by Olivia Lucas
Hannah pulled open the car door and jumped in like a boss, smacking the dashboard enthusiastically. “Let’s do this!”
Jenna widened her eyes and curled her top lip, slightly startled by this overexuberance. She could not ever remember being that energetic, even at Hannah’s age. There’s no way they were related.
“Hey to you too. A hundred coffees this morning, Han?”
Nothing. Straight over her head. She was frantically texting on her phone.
So, from a hundred to zero in the space of three seconds. Teenagers these days were beyond frustrating.
She was sure she was never like that. Or was she?
“I am going to chuck that phone out that window,” Jenna heard herself say, sounding frighteningly like her mom.
“Okay I’m back.” Hannah suddenly announced, like she had been teleported back to the galaxy. “So, are we are going to make this trail, a race or what?”
“What? No,” Jenna replied sternly, furrowing her brow. “I already told you were are walking.”
“I’m not slow walking. It will take five hours otherwise. I am a busy person, and I have a lot to do.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “What’s slow walking?”
“Well you and mom slow walk lliikkee tthhiiss.” Hannah moved her arms and legs slowly, and drew out her words, painstakingly slowly, to make a point.
Jenna sighed loudly. She was already feeling drained by her sister. Why me? she groaned internally.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Nearing the end of the hike, and Jenna was starting to regret the choice of trail. She was struggling to breathe, and her sister was now pushing her behind, one hand planted firmly on each cheek. Not the most flattering of thoughts. Thank god, she was her sister. She would not let Chloe do that. Oh, there was Chloe again. Hello, sweet Chloe. The physical pain had temporarily made her forget about Chloe. Oh, there was a reward at the end of all this pain, after all. She smiled.
Hannah was also yelling encouragement and after three hours, her enthusiasm was still not wavering. She was hard to wear down. Lines like, “Come on, you got this”, “Don’t give up, you are stronger than you think”, “Look inside, you’re a Russo." First these lines were working, but there came a point, when Jenna just wanted to swat at her like an annoying mosquito buzzing in your ear.
“Okay Hannah, you can stop pushing my ass. I’m okay now.” Jenna held up her hand.
“Okay good, because the view wasn’t so great.”
Hannah laughed and pushed her. “God, you are annoying.”
They were on the final slope home, and Jenna could see the top of her car.
Hallelujah. Finally.
“Let’s go home, kiddo,” she said to Hannah, who was already out of earshot, and bounding down the trail.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Mom, Jenna’s seeing Chloe.”
“What? I...” Jenna stammered, as she felt her face heat up and blush. “Shut up Han.”
They were now back at her mom’s, showered and clean. Jenna was walking around like a thunderbird puppet, her body losing full range of movement, and now completely stiff after the long walk. She was in bad shape.
“Can you not keep anything a secret, big mouth?” Jenna snorted.
Hannah blew a bubble in her gum, and stuck out her tongue in defiance. “Nup. It’s too juicy.”
Her mom peered around the corner, leaning on one leg. “Oh, I already know. I saw her making goo-goo eyes at Chloe at the reunion.” She snickered as she looked at Hannah. “She’s very pretty by the way.”
“Hahahaha. Mom was onto you. Goo-goo eyes. The best ever.” Hannah chimed in giggling.
“What is this? Pick on Jenna day?”
“You did well Jen.” Mom piped up. “If I was a lesbian, I would date her.”
Hannah burst out laughing.
Jenna yelped. “Oh god mom. Stop. Gross. I don’t want to think.” Jenna put her head in her hands, then looked at her mom. “Can we please not talk about my love life?”
“Well, who else’s are we going to talk about? We don’t have one!” her mom retorted.
Hannah and her mom thought this was the funniest thing they had ever heard, and they began laughing hysterically, even high fiving at one stage.
Jenna could not help but laugh, even if it was at her own expense. She picked up a cushion from the couch and threw it haphazardly at Hannah’s head.
