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chapter ten
Fifteen-year-old Zoë was lying on her bed the next afternoon, reading her favorite book, Forever is Forever, by Alex Kinllen. She read the last few pages and set the book next to her on the bed. She had read it several times since she got it last week. It was the kind of book Jessie would like. She missed Jessica. Zoë looked over to her nightstand at the picture of her and Avery and Jessica. Wait, it was gone! She panicked and looked all over her room. She couldn’t find it anywhere! She sank onto her bed and sighed. Maybe Jess had taken it with her that night, what? 5 years ago? Mmm-hmm, 5 years ago. She had been 9 or 10 then. Yeah, that was it. Jess had it.
“ZOË!” Mrs. Hanson called from downstairs.
“Coming!” she yelled back.
“Don’t be stupid, Zo,” she muttered to herself and ran down to her mother’s call.
‡‡‡‡‡‡
Jessica stared down at the picture of her and her sisters in her hands. It was the one she had taken from Zoë and Avery’s room the night she left. She shook the memory from her mind and looked up. They were only about 30 minutes from Tulsa now. Alex, who was driving, looked over at her briefly, then diverted his eyes back to the road.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Okay. And you’re sure you don’t want to go straight to your house?”
“Yes, just go to the hotel.”
“Whatever you say!” Alex exclaimed, making a turn. Jessie smiled and slipped the picture back into her purse.
‡‡‡‡‡‡
Jessica and Alex pulled up at the local Holiday Inn. They checked in and went up to their room.
“Alex?” Jess asked gently. He turned and looked at her.
“Would you mind, um, eating lunch alone? Because there’s something I have to do.” He grinned a huge, toothy grin.
“Naw. I’ll be fine! You do what you have to. You can have the car.” Jessica smiled as he kissed her on the cheek and left. She smoothed down her hair one more time and took a deep breath. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked up the phone and began to dial the most familiar number in the world to her. 555-6382…. (Author's Note: I don’t know Hanson, and I don’t know their phone number. I made this up for entertainment purposes. But you knew that, right? Good. I thought so.)
‡‡‡‡‡‡
Zac rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the ringing phone.
“Hello, Hanson residence. This is Zac.” Jessica’s heart skipped a beat when she heard his voice.
“Hi Zac,” she said. She could see him standing in the kitchen, frowning.
“Who is this?” he asked warily. She laughed, a kind of a cough and a laugh together.
“You
wouldn’t remember. It’s been 5 years.” Zac’s mind raced. Five years,
five years! Who haven’t I seen in five years! I can’t remem-
Zac could remember a night five years ago.
“I
don’t know. Anywhere but here. I can’t stay here anymore.”
“You
mean you’re leaving? Home?” She nodded.
“Don’t
leave. You don’t have to.”
“Yes
I do. I can’t stay here anymore. It hurts too much.
“No
I can’t!” she insisted.
“Yes
you can! It’ll go away! It’ll stop!”
“No!
It won’t! I can’t, I can’t!” She started to cry and fell into his arms.
“I
love you Zac. Tell everybody I love them, okay?” He nodded.
“I
love you Zac.”
“I
love you too Jessie.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
He released her, and she left.
“Jessie?” Zac asked. It came out a whisper.
“The one and only.” Zac’s mouth dropped open.
“Oh my God! Where are you?”
“Here.”
“Here? You mean here as in Tulsa?”
“Yep. Listen, there’s no possible way for me to tell you everything over the phone. Meet at Applebee’s in 15 minutes, okay? But don’t tell anybody, ‘K?”
“Okay, okay sure!”
“Okay, see ya later Zac.” Click. Zac hung up and leaned against the wall. ‘See ya later, Zac.’ Those words sounded so good coming from Jessica. Avery walked in.
“Hey. Who was that?” He looked over at her slowly.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
She gave him a funny look.
“I always thought you were the weird one.” She shrugged and moved on. Zac stood there for a second, then laughed.
“Mom! I’m going out! Be back in awhile!” Slam.
‡‡‡‡‡‡
Jessie checked her reflection in the mirror one more time before grabbing her keys and hurrying out the door. She jumped in the car and drove as fast as possible. Hearing Zac’s voice wasn’t enough. She wanted to see him, touch him, feel his presence. She turned smoothly in the parking lot of Applebee’s. It’s good to be home, she thought as she walked in and up to the hostess stand. She was looking down into her purse, when she heard a very familiar voice.
“Jess?” She looked up.
“Annie? Oh my gosh! I haven’t seen you in forever!”
“Me either! Where have you been?” Jessica chuckled.
“Well, that’s a story. I’ll tell ya later. But in fact, I’m here to meet Zac. I just got back about oh, 45 minutes ago.” Annie smiled.
“Well, he’ll be ecstatic to see you. He’s never really had the same spark since you left.” Jess looked down.
“Don’t tell anyone I’m here, okay?” she said after a minute.
“Cross my heart.” They smiled.
“Well, come on, let’s go get that table, huh?”
“Sure.” Jess followed Annie to a small table. She sat down as Annie set out two menus.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime! And I’ll point Zac I your direction when he gets here.” Jessica smiled as Annie hurried off to tend to the waiting customers. She sat in silence, twisting Alex’s ring on her finger nervously as she waited.
Oh no, she thought as she looked down at the ring. How was she going to explain to Zac-to everybody-about Alex?