Unexpected

40. Helen

Jade doesn't talk to me. She tells me those four essential words and that's it.

It's all so sad. My best friend hates me while we live under the same roof, the guy I thought I built something with disappeared, and I haven't been out in weeks.

I'm going crazy, I need a release.

Grace. There will certainly be a party this evening; It's Friday.

I take my cell phone and click on her name in the contacts. It rings.

"Helen, honey, hi!" she replies cheerfully. Hearing the sound of her voice so full of life I immediately feel better.

"Grace! Everything good?" I ask her.

She giggles; she's probably with Michael, I heard his voice. "Oh yes, fine. You?"

I sigh. "Well... I told Jade everything," I say suddenly.

I feel her take a sudden breath. "Oh my God... that thing—things—about Harry?"

"Mh-hm. Now she doesn't talk to me." There's a pause of silence before I start talking again. "And this sucks, I know." I can feel my eyes burning with tears. "I suck, but—" my voice breaks.

"Honey ... don't do that—"

"But it's all over, Grace, all of it!" I pant, out of oxygen. I feel the walls of the room shrink around me, tears wet my face. "He's gone, I have no idea where he is... I'm worried."

Grace sighs. "Helen, I don't like seeing you like that. Everything will settle down, don't worry, okay?"

I sniff. It's hard to stay calm when I don't know where the hell is that guy who turned my head upside down and I no longer have the person I trusted most, because I cheated on her. How could I?

"I think you need to relax," Grace tells me after a few seconds of silence. "Why don't you come to the party tonight, huh? We'll come and get you if you like."

Just what I wanted.

I wipe my tears with the back of my hand and answer her, "Oh, yes. It would be a good idea perhaps."

"Of course it is. Do you want to get wasted?" she says laughing to lighten the mood.

I burst out laughing too. "Yes, okay. See you later?"

"Yes, at ten we are at your house. Oh, don't worry about J, she'll probably come with Evan."

Grace is a good friend, really, she is always available for anything; I love her.

• • •

Grace and Michael arrive half an hour late, but at ten o'clock I'd never have been ready.

My high black heels clatter on the floor as I go knocking on Jade's door.

"J, I'm going out, okay?" I inform her.

"Okay," she replies sourly.

She'll never stop making me feel guilty, but I deserve it.

I take my purse and a couple of house keys and go out.

"Oh, wow, girl!" Grace giggles from the car as I approach the car to get in the back.

Michael glances at me and jokingly says, "Have you ever thought about being a model?"

I smile at him and thank him. I think my tight black dress with a deep V-neckline, sleeveless, has already made a splash.

Grace turns to me. "I'm glad that you've dressed up, and above all that you are coming with us," she tells me as she smiles.