Kate

After Jarrod leaves I go into the bathroom to wash up a bit. As I splash cold water on my tear-stained face I think of what has happened in the past hour. Jarrod wants to take me to the party, and as much as I wanted to go before, now I'm not so sure I want to go. I just wanted to go and have a good time and feel accepted for one, but now it seems like going will cause more problems than it will solve.

But he's right: I worry too much about what they think. I thought him a coward before and now he's standing up for me. To Tasha, no less. After all of this, I at least owe him to go.

That's it; my mind's made up. And though I'm still having second thoughts, my decision is staying.

I dry my face, feeling better, and I go into the kitchen. I take the cup of tea Jillian made for me and blow on it. I sit next to her and we sip in companionable silence. Finally she speaks.

"So?"

I nod, and say, "Yep, I'm going." We sit in silence for a few moments. "Want to do my hair?" I grin.

"Thought you'd never ask!" she jumps up and starts playing with my hair, twisting it this way and that, mumbling to herself. I sit and sip, thinking of what's to come.