Only One

Chapter Twenty-Two

[edited]
We stopped at the local icecream shop. There were a few faces I recognized from school, but other than that no one else was here. I didn't say anything until I ordered my icecream. I got one scoop of cookies and cream in a bowl. I didn't pay attention to what everyone else got. I was busy thinking about other things. Parker was confusing me. First he was being nice and defended me from Tyler. But then minutes later he basically yelled at me. Then when everything was over he came to apologize. That't not normal is it? Even if it was when he came to apologize I messed everything up and yelled at him. Why do I keep doing that?

I sat down at the edge of the booth we chose. Parker, Mrs. Brookes, and Ashleigh were on one said and Ryan was on the other side next to me. It wasn't only until then that I noticed Mr. Brookes wasn't with us.

"Mrs. Brookes if you don't mind me asking whre is Mr. Brookes?" I ask.

"He's on a business trip in Europe," she smiles and takes a bite from her icecream.

"Oh," I say. "That's far."

'Yes it is, but he is going to be back next week Tuesday. One week from now. I can't wait," she laughs.

"I bet," I smile and then take a bite of my own icecream even though I wasn't that hungry. I played with my icecream moving my spoon this way and that. I did that for a while staring at the wooden table.

"Jenny you hardly touched your icecream. Are you feeling alright?" Mrs. Brookes asks.

I look at Parker and smiled a malicious smile. "I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind at the moment."

"Like what?" Ashleigh asks.

"It's grown up stuff Ashleigh. I would tell you, but you wouldn't understand," I truthfully say. I meant it. I don't think she would understand mood swings and having your friends betray you. And the stress of getting a new apartment away from home. It was too much for a nine year old girl.

"Okay." She frowns and continues to eat her icecream. I took a few bites of my icecream and then pushed it away. I didn't want it. That's when I heard a voice in my ear. It belonged ot Ryan.

"Can I talk to you?" He asks.

"Sure," I say. I look aroun. "Let's go to that table over there," I say pointing to a table across the room.

"Jenny and I are going to go talk over there," Ryan announces pointing to the table I pointed at before. Mrs. Brookes nods her head. Ashleigh gives me a look of confusion. And Parker, I couldn't read him. It was like anger, confusion, and disappointment. I scooted out of the seat and walked over to the other table. Once Ryan and I were seated, he spoke.

"You're not starving yourself are you?" he whispers. I look at him and frown.
"No I'm not. Why?" I ask quietly. I don't know why we were talking quietly. It's not like Mrs. Brookes and them could hear us from way over there.

"Well only a year or two ago you tried to you know," he lowers his eyes like he did something wrong.

"No. That's not how things are anymore. I'm just not in the mood for icecream. I'm not hungry. Is that a crime?" I snap.

"Of course not. Why are you not in the mood for icecream? Icecream should be eaten no matter what kind of mood someone is in," he smiles at his own corny and lame joke.
"I'm not in the mood to laugh either Ryan," I snap.

"Geez. Did he mess up that bad?" he asks.

"Did who mess up that bad?" I tilt my head.

"Parker," he whispered it like it was obvious.

"Yes. I mean no." I sighed. "It's complicated okay? It wasn't just him, it was me too. I just have a lot of stuff going on right now." How many times do I have to repeat it?

"Parker alone can not be a lot of stuff going on," he scratches his neck.

"I have other stuff to deal with in my life besides your brother Ryan," I hiss. I was done with the conversatin. I didn't want to talk to anyone the rest of the night. Especially not about Parker. Not to him, not to anyone. I stood up and grabbed my purse.
"Where are you going?" he calls.

"Can a girl not use the bathroom?" I cry. Seriously why can't I do one simple thing without anyone asking questions about it? It's getting really annoying.