Chapter Two: The Stranger
As usual, Jess was back in her bed before breakfast the next morning. Will started to ask where she had gone, but she decided against it. She knew Jess wouldn't answer her. Will's mother had left early for work, so the girls had the place to themselves. Jess was very quiet, and that bugged Will. She was trying to find a way to strike up a conversation, when Jess spoke first. "Are you ok? You seem kinda quiet." I'm kinda quiet? Will thought with indignation.
"Just thinking," she replied. Jess nodded. Suddenly she broke into a mischievous smile, her amber eyes shining with malicious fire.
"I have an idea of what we can do this weekend. There's a new horror flick playing at the theater. We should go see it."
"Horror flick?" Will asked nervously.
"Aw, suck it up. I watch all of that chick shit with you." Will didn't answer, but grabbed her backpack and left the apartment with Jess close behind. "So, what do you say. We can get the other girls to go and I can scare the shit out of Cornelia."
"Jess! She nearly had a heart attack the last time you did that."
"It was funny."
"That is because you are a sadist, my friend." The girls giggled. Taranee met them at the street corner.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Jess wants to go see a horror movie this weekend." Taranee shivered.
"Quit being such a wimp," Jess advised, giving Taranee a sweet smile to let her know she was kidding. Taranee giggled.
The three girls entered the school grounds and saw Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Irma slouched against the wall. Jess waved and the other two slid tiredly on the steps next to them. Jess pulled out her book and began to read, like she usually did to ignore the conversation incase it turned to the dreaded girl talk. Suddenly, Jess's entire body went ridged as she looked across the school grounds. Will followed her eyes to where Mrs. Knickerbocker was standing with a pretty woman with dark brown hair. Mrs. Knickerbocker saw her watching and she waved.
"Come over here a minute, Jessica. There is someone here to see you." Jess was standing so stiffly that Will was afraid that if she moved, she would shatter into a million pieces. Will waited for Jess to react, to move, to speak, to do something but stand there as she brown haired woman turned to face her, her green eyes widening as they made contact with Jess's.
"No!" Jess breathed, her voice filled with hurt. Hay Lin put a hand on her shoulder, breaking the spell. Jess turned on her heel, bolting down the stars and climbing over the fence to freedom. The strange woman looked as if she wanted to go after, but she was hesitant. Will stood to follow, beckoning the others to follow.
"Jess!" Irma called as Jess rocketed through the woods surrounding the school, no doubt heading for her hideaway on the beach. Jess whipped around, staring her down.
"What?"
"Who was that woman?" Cornelia asked. Jess was panting, her eyes brimming with tears that she hastily wiped away. She sat in the grass, leaning against a tree. The girls sat near her, placing their arms gently around her shoulders or lightly holding her hands. She felt comforted. She took a deep breath.
"She's my mother. My birth mother."