Don't Tell Jessie by Traci Jo Stotts

Author:Traci Jo Stotts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, suspense, dating, sex, young adult, contemporary, teen, ya, new adult
Publisher: Evernight Teen

Chapter Sixteen

“Jessica, I’m leaving. I’ll be home next week,” my dad calls through the bathroom door. “Jessica?”

“Okay, Dad.” I don’t even know why he bothers to tell me anymore.

I start a load of laundry and wait for Stef. We’ve been trying to get together for weeks. He comes inside calling out my name in a singsong voice. “Jai-meee!”

“I’m in the kitchen, you goofball.” I smile as he slides across the kitchen towards me.

“I’ve got exciting news! Ryan is taking me to Belize! Can you believe it? And his parents are super cool with me tagging along. He showed me pictures of their condo and I’m in love!” His exhilaration is bouncing off the walls.

“Yeah, I know. He told me about it.” I didn’t think when we finally had time to spend together, he’d be talking about Ryan.

“Oh. Well, you could at least pretend to be happy for me.” His shoulders slump.

“I’m sorry. I am happy. When do you leave?” The word leave almost chokes me.

“I guess right after grad. How cool is that? We should work on our tans soon. You, especially. Can’t go to the lake party blinding everyone.” He laughs, and it’s contagious.

We discuss the plans for the grad party. What to wear, what to drink, etcetera. It’s a “safe” party. It’s seniors only, and once there, nobody can leave. It’s not chaperoned or anything like that. Years ago, a guy was killed after leaving the party. People wanted to stop the grad parties from happening, but instead it’s an unwritten rule that once there nobody leaves until morning. Some people bring tents and others sleep in the beds of their trucks.

“What’s up with you?” Stef asks. “It’s like you’re somewhere else. Am I keeping you from something?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been here. It’s you that’s been a ghost!” I’m on the defensive immediately.

“I have had to repeat everything like two or three times. You’re here, but you’re not here. And I’m sorry for spending time with my boyfriend. It was okay for you to blow me off for Derek, but now that the shoe is on the other foot, I’m a bad guy? We’ve tried including you, but well, you’re being an asshole!” Stef is standing and carrying his glass to the kitchen sink as he continues telling me off.

“I’m an asshole? That’s funny coming from…” I’m interrupted by the kitchen door closing behind him. I run to the door and pull it open. “Real nice, Stef. You’re the asshole!”

I sit on the couch trying to figure out what just happened. Thinking about it just pisses me off. I swallow the last pill and rush to my mom’s closet to see if there’s another bottle. There is. I told myself I wasn’t going to take the pills anymore, but my reality is less painful when I’m on them. I put the full bottle in my pocket and put some of the nausea pills in the empty bottle to hide the fact I’ve been hijacking pharmaceuticals for several weeks It’s not like my dad will notice.

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