SPIN

by K. J. Farnham

  Chapter Four

  Friday, July 21, 2017

  Three Months Before Jenna’s Disappearance

  “Hey, Mom. Sorry I’m late,” Jenna said, trying to maintain a steady, lighthearted tone as she breezed past her mother into the house. “Dustin and I fell asleep listening to music.” It wasn’t a lie, she’d told herself. There was music playing in the car. Following the greeting, Jenna said a nervous, silent prayer promising to never break curfew again if her mom would just let this one slide without a huge argument. She headed straight for the stairs, Lulu’s tail wagging happily by her side. “Hey, girl,” Jenna whispered, patting Lulu’s head as they climbed the first few steps together.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Get back here, young lady.” Nothing short-circuited Bonnie’s usual soft-spoken nature like the fear that her teenage daughter would follow in her naive footsteps and have sex before she was ready. She knew from experience what the consequences could be.

  Jenna froze on the third step, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before heading back downstairs where her furious mother was waiting. When she and Lulu returned to the entryway next to the open concept living room, her dad was there now too. He was in his usual evening attire—flannel pajama bottoms and a ratty old classic rock band T-shirt (tonight it was AC/DC)—and he was holding a mug with a Tazo tea label hanging over the side.

  “Oh, good. You’re home,” Joseph said to Jenna as he handed the mug to his wife. He then leaned over and gave his daughter a peck on her forehead. “I assume there’s a good reason for you being late again?”

  Grateful for her dad’s presence, Jenna’s posture relaxed a little. Even when he’d first entered their lives, back when Jenna was three and her mom was struggling to make ends meet as a single parent, he’d always seemed to buffer any turbulence between them.

  “Yeah, of course. Dustin and I were listening to music, and we fell asleep.” Jenna shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, I’m only—”

  “Not a big deal?” Mrs. Kemp’s voice boomed. She handed the hot mug of tea back to her sighing husband. “You’re almost an hour late! Where were the two of you? It must have been someplace pretty darn cozy if you fell asleep.”

  “God, Mom!” Jenna threw her hands up only for them to come crashing down to her thighs. “It’s not like we were out partying or robbing gas stations. We were just hanging out, talking, listening to music. Why are you the only parent I know who overreacts like this?” Lulu nudged Jenna’s hand with her nose, but Jenna ignored her, causing the dog to wander off to her bed in the corner.

  “Jenna, how many times do we have to—”

  “Okay, okay,” Joseph said moving a few feet into the living room and setting the mug of tea down on a coaster. “How about we all just sit down and talk this out?” He gave Bonnie a pointed look as he finished his sentence. Then he took a seat on the sofa.

  “Fine,” Bonnie said before following in Joseph’s footsteps and taking a seat next to him.

  Jenna followed too, but she chose to sit in the lounge chair clear across the room from her parents. She dropped her bag to the floor as she swiveled the chair to face them. Lulu reappeared at her side, and this time, Jenna indulged her canine bestie with a few scratches behind her ear.

  “You know, Jenna, we’ve been understanding in the past when you’ve broken curfew but only because you were never habitual about it. But this is the third time this month, and you’ve been with Dustin every time. So, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing is going on. I told you we fell asleep. That’s the truth.”

  “Right. You fell asleep this time. Last time you lost track of time. And the time before that, traffic was terrible on the freeway on your way home from the concert.” Bonnie waved her hand in the air dramatically, dismissing all of Jenna’s excuses. “Your dad and I weren’t born yesterday, and we were both teenagers once, you know? And you should know better than any of your friends how important it is to abstain from sex at your age. I need you to learn from my mistakes, Jenna.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes and huffed, feeling defiant. She was tired of being reminded that she was the result of an unplanned pregnancy when her mom and biological father were in high school, and it was moments like this that made her think about telling her mom exactly why she didn’t have to worry about her losing her virginity to Dustin. “I said I was sorry. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

  “I want you to tell me the truth . . . are you and Dustin having sex?”

