The Kids Don't Stand A Chance

Eventually, I couldn’t hold it in anymore, though I tried my hardest. Jade didn’t judge me when I told her all the things I had done to Zack during our senior year, and for that I was incredibly grateful. But the best part about telling her was the way it felt when I had finished. It was as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I felt like I wasn’t holding on to some kind of momentous, personal secret anymore.

For the next few days after I told her, we didn’t speak about it. I made it clear to her that just because I was telling her what had happened, didn’t mean I wanted to discuss it.

After a particularly intense class, I returned back to our dorm completely exhausted, wanting nothing more than a chance to crawl into my bed and pretend I had never even heard the term ‘culinary arts’ again. I began digging through my bag for the key to my room, when a strange noise caught me off guard. I pressed my ear to the door, instantly recognizing one voice – Jade’s – but struggling to place a second.

It sounded like… a boy.

I racked my brain for times when Jade had ever brought a boy back to our dorm. I couldn’t think of any. It wasn’t that I would have been angry with her, it would have just been… out of character. Jade always said that she could never find a boy who she connected with on a spiritual level – I always refuted that by offering to take her back to my hometown church and introduce her to the preacher’s son. But she said spirituality and religion were different. It was all the same to me.

I pressed my ear a bit closer to the door, and when the voices stopped, I took my chance to open the door. Expecting to see a boy standing in the room, instead I saw Jade sitting at her desk looking into her computer.

“Oh, h – hi Ava!” She stuttered, and I cocked my head in confusion.

“Who’re you talking to?” I questioned, crossing my arms and taking a step closer to her. I tried to look past her and see who was on the computer screen, but she quickly tilted it down. I could hear a voice protesting.

“No one,” she replied with a fake smile.

“Fuck, baby, don’t lie to her!” The computer exclaimed, and Jade’s face softened.

“You think I should tell her?” Jade asked, tilting the screen back up.

“I think you should stop talking about me like I’m not in the room,” I snapped. Jade bit her lip and reluctantly shifted her laptop towards me. Staring back at me was none other than Jack Barakat, and my eyes opened wide when I saw him smiling sheepishly back at me.

“Hi,” he greeted with a small wave. “Long time no see.” I just snorted.

“So this is you’re secret boyfriend?” I questioned Jade, and she just blushed.

“He’s not my boyfriend!” She insisted, and I could even see Jack blushing slightly, as well. What was this? “We’re just friends.”

Why was I getting a bad feeling about this? My best friend and Jack. Where had I seen this before?

I sighed and pulled up my chair, sitting down next to Jade in front of the computer. “So…” I muttered, twiddling my thumbs and staring down at my lap. “How long have you guys been friends?”

“Since the night of the show,” responded Ava, the look in her eye similar to that of a girl who was hopelessly attracted to another boy.

“Yeah,” added Jack. “While you and Zack were… talking, I asked for Jade’s number.” I cringed slightly when I heard his name, but I tried not to show my distaste. I guess Jack didn’t see it.

Jade suddenly turned to face me in her chair, opening her mouth to speak, but then close it suddenly. “You look really, really pretty today, Ava,” she said, and I just stared at her.

Usually Jade started conversations like this when she wanted something.

“I have flour in my hair,” I debated with a deadpan tone. “And my fingers smell like vegetable oil.”

“Honestly, Ava,” she pressed, the smile on her face growing wider. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jack looking at us with a nervous grin. “You’ve never looked prettier.”

I exhaled deeply, not wanting to put up with this shit. “Alright, seriously Jade, what do you want?”

“All I want is to borrow your car to go and visit Jack back in Boston!” She exclaimed in one large breath. I could hear Jack cheering in the background.

“Fine,” I replied quickly. “But make sure you’re back by this weekend, because I need the car to drive to a couple more banks.”

“Why’re you going to banks?” Questioned Jack.

“I’m looking to borrow money, don’t worry about it.” I really didn’t want to explain to him about my lending troubles.

Jade suddenly took my hand in her own, making me wonder if borrowing my car was what she really wanted. “That’s not all I need,” she began, and I just rolled my eyes. “You know I hate driving your car long distance!” Jade exclaimed, and I just nodded. “So I was thinking maybe you would come with me?” I mean, I knew my car was a piece of crap, but did she really have to treat it like it was a metal death trap?

“No,” I told her immediately. “I don’t want to… have anymore run-ins. You’re more than welcome to take my car, but I’m not coming with you.”

“You mean with Zack?” Jack clarified suddenly, and I felt myself beginning to pale.

“Yes,” I squeaked.

“You won’t have to,” promised Jade, and Jack voiced his agreements. “Jack won’t let him come anywhere near you.”

“No where near you,” insisted Jack.

I rubbed my temples, knowing that Jade would eventually get her way. It was best for my mental health just to give in now. “Fine. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”