It had been an exhausting day and Jessica couldn’t be more happy that it was over. As she slipped into her car she groaned silently having just remembered that she still had a five hour shift to get through at work. God help her.
Walking into the grocery store, Jess tried in vain to rid the scowl from her face. She didn’t want anyone complaining.
“What are you doing here?” Aaron asked
Jessica’s brows furrowed “I work today.”
“Nope, we have a dinner at your place tonight.” he said, already ushering her back out the door. “Didn’t you know?”
“Obviously not.”
“Well, now you do. Oh, and don’t worry about missing your shift tonight. I won’t dock it from you pay.’
“Gee, thanks,” she muttered as he pushed toward her car and walked off toward his. “Wait, Aaron!” she called out. “What’s the dinner for?”
“It’s a welcome home dinner for Hunt. Your mother and his mother planned it. Spur of the moment thing.” Then he was gone.
Jessica’s mind had stopped working as soon as Hunter’s name left Aaron’s lips. Was her luck really that bad? Did someone out there hate her that much? The answer was definitely yes, to both.
She didn’t want to go home. She wanted to just keep driving but the five unanswered calls from her mother had her shutting that idea down flat. She did not want to deal with the wrath of Andrea Anderson.
There were so many cars parked around her house as she pulled up. Jess wondered just how many people had been invited to the dinner. Hefting her gym and school bag onto her shoulder she headed for the front door. The hair at the back of her neck stood on end, it felt like someone was watching her. Shrugging it off she reached for the door nob when a figure stepped out from the porch shadows. A scream built up in her chest until she realized who it was.
Hunter was standing there with his hands stuffed in his pants pockets. “Hey Jess,” he greeted with a nod. “Can we talk for a sec?”
“No.” She replied shortly, reaching for the knob once again. “I have nothing to say to you.”
He sighed. “Please, Jess, talk to me. It isn’t like you to be this way.”
“You haven’t seen me in nearly three years.” She scoffed “You have no clue who I am anymore.”
“I know for a fact that the girl standing before me is not the same girl I left two and a half years ago.”
“That’s because she doesn’t exist anymore. Hasn’t for a long time.” With that, Jess left Hunter standing on the porch staring after her.
She didn’t bother with pleasantries as she made her way through the house and to her room. If she could have is her way she’d stay locked up in her room all night. She was definitely not in the mood to be around all those happy-go-lucky people who were there to celebrate Hunter being home. But alas, she had no say in the matter.
“Jessica!” Andrea gasped walking into her daughters room to see her still dressed in her dance clothes. “Will you please get yourself cleaned up. Dinner will be ready shortly.”
