007

Jenna Brooks’s POV

        As we ate dinner, Auntie Laurel asked me how my first day went and I kinda lied about how great it was. I had earlier told Jamie not to mention it to her that I was having a hard time. As i slowly ate my lagzania, I tried not to look at Conrad who was seated right across me, poking at his food with a fork.

Jeanette had told me he hardly ate at home so why was he here tonight? Did someone invite him? Yeah, I was annoyed at him at that moment and I remember I swore not to let him get to me but gosh! He had a way of annoying his way into my thoughts.

Finally, as dinner was about to be over, Auntie Laurel turned to Conrad.

“You have your study session with your friends tonight, right?” She asked him and he barely acknowledged her with a nod. “Great, you can take Jenna along.”

Jenna? My Jenna? Why? How? I glanced at Conrad to be sure his eyes weren’t already throwing daggers at me. Too late. His eyes were already shooting lasers.

Conrad shrugged, “I don’t think Jenna wants to spend two hours in a study hall.”

He turned to me and gave me an exaggerated “Tell her you don’t wanna go!” kind of expression that made him look like an octopus. I almost bursted out laughing but I regained my composure.

Then I thought about the offer, I could get to talk to him or something. Maybe gain some clarity and be sure where I stood. Ask him why he’s been so mean to me ever since I got here and why he just kept giving me disapproving looks.

“Sure, Auntie Laurel. I’d love to study with Conrad.” I replied. I didn’t bother to look at Conrad because I had gotten so used to his disapproving look that I could now picture it in my mind.

“That’s great, Jenna. You should get your study materials from your room.”

I couldn’t believe Auntie Laurel agreed to let me go to the study group with Conrad. I didn’t have to believe it for too long because as we were about to leave, she pulled me aside and told me the reason she wanted me to go with Conrad—to collect intel on which girl Conrad was seeing in the study group because he had constantly been attending the study group for three month now.

“Don’t rule out the guys too. I’ve always wondered if Conrad’s secretly gay. Something about the way he sits, the way he crosses his legs.”

I smiled at her and walked out of the house. Conrad’s definitely not gay, my eyes had seen. Conrad was already in the car, waiting. The fact that he would be driving, bothered me. How could I trust someone who couldn’t recognize his childhood friend, with my life?

As the car glided through the streets, there was an awkward silence in the car except Conrad’s phone kept ringing and beeping none stop. I tried to fanthom why and who was texting him but I decided not to ask. It was probably one of his many girlfriends. Or maybe all of them were just texting him at the same time.

Then, at a point, I could no longer bear the sounds and beeps and pings that I decided to speak up about it but his response was dismissive.

“Get over yourself, Jenna.”

Finally, the car came to an halt. Not in front of a school, or an hall. But a house, a normal regular house packed to the brim. The blaring music from the inside was deafening and the blinding lights were…I don’t know, blinding.

This wasn’t a study hall, there was no study group. It was a party, a freaking party. I couldn’t help myself, my jaws dropped to the floor and my eyebrows shot up. I was momentarily speechless as I stared at Conrad in disbelief.

A playful smirk graced his lips, “What? You didn’t think we were going to a study hall, did you? I thought that was why you agreed in the first place.”

Excuse me? ‘I agreed because I thought we could talk and maybe sought out the awkwardness between us. I freaking had no idea you were bringing me to a party’ my inner voice yelled from within.

Conrad unfastened his seat belt as he spoke, “Don’t be such a baby, Jenna. You can wait in the car if you want to.”

And with that, he got out of the car and slowly disappeared into the house. Sitting by myself in the car, my first instinct was to burst out laughing. The kind of uncomfortable laugh that’s an automatic result of shock, sadness, anger and disbelief. Conrad just brought me to a party without my knowledge, called me a baby and left me in a stuffy car while he enjoyed himself at the party? He’s gotta be kidding me.

The second I realized he wasn’t kidding me, that he had indeed left me all alone, my second instinct hit me. I wanted to grab his neck, squeeze them tight and let it all out. But I wasn’t going to do that by just sitting in a car and sucking up to him. I had to do something.

I unfastened my seatbelt and stepped of the car. My eyes widening at the scene that unfolded before me. The house was pulsing with the thumping beats of music, and from the front yard, I could already hear the raucous laughter and the clinking of cups. As I made my way towards the entrance, a wave of uncomfortable heat washed over me, intensifying her unease.

“It’s not too late to turn back, Jenna. This isn’t you! You loathe parties. You’re not even dressed for a party.” My inner voice warned me. True, I wasn’t dressed for a party. I was wearing tight jeans and a baggy top with hightop shoes. 

Even so, I decided not to listen to my inner voice. I knew my inner voice meant well, but sometimes it could get a little loud. And sometimes, as much as I hated to say it, I wished my inner voice would just shut up.

Once inside, I was immediately struck by the sight of teens scattered throughout the house. Some were dancing wildly to the rhythm, while others were huddled in tight groups, engaged in conversations that were surely laced with gossips. 

My inner voice was right, I should’ve turned back. My disapproving gaze swept over the scene, taking in the blurred figures swaying to the music, their laughter mingling with the clinking of cups. 

Unwilling to partake in the revelry, I turned on my heels, intent on escaping back to the car. But just as I moved towards the exit, a familiar face appeared before me – Liam. Liam Liaison.

"Liam," I said, my voice tinged with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Liam grinned mischievously, "Hey, Jenna! You've got to stick around for a while. It's not as bad as it looks, I promise."

My gaze darted around the room, and my eyes landed on a corner where Conrad was making out with a girl, his hands all over her. A pang of hurt coursed through me, fueling my decision to stay and perhaps teach Conrad a lesson.

Err…sure, I’ll stay," I replied with a defiant edge.