A + J

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"You what?"

I leaned away from the phone in my ear and winced. Morgan could be so dramatic at times.

"I invited him over to my house..."

It was Thursday night and the week had flown by as if time was taunting me.

"You invited a boy."

"Yes."

"To your house."

"Correct."

"On Friday."

"I'm having a strange feeling of deja vu Morgan...almost like I've repeated myself a million freaking times."

"I don't know why." Morgan replied haughtily.

"I don't see what the big deal is. It's not like we're going to do anything."

"Ana," Morgan started flatly. "This is a red-blooded male and I don't think you're prepared for what that may entail, darling."

I furrowed my brows. What was she talking about?

"Morgan."

"No, Ana. He asked you to go out with him. That means a date. Instead of being a normal teenaged girl with the tiniest bit of common sense, you don't ask him where he plans to take you out. Oh no---"

"Morgan!" I snapped. I felt a twinge of hurt. I may not have as much experience as she did but that didn't mean that she could belittle me or judge my decisions, as poor as they might have been.

"---that was probably too much of a hassle. Of course you invite this guy you barely know, who might want to have sex with you, to your house, where you'll be alone. For what exactly? Tea time!? Get your head out of your ass, Aine."

"Don't you ever speak to me like that again." My voice shook from rage.

Morgan was overprotective of me; she had been our entire lives. But that didn't give her the right to imply that Jonah was some kind of Neanderthal. He had helped me twice when I needed him and Morgan couldn't be there. I may not have known him since first grade, but he had certainly proved himself worthy of a chance at gaining my trust.

"You can't handle that Aine, it will become too much for you." She had responded, voice less hysterical.

"I can handle it just fine, Morgan."

"Fine." She snapped. "Handle it. I hope he's willing to put up with your episodes like I do."

"You're the one that's always telling me to find someone and when I make an effort you make me feel like shit." My breathing got labored and a lump appeared in my throat. I angrily scrubbed at my eyes with my hands, willing the tears to go away. I just couldn't understand why my best friend couldn't be supportive.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way but I'm more concerned with your safety than I am with your feelings Ana."

I could picture Morgan now, angrily sifting through her closet, eyebrows bunched together and mouth set in that firm stern line.

"I can't---I don't...I don't want to argue with you." I told her honestly, voice thick. "I thought...you'd be proud of me---I thought...and now you're so angry---"

"I'm not angry, Ana." She sighed softly. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. It's just...you don't see yourself when you're having a panic attack. Your eyes glaze over and you're somewhere else and you're terrified. I've never seen anyone look so haunted. I know that you like this kid but you don't know him. If you end up having another attack, I don't want you alone and vulnerable."