Unexpected

Chapter Six

“Is that it?” Zoey asks.

“I think so,” I answer. I sigh and close the trunk to my car once my bags are thrown in. I turn to Zoey and give her a long kiss. “I’ll see you soon, love.”

“Okay. I’ll keep the boys under control.”

I laugh. “Good luck with that. I love you.”

“I love you.” She squeezes my hand and walks me around to the driver’s seat. I slide in and close the door, but she leans in the window and gives me another kiss. “Have fun!”

“Oh yeah; I’m sure it’ll be a blast.”

“Well, just remember I’ll be here when you get back.”

I smile at her and drive away. This should be a fun two weeks. Hopefully it won’t be too bad. I wanted to bring Zoey with me, but when I tell my parents I’m dating a girl, I want to be alone so they can have their freak out with bringing her into it. It really isn’t a big deal, if you ask me. I mean, who cares if I like girls? Who cares if I like boys? Who cares if I don’t like either and I want to be single forever? I mean honestly, why does it even matter?

If it were that easy, it’d be a miracle, but I know it’s not. My parents won’t take it lightly, but I don’t think they’ll be mad or anything. It’s honestly hard to tell what their reaction will be, but nevertheless I can also leave and come back to Cali, without an explanation. At least I have a place to return too if I need an escape.

That’s probably why I moved all the way to Cali in the first place. If I stayed in that house any longer, I would go insane. My parents aren’t awful, but they aren’t wonderful either. We get along easier if I’m not there for most of the year.

Two monsters and sixteen hours later, I’m in Denver. It’s snowing when I pull up at my parents’ house and I just stand by my car, catching snowflakes in my hand. It’s been too long since I’ve seen snow and I just admire it for a moment.

“Jenna? Is that you?” my mom asks, walking onto the porch.

“Yeah; hey,” I say.

“It’s five in the morning! What are you doing?”

“Well, uh, I came to visit for Christmas.” I pull my bags out of the trunk and walk up to the porch, only to be embraced in a warm hug.

“Oh thank goodness you’re home!” She pulls away and studies me. “You look exhausted.”

“I’ve been driving for sixteen hours.”

“Come in and get some rest!” She pulls me inside quickly.

The smell of vanilla overtakes me when I enter the living room and I see the picture perfect home is still finely detailed in expensive vases and junk that’s completely useless. I walk to my room down the hall and toss my bags on the floor before collapsing onto the small bed.

My room hasn’t changed since I moved out two years ago. I moved out as soon as I turned eighteen. The day after my birthday I packed up everything and told them I was heading for the beach. I had nowhere to go, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting out of this small town with all these close minded people. When I arrived at Cali, I spent two nights in my car and then I met Tony at the skate park. He hit on me several times before asking me to go to a party with him. I agreed and then that night he asked if he could take me home and I told him I didn’t have a home. So, I crashed at his place for a few weeks. Surprisingly, we never hooked up. Once he got to know me he said I was good best friend. I met Jake three weeks after that and then he realized how close Jake and I were, so we just became a package deal. They both helped me find a job and the house I live in. To be honest, I rarely thought about this place and I never wanted to return, but I guess I can’t just leave my family behind.