Chapter Four: Skeletons and Speeches


It was Sunday afternoon, as Jenna unpacked the last of her boxes, Jess along helping her as best he could.
"How could anyone have this much?" stuff he asked, opening another box full of framed pictures. "Oh look what we have here!"
"Hmm?" Jenna asked walking up beside him. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about those" She exclaimed pulling out a few pictures of her and friends.
"Who's this?" He asked holding up a picture of Jenna standing beside three guys.
"Those are my brothers, Steve, Dylan and Craig." Jenna explained pointing to her smiling brothers.
"Craig is obviously a cop." Jess said.
"Yeah, he's the oldest, 30, Dylan is next, he's 28 and a psychiatrist, and Steve is 25 and has just finished medical school." Jenna explained.
"Wow, you have a lot to live up too, you're parents must me proud." Jess exclaimed.
"Not as much as you'd think." Jenna replied.
"What do you mean?" Jess asked.
"Well, you're gonna find out sometime, and I guess it's better to tell you sooner rather than later. Remember when I said we all have skeletons in our closets?" Jenna asked.
"Yeah, well mine, are rather, complicated. I should have told you earlier. But it, was to painful."
"Jenna?" Jess asked curiously.

"When I was four, my dad left, took off never said goodbye, he just left. For a few years everything was fine, but when I was twelve, Mom met this guy, fell in love got married. By then all my brothers were in school, Steve was just starting his first year, and Mom and the new husband made my life a living hell. Mom began by telling me I was a mistake, he constantly reminded me how much of a burden I was on the both of the, her drinking problem didn't help. Then, he hit me, it was only a couple times before my brothers found…." Jenna trailed off starting to get chocked up "They got me out of there, it was a good four months of law suits and court appearances…..but" Jenna trialed off unable to finish her sentence, her eyes filled with tears, sobbing she collapsed to the ground sobbing.

"Hey, it's alright!" Jess said, wrapping his arms around her. "You're not there anymore right?"
Jenna nodded, still clenching her arms tightly around Jess's neck.
"I'm glad you told me." Jess whispered, "You can tell me anything and I'll be here for you, I promise." He said, still holding her in his arms.


Rory, Paris and the other members of the news paper team, eagerly awaited, for Doyle to bring in the new members of the paper in. Every year, Doyle thought up some crazy idea to haze them in, and help weed out some of the group.
"So do you think we'll actually get members that know how to write this year?" Paris asked.
"I hope so some of the pieces we had in the paper last year were awful." Rory replied.
"Madeline and Louise could have done a better job". Paris said. "Although this group may have a member that's worse off then them."
"Why do you say that?" Rory asked, looking at Paris.
"Because bookstore girl seems to be trying out for the paper!" Paris exclaimed angrily.
"What?" Rory asked looking up to see Jenna trailing behind Doyle, along with a few first years.
"What year is she in anyways?" Paris asked.
"I'm not sure, she's in two of my classes, but that's as far as I know." Rory replied.
"Is she smart? Or just one of those girls who flies through her classes on good looks?" Paris asked in her usual interrogating tone.
"She seems smart, she participates in the class discussions, and knows her stuff about all the authors, and their insights. But that doesn't mean she's a good writer." Rory added.
"Yeah. Hopefully. Maybe Doyle's hazing will scare her.

"Alright listen up everyone, we have some new applicants, now two of you will be joining the paper, the other five, will fail miserably. But get use to it, because this is life, and everyone fails at some point. This is a very serious paper, and serious environment, we do have our moments, but you all need to be prepared to work hard." Doyle announced. "Now everyone will introduce them selves, and then make paper hats, you will do whatever a current member on the paper asks you. Most of it will be slave work, but this gives you a chance to get to know the team, while we look over you're portfolios and assignments and decide who's worth being on the team. With that said, why don't you go first."

Jenna smiled. "I'm Jenna, I'm twenty years old, I spent a year at the Simon Fraser College in BC where I took a writing program there for a year. I came out with two pieces of work published in a literary magazine. My writing background, is well simple, I love to write, I've been writing since I could hold a pencil. I was the editor of my high school paper since the tenth grade, I started a creative writing group in the tenth grade, where we published magazines full of student's work every other month." She stopped for a breath, holding up a rather thick portfolio. "I will not, humiliate my self to be on this paper, I know I'm good, and I know I would become a great asset to the paper. That about covers it Jenna said smiling, hoping her speech would work.

"Wow, that was different." Doyle exclaimed, grabbing the portfolio from Jenna's hand. "You say to published pieces in a literary magazine?" He asked.
"I included them in the portfolio." Jenna replied.
"Hmm" Doyle said quickly scanning over several of pieces of work. "Welcome to the paper!" Doyle exclaimed standing up and shaking her hand.
"I'm in? No hazing or humiliating my self?" Jenna asked.
"No. You don't, but the rest of you do." Doyle said smiling, as he looked at the intimidated first years. None of them wanting to say a word after Doyle's and Jenna's speeches, they all nodded and quickly went to work on their hats.
"Did that just happen?" Paris asked, completely taken aback.
"Can she even do that?" Rory asked sitting and staring at Doyle talking to Jenna about her accomplishments.
"I have to see what her deal is. This could be big, she could take over our jobs on the paper." Paris said hurriedly.
"Our jobs? Your position is secure, you're sleeping with the editor, me, I'm screwed if she keeps that up!" Rory whispered back, following Paris.
"Oh common, you're sleeping with Logan, he has the most money and you work on a news paper his Dad owns. His Dad has power,Logan has power, there's no way you'll be booted." Paris said in a rant.
"Girls! Good of you to come up, have you meet Jenna?" Doyle asked.
"Yeah, sure, old pals." Paris snapped. "Let me see that portfolio!" After a few moments Paris looked up "Wow, you are good."
"Uh…Thanks." Jenna replied.
"So Rory, Paris, I want you to show Jenna the ropes, let her shadow you for a week or so she can learn how this place is run, I'd do it, but I'll be busy with those guys." Doyle exclaimed, rolling his eyes, "Is it just me, or do the get smaller every year?"


A/N: Another chapter done, it was origonally longer, but I wasn't sure about the one part yet, I might add it in later. There may not be a new chapter for awhile, because I'm in the process of moving, and I don't know when I'll have access to the internet, but it should give me plenty of time to write more chapters. Keep reading and thanks for the reviews.