She looked up at me from the floor; piles of makeup surrounded her. It looked like she was sorting it all out. I half wondered if she just threw everything she had on her dresser and the bathroom in a bag and came over.
The awkward silence continued until Lauren shook her head and continued to pull compacts and pencils out of her duffle bag.
“I’m sorry. I know being here must be hard for you. I mean, you left so quickly without being able to say goodbye to anyone, and then people talked about you and your mom for weeks, although I guess you didn’t hear any of that which was probably a good thing because the Mayor is a huge jerk and probably started all the rumors. Someone even tried to break into your house too, but I don’t think they succeeded, the cops like, guarded your house for a while. I don’t know why. I know it was searched,”
“Lauren!” I blurted out.
I had just stared at her through her whole rambling rampage, not sure where to interject. She looked at everything but me. She had spit just everything out as if I was holding her at gunpoint.
“Sorry. I ramble when I’m nervous,” she smiled guiltily.
“Nervous?”
“Yeah. I mean, I am excited to be here and hang out with you, but all I know about you is what I heard through gossip and its pretty scary stuff. Like you’ve killed people, you break bones, you help your mom while she’s in jail.” Lauren’s voice was slowly getting softer and softer as she spoke.
“Okay Lauren. Its secret spilling time,” I said
She straightened up and looked directly at me. I had her full attention.
“One, I’ve never done drugs. Ever. Two, I never ever helped my mom with her business,” I air quoted business. “Three, most of the time, I wasn’t even at my house. I either went down to the river, to Michelle’s house, or just wandered around town. I didn’t want any part of what she did.” Lauren looked down at her hands in her lap. “Four, the only contact I’ve had with my mom in the past fifteen months was two weeks ago when my dad told me to go visit her. I will probably never see her again. I am done with that part of my life, she is negative and degrading, and just not a good person.”
“I’m sorry,” Lauren said.
“Don’t be,” I countered
“So why are you here? Why am I here tonight? I know you didn’t ask me here because you missed our friendship.” She huffed out a small laugh. “And what’s up with you and Josh?”
“Those are excellent questions Lauren, but I can’t spill everything in the first twenty minutes. Besides, I think I do need a makeover.” I smiled at her.
Lauren’s eyes lit up. She gathered all her makeup and her five curling irons and asked where the bathroom was.
She and I spent the next three hours in the bathroom, being normal teenagers. Lauren seemed to be in her element. She had surely missed her calling as a beautician. While she worked on me, she talked nonstop and I let her. She recounted everything that happened at school after I left. Every school dance was explained to me in full detail, including what everyone wore and who went home with who at the end of the night.
It sounded exactly like the last few months of my high school experience in Brookhaven. I didn’t know anyone, but I got in with a small crowd of friends and I spent most of my time with them.
“So you graduated high school?” Lauren asked. She was putting some finishing touches on my hair.
“Yes. With honors.”
“Oh wow.” She seemed genuinely impressed by that.
“I didn’t sleep with my teachers,” I said.
“I figured you didn’t. You just didn’t seem like that kind of person.”
“Like what kind of person.”
“Just someone who would do that. Sleep with old people. Trade sex for stuff. I mean, you didn’t sleep with any of the boys in our grade, so I couldn’t imagine you slept with teachers.”
I laughed. Lauren was funny. She didn’t seem to have any kind of filter between what she thought and what she said.
“I wasn’t. I’m not. I’m not like my mother and never have been.”
“I’m sorry,” Lauren said again.
“For what?”
“For just now giving you the chance you deserved.” She’d stopped fussing with my hair now. “You’re a nice girl Jenna, and people are mean.”
I just smiled. It was nice to finally have someone to validate you and recognize who you truly are.
“Thanks Lauren.” We smiled at each other. “So can I see my hair?”
“Yes! Of course!” she said enthusiastically.
She moved out of the way and handed me a small handheld mirror so I could see the front and back at the same time.
My hair was a mass of curls piled high on top of my head. A few tendrils framed my face. Rhinestone bobby pins crowned the front of the updo like a tiara. She’d done my makeup as well. Light blush covered my cheeks, and purple eye shadow swept over my eyelids that brought out the green in my hazel eyes.
“All dressed up with nowhere to go.” I laughed.
“We could go somewhere,” she said.
“Like where?”
“The bar in the next town over. They let in eighteen year olds.”
I contemplated what she had just told me. I’d been to a few bars in Brookhaven, but it was usually to see a local band play and not to pick up a guy or just be there.
“No not really,” I finally said.
“Okay. It was just an idea. I didn’t bring clothes for that anyway.”
She fiddled some more with my hair when our conversation died down. We went to the living room again and Lauren started packing up her makeover supplies and I searched for a movie to put in. My phone rang loudly just then making us both jump. I answered it quickly.
“Hello?” I asked. I hadn’t looked at the caller ID.
“Jenna!” came Stefani’s voice.
“Stef, hey. What’s up?” I walked over to the couch and sank into it.
“Well I haven’t heard from you all summer. Is everything okay? How’s the town?”
Stefanie knew my whole story and was a big supporter of me finding closure. I was doing well in school, and had healthy friendships with her and Andrew, but she knew something was holding me back.