When the laughing finally subsided, and morphed into a few spaced out sniggers, her mom finally spoke, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Seriously though, Jenna, invite her over for dinner?”
“Mom, I hardly know her,” Jenna grimaced. Way too early for that. I am not that stupid.
Her mom wasn’t hearing it. “Well it gives you a chance to know her better. I’ll make something special.”
She was persistent, that’s for sure, and she certainly got points for trying. “Oh, I need you two girls to go and grab some groceries for me too. What did I need again?” She tapped a finger to her lip, and tilted her head upwards in thought.
Hannah stood up on the couch, like she was making a grand announcement to the town, her arms wide open. “Jenna and Chloe have been spotted everywhere together. At the Old Mill, Joe’s Pizza, at the dam, Fuller’s,” she said, her voice drifting off.
Jenna interrupted her. “Oh my god, you are just a serial pest.” She shook her head, and pushed Hannah off the couch.
She turned to her mom, who was still in deep thought about her grocery list. “Mom, thanks for the invite, but Chloe is out of town. I’ll keep it in mind though,” she said, lying through her teeth.
Hell would freeze over before that would happen.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jenna and Hannah grabbed a small trolley and pushed it into the local supermarket.
“Okay, here’s the list, so let’s do this quickly,” Jenna handed Hannah the list. “I’ll push, and you get the items. You know where everything is.”
Hannah nodded, whilst looking down at the list, squinting at her mom’s scrawl, and mumbling. “Carrots, Pumpkin, garlic, seasoning, apple crumble pie, milk, vanilla ice cream.” She looked up, and gave a thumbs up. “Piece of cake. Let’s start in the aisle far down the end and get the frozen stuff.”
“Aye aye.” Jenna pushed the trolley past a few shoppers, as they made their way down to the end.
Hannah jumped on the trolley and rode along like a child. Jenna rolled her eyes. They were halfway up aisle two, and Jenna noticed Hannah flinging items willy nilly into the trolley.
“Hang on, Han, wait they weren’t on the list. And either was that.”
“So, mom won’t mind. I’m hungry and I am a growing child, you know.”
“No, you are being a rat bag. Put these biscuits back.” Jenna reached forward and picked them up. Hannah lurched forward and grabbed hold. “No, I want them. They are staying.”
“Hannah!” Jenna raised her voice, as their tug of war continued. “You are such a little…”
“Jenna! Hannah!”
Jenna and Hannah, who was still standing on the trolley, looked up. Jenna pinched her neck with the sudden movement and winced.
“Adam!” Hannah yelled, dropping her end of the biscuits. “Oh, hi Chloe.” She jumped off the trolley and hugged Adam.
Jenna just stood there, still holding the biscuits, staring at Adam and then Chloe. “Oh hi, you two.” She felt her face flush, and her heart flutter.
She heard Hannah mutter goo-goo eyes under her breath, and gave her a swift kick to the leg.
“I thought you were away until tomorrow,” Jenna continued. Thank god, she had a shower at her mom’s and was changed into some fresh clothes, or she would be sinking even more into the ground right now.
“We finished early and just got back. We needed some snacks.” Chloe smiled. She was looking straight at Jenna.
“You guys should come over for dinner at mom’s,” said Hannah, all of a sudden.
Jenna looked at her. “Hannah, they ar
e probably busy writing reports.”
“Actually no, we are done. That would great,” smiled Adam. “I mean, if it’s okay with you.”
Jenna stammered, and gave Hannah the side eye. “Oh me, sure, yeah no problem.” She felt an internal groan, but flashed a big fake smile. “That would be great.” Just freaking great. “I’ll check with mom, and let you know a time.”
“Perfect,” Adam clapped his hands together.
“Great,” Chloe said.
Jenna nodded. “Yep.”
Hannah’s attention turned back to the trolley breaking the volley of short answers. “Now give me back my biscuits,” she demanded, like a petulant child.
“See you guys soon.” Jenna smiled, looking at Adam, and then at Chloe, as they held each other’s gaze for a few seconds.
