Secrets

Chapter 4

Jamie's father sat upright in his chair glancing around the room. A large amethyst geode sat on the desk in front of him and the smell of burning incense filled his nose. There were other crystals all over the office and on the desk.

"Hi Mr. Winston, I'm so sorry for running behind." Ms. Blake shut the door behind her and took a seat in front of her desk. "Please call me Stephen. " Jamie's father extended his hand and Ms. Blake shook it. "What's with all the crystals?" He asked. Ms. Blake replied, "They're to help relax and be sort of comforting for the students. They really love them and the crystals remind them that this is a safe space where if they ever feel the need to talk to me, they absolutely can." 

"Alright. So I wanted to talk to you about Jamie's progress so far. " Ms. Blake pulled out a large beige file with the words "Jameson Winston" written on it. "I gave him a journal to have him channel his emotions into it by writing down his feelings. It seems like he has a lot of mood swings I've noticed."

"I've noticed that too. It just feels like he's so angry all the time." Jamie's father replied.

"Grief can do that to you." Ms. Blake said.

Jamie's father picked up the small quartz crystal on the desk and held it in his hand. His eyes brimmed with tears.

"Tomorrow is Emily's birthday." He said quietly. "She would have hated to see Jamie and I fighting."

Ms. Blake nodded. "I know. I'm so sorry. This all must be so hard for the both of you. Especially Jamie."

"He and Emily were so close. They were inseparable."

"Dear Journal;

Trey found out about my power or whatever the fuck this is. He's super hyped about it. He and I have been getting better. Still haven't been talking to Addison as much but she's been too busy sucking face with that douchebag Trevor."

"Yo dude!" Jamie heard Trey as Trey walked into the restaurant. He hopped into his seat and loudly proclaimed, "We gotta test out your superpower!"

"Dude quiet!" Jamie hissed. "I don't want the whole universe to know about that shit! Besides I can't just do it automatically. Plus this isn't something you can mess around with all the time."

Trey laughed. "Sorry I'm just so excited. I mean, my best friend has a superpower!" 

"I wouldn't necessarily say that." Jamie rolled his eyes and thumbed through the pages of his journal.  Trey glanced over and noticed that Jamie seemed distracted. "Dude, you okay?" he asked. 

"Um...I don't know." Jamie got quiet and breathed a heavy sigh. "Today is my mom's birthday."

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry." Trey leaned over and gently touched Jamie's hand rubbing it with his thumb. "Your mom was the best."

"She really was." Jamie flipped to the last journal entry and wrote down one more thing before closing the book. 

"Happy birthday Mom. I miss you."

Jamie sat on the picnic bench, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He raised the cigarette to his mouth and flicked open the lighter in his hand twice. He stared at rhe dancing flame coming from the lighter before putting it to the cigarette and inhaling slowly. A cloud of smoke released from his mouth.

"You know smoking bad for you right?" He heard a voice say. He turned and saw Addison clutching her backpack.

"Oh so you're finally talking to me?" Jamie replied sharply. "And you never gave a shit when I smoked before."

Addison hesitated and dropped her backpack and sat next to Jamie. "Hey look. It's not you. I promise."

"Then what the fuck was that all about?" Jamie said.

Addison went quiet for a second. "Trevor and I broke up."

Jamie looked up, his eyes wide. "Oh shit. What happened?"

Addison sighed. "He basically tried to convince me that you were a bad person and I shouldn't talk to you anymore. One day he saw that I was going to text you and he got angry and just started yelling at me. He threw my phone and cracked the screen."

"Oh my god. Dude I'm so sorry." Jamie said.

Addison shrugged and said, "don't worry about it. He was an asshole. I know his history with girls. He tries to manipulate them. He's a fucking gaslighter."

Jamie inhaled and released another puff of smoke. Addison nudged him and held out her hand.

"You want a drag?" Addison nodded. "My dad would kill me if he found out I smoked. But honestly fuck it at this point."

Jamie stayed quiet as he heard the sounds of nature all around him. He noticed Addison get up and smush the cigarette butt into the dirt. She walked down to the hill as a cool breeze blew through her scarlet-red hair. Jamie got up and threw the cigarette butt down and squished it and stood right next to Addison shivering from the wind.

"You ever just wanted to come up here and just scream?"

Jamie looked back to make sure they were alone. "Why would you wanna do that?"

"Come on, it'll make you feel better."

Jamie sighed. "I don't know Addie..."

"Alright I'll start then." Addison cupped her hands over her mouth.

"FUCK YOU TREVOR!!" Addison screamed, her voice echoing.

Jamie chuckled. Addison looked st him and smiled. "Alright your turn!"

Jamie took a deep breath and hears his words echo through the valley.

"YOU'RE A PIECE OF SHIT!!"

Addison laughed. "One more time, release everything you've got Jamie!"

Jamie thought for a second and then cupped his hands over his mouth.

"I MISS YOU MOM!!"

"That felt so good doing that." Jamie nodded turning to Addison.

"Hey can I tell you something Jamie? Just please don't tell anyone else."

"Of course Addie. You can tell me anything." Jamie gently grabbed Addison's hands. "I'm always here for you."

Addison sighed and Jamie noticed her eyes brimming with tears. She gulped and glanced up at Jamie.

"I think I might be pregnant."