Fitting in

Chapter 24

Brett stopped packing her duffle bag for a minute to answer the phone.

            “Are you almost done?” Simon said on the other end.

            “I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t call back.” She said hanging up the phone. She stuffed her toiletries into the bag, and zipped it shut. Brett was finally going to meet her real relatives today. She had worked for weeks to be on her mother’s good side. She’d obeyed every officious command, changed all of Kimmie’s wet beds, and went with Blake to every bridal shop in town. Brett had done all this to earn one weekend away from the family, one weekend to find herself. The story was that she was joining Jesse’s family at the beach this weekend. Luckily, Jesse’s family really was going to the beach, so all Brett had to do was come back with a tan.

            “Okay, I’m leaving guys!” Brett called running down the stairs. She kissed her mother and sisters on her way out. Brett’s mother stopped her and went over the rules.

            “You have my phone number?”

            “I memorized it years ago.”

            “Sunscreen.”

            “Yup.”

            “Okay, be careful. And have fun!” Her mother yelled as Brett walked out and climbed into Jesse’s car, and only when they were a mile or two away did the two girls exhale.

            “I can’t believe you pulled that off!” Jesse yelled with her hands on the wheel.

            “I can’t believe you played along for me! Your are the best friend in the entire world Jesse!” Brett said hugging her friend. The two of them laughed, and settled into their seats.

            “So where are you meeting Simon?”

            “At the gas station two miles from here.”

            “I can’t believe you’re about to meet your real family. This is like a dream come true for you.”

            “I know. I wish you could come Jesse--”

            “I know, I know, but who would be your cover if I went with you?”

            “You really are the best friend in the entire world. I can’t believe I kept my secret from you for so long.”

            “It’s okay.” Jesse said pulling into the gas station. She spotted Simon leaning on his jeep munching on a snickers bar. She waved, and he waved back with a smile. Jesse parked her car, and Brett got her bags out from the back.

            “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jesse.” Brett said giving her a goodbye hug.

            Simon reached into the trunk of his jeep, and brought out a Snapple and a pack of m&ms. “For the best friend of miss Witte.” He said handing Jesse the snacks. In the last couple of weeks, she’d hung out with Simon and Brett plenty of times, and he’d never seemed to forget her favorite snack.

            “Thank you, but I think you mean the best friend of miss Williams.”

            Simon laughed at his mistake, and for the fifth time today Jesse wished she was joining the two of them on the journey. She had always had fun around Brett, and with Simon around the fun multiplied. She imaged all the crazy things they could do on the road trip, and then pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind.