The Choices We Make

Chpt. 7: Banshees on PMS

Bright light streams in through my bedroom window, disturbing my sleep. Ow. It feels like an anger management patient decided to use my head as a stress ball. Why was the music so freaking loud last night?

The minute I'd given up on finding my shades last night, I trudged home alone. There was no way I was going back to that bonfire and dealing with more of Jackson. When I think about it now, I guess I should've told Grace and Jordan that I was leaving the party.

I roll out if bed and check my phone.

Two missed calls: Aaron

Crap. I forgot that Aaron said he was going to call me last night. Oh well. I was dead tired and there was no way I would have been able to carry out a conversation with him, let alone anyone. I was too pissed to talk last night. He must have called while I was at the party. I'll have to call him back later today.

I rub my eyes and make my way downstairs. Jordan is seated on the living room couch with a bowl of cereal in her hands.

"Oh hey." She says when she sees me. "What happened to you last night? Why'd you ditch us?"I shrug and lean on the back of the couch.

"I was tired." I say. It wasn't a lie. Jordan squints at me. "What?" I ask.

"My best friend senses are tingling. I have a strong feeling that that wasn't the reason you left early." Jordan says.

"Early?? It was almost two in the morning! Excuse me for wanting the ability to function today." I tell her. She rolls her eyes.

" Liar."

"I'm telling the truth."

"No you're not, Alex."

"Yes I am."

"It was 'cause of Jackson, wasn't it?"

"How'd you even know that?" I ask. She taps her head.

"I already told you. Best Friend senses." She explains with a straight face. I roll my eyes, causing her to laugh. "I knew because after you and Jackson ran off together-"

I cringe. "Don't say that. It sounds weird." I tell her with a look of disgust. The thought of me 'running off' with someone as vile and putrid as Jackson makes me want to puke out my own organs.

"... After you and Jackson left, he came back alone, and when I saw you walking home I had a feeling he had something to do with it."

"Stalker." I respond.

"Hey! It's my job to stalk my friends!" She says. I smile. "But seriously, you should of told me or Grace you were leaving. We could've thought something terrible happened to you." She says. I groan.

"Yeah, but you guys didn't." I say. She gives me a look. "...I get what you mean, though. I will next time." I give in. She nods.

"So what even happened?" She asks as she sets her bowl down on the table. I groan again.

"Blaah. Lets just say that if I never see that queef again it'll be too soon." I say as I slouch over the couch arm. It pisses me off just thinking about him. Jordan cracks up.

"I don't know," Jordan says with a small smile. "They're not that terrible. At least everyone other then Luke, and even he got less irritating after a while."

"I know. I mean, everyone else seems okay, I just don't like Jackson. At all." I say. I walk over to the kitchen cabinet and bring down a box of Lucky Charms.

"You just have to get to know him." Jordan responds. I scoff.

"You're probably right. I mean after all, you have known him for like- ever. I only just met him last night... Oh wait, you just met him last night too." I say sarcastically as I dig through the box for marshmallows. Why do people even buy Lucky Charms anyway? It's not like anyone actually wants to eat the little oat thingies.