You Can't Run From the Past

Chapter 22: This Again?

Chapter 22: This Again?

Jessie's Point Of View:

I moved around Shane and looked at the room.  Sure, it was huge and nice, but there was one thing wrong with it.  

"Shane?" I asked turning to him.  "This room only has one bed."

"I know, but I haven't had anytime with you," he said with a small smile.  I continued to look at him questioningly.  "Don't worry," he teased, "I'll sleep on the couch."

I rolled my eyes.  "Darn right you will."

Shane and I stayed up for hours laughing and talking.  Everything with Shane was so simple and smooth.  It didn't take any effort.  That's how things should be.  I'm tired of this complicated mess.  Shane is the only person here who I actually trust.  When we get out of this mess I'm going with him.  Maybe things will be the way they were before Tessa showed up with Nate and Alex. 

I don't have much faith in that idea though.  They've all met Tessa.  They know about her.  They know about my connection with her.  They already ruined my new life for me.

"So what's up with Tessa?" Shane asked suddenly getting serious.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I thought you guys were cool.  Why're you giving her the cold shoulder?"

I sighed and stood up (Shane and I were sitting on the couch at the edge of my bed).  "Goodnight Shane."

"No, I'm serious," he continued standing up as well.  "What happened?"

"Shane, I'm tired.  I don't want to talk about Tessa."

"Why not?"

"Because!" I yelled in exasperation.

"Because why?" he calmly asked.

"Because if I explain it then your gonna take her side!"

"You don't know that."

"Oh really?" I asked in annoyance.  "Because Zander and Jake did.  So did Nate and Alex.  Even Veevien and Adeline act as if this entire 'mission' depends and revolves around Tessa even though the rest of us are just as involved as she is!"

"That doesn't mean I'm going to automatically follow in line.  I just want to know what made you guys like this.  You guys used to be friend, right?  Why not now?"

I sighed and sat back down on the couch.  Shane sat down next to me.  "Besides the past drama with Nate and Alex?" I asked and Shane nodded.  "She promised not to have anything to do with Zander.  I came here to get away and she came up with Nate and suddenly she was involved again.  I didn't want that.  I was upset with her, but it wasn't terrible.  Even with her thing with Zander I was getting over it.

"Then she told me that out of respect for me and my wishes she would stay away from Zander.  In my mind that was her apology and she was really going to let me live my life how I wanted.  So we were better after that.  I thought she had changed.  She let me think for myself.  She put me in control of my life.  Which is how it should be.  I shouldn't have trusted her though.  It didn't last long," I said.

"Wait," Shane began, "this was all about Zander?" he asked.  I could hear something strange in his voice, but I couldn't make out what it was.

"No," I replied.  "It's that she offered me this peace offering and once she got our friendship back she picked Zander anyway.  For all I know she never meant any of what she said."

"That's worth throwing away a friendship though?" Shane asked.

I glared at him and looked away.  "What a surprise," I said, "you're taking her side."