Page 61 of Walk With Me
I can’t believe I’m voluntarily asking to enter her room. The only positive is Sloane’s approximate arrival is in less than half an hour. She’ll rescue me. I hope.
Jenna doesn’t answer, she just turns and storms into her room, leaving the door open.
Taking an experimental step inside, I sigh in relief when I’m not incinerated by Jenna’s fire and brimstone. In fact, she looks kind of nervous. What the bloody hell did she say to Sloane?
“Can I sit?”
With a terse flick of her head she acknowledges my presence. Sitting, I take a deep breath. God, this is awful. Where is my cute li’l sis? God, I remember the days when we did everything together. I couldn’t wait to be a big sister when Mum told me she was pregnant. From the second Jenna arrived home from the hospital I adored her. Growing up she followed me everywhere, and I loved it. I never thought of her as annoying. We would have epic film marathons, sneaking out of bed after lights out and watching movies Mum and Dad wouldn’t approve of. It was great.
Then puberty hit and Jenna all but disappeared. Well, the Jenna I knew. She stopped talking to me. There were no more film nights or laughing together. It really fucking sucked. So if this is my chance to get a little bit of that life back, I’m gonna take it.
“Okay, I’ll get straight to the point. Sloane suggested we should talk.”
“What did she say?” Jenna shoots. Her voice is full of venom, but I can see it’s rooted with worry.
“Nothing, just that you might need your big sister. Which I’m sorta hoping is true. I miss you, Jenna. I know you don’t want to talk to me, or anyone for that matter, and this is probably akin to torture. But just to let you know, I’m here if you want to talk. I don’t even need to say anything, I can just listen.”
She does the signature Sawyer neck scratch. I think she might actually speak to me.
“Sloane’s nice.”
Okay. I mean, yeah, she’s right. I doubt my amazing girlfriend is the topic she’s been struggling with.
“She is.”
“I…I want to join the cheer squad.”
Not what I thought she was going to say at all! Why wouldn’t she tell me that?
“Okay. Um, is there a reason you can’t?”
It makes sense why she would find it easy to talk to Sloane now. I’m just upset Jenna didn’t feel she could come to me.
Jenna huffs out a frustrated breath. “Are you, Mum, and Dad going to make fun of me if I do?”
“Whoa, why the hell would we?”
Jenna slams her hands down on the bed. “Why wouldn’t you? Cheerleading is preppy. Not edgy or cool like painting or listening to weird bands.”
I’m not following her train of thought whatsoever.
“Jenna. My girlfriend is a cheerleader. The captain, for God’s sake. Why would I, in any universe, have a problem with you following that path? What do art and weird bands have to do with anything?”
And then the worst thing happens. Jenna bursts into tears. Full sobs, which are nothing like the rage tears we usually get. She’s really upset. Risking actual bodily harm, I leave the chair and perch next to her. She shifts away at first, but doesn’t resist when I pull her to my chest. Several snotty minutes later, Jenna finally calms down enough to talk.
“Hey, talk to me, Jen.”
Tangling her hands in the sleeves of her hoodie, she darts her eyes from her lap to me. “I just don’t feel like I fit in.”
“With who?”
“You!” she shouts, making me jump. “In this family!”
“Jenna,” I breathe out, completely shocked. I had no idea she was feeling this way.
“It’s true. I’m nothing like any of you. You’re impossible to follow, Eden.”
“Jen, you shouldn’t be trying to follow me. You’re amazing as you are.”
