by J. L. Beck
“Ahhh.” I screamed out while clutching my chest, my heart beating erratically, and letting my backpack fall to the ground. The mask came off and Mimi’s bright smile was bestowed upon me.
“Holy fuck, you almost got punched. Why would you do that?” I asked. She laughed a bubbly laugh uncontrollably as if scaring the death out of me was the highlight to her day.
“You should’ve seen your face…” She manages to say in between taking heaping breaths to get her laughter under control.
“What were you doing down here anyway? You asked me to wait by your locker and you never showed.” I say punching her in the arm. She gives me a dirty look as she rubs the spot I just hit.
“I had to come down here and get the goods. Then I heard Rex talking to Marie and Angela so I got a little curious and did some eavesdropping, because you know me, I can’t pass up on one ounce of gossip.” She abruptly ends what she’s saying and that makes a pit in the bottom of my stomach take root.
“What were they talking about?” I ask worriedly. The thought of Rex doing something behind my back has me all kind of nervous. I thought I was scared two minutes ago, no, this is way more terrifying. Mimi looks at the ground, and then back up to me never quiet meeting my eyes.
“Tell me.” I demand crossing my arms over my chest. I can handle it; look at everything I’ve already been through. This should be a walk in the park compared to everything else. I might not have loved him, but I could have, and that’s what will hurt most if what she has to say is bad.
“Well, they were talking about the Halloween party tonight, he said something about you have to leave her alone, don’t do anything stupid. It was hard to hear with the mass of students pushing through the hall.” My mind’s whirling, thinking of all the ways that could become betrayal.
“Oh now, before you get to thinking some crazy thoughts about him planning something against you, I think you should know maybe he was just looking out for you. He could’ve easily been telling them that they needed to leave you alone. I’m team Rex you know.” Her statement only easing the shit storm of thoughts that are forming a little bit. I needed to see him. Now.
“I need to talk to him Mimi.” I said desperately, if she wasn’t sure if I cared about him before, she would be now. Sadness seeped into her eyes, and I didn’t know if it was because she was worried about what she told me, or if it was for me.
“It could be nothing Jenna. If he was playing you, I think you would know. He’s a damn good actor if he can do that. Plus, nothing gets passed me, you know that. I think his feelings are true and real, and I think you should let this go. Don’t overreact about something that probably wasn’t even anything that was said or going on. Not everyone is out to get you.” She said picking up my backpack and dismissing the conversation so we could get going.
“What the heck is in this thing? Aren’t you a straight A student?” I nodded my head at her not ready to talk just yet. I was absorbing everything she had said to me, and trying to let go of my fears.
“Shouldn’t you have homework then, because if you're developing back problems to get straight A’s I would totally sacrifice the grade.”
“You actually have to do homework to get straight A’s and my back is just fine.” I said snatching the backpack from her hands before she did something crazy like throw it in the nearby trash can.
“That’s fine, if I have to lug that thing around for good grades I’ll pass, that backpack weighs more than me.” A mischievous grin showed on her face. “No. I will not be giving you a piggy back ride.”
“But- but… please… you're my best-friend.” She says giving me an obscene looking pout. “What does being best-friends have anything to do with me having to give you a piggy back ride, I didn’t sign any contracts.”
She purses her lips at me “Yes you did. Now yee-haw.” She says all but jumping onto my back. If this is the benefits I get of having a best friend I’m not sure I want to keep her.
“Can I get out of this contract at all? Being friends no longer has any good benefits to it.” She hops off my back and pulls me in to face her. “How many friends would plan to help you sabotage your crazy, rumor spreading, asshole, ex-boyfriend?”
“Okay you have a point there?”
“You’re damn right I do.” A door at the far end of the hall opens, and Mimi and I both direct our attention to it. It’s Rex and Corey, one with utter shock on his face and the other with excitement.
“What are you guys doing here?” Rex stutters out. He never stutters, and that can only be a clear sign of one thing. Crossing my arms over my chest I look him up and down,
“The better question is, what are you doing here?” I feel the redness creeping into every pore of my skin.
