AN: Hey! Sorry about the delay, i had a busy couple of days. To clear a few things up, Matthew and Jenna ARE just friends, but care deeply about each other and that's why their behavior towards each other is so nurturing. I know this sounds a bit repetitive, but I honestly love all of your reviews. Anyway, this is chapter 44!
Chapter 44
"I don't want you seeing those friends of yours anymore" Spencer ordered before school the following Monday morning. We hadn't spoken since we left the hospital the day before.
"What? Spencer that's completely irrational!" I shot back.
"I have a feeling they have a lot to do with your behavior lately" He replied emotionless. I felt my adrenaline begin to pump.
"First off, Spencer, this 'behavior' you speak of isn't exactly anything new. I've only been living here for what, five months? My history dates back a lot further than that" I fumed in the heat of the moment.
"Second, by not letting me see them, it's just going to make most matters worse. When I'm with them, I'm able to push every shitty thing going on to the back of my head. If anything, they're helping me" I continued, calming down a bit, figuring yelling at him wouldn't convince him of anything.
"They helped you lie so you could go to a party, that doesn't exactly make them look good" He replied.
"And what happened when something went wrong? Oh yeah, they took me to the hospital for proper care when they just as easily could have waited it out. Also, maybe they wouldn't have had to help me lie if you weren't so overprotective..." I responded, trailing off towards the end of my sentence.
"Jenna, I'm just trying to keep you safe" Spencer's tone was slightly harsh, challenging my will power not to scream.
"Yeah look how well that turned out..." I mumbled, picking at my cuticles. Spencer must have heard, because he looked at me with hurt eyes.
"I have to leave for school, I'll see you after dance" I muttered, ignoring his expression and walking out the door to head for school.
"Hey, there she is" Matthew greeted me, Ari by his side. The two of them pulled me into a hug, but I didn't return the favor.
"What's wrong?"Ari asked, sensing my increased negativity level.
"Uh Ari, do we not recall the last forty eight hours?" Matthew raised his brow, receiving a scoff.
"Aside from that, duh" She replied, giving his a small shove.
"Spencer isn't exactly being receptive. I just want to move past this, but he's really cracking down" I huffed. As the three of us walked down the hallway, we received a ripple of stares from each person we passed. Whispers ensued, making me all the more uncomfortable.
"Let me guess, it's getting around?" I rolled my eyes as Matthew and Ari nodded.
Great. Just what I needed, the entire school knowing I was drugged and couldn't handle the side effects.
The day carried on, foggy and boring. It was strange not having rehearsal to look forward to, I was so used to it by then that it had become my norm. Whatever my norm was exactly.
Pointe class was quite the relief, after the past few days I needed a healthy way to wash it all away.
Spencer picked me up in silence, drove in silence, and retrieved dinner in silence. Silence, silence, silence.
We arrived back at the apartment around 7:45pm and traveled to the kitchen with the box of Chinese food. I grabbed my pint of vegetable stir fry and started moving towards my room, where I would usually eat a fraction of my dinner and throw out just enough to make it looked like I ate a normal sized portion.
"Where are you going?" Spencer finally spoke up.
"To my room" I replied in an obvious tone.
"I'd rather you eat in here" He pushed. I decided to comply, I had to pick and choose my battles and that specific one didn't seem worth the fight.
I made my way back over to the kitchen table and sat down, opening my container of food and sticking my fork into it.
"Here, why don't you use a plate" Spencer said, placing a paper plate in front of me. I shot him a quick glare as I dumped a fourth of the pints contents onto the dish.
"How about you take some rice?" Spencer asked, or more of ordered.
"I don't want any rice" I answered. I had a feeling I knew what his intent was, and I didn't like it one bit.
"Take some anyway" He replied in a stern manor, staring me in the eye. I returned the gaze while grabbing hold of the rice container and taking a spoonful out.
"More" He urged, his tone just as firm as before.
"Alright, what's with this tough love thing all of a sudden? Because frankly I'm not a very big fan of it" I shot out, noticeably irritated.
"What tough love thing?" He replied, monotone, not breaking eye contact. I raised my left brow in protest.
"Spencer, I'm not an idiot" I responded, my words apparently not phasing him because he began eating once again.
"Eat your dinner" He insisted in between chews. Aggravated, I took as many bites as my stomach and mind could handle and set down my utensil, then crisscrossing my legs and analyzing my callused, blistered feet.
"Is that all you're going to eat?" Spencer's tone had a more natural aspect to it, but probably because he noticed I wasn't responding to his strict attitude.
"Oh my god" I moaned, throwing my head back then letting it fall into my hands. "Spencer," I started, looking up at him and resting my elbows on the table. "I know a lot has happened lately, but I'm still Jenna. You're acting like I'm a totally different person" I continued, freezing and waiting for Spencer to respond. After a few seconds, I gave up and pushed myself out of my chair.
"I know this is hard for you Spenc, but it's pretty damn hard for me too and I don't think you're handling any of this appropriately" I declared, stepping closer to the entrance to the living room. I waited a few moments for Spencer to answer, but instead of words he responded with a face of defeat. I sucked up my guilt and retreated into my room, frustrated and annoyed.