I do not own this book series by LJ Smith, but that won't stop me from writing about it.
"Ohmygod! She's so cute!" Jenny exclaimed, turning her head to the side as to avoid the assault of puppy kisses. The puppy, Bella, was only five weeks old and still easy to excite. At least that's what Dee said. Speaking of the dog's owner, she stood to the side while her friend retreated towards the floor, helpless to the energetic puppy's playful bites and licks.
Dee laughed, soft and from the chest. "Told you she was a spaz." Since her faced was turned, Jenny now got a better view of her old friend. She leaned against a wall, so casual in the way her arms crossed and with one leg in front of the other. For a moment, Jenny was reminded of the stereotypical middle-class snob trying to look tough, though Dee could actually pull the stance off well enough. No scrawny white-boy sporting an air-thin beard—one that he's been growing for over a month—and pants that drooped lower than his ass cheeks could compare to the dangerous grace that was Deidre Eliade.
Just the thought of some spoiled punk standing like that near her lifelong friend made Jenny bust out in a fit giggles, though Bella didn't help her maintain her composure, either.
Dee raised a hand to cover her mouth, failing to hide the wide grin that grew. "What? Something on my face?"
"No, it's the way," Jenny wheezed out, "Ha, the way you're standing." Grabbing the still-sniffing-and-licking puppy, she sat up and placed the animal down on her lap. "It's just like a one of those freshman guys who try to act all cool and gangster while waiting for his mom to pick him up from soccer practice in the family's minivan."
"What?" Dee cracked up at that. "Where'd that come from? Wha—haha!—what are you on?"
"Nothing, I swear!" Jenny's cheeks hurt, but god, it was good to see Dee again. The last time she saw her was at Tom's wedding, and the entire ordeal felt tense and just plain awkward. It's nice to have time just meant for friends without the lousiness of exes or a said-ex's new wife lingering over Jenny like a raincloud about to burst. Yes, hanging out for no reason in particular other than to catch up is nice, simple even. Sometimes the best things in life aren't flashy or complicated. But something still feels off Jenny thought before forcing it into the darkest, farthest corners of her mind. I'm having fun; stop overthinking.
Jenny took a few deep breaths to calm down, and then looked at her lap. Her left hand found itself entangled in puppy limbs and a jaw, though it wasn't like Bella could do any lasting damage. The puppy play tickled more than hurt her.
"What breed is she again?" she asked. Why she added "again", she didn't know. Jenny didn't recall asking in the first place; maybe the extra word made the sentence sound more casual. Why did I say it like that?
Dee took her weight off of the wall and walked over to where Jenny and the puppy sat together. Leaning down, she skillfully maneuvered her hands around the nipping bites and scratching paws to pick Bella up under the front legs. The puppy didn't struggle, instead opting to curl up against Dee's chest when she was close enough. "We're pretty sure she's a pit-bull mixed with some terrier. I don't know, really, or care," she said with a shrug. "Ah, Jenny look. She's all tuckered out," Dee cooed, running a hand up and down Bella's back. Her expression melted into that of adoration, appearing to enjoy the feel of her short fur.
"Aren't they supposed to get really bad and aggressive when they're older?"
"Nah." Dee crept towards a small dog bed, careful as to not wake the bundle currently trying to sleep in her strong arms. "There's no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners." As she lowered Bella down onto the soft pillow, Dee flashed Jenny a sly smile. "'Sides, it's perfect practice before Alex and I start doing foster care."
Three years dating, three years married, one year with an animal to see if you're worthy, and then can you have kids: Coach Rogers was always a stickler for teen abstinence. This was just one of the many mantras he'd pound into your skull if you were unfortunate enough to talk to him about anything relating to a social or love life. "Taking Rogers' words seriously, are we?"
For a split second, Dee's face scrunched before returning to a more happy, holding-back-a-giggle expression. "I completely forgot about that! God, I can't believe I didn't think of that, but yea, I guess so." Seeing and hearing Bella's little bouts of snoring, Dee stood back up. "Maybe the old coot was actually on to something, ya know?"
"Hm." Jenny still sat on the carpeted floor of Dee's new house. After Dee proposed and Alex said, "Yes!" rather enthusiastically considering that Dee almost fell to the ground from being tackled into a hug, the couple moved into the house they've been stalking online for a few months. It wasn't anything gaudy or large, nor was it broken down. Well, not anymore. Dee insisted on a fixer-upper, claimed it would be fun and give them a challenge.
Boy, did Dee outdo herself. Jenny couldn't tell that the wall opposite of her used to have multiple holes from sledgehammers—"It's therapeutic, I swear!"—no matter how many times Dee said otherwise.
The inside felt like a home, and Jenny's only been there for half an hour. Dee's high school martial arts trophies and ribbons decorated the selves and walls. She and Alex's high school diplomas and various degrees intermixed with family photos, pictures of memorable dates, the plane tickets from their trip to Amsterdam, and other paper copies of memories. Ones I'm not in anymore…
Jenny shook her head and pushed herself off from the floor, flitching slightly at the soreness in her knees. Adjusting her skirt, Jenny asked, "When's Alex getting home again?"
Dee shrugged and opened her mouth to say, "Any minute now," but the front door interrupted her, opening slamming the door with a sharp crack.
