The Boy in the Woods (2014 Wattys Winner, Wattpad Version)

Chapter 10 - One Summer Night

"I did?" Jess asked weakly, as Douglas glared at her as if she'd betrayed him.

"Yes, after Douglas went to France."

"That wasn't exactly –," she started quietly, but was interrupted by Douglas.

"It's the last weekend before school starts!" he whined loudly.

"You can hang out with your friends another night!" Uncle Jonathon shouted, and Jess was even more shocked.  He'd never lost his temper with Douglas in front of her before.  "I don't like how the two of you aren't getting along!  It's time you start spending more time together!  Do I make myself clear?" 

Douglas kept opening and closing his mouth while Jess watched him, desperately wishing he would say something.  Why wasn't he arguing?  He could easily win this fight. 

Finally, his shoulders slumped with defeat.  "Yes, sir," he mumbled with his head hanging.  Jess was stunned.  She couldn't believe he'd just given in like that. 

"That's fine, son," Uncle Jonathon said more gently.  "I'm sure you two will have a good time."

"Yes, sir," Douglas mumbled to his plate, sounding as unconvinced as Jess felt.

"You know what you should do?" he said kindly, reaching over to put his hand on Douglas's shoulder, and Douglas looked up at him.  "You should take the car out for a spin after dinner.  Show it off to your friends.  Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"Yes, sir," Douglas said, managing a small smile.

"Very good," Uncle Jonathon replied, returning to his meal with a satisfied look on his face.  Douglas and Jess hunched over their plates.

While Jess choked down her dinner, she tried to make sense of what had just happened.  It felt like the world had been turned on its axis.  Uncle Jonathon losing his temper with Douglas, Douglas caving in on an argument, and now she was going out with him, alone.  She didn't want to go to town with Douglas, any more than he wanted to take her.  She just knew it was going to be one of the worst nights of her life. 

For the next two days both she and Douglas pretended their upcoming night out wasn't happening.  He ignored her when he was around her as he'd always done, and she did the same.  The only one who seemed truly excited about it was Annie, who brought it up frequently, much to Jess's dismay.  She even insisted on helping Jess get ready the evening of their outing. 

"I think you should wear this dress," she said happily while Jess laid on her bed, hugging a pillow.  She had a stomach ache even though she hadn't eaten very much during dinner. 

When she saw Annie holding the mint green dress she'd worn the day she went to the lawyer's office to hear her father's will being read, she sat up.  "No," she said firmly, shaking her head.

"Are you sure?  It's so pretty."

"I'm sure," she replied, lying down again because her stomach was hurting even more.

"Well, alright, but you don't have that many dresses to choose from Jess," she said, rummaging through the wardrobe.  Maybe if Uncle Jonathon would buy her some clothes she'd have something to wear, she thought angrily.  "What about this one," Annie said holding up a pale blue plaid dress with a white peter pan collar.

"Fine," Jess said with a resigned sigh as she got up.  At least that one didn't have any sad memories attached to it.  Taking it from Annie, she headed to the bathroom to change. 

"Wait, Jess.  Let me find your crinoline," she said, sliding hangers back and forth in the wardrobe.

"What?  I don't want to wear a crinoline!" Jess cried.