“Just hanging out with a friend,” I said.
“I thought you didn’t have any friends back there.” She sounded a little jealous.
“I don’t. I didn’t. Something happened though so I have a friend over.”
“A boyfriend?” Now she sounded accusatory.
“No. Stef, not a boy. Her name is Lauren.”
Lauren turned to me at the sound of her name and mouthed, ‘who is it’. I shook my head and turned away from her.
“Is there a boy though? What happened?”
“I can’t really talk about it right now.”
“Okay. I was just wondering what your plans were for the fall. I got a letter about dorm assignments. Are we finding an apartment?”
“Oh, um. All my mail is forwarded to my dad’s house. Sorry. I think an apartment is a great idea. More freedom, less communal bathroom.”
Stefani laughed. “Yeah. Okay. Well I’ll keep a look out in the newspaper. Andrew said he would too.”
“Is he living with us?”
Lauren’s head snapped up at the mention of a boy possibly living with me. She scooted closer to try to hear my conversation.
“No, I don’t think so. I guess he could.” Stefani replied.
“No, it’s okay. I just didn’t know if he was thinking about it or something.”
“It would save on rent,” she pointed out.
“True.”
“Well, think about it, and don’t forget about me this summer. I’m just wasting away at my parents’ while you live it up alone in the middle of nowhere.”
“Oh yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “Riverview is a hot bed of excitement,” I said sarcastically.
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
I hung up and turned to Lauren. She sta
red at me like a hungry dog. “What?” I asked.
“Who was that?”
“Stefani, my roommate at Brookhaven College.”
“And you’re looking for an apartment together?”
“Yes.”
“With a boy?”
“No.”
“Who’s the boy?” Dang she was nosey.
“It’s Andrew.” I sighed. I wasn’t going to get anything accomplished if I hid that from her. I knew she’d bring it up all night.
“And who is Andrew. Your boyfriend?” She was totally going there.
“Not really.”
“Is he hot?”
“Lauren!”
“What? I’ve seen all the boys here, I need someone new to think about.”
We both just laughed. I told her about Andrew and how we met and that we were not dating seriously.
“So what about Josh? What are you two doing?” She was hitting all the hot talking points right now.
“I don’t know. I’m not staying here for the long haul. I more than likely won’t ever come back here after this summer, and Josh has a good job here so I don’t think he’ll leave. Ever.”
“You’re probably right. I’m probably stuck here too. For life.” She rolled her eyes.
“Why do you say that?”
“I’m not as smart as you. I didn’t graduate with honors or anywhere close to it. I didn’t apply to college.” She looked down like she was ashamed.
“Lauren, you are smart. Don’t say stuff like that. It’s never too late to go to college if that’s really what you want to do.”
“Really?” She looked up at me.
“Yeah. Of course. There are like forty year olds who go to college.” Lauren chuckled a little. “Seriously, it’s not too late.”
“I kind of want to be hair stylist,” he revealed.
“I think that’s a great idea. I know of a couple beauty schools in Brookhaven.”
“You do?”
“Yes, you get cheap haircuts there from the students so they can practice. I can text Stefanie and get the names if you want?”
“Yes, thank you Jenna.” She hugged me tightly. “So what are we watching?” She asked.
“I don’t know, I hadn’t really looked yet.”
“Well I brought a scary movie, want to watch it?”
“I love scary movies!”
Lauren popped the DVD into my laptop and we sat back to watch.
It was a scary movie and once it was over, she and I decided to both just sleep in the living room on the couch. She didn’t want to sleep alone out here and didn’t want to sleep on the floor in my room. I didn’t blame her, what if a monster or a killer was under my bed? Irrational thinking was awesome.
We set up pillows and blankets on opposite sides of the couch and switched the DVD’s so we were watching The Little Mermaid. We needed a happy peaceful movie to watch so we could fall asleep.
***
The next morning my phone beeped at me from under my pillow. It was a text from Josh. Actually several texts.
How’s the night going?
Watching princess movies?
Talking about girly stuff
What are you guys talking about
Call me in the morning.
Let’s hang out again soon
I’m coming over tomorrow
I’ll be over shortly
The last text was sent less than five minutes ago. I rolled over on the couch onto my back. Lauren was still curled up on her end of the couch, snoring softly. I had to wake her up before Josh got here.
“Lauren,” I said softly. Nothing.
“Lauren,” I said a little louder. Still nothing.
“Hey,” I half yelled. She stirred and opened her eyes. One eyeball twisted to look at me then she sat bolt upright.
“Where am I?” she snuffed.
“You’re at my house. It’s Jenna. You stayed the night.”
“Oh yeah. Sorry. What time is it?” she asked.
“Um.” I glanced at my phone. “9:27.”
“In the morning?” Lauren said and yawned.
“Yeah.”
“Oh okay. Cool. I should probably get going, I have to work at 10:00.”
“Oh, wow. Do you want to shower or anything?”
Lauren yawned again. “Yeah that would be great. Thanks.”
