5: Friend Time

Jillie's POV

I woke up, and it was a few minutes till two. I looked around the room for Jarren, and my eyes landed on the flowers on my nightstand. I instantly knew he was gone. I picked up the flowers and smelled them. I loved Crocus flowers. Too bad they only bloomed in late fall and winter. I got out of bed, stretched, and made my way downstairs. No one was here.

I made my way into the kitchen and grabbed a vase. I filled it with water. I took the vase back upstairs, put the flowers in it, and headed back to the kitchen. Pulling an individual serving cup of Mac-N-Cheese out of the pantry, I ripped the top off and filled it with water. I put it in the microwave for ninety seconds. While it was warming up, I grabbed a bottle of peach tea out of the refrigerator.

I grabbed a spoon and took my food out when the microwave went off. I walked into the living room and turned the TV on. Man of Steel was showing on TNT. I ate my food while watching Henry Cavill and his gorgeousness. I placed the cup on the coffee table when I was done and settled in to watch my movie.

I looked over at the clock after two and a half movies; it was almost five. I was wondering where my Dad was. He said he'd be home at four, but sometimes his meetings ran late. I knew it would take my Mom and Elise hours since they were shopping.

Taking my trash into the kitchen, I threw it away and loaded the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. I knew I was bored because I was beginning to clean. I decided to go upstairs to my room and straighten it up.

After making my bed, dusting all my furniture, vacuuming my room, and cleaning my bathroom, I was still home alone, and it was now six o'clock. I was tempted to call Mallory, but if she was still watching Jet, I didn't need to distract her. I thought about calling Aaden, but he had it bad about answering the phone when he was in the middle of getting some. I couldn't call Jarren because I didn't want to disturb him. I knew he had to be doing something important. So I decided to call Alyx. She answered on the second ring.

"Hello."

"Hey, Alyx."

"Hey, Jillie. What's going on?"

"Nothing, just sitting here at the house."

"Home alone?" she phrased it as a question.

"Unfortunately."

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No, that's okay. I don't want you to go through any trouble. I just wanted to talk to someone."

"Okay."

"So. Did you see my F******k?"

"You mean the announcement about the party?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, I saw it. Mason and I will be there."

"So, are you ready for the trip?" I asked.

"More than ready. So how was your sleepover I wasn't invited to?"

"Sorry," I replied sheepishly.

She laughed. "It's cool, Jillie."

"You wouldn't have had fun anyway. My sister's home and we both know how you two get along."

"That's just because I don't like how she does you. Yes, you do it to her too, but only because she does it to you. She gets on my nerves with that."

I smiled to myself. I'd only known Alyx for about two years, but she was another one of my best friends. She and Mason.

"She told me she hated me this morning," I whispered.

"She what?! Why?"

"Because I got a new car for my birthday." I let a silent tear roll down my cheek.

"Ignore her, Jillie. She just doesn't understand that's your final car, just like it was hers. Don't let it get to you."

"I knew we had arguments and that I wasn't one of her favorite people, but I didn't know she flat-out hated me."

"She doesn't, Jillie. She was just upset."

"No. She meant it. I saw it in her eyes, Alyx." I sniffled.

"Jillie, don't cry."

"It's just so frustrating. I mean, I'm eighteen, and I feel like I'm sixty-five. I'm just so tired. I'm tired of being at war with her. I'm just tired."

"Jillie, sit tight. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"No. I'm okay. I don't want you going through the trouble."

"One of my best friends is upset and by herself. I'll see you in ten minutes." All I heard after that was the dial tone.

True to her word Alyx rang the doorbell ten minutes later. I ran down the stairs and opened the door for her. She stepped inside, and as soon as the door closed, she hugged me. She hooked her arm in mine and walked up the stairs pulling me along.

Once inside my room, she took her shoes off, and we both sat in the middle of the bed. Another tear had escaped, and she reached over and wiped it away with her thumb.

"Now. Stop all this crying." I laughed. She sounded so motherly sometimes. "Better?" she asked. I nodded. "Now tell me what's really got into you, Jillie."

"How's Mason?" I asked, changing the subject.

