The Illusion of a Girl by LeeAnn Werner

Author:LeeAnn Werner [Werner, LeeAnn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-15T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Jessie

Relief flooded through my body as Monday dawned. I couldn’t stand another minute in our fake happy, chatty home. It happened to be my birthday as well. The big fifteen. I bit my bottom lip and wondered how my day would go with Alex. We’d talked on the phone and texted, but I didn’t think he’d forgiven me for the dance with Will. I wasn’t over the dance with Will either.

Brian knocked on my open bedroom door. “Since I’m a saint, I’ll give you and Rebecca a ride to school today.”

“Cool, thanks.” I texted Rebecca, grabbed my bag and followed him out the door.

He picked up Tracey as usual, and we arrived at school with time to spare. As we unloaded from the car, Tracey pulled a card out of her bag.

“Happy Birthday!” She smiled as she handed it to me.

“Oh yeah.” Brian dug in his front jean pocket and pulled something out. He offered the crumpled object, wrapped in tissue paper.

I took it from his hand and unwrapped it. Inside was a leather bracelet with a quarter-sized, silver symbol attached in the middle. The symbol was a circle, with five spokes.

Warmth spread through my chest. “It’s so cool, thank you,” I said.

“The symbol means seeking balance. It’s Hindu. I made it in shop class,” Brian said.

Only Brian and I knew how important it was for me to seek balance. “So cool,” I said again, grinning. Tracey tied the bracelet around my wrist.

“He made me one too,” she said as she extended her wrist to show me.

I gave Tracey a hug, but Brian backed away from me.

“Don’t hug me in public, it’s embarrassing,” he said as he held his hands up. I slapped his arm instead.

“Remember we have dinner tonight. We’ll pick you up around six-thirty,” I said to Rebecca as we parted ways.

Alex, Kristi and Ally were standing next to my locker, which had a couple of pink and white balloons taped to it.

“Happy Birthday,” they said in chorus. Alex gave me a hug and handed me a birthday card.

I grimaced at all of them as I opened it…a second later the card erupted with loud singing, “They say it’s your birthday! We’re gonna have a good time!” I quickly snapped the card shut. “Okay, you’re killing me. I guess you’re going for embarrassment?” I gave all three of them my squinty-eyed look.

“Oh, come on, it’s fun,” Ally said.

“For you, maybe.” I gave them both a hug. I turned to Alex as I opened my locker. He leaned against the adjoining locker in all his perfect guy-gorgeousness.

“I have your gift, but I’ll give it to you before track practice,” he said.

“Are we okay?” I said. Sadness lingered in his eyes.

“Yeah, I guess. It bothered me to see you with another guy. It made me feel crazy,” he said. He tugged at my belt loop.

“I only want to be with you.” I reached over and laid my hand against his cheek.

He only nodded, but as we walked down the hall, our fingers laced together, I hoped this meant we were on good terms again.

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