  Jenna catapulted to her feet, bent down to grab her bag, and said, “Just because you and your friends were all having sex when you were my age doesn’t mean I am.” Then she headed for the stairs.

  “Jenna,” Bonnie gasped. Joseph put a firm hand on her knee, but it didn’t have the effect he was hoping for. Instead, his wife rose to her feet and followed their daughter. “Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded.

  Jenna paused at the base of the stairs. “Do you really think I’m that stupid? After all the times you’ve lectured me about how hard it was to have me when you were still in high school? About how hard it was when the sperm donor dumped you and left you to raise me on your own? Well, I’m not an idiot! And Dustin is a good guy, but you’ve been horrible to him ever since we started dating.”

  “Oh, Jenna . . . that’s not true.”

  “Yes, it is! You barely acknowledge him anymore when he comes over. Why do you have to be like that?”

  Bonnie was worried that Dustin Bock only wanted one thing from her daughter, but she couldn’t admit it out loud. Not when she also knew deep down it was an unfair assumption. “Sweetie, he didn’t even walk you to the door. What kind of boy—”

  “Seriously?” Jenna’s frustration had almost reached a boiling point.

  “Bonnie, just let her go. She said she was sorry.” Joseph looked at Jenna. “Go to bed, Jenna.”

  Without a word, Jenna turned to escape upstairs but paused when she heard her mother’s agitated voice again.

  “Wait. Don’t you think she should have some sort of consequence for breaking curfew again?”

  “Bonnie, she’s a good kid . . . can we just figure it out in the morning? After you’ve had a chance to cool down?”

  Only when she heard her mother’s sigh of resignation did Jenna stomp herself the rest of the way upstairs. She was about to enter the bathroom when she heard her little sister’s voice.

  “Jenna?” Shaina whispered, poking her head out of her bedroom directly across from the bathroom.

  “Oh, hey. It’s late. You should go back to bed.”

  Ignoring her big sister, Shaina stepped into the hallway, yawning and rubbing her eyes. “I have to pee.”

  Jenna sighed and crossed her arms as Shaina groggily stumbled past her into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

  As she stood there waiting to get in the bathroom, Jenna tried to eavesdrop on her parents’ continued arguing, but all she could make out was her dad pleading with her mom. You need to loosen the leash a little, Bonnie! That was when Shaina exited the bathroom.

  “Are they talking about you or Lulu?” Shaina asked as she disappeared into her bedroom.

  “Smart aleck,” Jenna mumbled with a grin before entering the bathroom.

  While Jenna got ready for bed, she and Dustin exchanged a few texts.

  Dustin: Everything okay?

  Jenna: Not really. She’s ridiculous.

  Dustin: Are you grounded?

  Jenna: Not sure yet. The sentencing is tomorrow.

  Dustin: Haha. If not, want to hang out again?

  Once in her bedroom, Jenna placed her phone on her nightstand instead of answering Dustin’s last text right away. She retrieved her diary and a pen from the second drawer as a hopeful Lulu looked on, tail wagging.

  “It’s too late for treats, Lulu. You know that. Come on,” Jenna said, motioning for Lulu to hop on the bed before climbing under the covers.

  With Lulu curled up next to her, she opened
her diary, which was a simple hard cover magenta notebook with an elastic strap for securing it closed when not in use. For her seventh birthday, her Aunt Lenore had given her a real diary, with a lock and two miniature gold keys. From that point forward, Jenna started chronicling her life, writing about everything and anything. Back then, it was mostly stuff about what she did in school or during recess, her likes and dislikes, and her general state of mind. When that first diary wore out, she asked for a new one for Christmas, and so the trend began. When she started sixth grade, she decided locked diaries were too babyish, so she’d asked her mom for something more grown up. Then for her eleventh birthday, she received a bundle of twelve hardcover notebooks in various colors. Of the twelve, only two remained.