"The same as he was when you saw him yesterday, which is fine, but we're not discussing Mason now."

I exhaled. "I really don't want to talk about it."

"Alright, but when you do get ready to talk about it. I'll be ready to listen."

That's one of the things that I loved about Alyx. She didn't press. She understood if you weren't ready to talk about something and would wait until you were ready.

"So, the party Friday, do you want me to help decorate?"

"Sure. If you want to."

"Is Aaden's cousin going to be the DJ?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Will your parents be here?"

"Nope. They'll be gone to their annual Christmas Eve party at my Dad's investment firm."

"What about the Wicked Witch of the West?"

I laughed. "The Wicked Witch of the West?"

"Yes, and your Glenda the Good Witch."

I laughed again. "I don't think she'll be here. She and her friends will probably do something. If she does stay, it'll only be to-"

"Stalk Jarren," she said cutting me off.

"I was going to say annoy me, but that possibility is more likely." We both fell out laughing.

"So, do we have our group picked out for the trip?" she asked.

"Pretty much. You, me, Jarren, Aaden, Mallory, Mason, your partner, and Mason's partner. The last two spots will either be for Damien and his partner. Or Carson and Zac."

"Well, let's hope, Damien and Nic."

"Oh, Nic is Damien's partner?"

"Yep, I didn't think we have to be with your partner when we go out in groups. I thought that was just for rooms and bus rides. Or am I thinking wrong, Miss President?"

I laughed. "I'm not sure. Mr. and Mrs. Key said they'd figure that part out when we get there."

She nodded. "Hey, I have an idea."

"What?" I asked.

"Let's go make our favorite."

"Hot chocolate with vanilla ice cream?"

"You know it," she responded, grabbing my hand.

We went downstairs and into the kitchen. Alyx poured milk into a cup and warmed it in the microwave while I put three scoops of ice cream in two mugs. When the milk was finished she added four packages of coco mix instead of the recommended two. Once she mixed it well, she put it back in the microwave for another thirty seconds. When it stopped, she removed the cup and poured the hot chocolate over the ice cream in the cup. I grabbed us both a spoon and we headed back up to my room.

Flopping on my bed, we ate our concoction and talked about the upcoming trip. The places we would visit. All the free time we would have. Needless to say, neither of us could wait.

"Do you think you can get Mason and me rooms by each other?"

"Of course. We made it out to where we can all be on the same floor."

"Cool," she said, finishing her ice cream/hot chocolate mix.

She walked over to my computer desk and looked at my camera. She picked it up and smiled at me. I place my mug on the nightstand. I got up, and we took picture after picture. When we were done, I downed the rest of my drink, and she got on my computer to edit the images and add them to F******k.

I sat on my bed while she messed around with the pictures. I turned on the radio. I hummed along while Alyx danced in the chair. I thought about what Alyx said about not wanting Carson in our group.

"Hey, Alyx."

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you want Carson in our group?"

"He's annoying. I have to deal with him enough as it is."

"But he's your boyfriend's brother."

"Exactly, which means I deal with him a lot."

"I see your point." There was a pregnant pause. "Alyx?"

"Yea, Jillie?"

"Do you know why Jarren and Carson don't like each other?"

"No idea, hun," she replied.

She replied sort of fast. Like she knew I was going to ask that question. Like she did know, but she didn't want to tell me. I let it go. If it wasn't meant for me to know, then I wasn't supposed to know. I'd deal with that fact.

It was almost eight o'clock when Alyx decided to leave. She gathered her things, and I walked her to the front door.

"See you later, Jillie."

"Later, Alyx."

I walked back upstairs after locking the door. I was still home by myself. I was thinking about calling my Dad to see if everything was alright. I heard my phone ringing when I reached the top of the stairs.

Jillie It's Jarren

I know you Can Hear Me

Pick Up The Phone

Pick Up The Phone

Jillie It's Jarren

I know you Can Hear Me

Pick Up The Phone

Pick Up The Phone

I smiled to myself. I loved my friend's customized ringtones. We'd decided to make them for each other instead of trying to find a song.

