Jet sat scrunched as close to the door as she could. She just wanted to disappear. It really bothered her that she told her story. It was so embarrassing. She could still see the image of her little brother, only four, bruised and bleeding with no hope of survival, in the hospital. She shook her head to clear the vision and wiped her eyes.
"You okay, Jet? Anything you want to tell me?"
Jet shook her head. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do. Now, she was tired and upset and just wanted to go to sleep so she could forget, temporarily, about her day.
When Peter pulled up in front of the lodge, she saw Sophie, sitting on the steps and waiting. Jet didn't want to talk to her right then. She sat in the car and waited until Peter came around and opened her door.
"Jet, Sophie is going to take you back to the dorm, okay? She has something to say to you. Now, I know you don't want to talk right now, but just listen. You don't need to talk. I'll see you tomorrow." Peter squeezed her shoulder and pushed her to Sophie. They started to walk to the dorm silently.
"Listen, Jet. I didn't mean to push you today. I was just worried because you weren't eating. I wasn't trying to get your story out of you, that wasn't my intention. And because you confided in me your secret, I'll tell you mine," Sophie said.
"You don't need to tell me something private just because you pity me," Jet said.
"Its not that, Jet." Sophie stopped walking. "My family situation is almost exactly like yours. My mom is as mean and spiteful as your mother. My father died when I was fifteen, right before my sixteenth birthday. My mom blamed me for his death, too. He had cancer - I don't know how she was able to blame that on me, but she did. The only difference is, she didn't give me up. There were plenty of times I thought she might, but never did." Sophie started walking again.
Jet was dumbfounded. "I - I'm sorry, Sophie."
"Thats okay."
"And...and I'm sorry I told you to go to hell. I was just...upset. I know thats a lame excuse, but I am sorry."
"Apology accepted. Here we are," she said as they arrived at the dorm. She squeezed Jet's shoulder as she walked up to the door. When she was safely inside, Sophie turned back and headed for the lodge. Now she had some other news she had to figure out how to deliever: Daisy's dad was coming to get her Sunday, and she was going to stay for a week. He said he was going to AA meetings and therapy sessions, and both were having family days. He wanted Daisy to go to AA and see how well he was doing, and they'd get a therapy session together at his psychiatrist. She knew Daisy would be all but thrilled about going for even a day - but a whole week...
Sophie would have to tell her by tomorrow evening, give her a five day notice.
"So, whats the damage?" Shelby asked when Jet entered the dorm.
"Shuns."
"That sucks. For how long?"
"Till Friday."
"Thats not too bad. When Auggie and I ran, we both got shuns and we couldn't talk to each other. Don't worry, its not really that bad," Juliette said. Jet nodded and lay down on her bed. She was still on the edge and afraid she might start crying again if she spoke. They all knew she was upset, but they thought it was because she got caught. Daisy knew it was something else. She threw a pillow at Juliette and motioned for her to talk to Jet. Juliette hesitently sat down next to Jet.
"Jet, whats wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
"You sure? Nothing's bothering you? Why did you run?"
"You don't want to hear it."
"If I didn't want to hear it, then I wouldn't have asked."
"Well...everyone has a boyfriend. I guess I felt left out, or I didn't fit in. And some other stuff. I don't want to go into it right now."
"Okay." Juliette sat with her for a few minutes, until she fell asleep. Then she went back to her own bed.
"I hope she's okay. She's never upset. Something big must've happened."
"Yeah, after group, Scott and I saw her and she was really upset then," Shelby said.
"I could read the cards and see what's wrong," Daisy suggested.
"Something tells me she won't be in the mood for it, Dais," Shelby said.
Daisy shrugged. "Only a suggestion."
"Well, I'm going to bed. Goodnight," Juliette announced and lay down. Wordlessly, the others did the same.
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