Agnes in JackieLand

Chapter 27

"Jackie, something weird is going on," I said.

"Tell me about it. I went to make my brother's Kraft Dinner the other day, and they told me that I don't make it like I used to," Jackie looked confused.

Something about that statement made me think hard. It was familiar, but it couldn't be because I had never known any of Jackie's family.

I leaned forward and said, "You said you don't remember things. Tell me what you are referring to."

"Well, for instance, apparently, I called Graham's mother and reported my mother's substance abuse. I don't even know his mother," I said as I looked at him at the counter. "Apparently, Graham and I had an all-out war. I attacked him on the soccer field and got suspended." She looked appalled. "I would never attack someone."

I raised a brow. "OK, I know. I pushed you in a hole, but I would never flat-out jump on someone's back and attack them. I attacked Quincy too, but if he's the one who attacked me, then he deserved it," Jackie shivered.

I put a hand over Jackie's. "We will prove Quincy did it."

Jackie nodded and extracted her hand from under mine. "I caught my dad with some red-headed bimbo at work the other day, and he was all, don't act like you didn't know Jackie. The thing is, I didn't know. I went over to tell him how good mom is doing and that he should come home." The pain laced through Jackie's voice and pulled at my heartstrings. But I felt like I knew the things that she was saying.

"What else, Jackie?" I urged her.

"The boys said, Jacko, how'd you get better at cooking?"

But I didn't hear the rest. My mind opened up, flooding me with memories of me burning the pizza for the twins, them crying themselves to sleep at the children's society. Walking in on Jackie's father mounting the redhead and me threatening him. The fight with Graham, the words with my father. Quincy, Cindy, and Leeann's dismissal. And me trying to get back into my body.

I opened my eyes, that's it! Quincy choking me must have released my soul back to my body. "Jackie, I have to tell you something, and you're going to think I'm whacked out, but remember that you're missing time. I think I know where that went. No, I know where it went."

An hour later, a dumbfounded Graham and a shocked Jackie sat in front of me. I had waited for Graham to return to the table to hear my tale. I'd rather not have to tell it again.

"So you're telling me that you already knew how I felt, but you let me go on like that anyway," Graham said, sounding hurt.

"No, Graham. It wasn't like that at all. After you told me, I felt I knew but didn't know how. I mean, Mason told me, but."

"Wait a minute!" Graham interrupted me. "Mason told you. When?"

I nodded. "He came to see me a while ago and claimed that you were in love with me, but I wrote it off," I explained.

"I didn't tell him," Graham almost growled.

"You don't need to, Romeo," Jackie said. "It's written all over your face and actions. The only one who doesn't see it is your Juliet here."

Graham blushed, and I felt awkward.

"Never mind that. You were in my body?" Jackie asked.

I nodded. "This is way too weird, and I don't even want to believe it, but all I can remember about that time is swimming in darkness," Jackie said.