“Move out of the way losers, we have somewhere to be.” Corey all but ignores the fact that Rex and I are in the middle of a conversation.
“Awe that’s sweet Corey, you forgot to call us sluts, are you turning over a new leaf or something?” Mimi says baiting him. Something in that girl begs for a fight, and if I didn’t know better I would think that there may be a spark of something between the two.
He takes two steps backwards, swivels around and eases her against the wall. His arms encasing her, their faces mere inches from one another.
“Don’t challenge me Mimi, you might not like what you find, and I’m not turning over a new leaf I just could care less about the two of you, you're old news, and I’m onto bigger and better things.”
There’s a challenge in Mimi’s eyes, and for the first time ever I wonder what she’s going to do. She bites her lip as she looks him straight in the eye, showing me that she clearly has more balls than anyone else in this school.
“So I’ve heard. Who’s your newest flavor of the week… Paige? Hmm, yup, definitely sounds like you're into way BIGGER things.” Her voice is seductive, her smile anything but sweet.
“Leave it be Mimi, if you get involved it could end horribly for you.” Corey says as if warning. Their eyes never leave one another’s, and Mimi breaks the silence, pushing off the wall.
“Challenge accepted, let’s get going Jenna, we have a party to get to.” Mimi says grabbing my arm and dragging me down the hall. For a second, I almost forget about questioning Rex. He sends me a smile as Mimi pulls me further away. We make it to the double doors just before the exit to leave the school. I stop her, putting all my weight into removing my arm from her hold.
“Hold it the hell up. We’re not leaving this spot until you explain to me what that was about. Were you flirting with Corey, because I’m pretty sure you were and I didn’t get to finish talking to Rex, which isn’t cool.”
She rolls her eyes at me, before glancing down the hall. She’s definitely not acting like herself and possibly a little bit more paranoid than usual.
“You can tell me if something’s going on Mimi.”
“Not now Jen, when we get in the car we'll talk. Can we go?” She asks aggravated.
I open the door and gesture for her to go, walking behind her to her jeep. I open the door the same time as her and we both shift into our seats. She leans her head down unto the steering wheel and silence surrounds us. It causes me to start thinking about all the possible things that could be going on with everyone, the lies that are possibly being told to me, and the secrets that are being held. I look over at Mimi, and for the first time ever in our friendship I question her honesty to me.
“What was that back there?” I ask afraid to hear the truth, but not at the same time. Like they say the truth will set you free. She lifts her head, her greens eyes piercing with mine. The tension seems to ease out of her as she sits back into her seat facing me slightly.
“Are you going to tell me? Because I’m freaking out over here with all the different things that it could be.”
She takes a deep breath and blows it out. “Corey and I have been flirting, I would say. We haven’t actually done anything bad. He kissed me this summer at a party; I dismiss
ed it and didn’t want to tell you for obvious reasons. Now we’ve been playing this cat and mouse game, and he’s really starting to get on my nerves plus I know how he treated you and I don’t want to put up with any of that.” By the time she finishes saying what she does my mouth is fully open, and I just can’t get it to close.
“Say something, are you okay?” She asks looking at me as if I’ve come down with a bad case of the flu. I try to find words but I just can’t, nothing is coming to mind other than the words, what the fuck.
“Holy shit.” I say breathing deeply in through my nose and out through my mouth. The space in the car seems to get smaller and smaller. I hear Mimi’s voice begging me to say something, begging me to tell her I’m not mad, that everything is okay, but I can’t. I just can’t, it's too much. I see my vision growing weaker, Mimi’s voice comes in slower until there is no more voice, there is no more vision, all I hear is my breathing and all I see is the blackness.
***
I come to, my neck aches, kind of like when you fall asleep in an odd position. My head is pounding and the sun is shining down on me, and I just want it to go away. My mouth feels like I chewed on a wad of cotton balls, and my eyes burn. The pounding in my head gets worse when I hear Mimi’s voice. It sounds far away, but the more I focus on it the closer it seems to get.
