Chapter 36
Jill Valentine
Homecoming was different without Chris. Not having a real date was strange. I mean, I went with Chaelin and Piers but they were together the whole time and I was kind of left on the sidelines. I don't blame them at all, they're together! They can't keep trying to just include me in everything and I know that. I just need to keep reminding myself that they aren't replacing me with each other or are sick of me. They just need time alone, and I mean I'd rather be alone than third wheeling. I guess this was how Piers felt, but I mean I tried my hardest to include him in my relationship, I don't mean they aren't. I just mean that I don't think he was upset by hanging out with Chris and me. Not that I'm upset when I hang out with them. Whenever they try to exclude me while we're hanging out I sneak my way into it, but if they're going on a date I'm not going to impose. I'm classy as hell.
Anyway, much to my surprise, I won homecoming queen. Piers won king, so we had a slow dance near the end of the night. Piers is literally the worst dancer, I had to basically teach him how to slow dance while we were doing it. It wasn't a big deal, just a dance. Afterward he went back with Chaelin and I got a few offers to dance with some cute guys, but none of them made me feel like I did with Chris.
God! This again! I used to be so fucking independent, I didn't need anyone and now everything brings me back to Chris Fucking Redfield! Why am I like this, dammit! I just want to be normal again, be able to go home and be alone and not be upset that I'm not with him. But that's easier said than done!
Piers Nivans
I laughed as Chaelin rests her head on my chest. We were in my bedroom hanging out on the bed as we just talked about anything that came to mind. "So then my friend ate a whole wad of wasabi! She was crying for a good two hours! I swear it was one of the funniest things I ever saw," we both laugh. Shit, college acceptances should be here soon. Chaelin will be going back to Korea and I might go too. I didn't tell her this, didn't really tell anyone, but I applied to the same schools she did. I've been trying to learn the language too so I could take classes in it and actually survive if I get accepted. I feel like its a big stretch since I don't even know if our relationship will last but I'm hoping it does. We can go to college together in Korea, share an apartment. It all just sounds so perfect, but then if I don't get it I don't know if I could force her to wait until after college to see each other. I'd probably have to break up with her, and that'd be one of the worst things I'd ever have to deal with. I really care about her. "So do you like it over here," I ask kind of out of the blue. "I do, I mean I miss my friends back in Korea but on the other hand I have you." I smile before we exchange a quick peck, "I'm glad I have you too."
A week later, college acceptances came around for Chaelin. Lee was before Nivans, so I guess that's why she got her acceptances first. I mean, I'm at least expecting a 'you suck' letter telling me I didn't get in. All in Korean so I couldn't even tell. Chaelin got accepted to Kwangwoon University in Seoul, and I did apply there so I hope I get in. Currently I'm in English with both Chaelin and Jill. We recently switched seats so I get to sit next to both of them. Chaelin on one side, Jill on the other. Jill was currently pretending to force herself to throw up as I doodled Chaelin and I and she drew hearts around them. We did stuff like that a lot, cute little things. Jill always had the same kind of reaction much like what she's doing now. But now she feels what it was like with her and Chris. As much as she likes to deny how soft and mushy she was with Chris, she was the same level of nauseating Chaelin and I are.
"So Jill, Chaelin got her acceptances, what about you," I ask. "Well, I didn't get any yet. But I also didn't get any rejection letters so that's good right?" I laugh a little, "Guess so. Same story here. I just want some closure. I want to know where I'm going at least." "You always do like to plan ahead, in everything other than your career. Do you even know what you want to do?" "Not really," I shrug. "So what, are you applying for liberal arts," Chaelin asks. "No. No. I applied for Physical Therapy. I thought about it a lot after the accident and I think it could be a fun field. You still looking at the military Jill?" "Eh, I don't know. Not West Point anymore, but I still want to serve." "So enlisted then," I say a little surprised. "Hell no. Probably through R.O.T.C. Hopefully at University of Alabama or Texas A&M, but I could also do Saint Johns in Pennsylvania. I don't really know, I'm just waiting for acceptances." I was just waiting for Kwangwoon's acceptance letter. I could live in Korea.
