Anger Issues

seventeen

Jessica

At school the next day, everybody was buzzing about the party. I couldn't remember a single thing, but with everyone talking about it, I knew one thing for sure:

It was fucking amazing.

"You got hella lit," Kayla appeared beside me. "Glad someone remembers it," I sighed.

"I wouldn't have, but I was my ride," she shrugged. I smiled and spoke in a proud voice. "Aww look at you, being responsible and shit."

"I hope you were," she eyed me suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

She came closer, speaking quietly. "I think I'm one of very few people who were able to see you and Austin's drunk asses go upstairs," she smirked.

"I'd ask if you were responsible, but I have a feeling you wouldn't know."

Brrriiing

I turned my attention to the teacher, but my own thoughts filled my head. Were we careful?

As the day continued, the same thing was on my mind. It drove me crazy. What if we weren't careful? What if-

"Jess!"

I turned my head to Austin. Kayla and him looked at me suspiciously, while the others continued to converse.

"Are you okay?" Austin asked. "What? Yeah," I nodded.

Kayla looked at me suspiciously. "I need to use the bathroom. Jess, come with?"

I looked at her curiously but she motioned for me to go.

I followed her out of study hall and into the bathroom. She checked beneath each stall door to make sure nobody was in, before speaking.

"What is up with you?" She asked. "Nothing," I shrugged.

"Ever since I told you about the party, you were off.. Jess.. did something happen?"

I looked down as my eyes grew teary.
"Kay I.. I don't know if we were careful."

Austin

The bell rang before Jess and Kayla returned. I knew something was up, she wouldn't tell me though.

As I was putting books into my bag from my locker, Jess appeared beside me, at hers.

"Jess," I put my hand on her arm, turning her to me. "Babe, what's wrong?" I noticed her red eyes.

"Austin I need you to come over," she quietly said, looking back at her books. "O-okay."

As she shut her locker, I held her hand in mine, walking to the exit of the school.

I turned to her, ready to speak, but to see her with her phone pressed against her ear.

"Is anyone home?.. no.. okay.. yeah.. bye."

"Jess what's going on?" I asked. "Please, just wait until we're home."

I was running out of patience. We walked to school today, and that didn't help at all.

After minutes of painful silence, we arrived at her doorstep. Before anything happened, she opened the back door as Nite ran outside.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, as we got to the kitchen.

"Jess, what the hell is going on?" I ignored her question.

She handed me a bottle of water but I simply set it down, not dealing with it.

She was about to turn back to the fridge, but I grabbed a light hold of her arm and kept her in place.

"Tell me what's happening," I gently said.

She looked up at me with teary eyes, again.

Her arms slipped out of my grip as she wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

"Jess you're scaring me.."

"Austin the night of your party.." she sat down on a chair by the kitchen island. I sat down beside her, facing her.

"Do you remember anything at all from that night?" She asked. "Specifically when we went upstairs.."

I looked at her confused. "Jess what do-"

"Were we careful?"

I stopped speaking immediately. I didn't know how to answer this, because I didn't know myself.

"I.." I trailed off. I truly had no memory of that night.

"We were," I lied.

Partially.

I technically wasn't lying if I didn't know the truth.

"How are you sure?" She asked.

I paused again, at a loss of words. She put her hands over her face, letting out soft sobs.

"Because in the morning I remember getting ready and... seeing it in the trash."

The words flew out of my mouth before I could even think of what to say.

She looked at me with red eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her nose was red.

"Are you sure, Austin?"

I nodded. "Positive."

I stood up and pulled her into a hug, allowing her to rest her head on my chest.

"Thank you," she softly said. I kissed the top her head.

"I love you," she added. "I love you too, babe."

We remained in that position until she calmed down. Within the next hour or so, she was returning to her usual self.

Yeah I lied, but it got her mind off of it. She acted normal again, so in reality, nothing was wrong.

Right?