Jasmin

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

"Oh I love December. The Christmas holidays, no school. Maybe go to the mountains skiing. What are your plans for the holidays Jaz?" Me and Sally don't see each other as much as we used to. Things between us have settled down as we both struggle with wanting to hang out with our guys and friends, and school. Plus I am working three days a week, sometimes four, much more than I was at the old restaurant when I usually only had two shifts a week. She has been spending most of her weekends with Justin and his friends. This is our first sleepover for weeks, and only two more weeks of school until vacation. "You thinking of disappearing out of town for all the holidays, spending some time with Marcus?" Sally tries for an 'oh la la' tone, I roll my eyes at her.

"You watch those eyebrows, I told you we are taking it slow, get your mind out of the gutter." I have to say I cant keep my face blank though. I try to keep the blush down and tilt my head so she cant see.

"Every Tuesday you stay with him all night, no one will believe you, they all think your doing it." She has said this before, like if they all think it then I should do it or something. I just don't really understand Sally and her ideas sometimes.

I shake my head. "I only need you to believe me, I don't lie to you, your my BFF. And I asked Marleen for extra shifts at the diner." I haven't heard back yet. Though I did hear Rosa ask Marleen about a niece coming again for the break. I hope to get some extra funds on the break to hold me through the winter. December is good but January and February always slow down for the food bank and mission, I try not to go too often as so many others need the help then too.

"You're in grade 10, I cant believe you have a job." Thank goodness Josh never told his sister about the whole Roxy thing. I was so excited about a getting a job as Jasmin, I could tell Sally and not lie about where I was, what I was doing. Whenever I had to do stuff before or go to work I would just say I had to run or something that was inane and never tell her where I was going. Now my life is getting easier, less fuss. I can just be myself. Its so open. I love it. I knew Sally wouldn't understand why I needed a job, she still gets money from her parents for anything she needs. But she doesn't make a big fuss about it, just didn't understand why I was so happy. I think she tried to be happy for me and that was enough.

"I like my job. I get my own money to do things." I try to think like Sally and her friends, they love freedom, so I have been sticking to that angle.

"Great you can come this weekend to the movies with us. The gang is all going. Then we are going to a party at Erica's after. You miss all the parties, come on you are young, start acting like it. Enjoy life. All you seem to do is homework and work lately."

Sally is practically bouncing on her bed. I know she wants me to hang out with all her new gang, and I get that she is confused as to why I don't want to. I love hanging out with Sally, but she really was the only one to be nice to me for years. I don't care about the rest of them and I am not mad that she wants to be friends with people who were not always so nice to us. Why make an effort to hang out with people that I don't care about. I guess it's snobby of me, and I have heard that other people think I am a big snob, I just have no time for others that didn't have time for me. I know she wouldn't understand though.

"Did you finish your essay yet for Mrs. Sloan?" I ask.

"Don't change the subject." Her bouncing ended quite abruptly with my question, she narrows her eyes at me. But Sally is easy to get off topic.

"I want to pass all my classes, whats gotten into you this year. You don't even seem to be trying in your math class, and you and Ms Keily got into a big tiff the other day when you were rude to her. Whats up with you and parties and stuff." I have noticed how she has been acting. Sally was never big on working hard for her school work, she would study and stuff but lately its getting a bit much. She is smart, a bit lazy, and more interested in friends than trying to get good grades.