"What are you doing after school," Jill asks. "Well, it's Friday so nothing." "Well, I've got a few bottles of Vodka in my closet. Wanna break 'em out tonight?" "How did you manage to pay for a couple of bottles? It's like 30 bucks for one!" "Well, maybe I stole them from my liquor cabinet, but why does it matter? I'm offering to supply a good night!" "Alright Jill, my place? Dad's out for the weekend. He left yesterday." "Sounds like a plan," Jill smiles. "You in," I ask Chaelin. She nods. "Who else can I bring," Jill asks. "I don't know. Sheva? Helena will be there so I guess Forest will come. Finn? What about Sherry and Jake? You still talk to them?" Jill nods her head, "A little. I can invite them. I'm sure they'll come." "Sounds like a party," Chaelin smiles.
After school Chaelin, Helena, Finn, Forest and I head home while Jill goes into her house and grabs the stuff. She quickly rejoins us in my house. "So, when is everyone getting here," I ask. "Well, Sheva's coming at 3. Sherry and Jake 4. Oh Rebecca's coming in a few minutes and that's it." "What happened to Richard," I look to Forest. "Eh, he's busy with college stuff. Him and Rebecca broke up a while ago so he doesn't really come to town much." "Aw, the bromance is over," Jill says. "No, we talk every night thank you very much. We just don't get to see each other a lot." "Well, should we open the first bottle," Jill asks. "Yeah!" The group cheers.
I don't remember much, but the next morning I woke up with a killer headache and couldn't stand without vomiting. Chaelin was in bed with me in the morning, both of us still had clothes on so I don't think anything like that happened. Jill was also on the floor cuddling with... Finn! I slowly move Chaelin off of me and lightly kick her. "Ow, Piers," she yells before looking down and seeing Finn, "Ew!" She scoots back on the floor away from him. "Huh?" Finn was now up too. "Did you guys," I start. "No! No! No! I remember last night. Nothing happened," Jill says holding her head. "I don't remember anything," I tell her before getting the urge to run to the bathroom and puke out a lung. As I turn my head from the porcelain bowl I see Jill smiling from the door frame. "Too much?" "I don't know. I don't remember how much I had," I say still not standing. "Well, a whole bottle of Smirnoff by yourself would cause this," she says with a smirk. "Oh god. You let me do that?" "Well, I know you're stressing so I thought why not." "Cause I'd end up like this. That's a pretty good reason." She smirks and I shake my head. "Did Rebecca ever show up?" "No actually. I was surprised. She would've had fun. Since you were dancing a lot." "What?" "You put on quite a show. Wasn't very good but Chaelin was singing in Korean and you started dancing. It was a real concert," she smiles. "Oh god."
Jill Valentine
School resumes on Monday, the weekend was nice. Friday was party night, Saturday was detox because Piers and Chaelin were pretty hungover. Sunday Piers and Chaelin went to the movies and I hung out with Rebecca alone. She's been weird lately, paranoid and very anxious. She was also saying something about robots but I think she was joking so I wasn't really paying attention. She hasn't changed much appearence wise though. She still looks the same as she did freshman year. It was a fun time still, she was still a good friend.
Piers Nivans
An envelope waited in the mailbox for me to get home from school on Monday. I got home and it was the first thing I noticed. The elevelope had Kwangwoon's name on the corner. This was it, was I accepted or rejected. I rush inside and drop everything next to the kitchen counter scrambling to open the letter. "Dad," I yell. He comes running in. "I got a letter from a college!" "Which one?" "One of the ones in Korea!" "Piers, are you actually looking at those?" "Yes Dad, I really want to go." "Okay, what does it say?" "I wanted to wait for you to open it." So I open it and I was all excited to read it until I discovered the whole letter was written in Korean. "Nice job Piers! Can you even read what that says?" "No." "Great job." And he leaves the room. Fuck!
I pull out my phone to text Chaelin. "Hey, wanna translate something for me?" And I sent the picture of the letter to her. It took about an hour before she replied. "Sorry, I was in the shower." I didn't really care about that. I want to know what it says. Five minutes later she replied again. "You were accepted! You idiot! Why did you apply if you can't read or speak Korean!?" "Well, I guess you'll need to keep teaching me." "Dumbass! But congrats!" I run to my dad and tell him the good news. He laughs. He thought I was dumb for apply to school somewhere I didn't' speak the language but so did everyone. Oh well, I'd be going to school with Chaelin and that's all that mattered.