She rolled off the couch and made her way to the bathroom. I’m not sure she was completely awake yet. I assessed my clothing situation and discovered that I’d slept in my street clothes for the second night in a row. Different clothes, but still not pajamas. I guess that Josh would be here soon so I went to my room and changed into a pair of jeans and a new t-shirt. I didn’t know what was in store for today, but at least I had clothes on.
I walked back out to the living room and caught Josh at the front door before he even knocked. I opened it for him and let him in.
“Is Lauren still here?” he asked without saying hello.
“Hello to you too.” I said and folded my arms across my chest.
“Hey, sorry.’ He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips.
“She’s still here. She’s in the shower. She has to work at 10:00.”
“Okay.”
An awkward silence fell between us. I felt as though he was here waiting for Lauren to leave more than he was to see me. I gathered up all the blankets and pillows and dumped them on the floor in my room.
Lauren was dressed and out of the bathroom before I returned to the living room. She and Josh was speaking to each other in low voices. I crept to the living room slowly so I could maybe hear what they were say.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything about it” Lauren said. She sounded annoyed though.
“Okay. Good.”
“Why is that good? She should know.”
“Not yet.”
Lauren sighed heavily. What were they talking about? Was it something I should know about? About my mom? Or Michelle?
“You better get to work anyway. It’s almost 10:00.”
“It’s not like they’d fire me. There’s no one else to work there. They’d probably shut the store down if I didn’t show up.”
“You’re being dramatic.” Josh laughed.
“Hey guys,” I said louder than necessary.
Josh and Lauren took a step back from each other.
“I gotta go.” Lauren said quickly. “Thanks for having me over. Let’s do it again soon, okay? I had fun.”
“Of course. Text me.” I replied. We hugged and she left.
“What was that all about?” I asked Josh.
“What was what?” He asked feigning innocence.
“Nothing. What are you doing here? Don’t you have to work?” I asked.
“Nope. I have the day off.”
“I hope not because of me.” I’d hate to be the reason he misses out on a paycheck.
“Ah, kind of, but I was already scheduled to have time off soon, so I just took it now.”
“I’m not an invalid. I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I know, but aren’t you worried about that guy coming back? I know I am.”
“No, not really. He didn’t find what he was looking for while he was here so why would he come back?” My logic might be flawed, but he just didn’t seem like he’d come back again.
“Well, I also just want to hang out with you. Is that a crime?” He stood in front of me now. He’s six foot five inch frame towering over my five foot seven.
Not many people tower over me. All of my girlfriends are shorter than I am, and several guys I know are right at eye level or just above me. Not that I really mind a shorter guy, but I liked feeling small in Josh’s arms. As if right on cue, he enveloped me in his arms and pulled me tight against his torso. My arms were tucked against my chest so I couldn’t hug him back.
I felt safe.
CHAPTER TEN
“So what do you want to do today?” I asked into his ches
t.
“Hang out here? Or we could go to my place?”
“Your place?” I tried to pull back and look at his face, but I was still pinned to his chest. Not that I was complaining or anything.
We were currently curled up on the couch, my head was on his chest, and my legs were wrapped around his.
“Yeah. My mom is actually gone all day for something. I can’t remember now.”
“Some random thing?”
“Yeah, like a conference for baking or something.”
“They have those?”
“I guess.”
“Well, you need to let me go so I can get ready to go.”
“You look fine.”
“Yeah, well, I need to at least brush my teeth.”
“I was wondering what the smell was.”
“Shut up,” I yelled and wiggled my way away from him. “You’re mean.” And gave him a playful push.
“Nah, just honest.” I gave him a look.
I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair so I didn’t look like I’d slept on half a couch all night long, even though I had. Never doing that again. I secretly snagged my favorite movie from the DVD pile, there was no way I could sit through another action/car/robot movie. He’d just have to deal with my choice.
I locked the house up behind me and we made the short drive to his house in his truck with the windows rolled down. His house was quiet and empty when we walked in. No lights were on, but all the curtains were open so the mid-morning sun streamed in through the windows.
“Follow me,” Josh said.
I followed him through the living room and down a steep flight of stairs where we both had to duck to avoid a low ceiling at the bottom. We were in Josh’s room. The actual ceiling was only a few inches above his head, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d knock his head against the light fixture.
Josh flopped down on his belly onto his bed and looked at me like I should follow. The scenarios I’d thought up in my head of what Josh and I would do in his or my bed did not include movie watching or talking. I was suddenly nervous.
Josh and I dated when we were sixteen and while he wasn’t my only boyfriend, I didn’t date much after him. In fact, I didn’t have another boyfriend while I lived in Riverview. Most of the boys in school thought I was like my mom and wanted in my pants so I avoided them like the plague.
When I moved to Brookhaven with my dad, no one knew me. I was the new girl and I’d come for the last half of my senior year. It wasn’t really enough time to form relationships with anyone. I did fall into a small group of friends. They took me in my first day when they saw me looking lost in the cafeteria. I was soon introduced to Bryan. He was tall and quiet. We went on a few dates, we kissed, and we made out in movie theaters. We went to Prom together and at an after party we had bad sex. I never talked to him again after that. There were only a few weeks left in school and so I’d thrown myself into studying and finals and that was it for Bryan.
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