The two then turned away, and when they disappeared out of sight, Jenna let her entire weight fall back onto the trolley, dipping her head right in there with the biscuits and groaned.
My life, seriously.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Chloe was just as surprised to see Jenna in the supermarket. It looked like Jenna was going to throttle Hannah, and she could not help, but smile watching them argue. She missed having a sibling to horse around with. She missed having a sibling. Period. She only had the one, but he was different now. And they weren’t close.
Chloe put her hand over her chest, looked out her hotel window and exhaled slowly. Her recollection of them as giggling kids chasing each around the yard was now a distant memory. It felt so far removed that sometimes she wondered if the memory was just a figment of her imagination.
She was lost in her thoughts reminiscing of times gone by, when she heard a knock at the door. That would be Adam. They were going to Jenna’s moms house for dinner.
She walked across the room, slipped on her heels and picked up her black jacket. This would be a welcome distraction from her thoughts, even if a little nerve wracking. She was excited to get to know all about Jenna.
What surprises do you have for me today Jenna, she thought, as she smiled, and opened the door.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jenna was sitting on the couch, biting on her inner lip, fidgeting and overthinking. She jumped when the doorbell rang. Damn it, this is really happening. Jenna reluctantly moved to get up.
Hannah raced to the door like a greyhound on heat, knocking Jenna off balance as she passed her. “Coming through,” she yelled. She swung the door open. “Hey guys! Come on in.”
“Great thanks Han.” Adam kissed her on the cheek, and walked in with Chloe right behind him.
Jenna was still collecting herself after the collision with Hannah, and trying to quiet her nerves. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, so threw them behind her back. She stepped forward and hugged Adam, and then moved on to Chloe. She felt her heart melt as she held her in her arms. Everything felt dizzyingly right in that second. She was beautiful. No question about it.
Just then her mom bounded in from the kitchen. “Hello lovelies.” She held out her arms. “Somebody give me a hug and kiss. My kids don’t want to know me,” she laughed boisterously.
Jenna winced and looked to the ground. Ugh.
Adam gave her mom a big hug and a bunch of flowers. “These are for you Sue.”
Her mom beamed. “Oh, these are lovely. Thank you, my love.” She stepped into Chloe, and gave her a warm hug and kiss. “Lovely to see you again Chloe. You look gorgeous. Now come, and please make yourselves at home.”
“Adam, you know where the drinks are? Can you make sure everyone has a drink in their hand?”
“Sure, no problem.” Adam smiled, as he walked over and picked up some glasses. “I am assuming we are all having alcohol?” He was grinning ear to ear, already knowing the answer.
“Yes Adam, please use the biggest glasses we have. Give me two.” Jenna rubbed her forehead, and then smiled at Chloe, as she moved to be by her side. She leaned into her, and whispered, “I am sorry to subject you to this.”
Chloe laughed. “Don’t be silly. I am not going to lie, the invitation was sooner than I expected, but I’ve been looking forward to this.”
“Liar.” Jenna laughed. “Well I am glad you are here.”
Adam walked over with three big goblets. “Here you go ladies. Bottoms up.”
The three of them then made their way into the open plan living area, and looked into the kitchen.
“Can I help with anything?” Adam asked her mom.
“No love, dinner will be ready in five. Just chat amongst yourselves and then take a seat at the table.”
Jenna was starving and the food smelled delicious. If there was one thing she wasn’t going to stress about, it was the food. She was sure that Chloe would enjoy her mom’s feast. They took a seat at the table. Chloe sitting opposite Jenna, and Adam next to Chloe. Her mom had beautifully decorated the table, and set it with the plates and cutlery she usually reserved for special occasions. She had to admit her mom was pretty cute.
Hannah brought out some servings of roast potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, and squash, and a big jug of gravy. She was shortly followed out by her mom, who was carrying a large platter holding a beautifully carved lamb shoulder with all the trimmings. The smell was incredible, and Jenna could feel her taste buds drooling.
