Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 24

Jackie's POV

       By 10am I finally give in to my growling stomach and get up to make breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and biscuits all smothered in gravy- the breakfast of champions. I crack the eggs into a bowl while the bacon sizzles and glance around for a whisk. 

"I thought Dylan took you home?" Avery's voice startles me. I spin around, clutching the egg carton like a weapon.

"Yeah... well, he was going to, but I was too drunk to make it out the door, so I just crashed on the couch," I mumble.

"Where can I find a whisk?" I ask her, giving up my search. 

"Right-hand drawer on the island." She replies.

When I open it two pez heads come flying to the front. Darth Vader, the one from last time- and Pinocchio- a new one... I want to grab it, open it, find out—but Avery's watching. Instead, I shove them to the back of the drawer and grab the whisk.

Suddenly I'm not very I'm not very hungry anymore.

"How are you feeling?" I ask her, trying to distract myself. 

"Confused." She sighs.

I pour the eggs into the pan. You forgot to whisk them. I set down the unused whisk and pick up the spatula instead.

"Do you want to break up with Jayden?" I ask. 

"I don't know. I guess I should." she says, unsure. 

"You guess?"  

"It's just... We have history. Time. He's the first guy I've ever loved. That has to count for something, right?" 

"Firsts are hardly ever the last." I respond.

The eggs are burning.

"Your eggs are burning." She says, alarmed. 

I snap back to reality and kill the burner. "I wasn't hungry anyway," I say, tossing the charred mess into the trash.

"Well, I am," she says, taking the pan from me and cleaning it. "Can you see if Dylan wants any?"

"Sure." 

"And where did you put the whisk?" She asks. While her back is turned, I quickly pocket the pez dispenser. I set the whisk down next to the sink. "Right here."

     I race up the stairs and lock myself in the bathroom. Carefully, I take the dispenser from my pocket and place it on the sink. I stare at it. It might be empty. It might just be weed. It might mean nothing.

But he texted Pez at 3am. And he was up until 6am wired... Why? Fuck it, I'm looking.

I flip open the dispenser. A tiny bag of coke slides out. I slam it shut, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. I pace. Over and over.

Then I stuff it back in my pocket and walk down the hall, into Dylan's room. When I step inside, I hear him throwing up in his bathroom. The bathroom door is cracked open, so I knock softly before stepping in.

"You okay?" I ask and  cross my arms to steady my hands.

He leans against the wall, arms draped over his knees. "Yeah, I just had a bit more to drink last night than I realized." 

His bloodshot eyes stare me down and suddenly I'm scared he can see through my jean pockets. 

"Avery's making breakfast. Do you want some?"

He runs a hand over his hair. "Yeah, sure. I'll be down in a minute." He flashes a tired smile. I nod and turn to leave, catching my elbow on the door frame in my hurry to leave.