How To Lose A Girl In Ten Days (Chaennie)

Chapter 8

The driveway is empty of cars when they return to Jennie's house. Inside is quiet, a sharp contrast to the earlier barely controlled chaos.

"Hello?" Jennie calls, but there's no answer. "I guess everyone left." She looks around and spots a note pinned to the bulletin board with her name on it.

"Oh they all went to Aunt Gia's," Jennie says, reading over John's note. "The boys probably wanted to play basketball. They live right next to a park."

Rosie nods, shivering a bit. In the sun, her water spattered clothes hadn't bothered her as much, but after the brief bike ride and now standing in the cool air of the house, she's feeling the chill.

"John left something for you," Jennie says as she reaches the end of the note where there's a PS. "He didn't know how long you'd be staying so he left that recipe you wanted."

Rosie blinks. The envelope Jennie offers her has her name scrawled across it in looping letters. She'd honestly forgotten about asking for the recipe in the first place (homemade cherry pie, Jennie's favorite).

"Oh," Rosie says. "Um." She takes the envelope but doesn't know what to do with it as her clothes are still wet. She eventually sets it back down on the table, to grab on her way out.

Jennie takes her hand and starts to lead her upstairs. "Come on, let's change out of these clothes. You can take a shower too, if you want."

Warm water sounds heavenly right now. "I'd love that," Rosie says. More family photos line the wall beside the stairs, glimpses of a happy loving family—Jennie's family. Rosie has to force herself not to look.

Jennie steers her into the bathroom. It's a cozy little room with fuzzy bath mats and kitschy decorations on the walls. The shower curtain has quaint pastel flowers on it.

"Oh, yikes," Jennie laughs as she sees herself in the mirror. She really had gotten the worst of it, but at least her hair is dark. Rosie's blonde locks are streaked with dirt and sand, as is her white shirt. She runs her hand through her hair, wincing at the catch of a tangle.

Jennie moves over to the tub to turn the shower on, twisting the knobs back and forth till she finds the right spot. "Shower takes a bit to warm up," she says, sticking her hand under the water to test the temperature. "And if anyone flushes a toilet on the block, you will feel it."

When she turns around, she finds Rosie sitting on the closed toilet lid, looking down at her lap. "Rosie?"

Rosie shakes her head, attempting to smile, but it comes out as more of a grimace. Jennie crouches down in front of her and she's alarmed to see tears forming at the edges of Rosie's eyes.

"Hey," Jennie says, softly, resting her hands on Rosie's knees. "What is it?"

"Nothing's wrong," Rosie insists. "Everything is great. Everyone has been so welcoming." She looks at her lap again, brows furrowing. "Your family likes me."

Jennie pats her leg, gently. "Honey, that's a good thing."

Rosie nods quickly, feeling silly for getting so emotional. "No I know, it's just, this place, your family... I haven't—it's been a long time since I've had that. I mean I barely talk to my mom anymore, not since my dad died. And earlier when your uncle hugged me, it felt like—it, it felt like a father's hug, you know? And today has just been so wonderful, you showing me around where you grew up and you didn't have to do that, you didn't have to do any of this for me and I—I'm sorry—"

"Hey no, don't apologize," Jennie says, interrupting Rosie's ramble. She ducks her head down to catch Rosie's eye. "Listen to me. You are so sweet, and funny and beautiful and so kind, of course my family likes you. It's why I lo—" Jennie cuts herself off abruptly, eyes widening the barest fraction, and says something else. "It's why you're you."