"Hello," I answered

"Hey, Jillie."

"Hey."

"Did you get the flowers?"

"Yeah, I got your suck-up gift."

He laughed. "Call it what you want. You know you like it."

"Only because they're my favorite flowers. How did you even find them? The flower store never has them."

"That's not important. What is important is that you're not upset with me for having to leave." He sounded so much like a boyfriend right now. If only.

"No, I'm not mad. I know it had to be something important."

"So, how was quality time with your Dad?"

"I wouldn't know. He's still not back yet."

"What about your Mom and Elise?"

"Nope."

"I'm sorry, Jillie. Do you want me to come back over?"

I wanted to scream yes. Instead, I said, "No. Alyx came over. She left not too long ago, so I'm cool."

"You sure?"

No! My subconscious screamed at me. "Yes." I thought I heard Jarren chuckle.

“Jillie there’s…I have to-”

I heard the door slam downstairs and yelling. "I have to call you back. I think my house is under attack." I said, cutting him off.

"Sure," he replied.

I hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed. I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen to see my Mom and Elise arguing. My head snapped back and forth between the two.

"What is going on down here?" I asked.

"None of your damn business Jillie," Elise sneered.

"Don't talk to your sister like that." Mother warned her.

"Oh, your right, mother. I forgot we play favorites in this house!"

"Lower your voice, Annelise." Mom told her sternly.

"Right, lower my voice, but if Jillie screamed and yelled and hollered, it would be all rainbows and lollipops. People would break their necks to see what Jillie wanted."

I was confused; how the hell did I end up in this conversation? "Can somebody please tell me what is going on?"

"I'll tell you what's going on. On our mother/daughter bonding outing, all she wanted to do," Elise said, pointing an accusing finger at our mother. "Was buy things for you."

I once again looked back and forth between my mother and my sister. My mother was upset, and I knew my sister should stop while she was ahead before she forgot her gentle parenting methods.

"It isn't that big a deal. Stop making it into one." Mom told her.

"It is a big deal. This was supposed to be our bonding time. Not shop for Jillie time. You see her every day, but you only see me when I come home on breaks." Elise rationed. I knew what was coming next.

"And whose fault is that? You go to school barely over an hour away. You choose these times to come home. You choose them."

"Ugh! I can't stand you!" Elise screamed at mom. I was floored. I couldn't believe she'd just said that.

"Elise, you shouldn't have-"

"And I hate you, Jillie." she barked, cutting me off and storming out of the kitchen.

There it was again. There was that hate. Wow, Elise, tell me how you really feel. I looked over at my mother, and she held her arms out for me. I walked into them, and she hugged me close.

"She doesn't mean it, sweetheart."

"Yes, she does, Mom." My voice was muffled by her shirt. "That's the second time she's said it today."

"She said that to you earlier?" I nodded. Mom tried to move, but I just held her tight in place. One because I wanted the comfort, and two because I was sure Elise would not survive our mom talking to her right then.

"It's okay, Mom."

"No, Jillie. It's not okay. Where is your father? I need to talk to him."

"I don't know. He hasn't come home."

"I'll go call him. Do you want me to fix you something to eat when I get done speaking with him?"

"No. I think I'll go to bed."

"Alright, sweetheart. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mommy."

She kissed my forehead before walking out of the kitchen. I trailed slowly behind her making my way up to my bedroom. I grabbed my towel and headed into the bathroom. I turned on the shower, and as soon as the steam filled the bathroom, I stepped inside. I lathered myself with my shower gel and let the hot water soothe me. I was tired.

After I got out of the shower, I dressed in my night clothes and climbed into bed. It wasn't even nine o'clock, but I was physically and emotionally drained. I remembered my dream of Jarren and me when we took a nap earlier. This time we were in a greenhouse. Once again, the dream was incredibly intimate.

I sank into my pillow and picked up my phone. I sent Jarren a text that said goodnight so he wouldn't think I'd forgotten to call him back. He texted back almost instantly and said, Sweet dreams, baby girl. I smiled to myself. I turned off my bedside lamp and sank deep into the bed. Prepared to enter the land of dreams.