How is this happening?
How is this happening?
“Jasmine, come on,” Kenny says, taking my hand and pulling me out of my daze.
“Why would she do this?” I whisper, numb.
“I don’t know, but you’ve got some explaining to do.”
Outside, Deanna is crying in the driveway and Mel won’t even look at me. Kayla comes up and just stands by my side, not saying a word. The disappointment on her face speaks volumes.
“What is this?!” Deanna yells. Alice shushes her and rubs her arm. “Jasmine, tell me what this means.”
“You know what it means. She’s a liar!” Mel says, glaring at me.
Kenny tries to hug Deanna, but she doesn’t want it. “Just say something, Jasmine,” Kenny pleads for her sobbing friend.
“It—it’s the truth. She’s telling the truth about where I was,” I say, struggling to get the words out. “I’m sorry, Deanna. You weren’t supposed to find out like this. But whatever she told you about her and me—”
“I wasn’t supposed to find outat all!” Deanna says. “Don’t act like you were going to tell me about her. I asked you if there was anything else I needed to know before we got in too deep. I’m so freaking dumb.”
Mel tries to hug her again. Deanna gives in. “You’re not dumb, she is,” Mel says.
“Okay, come on. That’s too far,” Kayla cuts in. “Let’s not make this worse.”
Deanna looks at me like she wants me to say more but I don’t know what words would even help. “Did you know?” she turns her attention to Kayla. “Don’t lie to me.”
“Deanna, I couldn’t…” Kayla starts.
Deanna rips off her heels and storms down the driveway. Mel, Kenny, and Alice follow close behind.
“Like, who is she even?!” Deanna yells through her tears.
“A criminal or something,” Mel mutters.
“It’s not what it sounds like, I promise,” I call out. “Deanna, please trust—”
Deanna spins around. “Trust you? I literally can’t trust anything you say!”
Kayla taps my arm for me to stop talking. But I can’t let Deanna leave like this.
“Deanna, please, can I just talk to you?”
“Never again.” She starts walking away. “Don’t ever talk to me again!”
The girls disappear around the corner without another glance in our direction.
“Yeah… I’m gonna call an Uber. I’m over this,” Kayla says, making her way to the end of the driveway.
I nod slowly and let the tears fall.
When the car arrives, Kayla barely looks at me. She’s buried in her phone, texting. I can only imagine how confused and hurt her friends must be, unable to believe Kayla kept this from them too. I feel terrible that she’s no doubt getting the other half of the blame for keepingmysecret.
I slide into the car, my head pounding and my dress damp with sweat.
“Are you okay?” the driver asks as I try to catch my breath between sobs.
“She’s fine,” Kayla says.
