After class Clair met up with JC with the hope of catching up. Wow, she is so different.
Jocelyn could feel the anxiety in her chest. I can’t believe I actually agreed to go along with that plan, but I do need a place in this school and Clair has all her new friends and she has probably turned into one of those snobby bitches I hate so bad. I can do this.
“So stranger, how you been?” Clair inquired.
“I’ve been doing so-so. Life could be better, but it could be a hell of a lot worse. How ‘bout you?”
“I have been doing wonderful. I have made lots of friends and high school is a blast.”
“Glad your life’s goin’ so fuckin’ perfect.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, sorry. I’m just takin’ some of my probs out on you.”
“Uh…well….uh”
“Just spit it out!”
“I was kind of wondering if you would like to come to my house this afternoon, so that we could maybe catch up.”
“Oh. Uh, sure. Your flat still in the same place?”
“No, we moved up to Highwing Central. The house number is 1919.”
“Damn girl, how in the hell you manage to end up livin’ in a fancy place like that?”
“Oh, my parents both have high paying jobs now. Um, I kinda have to go, so you’re still coming, right?”
“Sure, I’ll be there at seven.”
“Awesome, see you then.”
“See ya.” This plan is going to be a lot easier than I though it was going to be. I can’t believe she lives in a place like that. Stupid brat needs something like this to knock her down a few notches.
It was 7:23 and Jocelyn had not arrived yet. Where is she? I spent such a long time making sure everything was clean and making dinner. Sigh, why I am I feeling like its my first day of school again? Did I miss her this much without realizing it?
Jocelyn rang the doorbell.
“Coming!” Clair ran to the door and quickly opened it.
Why is Clair wearing such an adorable outfit? Maybe I should have changed into something else.
“Sorry for being late. I fell asleep after school and didn’t wake up until like thirty minutes ago.”
“Oh, so that is why you are still in your school clothes.”
Damn, I knew that would be the first thing she noticed.
Clair studied her face for a moment and then said, “Well, let’s go up to my room. I want show you pics of me in middle school. Did you bring any pics?”
“I have a few in my wallet.”
Damn her house is big.
“Your room is very…girly?”
“Yeah, I guess it is. I mean what else would you expect.”
“Good point.”
Clair gave Jocelyn a big, beautiful smile when she said that.
“So what does your room look like if not like this?”
“Let’s not talk about my room.”
“What is it all black and morbid or something?”
Jocelyn lost all calmness in her voice. “I am telling you to drop it.”
“Okay, I get it.” Clair replied with a nervous laugh.
The room was silent for a few minutes. “So, uh, let me see your pics.”
“Ok.” Clair rummaged in her closet and pulled out an album labeled middle school memories. She sat down on her bed beside Jocelyn and opened up the album.
The two girls spent hours talking and looking at pics. It was like nothing had ever changed, but in the back of both of their minds, they knew things would never be the same.
“Well, I have to run. It is really late and we have school tomorrow.”
“Yeah, uh, that is probably best.”
Clair hugged Jocelyn as they were going out the door. She held on maybe a few seconds longer than she should have.
“See ya.”
“Bye.”
What the hell was that hug about?!
I can’t believe I did that.
The girls continued to meet outside of school on certain days and discuss what happened in their lives that week. They wouldn’t talk much in school, but they would talk plenty out of it. Actually it was more like Clair talked and Jocelyn listened, but they both seemed okay with that.
Clair’s friends knew nothing of the secrets meetings, but Jocelyn’s certainly did. They would want to know everything about the meetings so that they could build up ammo to use against Clair and the others. Jocelyn felt horrible about doing it, but she did whatever it took to keep her friends, no matter how bad they are.
The girls decided to meet at Clair’s house again on a Thursday. They were watching a movie on Clair’s bed when she asked a fateful question.
“Why don’t you ever take off your hood?”
“Oh, uh, I guess it is just really comfortable.” Oh my God, could my lie have been lamer?
“Well, it is really hot in here, so take it off. The bed is plenty comfortable.”
“No, I’ll leave it on. It will be a hassle to get up and take it off.”
“No, it won’t. It unzips, just take it off.”
“I said no. Drop it and watch the movie.”
“Why won’t you take it off? What are you hiding?”
“It is none of your god damn business! I am leaving.” JC jumped off the bed and started to grab her things.
Clair sat up, cut off the movie, and switched on the lights. “Look, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave.” She grabbed JC’s arm and pulled her body against her, and she hugged her lower waist. “I am really sorry.”
“It’s ok. Just please don’t bring it up anymore.” She said while stroking Clair’s head.
“Please tell me what you’re hiding.”
Jocelyn huffed while she stepped back from Clair’s arms. She unzipped her hoodie and pulled it off.
“Oh my God! Why did y…how could y...why?”
“Not everyone has a good life Clair. Some of us don’t have control over anything in our life but our bodies.”
Clair just looked at the marks.
“I think it is time I should go.”
Clair grabbed her arm as she turned around, but Clair never got up off the bed. Instead she brought Jocelyn close to her. She pulled one of Jocelyn’s wrists up too her lips and started to kiss it softly.
Jocelyn was speechless. Dangerous shivers were crawling up her spine with every kiss.
“I really have to go.” Jocelyn managed to say in a wavering voice. She then grabbed her stuff and left. Her mind was white; she couldn’t even begin think about what had just happened.
Oh, no! I shouldn’t have done that. Jocelyn is going to think I am a weirdo. Maybe I should just stay out of school tomorrow, but that would break my perfect attendance record. Well, I have to face the music sooner or later, might as well be sooner.