JESS

CHAPTER 9

Jess

Rain was pouring down and pounding into the street. It dripped down the window panes and made the green grey sky fuzzier. I hope it wasn’t ruining any plans. Specifically Dre’s. He deserved to be having a good time at prom. With a beautiful girl. Who was probably freaking out about her hair right now. I laughed. She would be a funny one.

My eyes started filling with tears. I must be pretty tired to have mood swings like this. I wiped my eyes and grabbed “osito”, my teddy, off of the bed. I squoze his eyes out. “Lo siento, Osito. I’m sorry.”My stomach spoke. Mamá had dried to convince me to eat, but I hadn’t been hungry them. She had looked at me sadly and covered the plantano frito with tin foil. Usually, I could leave fried plantains alone. I could today. My stomach was queasy. I was too sulky for anything to look appetizing. So I’d gone to my room. I’m pretty sure Mamá was upset. Oops. I wanted so badly to go to the barn. But it was pouring… I reached into my jeans for my iPod. It was gone. Oops. I Must’ve left it in the barn loft. I sat for a couple more minutes, then reached under the bed for a  flashlight. I was going.

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Dre

I have to admit, Kenzi looked better in pink than I’d thought. I knew for sure that I didn’t. Kyle had convinced me that a pink tie would go well;  I felt like an idiot. Things were  so crazy I could barely think. Kenzi was chatting my head off and fidgeting with her updo. Her dress was a little on the skanky side, but it made sense, considering how hot she thought she was. All she could talk about were friends, money, and how cute we looked. Wow.

The drive to La Cucina Clasica, our local Italian restaurant was painful, to say the least.

“Dre,” she complained, “My dress is stuck in the door. Pull over.” Normally, I would’ve told her to wait until we got there, or to open the door at a stop light, but I minded my manners and pulled over. Kenzi winked at me through bright pink eyelashes.

“Just as sec.” She reached over, opened the door and retrieved her dress. Suddenly, she tensed up. I’d learned a little about girls, and that usually meant that something was wrong.

“Kenzi? Is everything okay?” She let out a huff of air and slowly turned around. Her eyes were squinty, obscured by her fake lashes. And they were brimming with tears.

“Kenzi? Are you okay?” I started freaking out. What had I done?

“Dre,” she wailed, “My dress is ripped!!! Look!!” She held up a quarter-inch rip that was practically invisible. I was currently trying very hard not to burst into laughter.

“Oh… I’m so sorry Kenzi. Are you going to be okay?”

I was in shock that she was crying over a rip that no one was going to see.

“No…” She took a deep, shaky breath. Astounding.

“Kenzi, don’t worry, I can barly see it. And, I’m sure that with that gorgeous updo you have, no one will even notice.” I know, updo? It was the best I could to without getting her hopes up… my eye was on Jess. She sniffled.

“Really?” Then she sank back into her rich-girl pouting, “No. Casi and Chels cannot see me like this. This is… this is horrible!” Suddenly, I realized that the radio was still softly playing. And Jess’ song was on:

I can’t stop thinking about it

I want you all around me

And now I just can’t hide it

I think I’m fallin’ for you

Jess. I leaned a little toward Kenzi.

“Really , Kenzi, are you ready to go?”

"No, just take me home."

 “Kenzi, really? You’ll really miss senior prom because of a rip in your dress?” I could feel myself getting angry. It was nagging at me, rising slowly, waiting for an opportunity to jump out.

“Yes,” she played the class it drama queen put-your-head-in-your-hands-and -cry card. Ugh. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to handle her much longer.

“Kenzi? Are you really that upset? I’ll take you home, if you want.”

“Yes. Now.” She’d swing quickly fro weeping to ferocity.

I looked at her in disbelief.

“Dre – wake up!! Take me home. NOW.” I couldn’t believe this. I’d spent money on a tux, flowers, and I’d spend my time planning… and the whole time I could’ve planned and paid for Jess, and it would’ve turned out better.

“Okay. Let’s head back then.” I flipped a quick U-turn – probably a little too quickly – Kenzi looked sick. I knew what I was going to do. Kyle would kill me for the no-show. In fact, the whole school would probably hear some blown-up story about how I ditched her during the firs dance or something dumb like that. Oh well… I had to get back. Quickly. I took the time to make sure Kenzi got to her door and I could explain to her mother. I felt sorry for her. Her mom, well, and Kenzi, too. She’d basically just had an emotional meltdown. I got back into the car and drove as fast as I could. I knew where Jess was. I knew where she’d run to.

I jumped out of the car – déjà vu – and ran down the dirt path.