Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 7

Jackie's POV

I swear the first day of school is the most pointless day of school. All that happens is teachers give you a syllabus and tell you what to expect from their class, which usually includes phrases like:

"This class won't be easy."
"There's going to be a lot of homework, but if you keep up, you'll be fine."
Or my personal favorite:
"This class will prepare you for college. So if this is too hard, maybe college isn't for you."

After they finish their scare tactics, they spend the next forty-five minutes going over every item on the syllabus like we can't read. If I had a car, I'd skip this day every year. But unfortunately I can't afford to buy one yet, so I still get dropped off like a twelve-year-old, unless a friend picks me up.

The only thing I usually look forward to is lunch, but even that's a letdown today. I still need to tell Avery about my breakfast with her brother, but she's she's clinging to Jayden like a magnet to metal, and Theo might as well have vanished because I have no idea here he is. Which leaves me stuck with the couple who forgot anyone else existed.

Just when I think I might actually lose my mind, Dylan drops into the seat next to me.

"I'm single," he says.

"You broke up with her? Hell yeah!" I shoot my hand up for a high-five. He just stares at me.
He glares. "No, she broke up with me." 

Embarrassed, I slowly lower my hand. "Oh..." 
"Fuck it. I'm not gonna stick around here. You wanna go?" 

I blink, waiting for the punchline until I realize he's serious. I glance toward Avery and Jayden, but they're too deep in their fantasy life to notice Dylan's even here.
"Fuck it." I echo, grabbing my bag. Avery finally looks up as I walk away, but she doesn't say anything. So I keep going.

We get into Dylan's truck, and it's silent as he drives. I don't ask why he invited me. Maybe because I'm the only one he's been talking about May with? I'm not complaining- it's getting me out of school. 

After a few minutes, I break the silence.
"So..." I tread lightly. "Are we ignoring it or talking about it?"

We pull into his driveway and he throws it in park.

"We can talk about it. While getting wasted."

 He's out of the truck before I can process that sentence.

"Did you just say wasted?" I ask as I follow him to the porch.

"You know it's only noon, right? On a Monday?" I say as he flings open the front door. "Little early for that, don't you think?"

"Honestly I think I'm getting a late start. You can go though. I'll pay for an Uber to take you wherever." He bolts for the living room. When I follow, there's already a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"I'll stay here." I say it gently. He asked me to come for a reason, and someone needs to make sure he doesn't do something stupid.

Avery's POV

It's 4 o'clock. Since my brother- aka my ride -ditched school with my best friend, I've got two choices: wait for Jayden to get out of football practice (which isn't until after six), or ask Theo for a ride. Option two is risky. We haven't spoken since this morning, and I'm not sure he even wants to talk to me, let alone do me a favor. Still, I catch him heading to the parking lot.

"Teddy!" I call. He glares at me but slows his pace, allowing me to catch up.
"Am I gonna have to be the first one to apologize?" I ask, giving him my best pout. 

He stops in his tracks. "Seriously?" 

I sigh. "Okay. I'm sorry for ignoring you all day, but you did call my boyfriend a dick."