Secrets Look Different in the Light

Chapter 35

Avery's POV

Rumors flew fast after the Lake House party, lighting up the school halls with all the usual nonsense. I remembered there being gossip after Dylan's first one, but this time, it was relentless. People swore Jenny Larson threw up off the roof and someone hosted a coke party in a black sedan parked in the driveway. I didn't know what was true and what wasn't, but no one was talking about me and Theo- or Jackie and Dylan. That silence? That was enough.

When Dylan and I got home that day, our parents were already by the pool, mimosas in hand. I don't know how we managed the car ride back without killing each other. We've always bickered, but this? This was worse. Now that we're not talking, and our parents are around more than usual, I feel more abandoned than usual.

They have a way of isolating us, even when we're under the same roof. Dylan doesn't seem to care. He's committed to the cold war. He makes sure I see him every time Jackie's over, parading her past whatever room I'm in, holding her hand like a trophy.

I tried talking to her at school that Monday. She didn't budge. "I don't have time for the Avery show," she snapped, slamming her locker in my face.

I know I hurt her that morning. But what else was I supposed to say? Dylan's using her. And she refuses to believe it. Until he hurts her, she'll keep pretending she's right, and I'm the villain.

"She'll come around," Theo says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glance away from Jackie. 

I suddenly hate having one so close to hers.

"I don't want to talk about it," I reply, maybe too sharp. I try not to watch my brother lean against the lockers next to her.

"Okay," he says easily, "Then let's talk about Homecoming."

That gets my attention. Things have been really good with Theo since the party. We've kept things quiet. Since no one knew we got together that night, we figured waiting a while would make going public easier. Let the dust settle from the breakup first.

"I think that's when we should make our public debut." he continues. 

"Really? That's pretty soon. Do you think it's enough time?" I ask, worried. 

"It'll have been a month. I think that's a fair amount of time." He reassures me.

I shift my books against my chest. "I just... I don't want people judging us."

I don't want Jayden to know. Not yet.

"Even if they do, it won't last. There'll be another party. Another distraction. People move on fast." he says.

"Okay. Homecoming." I agree, smiling faintly.

Jayden will be fine. He didn't want me anyway.

Dylan's POV

I didn't start this thing with Jackie the right way. That much I can admit.

Before she caught me with May, I was going to end our friends with benefits thing. I could tell it was hurting her. But then she saw the coke, and I panicked. Everything I'd been hiding for months was about to spill out into the world, and I had to stop it.

I didn't know what else to do in that moment, but I don't want to date her just to cover my tracks. I care about Jackie- I really do -and I want to do this right. She's smart, fun to be around, and she actually gives a shit about people- about me. And it's been a while since anyone did. She deserves to be in a real relationship, and that's what I'm trying to give her.

I haven't done coke since that morning after the party, which has been harder than I had expected, but I've been managing. Sometimes I'll go smoke with Haley to help soothe the itch, which Jackie seems to be okay with. Not that she knows there's an itch to soothe, considering she believes that night was the one and only time I've done coke.