12 Dates of Christmas

Chapter 3 - Jennie

The drive to Tim's house was not quiet. In fact, it was the complete opposite.

Elena and I were counting the rolls of toilet paper and the forks.

We have two thirty-six packs of toilet paper and one hundred forks. So we have seventy-two rolls in all.

I swear we are all getting in so much trouble. Last time we did this, it was on the newspaper.

I watch as Destiny and Milo hit it off. I swear, they'd be the perfect couple. They always talk about everything. And even though she older, it's not by three months. So they could date without being so weird.

Destiny looks over at me and smiles and I wave. "Do you need help?"

I shake my head as Lucas opens the car door for me. Proceeding to drop the toilet paper on the ground.

Elena smiles. "I guess you did need help."

"Guys," Lucas says after checking out the house. "There's people in the backyard. It's a bonfire."

I groan. "Maybe we can just fork their yard?" I suggest. "Or go to another house?"

But Elena shakes her head. "We are doing this. His brother broke your heart so we are going to toilet paper his house."

I roll my eyes. "I forgave him a long time ago. His brother had nothing to do with it."

She smirks at me. "So you like his brother?"

Milo groans from behind us. "Let's just get going," he hisses.

She chuckles at him for some reason before turning to face him. "Why? Do you have something to say?"

He glares at her for a very long time before shaking his head. "No," he says in a low voice.

I laugh quietly and give him a sideways hug. "It's okay. She's always been cynical."

"Hah," she laughs. "Jokes on you because I don't even know what that word means."

We all laugh and I smack her. "Again, how are we friends?"

We first start by leaving a letter in the mailbox explaining why we toilet papered their house - saying we were bored and that it had nothing to do we them. Then Destiny and Elena wrap paper around the bushes and trees in the front yard while Milo and I fork their yard.

We were all joking around that we didn't hear the sound people come watch us. It was when I turned to get more forks that I realized we were being watched.

"Um, guys," I whisper - which is stupid considering they already know it's us.

Elena looks up. She lets out a scream before running to hide behind the tree.

We've never been caught before - I mean, we have, obviously. But not a whole family.

Milo takes my arm and pulls me towards the car, where Lucas was ready to go. He didn't wait until we shut the door before he started driving.

We weren't down two blocks before I started laughing. So hard I had to clutch my stomach. Soon enough, everyone was laughing with me.

Destiny grins at me. "So, while we were doing the trees, Elena mentioned something that caught my attention."

"What?" I ask, leaning against Milo.

"Something about online dating..."

My jaw drops. "She told you?"

She nods. "She mentioned how you already have eleven likes, and how most of them are absolutely gorgeous. She also said--"

"Stop," I say. "Don't talk about it. Don't even mention it. Gah, that's so embarrassing."

Lucas looks at me from the rear view mirror. "You tried out for online dating?"

"Correction," I call out. "Elena tried me out for online dating. I had nothing to do with this."

Then I sit up. "Where's Elena?"

It takes a while for them to catch on but then Lucas slams on the breaks. "Shoot."

I was about to fly to the front seat but Milo grabs me by the waist. I end up on his lap.

He smiles at me. "That's why you wear seat belts," he whispers.

I'm freaking out right now. I don't feel comfortable with the way he's looking at me.

We're friends. Really good friends.

"Yeah," I say, laughing softly. "Sorry."

Then I go to sit back down on my seat when he clears his throat. "Right. My bad."

I rub my hands against my my jeans right as my phone rings. "Hey," I answer, trying to get rid of the awkward tension.

"Jennifer," my mom barks into the phone. "Where are you?"

I hang up, not wanting to deal with her in front of my friends.

"Was that your mom?"

I nod, blocking my phone because I know she'll try to call again.

"Are you guys still fighting?"

I look up, frowning. "She kicked me out of the house, she's constantly reminding me of what a burden I am, and she's gotten dad on her side. Yes, Destiny, we are still fighting."

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"So, what's his name?" Elena asks, as I apply some makeup.

"His name is Roger, he's a pediatrician who loves animals, and he's taking me to the park," I say before she can ask any more questions.

She grins. "He sounds absolutely romantic, Jennie. You have to tell me all about your date once you get back."

I smile at her. "He said he's bringing his pets with him. So I don't know how that's going to go."

She rolls her eyes. "I know you hate pets. So, why did you agree to go out with him?"

I smack her. "Because everyone deserves a chance."

"Even friends? Best friends?"

I look at her. "What do you mean?"

She shrugs. "Not much."

I glare at her. She knows how much I hate secrets. "Do you like someone?"

She places her lips into a thin line, pretending to have a key and lock.

I huff right as the doorbell rings. I started frantically searching for a bag to put my stuff in.

"Relax," Elena encourages. "I'm sure it'll be great."

"Do I look okay?" I question, standing in front of the mirror. "Maybe I'm overdressed."

She shakes her head, standing up. "You look great, Jennie. Now go out and have some fun. It's about time you did something for yourself."

I cast her a nervous look. "I have a history final tomorrow," I remind her. "So I'll be back around nine."

"Sounds good," she says, practically pushing my out the door and towards the front porch where my date for today was waiting.

I open the door with a bright smile. "Hey!"

He smiles back. "You must be Jennie. I'm so glad you decided to go out with me."

I smile to myself as he gently takes my hand in his. Maybe this date won't be so bad.

I remind myself to thank Elena later.

That all changed when I got in his car. I scrunch up my nose. "What is that smell?"

He grins at me. "Jennie," say hi to my best friends. Hello Kitty, Snugglesworth, and Muffin."

You have got to be kidding me. "Your best friends are cats?" I ask slowly.

Next Update: December 6