  July 21, 2017

  Dear Diary,

  I don’t understand my mom. Sure, I was late again, but it was an accident, and it’s not like Dustin and I were doing anything wrong. Or maybe that’s why she’s been acting so strict with me this summer. Because of Dustin. How could she even think I’d make the same mistake she did when she was my age? I’m not an idiot. I know how babies are made. (Although she did too, but whatever.) And there’s also all the other stuff holding me back, the stuff no one knows about. Part of me thinks I should just go through with it with Dustin, that maybe it would help me forget, but the other part of me worries it’ll only make my memories more vivid. I know he’s frustrated, and I’m scared he might dump me if I keep acting so weird every time we make out. So what do I do? Sometimes I think telling him might help, but it could also scare him off. How would he feel if he knew I’m not as innocent as he thinks? He might not want anything to do with me, as my boyfriend or even as just friends.

  Sometimes I wish Dustin and I, and all our other friends, could just go back to playing kickball, riding our bikes together, and hanging out at the pool or park. It was much easier back then.

  On a brighter note, I ran well this morning. Keeley did too. We ran farther than usual—about six miles straight through Jolliet and then all the way to the end of the Parkway. Then we stopped at Jolliet on the way back (so I guess it was more like five and a half miles because we walked home from Jolliet). It was getting hot out, so we didn’t stay long, but we did take a spin on the old merry-go-round. Did we spin that fast when we were kids? I wish Delaney had been with us, but she doesn’t run because she prefers a matte finish to sweat. Funny how the three of us are so different, yet still such close friends.

  Well, gotta go. Keeley and I are supposed to meet for another run in the morning. It’s going to be really hot again, so I need to wake up early. Hopefully, this heat lets up by the time cross country practice starts in a few weeks.

  ~Jenna

  Jenna closed her diary, pulled the strap around it, and clipped the purple pen she’d used that night to the strap. Then she opened the second drawer of her nightstand and dropped the diary inside. She began sliding the drawer closed but hesitated with about two inches to go. She wondered if maybe it was time to start hiding her diary again. When she was younger, she hid it under her mattress, but it got to be a pain digging it out whenever she wrote in it, so she started hiding it among her stack of teen magazines. Then come freshman year, she stopped hiding it, figuring if the elastic band wasn’t enough to let someone know the notebook was off limits, so be it. But unlike some of her friends’ moms, Jenna’s mom wasn’t the type who snooped, at least she didn’t used to be. Now, with her mom’s suspicions about Jenna and Dustin, Jenna began to wonder if she could still trust her mom not to invade her privacy. In the end, she shrugged off her leeriness and closed the drawer.

  Before she went to sleep, she grabbed her phone and responded to Dustin.

  Jenna: Yes. xx

  Chapter Five

  Leighton Pierce

  Saturday, October 28, 2017

  One Day After Jenna’s Disappearance

  I’ve just started the dryer and put in a second load of laundry when another text from my mom comes through.

  Mom: After you finish your chores, why don’t you go to the store and pick up something for dinner tonight? Milk and eggs too if you can.

  The last time I took care of dinner, which was two nights ago, she didn’t even bother to come home after her shift at the hospital. Instead, she went to her boyfriend’s house over in Glendale, but at least she was here when I woke up the next morning. That’s starting to happen less and less, though. Only one year to go. Then she can be rid of me, free to start over. Hell, she might still even be young enough to have another kid, one that won’t ruin her life by “chasing off” her man. My father is no man, though. He’s a selfish asshole who only cares about himself.

  Me: Money?

  Mom: Should be a twenty in the bowl on my dresser. And use change from last time.

  Not wanting to walk a mile home from the grocery store with milk and eggs, I text my friend Sticks to see if he’s around to give me a ride.

  Me: Hey, any chance you’ll be over by me today?

