Chapter fifteen:
Jen
sat with
"What do you see in this game?" She asked boredly.
"It's fun."
"How?"
"It is. Ever played it?"
"No. I don't see the point."
"Maybe you would, if you tried…"
"I don't think so."
"Try it."
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Look, video games are stupid."
"They are not!" he cried, hitting the controller frantically with his
thumbs.
Jenna shook her head. "Whatever." she turned back to her book.
"Hey. Come on this is fun."
She sighed. "If I try, will you quit bitching?"
"Yup."
"Ok," She set her book aside and walked over.
He moved over to let her sit. She sat down Indian style next to him, their
knees touching.
She held the controller lightly.
"Just
don't kill my guy ok?" He smiled.
"No promises." She sighed, "What do I do?"
"Ok... here," He guided, his hands over hers. He leaned closer to her
to reach around her "Now, press this button to jump..."
His breath was warm on her bare shoulder. Jenna couldn't help but close her
eyes and give in to the feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Alright." She muttered.
He lowered his voice and spoke only to her, "And this one to
shoot..."
"Ok."
"And if you hit this button twice, you can climb."
"Yeah."
"And I guess the arrow keys speak for themselves."
She opened her eyes and forced herself to sound impartial. "Well, of
course."
"And you unpause by hitting this button."
"Yeah." She took a deep breath inhaling his
sweet cologne accidentally.
Starting the game, she kept her head down.
"Whoa, whoa. Watch the screen." he laughed, gently titling her chin
up.
"I am, I am." Her skin tingled at his touch.
She shook her head and forced herself to take her focus off of him and stared
at the screen. She hit a few of the buttons a couple of times.
"Liking it yet?"
She was, but not because of the game. "Nope."
She lied, "Still boring."
"I don't know, maybe it's guy thing." he
said as she handed back the controller. "Hey, come on! you're
not giving up already are you?"
"I guess so..."
"No, no, the fun part isn't up yet."
"Alright."
She played cautiously for a moment.
"Ooh, this is a hard part." He leaned closer to guide her hands over
the buttons.
She moved closer then hesitated when she realized what was going on. She froze
stiffly.
"Hey. What's up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He teased.
"Oh, uh, nothing."
"Aw come on, isn't this fun?"
“No.
I umm… just remembered I have to tell Becky something…”
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Becky was sitting on the floor in the narrow hallway between the bunks.
She had squeezed herself in, hugging her knees while she flipped through her
a magazine.
Jenna came into the hallway. “Becky? Can I talk to you for a second?”
”Sure… Is everything okay?” Becky looked up with a worried expression on her
face,
“What
is it?”
”Umm… not here.” Jenna pulled Becky to her feet and pulled her into the tiny
bathroom.
”What is it?” Becky asked again.
Jenna drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know. I think I’m going insane.”
Becky gave her a confused look. “Really?”
”I mean… I was just with
”Really?
”Shh!” Jenna hushed her. “I
don’t want him to hear…”
”Sorry…
”I know… he’s so not my type… and… ugh, I don’t know what to do.”
”He’s hot.”
”Yeah, but kind of a jerk sometimes… I don’t think I’m ready for a
relationship.”
”Well… Do you think he feels the same way?”
”Are you kidding? No way!”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Christy was lying in her bunk with an issue of Cosmopolitan open in front of
her.
She felt like she had entirely blown what was her relationship with Isaac and
she was miserable.
She had managed to avoid him as they cleared out of the hotel and onto the bus,
and the bunk was where she remained.
There was a knock on the wall next to her bunk, but she ignored it. After a few
seconds, the curtain was pushed back and Isaac appeared. He crossed his arms
next to her and rested his chin on his forearms.
”Do you want to talk about what happened last night?”
”No.” She said simply.
“Okay.”
He replied, but remained still. Finally he said. “I want to talk about last
night. Christy, I really like you, a lot. I want to help you with whatever
you’re going through…”
”You can’t.” She sighed. “Look, I’ve been on heroine before and I’ve kicked
that. Cigarettes and pot are nothing in comparison. I haven’t had any weed in a
week and it’s been two days since my last cigarette…”
”That’s great.” He said. “You’re doing really well…”
”Can I ask you?” She lowered her magazine and looked at him. “Why do you care?”
”I care because I like you.” He smiled. “I really like you. And I know you’re
an amazing person.”
Christy smiled. “Thank you.”