Only One

Chapter Twenty-One

[edited]
By the time the fireworks were over I was asleep. I felt someone shake my shoulder. It was Ashleigh."Time to go," she says.

"Alright just let me get up." I sit up and yawn. Then I grab my purse and get onto my feet. The first step I took made me take another step to the side due to the unbalanced ground. She starts to walk to where the rest of her family is waiting for me. Ryan was on his phone, Mrs. Brookes was watching Ashleigh and Parker had his arms folded across his chest with an annoyed look on his face. Then he looked at me. His eyes lit up, but I don't think he noticed. I don't know why I did either because I was mad at him. How could someone just say that? And to your face? I scowled and stood next to Mrs. Brookes.

"Were we that boring?" She asks with a smile plastered on her face. I tried my best not to snap.

"No. I'm just really tired. I have a lot going on." I put a fake smile on my face. Half was true and half was not. I wasn't tired. Not really. I don't know why I fell asleep, but I do have a lot going on.

"Well we are always here if you need anything." She pats my shoulder and turns around. I let the smile fade and start to walk. I let the others to ahead of me, so I was in the back of the small pack. My head was down leaving me to stare at the feet moving in front of me and the uninteresting sidewalk. That's when I saw another pair or feet fall in-step with mine out of the corner of my eye. I look up and find Parker. What is his deal? First he practically yells at me and now he is walking with me? Boys, this one especially. I tell you they make no sense.

"Is there something you need?" I ask looking ahead.

"You looked lonely." He shrugs his shoulders.

"That's not why you're walking with me," I state plainly.

"Maybe it isn't and maybe it is," he says with a slight mysterious grin.

"I'm telling you it's not. Because after someone yells at someone, that someone who yelled normally doesn't walk next to the someone they yelled at," I explained best as I could.

"Okay fine then. I guess I won't apologize then," he was silent after words.

"You don't need to apologize for something that's true," I say quietly. He stopped walking which made me stop too.

"What was that?" He looks at me.

"You heard me Parker. Don't be a smartass. No one likes that. You right. That's what I said." I rub my arm and look down.

"How am I right?" He raises his eyebrows at me.

That is when I lost it. I broke. Everything came spilling out without my control. I didn't care if I hurt him, or pissed him off. I was pissed too. "Because I don't open up to people. Not even my mom, but why should I when she never was there for me? All she did was lock herself in her room and leave me to do everything! Let's not forget the factor that I don't trust anyone, Especially not you. And you know what? Your right. I don't trust you. But why should I right? And even if I do lock everything inside it's none of your business. I'll live my life the way I want to. It isn't up to you or anyone else. And if you do have a problem, get over it because it's my life and I will do whatever the hell I want with it."

He was shocked. His mouth was open a little bit. I pushed past him and made my way back to the Brookes' car. Mrs. Brookes was standing outside of her door. "Do you want the front dear?" I only nodded my head up and down. She bent down and said somehing I couldn't hear. Then I saw Ashleigh come out of the passanger side and right into the back. I climbed into the front and buckled my seatbelt right away. I heard another click of a seatbelt. I looked back and saw Parker. I scowled and turned back around.

For the first few moments of the ride no one spoke. You could almost feel the tention between Parker and I. I dreaded it. It was horrible. I felt bad, but I was too pissed to care. The radio was playing "Rude" by Magic! I quietly hummed along while looking out the window. I wanted to go home more than anything. But just when I thought we were going home, more wonderful news filled my eyes.

"Do you guys want to go for icecream?" Mrs. Brookes asked.

"Sure," Ryan said.

"Yes!" Ashleigh cheered.

"Whatever," Parker answered.

"Jenny do you want to? If you don't I can take you home," Mrs. Brookes tells me.

"No that's okay. I'll go," I smile at her. I honestly didn't want to go. But I was going to be nice since they invited me and I didn't want to bring anyone down.

"Great. We should be there soon," she says cheerfully. Geez, this night couldn't be any longer could it?