the jenna thing

7/28/2019 The Jenna Thing

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e propped her feet on the deck rail. I cant believe what an asshole Colins being tonight. He hasnt said one word tome, not eventhanks for inviting me to your party. Do you think I should try and talk to him, or should I just let it go?Forget him. Heather waved her hand as if to sweep him away.Were in the same boat. Lola slumpedown in her chair. I saw Brian disappear up the stairs with Chelsea. I guess that was his way of telling me itsover between us.At least he didnt break up with you n a Facebook post. Sophie lit a cigarette. Ill never forgive James for doing that to me.Thats a Yale boy for you. Cassie clucked her tongue. And you should never go with someone from your dorm.Emily peered at Sophie. You go to Yale?Sophie shrugged. Yeah, but probably not for much longer.Cassie snickered. Oh, please. Sophie was valedictorian at Prichard. She probably still does her homework the night its assigned.Andthe extra-credit.Nuh-uh. Sophies braids bounced as she shook her head. Ive totallpped.Okay,Daddydoes your homework, Cassie corrected.Are you still going to be a doctor, just likeDaddy wants? Heather teased.Sophie blew a smoke ring. My grades this semester blew. I probably wont be able to get into the premed program if I keep this up. My parents aregoing to murder me when they find out. She said this toughly, but whenshe turned her head away there was a petrified look on her face.Heather must have sensed her fear, because she snickered and said, Poor little Sophie, under allthat pressure. You were bound to crack sometime.Sophie whirled back around and sl

apped the arm of her chair. At least my parentsnoticewhen Im a fuckup. Whos your dad spending all his time withthese days? One of The Pussycat Dolls?Cassie let out a loud guffaw. Heather raked her fingers angrily through her pixie-short hair. Ha frickin ha, she said in a small voice, suddenly soundingsober.Your dad knows The Pussycat Dolls? Emily asked, mostly to cut the tension.The elves turned their attention to Emily, almost like theyd forgotten she was there. Actually, no, Heather snapped. But hes a music producer andknows a lot of othr artists.Knows themintimately, Lola said meaningfully. He brought one of the runners-up onAmerican Idolto Heathers graduation party and was all over her. You should have seen Heathers f

ace!Heather kicked her chair. Tell the whole world, why dont you? Like your life isso perfect? Hows your brother? What rehab facility is he in these days?Lolas facepaled. She didnt elaborate, but Emily remembered the name Rocco from the conversation Lola had had on her cell phone behind thegingerbread house earlier today. Asilence fell over the group. Sophie puffed on her Marlboro Light, staring intothe middle distance. Heather tapped her foot against the porch rail. Emilyshifted her butt in the uncomfortable lawn chair, wishing she could find the right words to say to make everything better. This reminded her of the dynamicbetween Ali, Emily, and her old friends at the end of seventh grade, especially when Ali hinted at a secret she knew about one of them but the othersdidnt. Maybe there wassome deep-seated animosity within this group, too.But in a strange way, hearingthe elves secrets was also kind of reassuring. Like Emily, the girls were human.Fallible. Vulnerable. They had secrets Amight glom on to, if A were still around

. It made her feel less alone.Cassie stretched in her chair. So what do you think, Santa? Do all guys suck?Emily pulled her hands inside her down coat. Pretty much. Thats why Im into girls. All four heads whipped up. There was a long tip of ash at the end of Sophies cigarette, but she didnt flick it away. Yeah, right, Cassie sad.Its true. Emily tried to sound nonchalant. I dated this girl named Maya in the fal. It felt weird saying it out loudbragging about it, almost. But if therewas a group she could tell this to without judgment, it was probably the elves.Cassies eyes were wide. Are youout?You could say that. Emily didnt bother adding that A had outed her against her wis


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es.What did your parents say? Sophie gasped.They freaked, Emily admitted. But theyome around, I guess.Whoa. Heather crossed her arms over her chest. Maybe I should ty sayingthatto my parents. That would probably get them in the same room at thesame time.Cassie leaned forward and blinked curiously at Emily. What would you do in my situation with Colin? If Colin was a girl, and she wasnt speaking to youand acting all weird, would you confront her or would you just blow her off?Emily sat back, amazed Cassie was askingherfor advice. I would talk to him, she decided. But I wouldnt be too clingy about itAct like you dontreally need him, like he needs you. If only she had done that with Ali when shed had the chance.Cassie nodded thoughtfully. Yeah, thats what I was thinking, too. She cuffed Emily on the shoulder. A loud screech of feedback suddenly sounded through two invisible speakers on the back porch. Then a song by Jay-Z blared out, and Lola got up andstarted twisting her hips. Oh my God, I almost forgot, she said, pausing mid-twirl. I brought something for us.She disappeared intothe house, returning a few seconds later with a crumpled paper bag that she upended on the ground. Cone-shaped fireworksspilled out. We had these left over fromthe summer. I thought it would be fun to set them off tonight.Sweet. Cassie grabbed a rocket-shaped one from the bag without hesitation, placed it on the concrete, and lit the wick. Sparks flew off the longstriped tube, and everyone stepped back. Emilys heart thudded hard. She would always associate fireworks with The Jenna Thing

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