003

Jenna Brooks’s Pov

There it was. What Jeanette had wanted to say to me the moment she got downstairs. She probably wanted to complain about my pajamas, my Disney princess pajamas which I was just realizing was too childish, even for me. I should never have worn it in the first place.

“I know, I should have thought about how ridiculous I would look” I replied, my head down.

I could hear some whispering, probably Auntie Laurel telling Jeanette to apologize because that was what she did after the whispering stopped.

“Sorry, Jenna. I just can’t handle a fashion disaster” she replied halfheartedly and I nodded.

The rest of the dinner was quiet, mostly because Auntie Laurel had told Jeanette not to say anything so she wouldn’t end up saying something offensive.

After the quiet dinner, Conrad still wasn’t back. I wanted to ask after him but decided not to because I didn’t want to sound too persistent. Later, Jeanette pulled me up to her room and I couldn’t help but be awestruck by the sight. The room as like a festival of colours where colors bursted with life.

Lavender walls met golden touches, making it feel fancy. Big windows and pink curtains added a soft touch. A fancy bed sat in the center, covered in comfy white sheets and lots of fluffy pillows. A shiny vanity held makeup and perfumes, making it perfect for getting ready.

The closet was like a fashion wonderland. Designer dresses filled the walls, and there were shoes for days, from high heels to comfy sneakers.

There was also a cozy reading spot by the window with a comfy chair. It was either she was a neat freak or she wasn’t a book person because the reading desk was excessively well organized unlike the ones I had seen.

The room was full of fashion drawings and quotes, showing how much Jeanette loved style. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous by how cool Jeanette was. I had always envied several things in Jeanette’s life since we were kids—her pinball machine, her collection of Barbies (especially the ones with the short hair that Mom never let me get because she thought it might make me want to cut mine).

I watched Jeanette walk into her closet and didn’t come out for a while. For a moment, I thought something bad had happened because people weren’t supposed to spend that much time in a closet. Until I walked to the closet, only to find out it was a door in disguise. I slowly tried to open it as I placed my hand on the door knob of the closor—a combination of the words ‘closet’ and ‘door’ I had made up three seconds ago when I realized there was more to it.

To think that Jeanette had a secret room in her room, how cooler could she get? Before I could tilt the door open, the door swung open and Jeanette stepped out before locking the door behind her. I couldn’t get a glimpse of the room because it was dimly lit but I managed to catch sight of a colorful poster on its walls.

“I’m sorry I took so long,” she apologized and I stepped back, deciding not to ask further questions. If she wanted me to know what was inside her secret room, i wouldn’t have to ask.

“Sure, Jean,”

Then, Jeanette walked to the wardrobe and brought out a set of clothes—school uniforms to be precise. They were about six but they were all the same except the difference in size. She laid them on the bed and turned to me.

“Mum wasn’t sure what your size was so she bought six. You should check the one that fits.“

I wanted to ask her why the uniforms were in her room if they were actually mine but I held myself back. After trying on the first one, it fitted perfectly but Jeanette insisted it was jusy too woundy. I could’ve sworn she had made up the word just to get me to try on another one.

She smiled at me—there was a little warmth to her smile, but it was more so the smile of someone who meant business.

“Can I just... um... can I not?” I asked. “Can I leave it at the one I just tried?”

“Well, Mom wants options,” Jeanette said, pulling an overexaggerated “you know her” kind of expression that didn’t resonate.

After trying on the fifth uniform—a well-fitted suit jacket and a matching flared skirt, both in a deep navy blue, she finally let me off the hook.

She chuckled, and then her chuckle ended abruptly and she didn’t say anything. She just keept looking at me.

***

I retired back to my room later that evening after Jeanette had given me an hour’s lecture on the do’s and donts of Fox Lane High. She had told me about the mean girls, the bullies and the playboys— Conrad happened to fall in that category.

I had found it hard to believe though because the Conrad I knew was so loving and nice and loving and nice. When we were kids, mom would make me eat sugar-free Popsicles, applesauce, and unsweetened iced tea, because they were the foods that didn’t seem to add weight to me. Popsicles and applesauce added nothing, and iced tea was peed right out.

Then, Conrad would sneak in ‘mac and cheese’ in the middle of the night and we’d both enjoy it on the terrace while everyone else was asleep. I found it hard to believe that the Conrad Jeanette had talked about was the same one I spent my childhood with.

And to add to my doubts, it was almost 11pm and he wasn’t back yet. It didn’t seem like anyone else was worried. Were they used to him returning home late in the middle of the night? Mom would kill me if I were out past 9pm. One time, I had gone to the movies with Marla—a girl mum had warned me not to associate with because her brother had been to jail twice, and the movie had taken much time than we expected. Mum had almost murdered me when I returned home that night, 15 minutes past curfew.

As I wrapped myself in my blanket and I had almost convinced myself that sleep was within reach when i heard it—a faint, unsettling noise outside my window.

My heart quickened as my eyes darted towards the window, now shrouded in darkness. The moon's feeble light offered little or no help in relieving my anxiety. My breath caught in my throat, and my mind raced with thoughts of intruders or worse.

I knew i had to act, and act quickly. With quite steps, i swung out of bed and scanned the room for something, anything, to defend myself with. My eyes landed on an umbrella, leaning innocently against a corner. I snatched it up, the cold metal handle cool against my trembling fingers.

I stood there in the dimly lit room, the umbrella raised like a makeshift shield, my heart pounding in my chest. My gaze remained locked on the window, where the noise had originated.

And then, just as fear threatened to paralyze me, the room was bathed in a sudden, blinding light. I squinted against the intrusion, my makeshift weapon still held aloft. And there, standing in front of me, was a silhouette—a tall, masculine figure.

My breath caught, my eyes adjusting to the sudden illumination. As soon as they did, my mind spiraled into a frenzy, again. It was Conrad, staring at me with an enigmatic expression. I wasn’t mistaken, it was definitely him. Yes, those eyes, those dreamy eyes.

His sharp features were framed by dark, tousled hair that seemed to defy gravity. His chiseled jawline hinted at a rugged edge, and his piercing eyes held a magnetic intensity that I couldn't ignore. I couldn't help but admit to myself that Conrad was undeniably handsome and undeniably hot.

The umbrella in my hand slowly lowered, its metallic frame clicking softly as it touched the ground. My heart, which had been racing just moments ago, now seemed to flutter erratically. I was momentarily at a loss for words.

I watched as Conrad stepped further into the room, the light casting a play of shadows on his features.

“Conrad? What are you doing here?"

The room seemed to hold its breath as i waited for his response, my fingers still gripping the handle of the umbrella in nervousness.

His brow furrowed, and he took another step closer, his voice carrying a touch of confusion, "Who are you? And why are you in Jenna's room?"