“This looks absolutely stunning, Susan,” said Chloe. “You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”
Her mom smiled, as she motioned with her hands to start serving. “I love doing this Chloe, so please don’t hold be shy. Dig in.”
Her mom wasn’t lying. This was her number one pastime. Cooking for others and entertaining. And actually, she was a wonderful host.
Jenna pushed her foot up against Chloe’s under the table. Chloe glanced up and her at winked. She needed to touch her and would settle for anything at this point. Toes, feet, whatever. A game of footsies could definitely be on the cards.
Her mom held up her glass. “A quick toast before we start, to my favorites, and of course, welcome to our beautiful guest Chloe.” They lifted their glasses in the air, basking in the celebratory toast, and clinked their glasses together.
“How was Fuller’s Ads?” Hannah asked Adam, as she picked at her pumpkin and squash.
“Yeah it went well. Chloe and I are pretty convinced that this is a viable alternative source for long term water supply. Testing indicates it’s relatively clean, comparatively speaking, so really it just comes down to money.”
“And whether or not, the county is willing to pay.” Chloe joined in the conversation. “We are meeting Owen Wright, the congressman, in a few days, so that should be interesting.”
“I’ve heard he is a massive jerk off,” Hannah replied.
“Hannah. Language.” Her mom frowned disapprovingly, as she looked to Adam, and then Chloe. “I am really proud of two for really taking it to them. God knows, we need this debate.”
Her mom focused her attention on Chloe. Oh no, Jenna thought, she knew that interrogatory type of look. “So, Chloe, you are in your final year with Adam?”
“Yes, looking forward to graduating. It’s been a tough, few years.”
“What are you looking to do when you finish?”
“Well I am passionate about the environment so I would like to apply to government bodies. I’d like to have a say in actually developing and writing policy. I want to make a difference.”
Her mom smiled quietly. Jenna knew that Chloe had impressed her with her answer. Jenna gave Chloe’s foot an extra rub under the table as she smiled to herself. She was on fire.
“We haven’t met any of Jenna’s girlfriends before,” Hannah quipped, while her mouth was still full.
And there was the bombshell comment she was desperately trying to avoid. Jenna closed her eyes, and wanted to curl up into a tiny ball and crawl under the table. She heard Chloe cough, or possibly choke, on her food, but she was too scared to look up.
She gave Hannah a kick under the table with her other
foot.
Hannah flinched, but said nothing, scowling at Jenna.
Her mom laughed. “You’re lovely by the way,” she said looking straight at Chloe.
“I like you too.” Hannah said.
Oh god, could everyone just stop. This was starting to spiral out of control. Jenna felt her grip on her knife and fork tighten.
A smile broke through on Chloe’s face. “Oh thanks, I like you too,” she said, glancing at her mom then Hannah, who both beamed in response. They seemed to like that answer. This was turning into a real lovefest.
“How are you two going to keep dating when you go back to your lives?” her mom said, ever the beacon of reality checks.
Jenna looked down, her cheeks burning. “Mom,” she said, as she stabbed the potato. Oh, for the love of god, please let this torture end quickly.
Her mom held up her hands. “Oh sorry, too many questions. I will be in trouble soon.” She looked to the food. “Chloe, Adam, would you like anymore?” And just like that. The interrogation was over.
Jenna felt Chloe’s feet wrap around hers. And she was glad for the comfort. Even if it was under the table.
“Oh, no thanks, I am about to explode. Thanks, the food was amazing,” replied Chloe.
Adam leant over and helped himself to another serving. Of everything. “Oh, I will. Thanks.”
Hannah sniggered. He was more efficient than a garbage disposal.
A short while later, everyone had finished off their plates, and were leaning back into their chairs. Completely stuffed and unable to move.
Jenna looked at her mom. “Thanks mom, it was beautiful. I am so full.”
“Great, this makes me happy.”
“What that we can’t move, or that we loved it.”
“Both.” Everyone laughed.
“Well Hannah, please help me clear the table and wash up.”
Hannah groaned. “What about Jenna?”