of Nick. You basically accused him of being a shallow jerk, it added spitefully. You said it, I didn't, I replied automatically.
"You should try for Ophelia," teased Gwen, smirking. "So sullen all the time." I smiled, leaving out the fact that I thought Ophelia was anything but stoic.
"Yeah," agreed Nick. "You are pretty taciturn." I gave him a Look.
"Oh really?" I said provokingly. "And how do you know what 'taciturn' means, Mr. I-don't-really-care-about-school-so-I-get-bad-grades?" He grinned.
"I read a dictionary, just for you, babe," he said tartly.
"Ooh, ouch," I said, smiling again. I put my hands up, palms facing him. "You win." I turned back to Gwen.
"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked. "I mean, why do you have to get home?"
"Oh, I've got to make my practice costume," she said, resuming the conversation. I remembered suddenly that Gwen made her own clothes, because, as she put it, 'all the factory-made clothes were the same.' I nodded. There was a silence, and I resumed my lecture with myself. Since when have YOU had a problem with 'foot-in-mouth' disease? inquired a voice. I mean, you are like the shyest person in the world. And now, you can't shut up. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that we almost passed my apartment.
"Whoa, isn't this you?" asked Nick, glancing at the address. I stopped, tripping slightly.
"Ow, yes," I said. I gave them all hugs; squeezed Gwen tightly, embraced Jay awkwardly, and hugged Nick with a blushing face. When he let go, he still held me firmly, forcing me to look him in the eye.
"I'm serious," he said. I pretended to look curious, but I knew what he was talking about. "Nothing but genuine interest would make me ask you, - never mind," he rushed. He let go with an awkward duck of the head. "See you at school." I glanced at Gwen and Jay, but they were already on the way to Gwen's house a block over. Nick started off the opposite way, alone, shoulders hunched. I stared after him for a moment, then slowly started to climb the stairs. This was very strange. I had been virtually invisible from first grade until sophomore year. Now, a junior at sixteen years old, everything that all the other girls seemed to have started in seventh grade was suddenly and violently rushing at me like an avalanche. And I was discovering that I didn't like it very much. A lot of things that I had wished for last year, the year before that, were starting to happen. Now, I found myself willing everything to go back to normal. I looked up with surprise at my door. I had gone up the elevator and down the hall without noticing. I stuck my key in the lock and turned it. Then I heard the voices.
"Why won't you just trust her, Pete?" I heard my mother shout. I closed the front door softly. They were in their room. "You know she's not impulsive; she wouldn't put herself or anyone else in danger." I heard a muffled thump, and thought my dad had taken his shoes off and thrown them on the floor. I was now in the hall, a few feet away from their door, pretending like I was going into my room. I strained to listen. I felt my hearing sharpen, and I could hear every word.
"...either, Mary Jane," my dad was saying. "You know I was a nerd. Who would've thought I would do some of the stuff I did after high school? No one, because they didn't know. And that's the point MJ. No one can know. It would be a threat to her life." I heard a sigh.
"C'mon, Pete," she pleaded. "I mean, you were just bursting to tell me when we got married, just like you were ecstatic to tell her. You know from experience that it was pure torture not having anyone to talk to. I think, if she had Gwen, she wouldn't feel alone." My father let out an impatient breath.
"She has me," he said, so quietly I could barely hear him. There was a silence.
"I know, hun," said my mom. "You're the best guide she could have. But she needs more than a guide. She needs someone to confide to, someone to share the secret with. She's sixteen years old, for crying out loud! Trust me, Pete, I was there. It's worse than hot pokers having to keep a secret. But it's a little better when you have just one friend, to share, to talk to." I could almost picture my mom's face, hopeful and pleading. I could also feel my dad's wall of disagreement start to crumble.
"I just don't know, MJ," he said. "I don't think it's safe." I heard a chuckle.
"Jessi's my daughter, and I love her very much," said my mom. I could hear the smile in her voice. "But she's not exactly the social butterfly, hm? Who else would she tell besides Gwen?" I felt a small wave of indignance rise up at this, but quelled it because, though I may not like it, it was basically the truth. Who would I tell but Gwen? You already told her, didn't you Jessi? said a nasty voice. I imagined myself punching the owner of the voice. Suddenly, the door opened and my dad was staring at me sternly. I looked back at him, trying not to show my surprise and slight panic at being caught eavesdropping.
"No using your powers to spy on your mom and me," he said seriously. I stared at him, eyes wide, for a few more moments, then snorted. He looked surprised. I burst into laughter, slightly hysterical from the stress of the last three days.
"Oh my God, Dad, do you know how completely ludicrous that sounded?" I asked him, wiping my watering eyes. He grinned at me, shaking his head. He glanced at my mom, then back at me.
"Well, yes, anyway," he said professionally. "I'm assuming you heard what we were talking about?"
"Somewhat," I said cautiously. I felt suddenly tired, and wanted to collapse on my bed. He rolled his neck, and it cracked loudly. I made a face.
"Well, we've decided," he said wearily. "You can tell Gwen if you want to, but no one else!" I walked over and gave him a big hug.
"Thanks, Dad," I said into his shoulder. He pulled me away from him and stared into my face. Then a look overcame his face, a look of pure astonishment, and then dread.
"Oh," he said quietly. There was a silence. He walked past me, into the living room, and sat down on the couch. I followed him curiously. "Oh," he said again. He looked at me. "You told her already?" I felt my face waiver, and almost burst into tears at his expression.
"Oh, dad, I'm sorry," I said, rushed. "It's just, Gwen's my best friend, and I KNOW she would never betray me like you were talking about, and I didn't want her to keep thinking that I didn't trust her, because she already sensed something was wrong, and, -" My dad cut off my hurried blabbering.
"It's okay, Jessi," he said kindly. I bit my lip. "It's fine. But that's not all I saw." He looked at me expectantly. I stared at him, mystified.
"What?" I said blankly. He raised an eyebrow.
"Anything, exciting, or unusual happen tonight?" he inquired. I racked my brain. The image of the man in the black trench coat flashed across my eyes.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, stepping backward into my mom.
"Oof," she breathed. "Ow. What's going on?" She looked back and forth between my dad's severe expression and my red face. My dad stood up and crossed his arms.
"Jessi..." he said warningly. I avoided his face.
"What," I said. I was a horrible liar, and it was showing. I stole a glance at him, then broke.
"Oh, all right!" I said irritably. I paused. "Can I get my PJs on first? Before I tell, -"
"Yes, yes," said my dad hastily. "But you WILL tell us." I slumped into my room.
As I thought of the happenings of the night, I couldn't help but think that my life was only half as exciting as it was bound to be later. Suddenly, something completely random entered my head. Something that Nick had said, just as we departed: "Nothing but genuine interest would make me ask you, - never mind." I froze in my tracks taking of my jacket. 'Genuine interest,' I thought uncomfortably. Was that the kind of interest I was thinking of?