My eyes ease open, as Mimi, Rex, and Corey come into view. My vision has to be off because no way am I seeing all three of these people here for me. I think back to what lead me to this point, I try to sit up not ready to be surrounded by this madness.
“Is she okay?” Mimi asks her voice aching full of emotions. My best friend is with my arch enemy, the man that terrorized me for a full year, who is the fuel to my hate. Who made every day of my life since dating him, hell. I don’t even know what to feel, hate, sadness, anger, and disappointment course through me. How could she do this? I don’t care if they’re together, I don’t care if it was just one kiss it doesn’t matter.
“How could you Mimi?” I cry out. Anger, hot as a fire is finding its way into my voice. I can’t hide the hate for Corey, and I refuse too. He deserves it. He deserves whatever I can dish out. Rex pulls me into his arms, but I push away wanting nothing to do with anyone at this moment.
“And you, you piece of shit, asshole. She’s my best friend how could you, you knew, you fucking knew and you still approached her. Did you try to get into her pants too? Are you going to break her heart and spread malicious rumors about her too?” I growl out at Corey. The hate and distaste is written all over my face. Just saying his name right now leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Corey backs up, a shocked look upon his face. Does he honestly think he’s going to get to walk away from me? I’m not fucking done. The least he could do is answer me.
“Stop Jenna. There’s nothing going on. Nothing.” Mimi’s voice rings in my ears. I can’t even muster up the courage to look at her, afraid that I might break out into another panic attack or cry, and I refuse to let this piece of shit see me cry.
“Stop? Do you hear yourself? You’re sticking up for this…this. I don’t even have a word to describe the mongrel that he is.” Disgust is evident, and I can’t make it any more clear to these people. I stand leaning my body against Mimi’s jeep, I feel weak, and Rex extends a hand to balance me.
“Okay, we need to stop. I don’t want her passing out again. Why would you say that to her...” Rex asks Mimi as if I’m not here, anger evident in his voice.
“It’s not my fault, she’s my best friend I had to tell her, its Corey’s fault. If he would just leave me the fuck alone.” She says, her voice growing louder with anger. She walks over to Corey standing mere inches from him. He’s a good foot taller than her, but that doesn’t stop her from doing what she does next.
“You caused this, you’ve caused her so much pain, and now you’ve brought me into it.” She growls out, meeting his heated glare.
“You wanted it, don’t hide it, and don’t pretend that you didn’t. I know you, and I can read your body better than even you can. So you go ahead and tell them all that it was just a game, and that the kiss didn’t mean anything but it did and we both know it.” Corey growls back.
“Liar. That’s what you are. A lying piece of shit.” Corey gives her a cocky smirk that I wish I could wipe off his face. “You best stop smiling, before I knock that shit eating grin off your face.” He looks down at her in disbelief before letting his smile grow wider. Big mistake buddy is all I can say when Mimi’s glare turns to wicked anger. She pulls her hand back, and smacks him clear across the face. A red mark being the only thing left to see.
I smile into Rex’s shoulders and let out a sigh of relief. About time someone did that. He glares down at Mimi with pure rage, and for a second I’m afraid he might hit her back. Corey doesn’t exactly have the best track record and I don’t know what he would actually do. He clenches his fist a number of times before gripping her by the chin. She lets out a gasp and I step forward to stop whatever is about to happen next, but I’m stopped as Rex engulfs me in his arms. Whispering “Don’t.” Into my ear.
Fear shows in her eyes, but only for a second before being replaced by what I can only assume is courage. “Don’t ever touch me again.” He says between clenched teeth before releasing her chin and walking away.
Mimi takes a minute to compose herself, and I use that time to turn around and bury my face in Rex’s chest. His unique scent surrounds me and encompasses my every thought.
“If you don’t want to go tonight Jenna we can watch a movie and order pizza or something. I don’t want you to go and have to deal with that. This is more drama than I have ever seen.” He lets out a tiny laugh, and I can’t help but agree with him.
