Her Wish

Her Wish [Chapter 4]

“Jennie Lockette. Class 3-11. Seventeen years old. Birthday is October 3, 1988. Friends with Elie Stronghold. No siblings. Lives with her father.”

Danny had returned home the day before with thoughts of learning more of Jennie on his mind. Now whilst listening to his best friend reciting discovered facts on her, a certain line struck his mind, reminding him of the pleas the girl had made the night before as well.

“And her mother?” he wanted to know.

His friend avoided his gaze, “No one knows.”

Though he desperately wanted to know more, Danny didn’t press the subject any further. He’d have to find that out for himself.

“That’ll do,” he said, halting in front of his own classroom with the sign “3-11” hanging above the doorway, “Thanks Alex. I’ll see you later.”

Just as Danny opened the door and stepped foot inside, Alex’s words halted him, causing him to stall for just a few more seconds. His words really shouldn’t have been the cause of stall in his gait but they were and both Danny and Alex knew.

“Do you like her?”

A nonchalant expression on his face, Danny simply raised an eyebrow and turned his head back to face his friend, “Don’t be ridiculous. I hardly know her.”

-

As soon as lunch began, students at once began shuffling out of from behind their desks and gathering in groups with friends to eat lunch together. Jennie was one of the few who didn’t bother to move, taking their time while placing books away and staying in place.

“Hurry up, Jennie! Let’s eat outside.”

She turned to see a friend and classmate, Hanna Stradferd, waiting impatiently just a few desks away. Smiling softly, Jennie quickly shoved the remaining books into her desk and fell into footstep with her friend, “What’s up?”

“Elie invited us all to hang out with some of the guys after school,” Hanna explained with an excited grin.

Jennie was surprised and immediately, wheels began turning in her mind, searching for any possible reason as to their friend’s sudden generosity.

“Really? I wonder why; she never really liked to share.”

Hanna nudged her, a small pout on her face, “Yah! Don’t ruin things like that. Just accept it for what it is and be glad that we can come.”

She nodded in response and smiled guiltily, “I don’t think I’ll go though. I should go home and do some homework.”

Almost at once, Hanna began expressing her discontent with Jennie’s alterations in their plans, “You can’t do that! Don’t be a nerd and just come! Who else will gag with me as we watch Elie repeatedly attach herself to Danny?!”

Chuckling softly, Jennie just shook her head and said nothing more, hoping that her friend wouldn’t pressure her any further.

“Oh George will be there.”

Hanna had hit the spot.

“Well I guess I can make some time…”

-

“Elie!” George exclaimed in excitement, “Look at those stuffed animals over there. Would you like me to win you one?”

Looking in the direction where George was pointing, Elie’s eyes immediately lit up, “Ohh, those are cute. Danny, can you get me one?”

“Get yourself one,” he replied irritably, shaking Elie’s arm off his own.

Jennie watched with saddened eyes as this all took place. She shouldn’t have been upset, as this was how the three had always lived their lives, yet each time she saw the crestfallen looks of Danny after being repeatedly rejected by Elie, Jennie couldn’t help but to feel disappointed.