Letters to the Star Whisperer

-71-

He stomped the ground, kick the rocks, and growled to the sky. He didn't know what else he could have done, so he just started walking. He walked up the hill, hoping to see if Joy was home.

But her car wasn't in the driveway. He didn't want to walk to town, but he didn't want to go back to that house. Not with her throwing dishes at him once again.

He pulled out his cell phone and without thinking, he called Jenny's number. It rang for what had seemed like forever. He got an answer this time. "Hello?" the voice said.

"Jenny?"

"Ethan?" she asked, confused.

He gave a slight smile. "Hi, I was just calling. .. because you never called back."

There was a long silences. "Why are you calling me?"

He was now confused. He knew it was a bad idea. "I just want to be honest, and be blunt. I have no idea what we are and I want to clear up where this is going."

"Ethan. .. you are the one that clearly showed how you felt."

He wrinkled his nose. "What are you talking about? I didn't pick the place, I had no idea it was a fetish club, I really didn't. I'm not into that stuff-"

"Fetish club!" she seemed alarmed. "That what that place was? Yeah, thought it was a little odd."

"Wait, you didn't leave because of that?"

"Ethan, I didn't know it was a fetish club. .. please for the love of God, I am will aware that wasn't your idea for the date."

"No, it was that Edmund guy. He was a really bad guy."

"Yeah, I can see that more than I can see you being there," Jenny laughed. "He looked like a weirdo." They both were giving a little laugh and it had felt so good to have that soreness in your ribs. He ended up telling her about the rest of that night, how he punched Edmund and they made some friends and went out for waffles. "Sounds exciting Ethan. Glad you punched him."

"Yeah, he also got beat up and was in the hospital.. . not by me, but I was ok with it."

"I would be too!"

"Yeah, it was an exciting night, I guess."

Jenny gave a laugh, but her tone grew flat. "But on a serious note, Ethan. I didn't leave because it was a fetish club."

"Ok," he said. "Can I ask why you left?"

"To be honest, it was the way you looked at Aspen."

He gave a laugh to his surprise. "I told you we are just roommates."

There was a long sigh. "Ethan, I really like you. I really do, and you may just think you two are roommates, but that look. .. I'm sorry Ethan. I don't know your status with Aspen, but I know that you two like each other. I can tell she cares about you a lot and even if you don't know it, but you really care about her, and I didn't want to be in the way of that. I'm sorry I just left like that. I think have explained myself."

He thought about it, nodding then realizing she couldn't see his face. "I like you Jenny."

"I like you too Ethan." There was doubt in both their voices. They both knew in the bottom of their hearts, it was never going anywhere. "But I know that you like Aspen more. .. I've seen that look before. Even if you guys don't know it, you love each other."

There was a long pause. "I guess. .. I just didn't really think about it. It's weird. .. but I don't know. Do you think she really likes me? Like from a girl's point of view?"