“I’m so sorry Jenna. You know I would never pick him over you. Hell, there’s nothing to pick. There wasn’t ever anything going on.” She grumbles out.
“God I hate him.” I want to say don’t we all but I let it go.
“I know you are and that’s why you’re going to help me get ready for this Halloween party.” We’ll deal with the nitty gritty details later. I just want to be a normal teenager for the night. Sorry, but I think there’s been enough drama for an entire school year today.
Halloween
“What did I tell you Mimi, I would be the only person wearing anything remotely close to actual clothes.” I whisper yell to her as we take the steps up to Corey’s house. It’s as big as I remember. White with matching blue shutters, it reminds me of that house in the movie the Notebook, the one Noah builds for Allie. Except we're not in the south and this house wasn’t built out of love or at least I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.
“Who cares, everyone else can freeze off their lips. We my friend are smart.” She says giving the girl at the front door, I think her names’ Missy, a high five as she hands over her keys.
I look around the room a large staircase is wrapped in fake spider webs and fake blood. The place is covered from top to bottom with scary, creepy Halloween decorations. The lights are dimmed which doesn’t really help in finding someone you're looking for.
Hands snake around the back of my dress landing on my stomach. Rex. I sigh, like one of those weird girls who’re in love. “You look really… really good looking.” He whispers into my ear giving me goose bumps.
“Why thank you, I would say you do too but I haven’t seen your costume yet.” I say turning in his arm to face him. A scarecrow really? Mimi must have put him up to this. Pieces of hay stick out from odd places underneath his overalls and his face is painted white. His straw hat is on at a slight angle. A piece of straw hangs from his mouth as if he’s a true southern gentlemen and less of a scarecrow.
“Did Mimi put you up to this?” He blushes slightly, and I can’t help but think how adorable he looks when he's embarrassed. I cup my hand around his cheek, looking into those deep storm cloud blue eyes. I want him to kiss me so bad, like a direct need. It’s kind of like breathing, eating, or sleeping.
I crave him and I think he knows it, because his face says it all. It’s as if I’m looking at a reflection of myself. We haven’t kissed since that day in the library. I don’t want to push him, but I don’t think I can do the whole friendship thing anymore.
A guy in a werewolf costume all but plows into the back of Rex, pushing me into Mimi who turns around, ready to lay into him.
“Sorry man.” Werewolf says, as he jokingly laughs and makes his way back over to his friends. This is why I never come to parties, it’s just a whole lot of people in a small space, with very little clothing, drinking and dancing around like idiots.
“Jerk.” Mimi mumbles as she hands me a cup with a pink fuzzy liquid in it. I smell it, twitching my nose, it reeks of vodka. Like too much vodka. Of course Mimi’s drink of choice, mine not so much. “What is this?” I ask holding my nose. “It smells like death.” Rex laughs and Mimi gives me an amused look. Okay, so I hardly ever drink what do they expect.
“Well that my friend is a mixed drink, and it will in fact make you feel like death if you drink too much of it, so take it easy lightweight.” Yeah, totally not wanting to feel like death tomorrow; I’ve had one hangover in all seventeen years I’ve been alive and I never want to experience it again.
“No thanks, I don’t feel like reliving the last time you gave me a drink.” I hesitate taking the drink, but then remember I wanted one real night to myself. Strangely, I’m happy Mimi did what she did with Corey it’s nice to see him distracted by something other than torturing me.
Rex bends down to whisper in my ear. “Let’s go walk around.” I nod my head yes, and take the drink from Mimi, taking a slow sip. The vodka burns the whole way down, and I let out a small gasp which doesn’t help.
“Are you okay?” Rex asks his hand on my back, a worried look on his face.
“Yup.” I cough out. “Just a little… Umm strong.” Not like I could expect anything different from Mimi. My eyes catch on a group of people bobbing for what I assume is apples across the room. I tap Rex on the shoulder and point to them letting him know that’s what I want to do.