"Sorry, the doorknob got stuck again." Alex entered the room, took off her heavy-duty winter coat, and hung it on the nearby coatrack; it was a cheap one from a thrift shop. "I thought you said you were going to fix that last week?"
Putting a finger to her lips, Dee grabbed her fiancée's hand and pulled her into the kitchen. "We just got the puppy down for a nap; be quiet, 'kay?" she whispered, "Oh, and you remember Jenny, right?"
Alex planted a quick kiss at Dee's lips. "How could I forget? I think I still have that protection charm you made me wear atTom's wedding."
Jenny's walk to the kitchen faltered with a weak step. She wore a what?
Dee didn't miss her misstep and turned toward Jenny. "Ah! Sorry, should've told you that." Waving a hand with a quiet laugh, signaling no hurt feelings, Jenny continued her path and reached the cupboard. The doors didn't squeak when they opened as she looked for a small cup. Yea, I also should've expected that. No matter the time, place, or surrounding people, Jenny's friends never treated her the same, not since before The Game. "If it's any consolation, it was more for the case that Julian showed up. Which he didn't, so it was pointless."
Jenny smiled at the couple, trying not to seem as tense as she actually was. "I get you," she said, filling the cup with water from the sink, "It's fine."
Dee walked around the kitchen island, closer to Jenny's spot. Let me pretend it's all fine. Please don't walk over here. The hug was quick, loose, and informal: an apology. "No it isn't. I'm sorry. I know he isn't all that bad, but I just-"
"I said I get you. Can we move on?" Jenny couldn't help but steal glances at Alex. A Dutch exchange student—and very obviously so with the blonde hair, blue eyes, and likeness to a skyscraper—during the group's senior year, Alex did not experience the tragedy that was Tom's seventeenth birthday party. However, after just two years together as a couple rather than "gal pals", Dee filled her in with all the juicy details from the nightmares, Julian's borderline-possessive passes towards Jenny, the forfeit, Summer's return from what was thought to be her death—everything. She told her everything just in case an incident happened at Tom's wedding, which as the time would've been a few short months in the future.
Alex knew the details, but didn't understand. She can't understand my choice Jenny thought, not missing out on the cold look Alex gave her. Her nose was wrinkled everything time Jenny saw her, so much so that she couldn't tell if that was her natural expression or if that was reserved just for Jenny. What did I do that was so offensive?
Dee took a step away from Jenny, allowing her some space to cool her emotions. It's just a funk; you'll get over it. "If you say so," Dee said. Maybe I shouldn't have come over. I always end up feeling… different. Out of place.
And she was. The physical differences were the hardest to miss. Dee grew beautifully into the body and mentality of a twenty-one year old while Jenny was still stuck at sixteen in a physical sense. Sure, she still attended online classes—apparently the frozen wasteland that was Niflheim had a great wireless connection—and probably would have had some sort of Master's in English or History, but the fact that Jenny couldn't go out for drinks with her friends bugged her. Dee may have been smart, and she proved that in The Game, but Jenny was smarter, wiser… and still barely passed as "legal".
The fact that she was married to something that breathed life into a person's worst nightmare for shits and giggles also set the previously tight-knight friend group on edge, but, honestly, how could it not?
"Jenny?" A hand gripped her shoulder, shaking it. "Jenny, are you okay?" She looked up and saw Alex rushing to the paper towels at the corner of the kitchen and Dee holding onto her. Jenny couldn't remember when she stopped looking at Alex and instead at the floor. She looked down again; Alex used soaking up spilt water and picking up large chunks of broken glass, creating a pile on another sheet of paper towel. Jenny couldn't remember when she dropped the glass, either. Honestly, she had forgotten she had one for a moment. I need to stop spacing out like that.
Apologizing for the mess and her lack of focus, Jenny took over cleanup duty to which a grateful former Dutch citizen relented. "Hey, Dee?"
"Yea?"
Jenny stood up and gently dropped the glass shards wrapped in soaked paper towels into the trash bin beneath the sink. "I know we planned on making homemade pizzas, but I think I should get going." The slight look of relief on Dee's face hurt. It hurt a lot. This was a mistake. It's almost been five years, and I'm still not ready to face them. At least it was easier to see her little brother Joey; he's still young at thirteen and changeable.
"Not feeling well?" Jenny nodded. I feel so out of place.
Later, as the engaged couple waved their goodbyes from the front door, Jenny willed into existence a bottle full of a clear liquid. When Julian first taught her how to summon anything, she was shocked at how easy the task was for her. It burned when she took a swig but not like an ember floating away from a fire pit and landing on you. The burn was warm, cleansing, comforting. Looking around to ensure that no people were around, Jenny turned toward the empty asphalt street and jumped into the black vortex that appeared, blue lightning crackling from it. Julian's gonna give her an earful for drinking in public, but she didn't care right then. That would've been a morning problem if mornings existed back home; time was more a human thing to be honest.
A/N: Sorry if this one was a bit more angsty; I swear it did not mean to start off this that way. By the way, I totally headcannon Dee to be gay. I mean, come on, she's such a man-hater in the books, and she's super protective over Jenny. Just sayin'...
The next chapter will hopefully be more light if not funnier. Don't forget to comment, follow, and favorite this story. Thanks :)