  The doorbell rings when I step out into the hallway. Not interested in telling another Boy Scout selling wreaths or popcorn to get lost, I ignore it and retrieve the money from my mom’s dresser. Then I shove the twenty in my pocket and head toward the bathroom, but the doorbell rings again, so I change course and run downstairs, realizing it might be Jenna. I peek through the living room blinds and see two people I never expected standing on my porch.

  What the hell? Why are Keeley Simon and Delaney Burns here?

  I move to the door and place my hand on the deadbolt, contemplating whether or not to talk to them. A definitive don’t answer echoes through my brain, but then my phone pings with a response from Sticks asking what I need, and I hear Keeley. Shh. Did you hear that? As if she isn’t perfect enough, she also has supersonic hearing.

  Whatever. Might as well see what they want. Who knows? Maybe after the epiphany Jenna had last night, she told them everything, and they’re just here to thank me for being there for her when they weren’t. Or maybe instead of thanking me, they’re here to tell me to stay away from Jenna now that she’s decided to come clean about all the shit she’s been through. I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ll never be a candidate for best influence.

  I unlock and open the door, then wait a few seconds for one of them to say something. But these Ugg-wearing princesses just stare at me, Keeley with her arms folded across her chest like she’s a prosecutor on some court drama and Delaney shifting from one foot to the other.

  I sigh and ask, “What do you want?”

  “Hey, Leighton,” Keeley says, unfolding her arms. She clears her throat. “We need to talk to Jenna. Is she here?”

  So, they haven’t heard from Jenna?

  “Nope. But I assume you already know that since Mrs. Kemp probably called you guys too?” Acting like I don’t care has become my specialty, but at this moment, I’m actually worried. When her mom called earlier, I assumed Jenna might have slipped out for a run without saying anything or that she was with one of these girls or that asshole Dustin. But now I’m beginning to wonder where she is and if she’s okay.

  “Look,” Delaney says, marching up onto the porch next to Keeley, “we all know she’s been hanging out with you every weekend lately. If you were a real friend, you’d admit she’s inside sleeping off a hangover.” She narrows her mascaraed eyes at me.

  I narrow my eyes right back at her, irritated that even on a Saturday, she makes herself look like a cover model and seething at the irony of her last statement. At least I know a friend’s ex is off limits. I’m about to fire back at her, but then I remember the point of their visit and go back to looking like I don’t give a fuck. “Like I told her mom, she’s not here. I haven’t seen her since last night.”

  I close the door a little, eager to get back to Sticks to tell him I need a ride to the grocery store and possibly someplace else now. But the way Keeley and Delaney look at each other and then back at me, their expressions matching how I feel on the inside, causes me to
pull the door wide open. “Come in and look for yourselves if you don’t believe me.”

  Keeley walks right in but Delaney hesitates.

  “Are you coming in or waiting out there? I don’t care either way.”

  She hustles past me without a word. I close the door and turn to find her standing hip to hip with Keeley in the middle of my living room. Hip to thigh, rather, since Keeley is about a foot taller than Delaney. “See?” I say, raising my hands. “She’s not here.”

  They both scan every visible area, which includes an adjoining dining room, part of the kitchen, and a hallway that leads to the garage. These girls live in the privileged kind of neighborhood I used to live in with both of my parents, so I’m sure they probably think our townhouse is nothing special, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I’d rather live in a cardboard box in a ditch than in a five-thousand-square-foot house in a neighborhood where everyone has perfectly manicured lawns if it means I don’t have to sleep under the same roof as my dad. In the meantime, I take a seat on the furthest corner of the sectional from where they’re standing. The soft black leather makes a crinkling sound as I slide back onto the deep cushion, my eyes trained on them and their contradicting features—Keeley with her dark brown everything and Delaney with her blonde hair, blue eyes, and flawless porcelain skin. If Jenna stood between them, with her chestnut brown hair and olive complexion, the trio would look like they belong in an ad promoting interracial friendships.