It's Alright to be Together

Chapter 16

Hey. You free tonight?

Jenny was walking around in the kitchen. It was supposed to be girls night-a real one where you weren't moping around-and she decided to make dinner. You attempted to help her, but you were only shooed out of the room. Now you were sitting somberly on the couch, phone in hand, as you waited for her to finish. Glancing from the text back to her, a guilty feeling grew from the pit of your stomach.

You dearly wished you were free. Even after everything Jenny had done, you preferred to have sex with a man you weren't interested in than to hang with her for one night. It wasn't like you didn't want to have girl time: you just desired to have the void inside you filled or at least forgotten about for at least a moment.

Jenny's ringer went off. She gleefully answered it. How did she remain so happy despite whatever hell blew her way? You didn't know, but you certainly envied it.

Looking back at your phone, you tried to come up with a reply. Maybe get groceries or something for Jenny and take a really long time, you thought, trying to find a way to celebrate the best of both worlds. No, Jenny is smart. She'd figure it out. Biting back a sigh, you start typing a reply.

Smash! You jumped out of your skin as glass shattered across the kitchen floor. Several pieces hit you as shards went everywhere. Suddenly Jason seemed like a very insignificant though on your mind.

“Jenny!?! You okay?!?” You carefully get off the couch and slip back on your slippers before racing to her. Glass crunched under your feet and in seconds you were next to her.

Her face looked like she had been shattered like the cheap cup she'd been holding. Her blue eyes had lost their usual joy and showed shock and disbelief-the kind that exists when something is too horrible to believe. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the counter. You couldn't see her other hand, but assumed it was clutching the phone in a similar fashion.

“Are you sure?” Her voice, once full of cheerful yet sassy optimism, nearly trembled from the emotion coursing through her. Your arms wrapped around her, embracing her in comfort, but she remained as rigid as stone.

After a few moments, she asked in a quieter voice, “How long?” Another bit of silence. You could see tears slowly slide down her cheeks. “Oh.” It seemed she couldn't say anything else. You desperately wanted to know what was going on but you knew better than to ask right then.

“Okay.” The only thing you could hear was the quiet unintelligible murmurs from the phone. “Yeah, I-I'll be there by next week.” Her voice cracked under the strain. Tears rolled down her cheeks faster as her body started to shake.

She hung up the phone and set it on the counter before embracing you tightly. You struggled to breath but didn't push her away as she cried on your shoulder. Slowly you rubbed her back to calm her and whispered comforting this to her. Just like she had been doing to you not that long before.

Your phone buzzed and you glance over her shoulder to look at the screen-you hadn't even realized you were still holding it till it vibrated. Jason sent another text. You quickly muted your phone and set it next to Jenny's before hugging her again. And for awhile you just stood there.

~*~

“I'm sorry,” she repeated for the umpteenth time. Why was she apologizing for crying? You had no idea. You were far more of a wreck when you came to her after Zane.

“It's really fine. I'm just worried about what's wrong. You okay?” You had both moved to the couch where you now sat comforting her.

“Not really. That was my Dad's lawyer.” She paused, trying to control herself more as you reflected what she'd told you about her father. From your recollection, he was a wealthy man, gained from inheritance but him and Jenny had been enstrage when her parents divorced in her early teens. Jenny found him sleeping with another, younger, woman. Because of that, Jenny moved to the other side of the nation to avoid him and his money he tried to buy her back with. In short, she hated him.

“He's going to die.” Jenny's voice, almost a whisper, shook with the emotion of her words. “He has cancer. Doctors say he has a few weeks at best.”

“Oh.” you said, not entirely sure how to respond.

“I know I said I hate him and I haven't spoken to him in so many years but he's still my Dad. I guess under all my anger and hate I still cared and now he's going to-” she choked, sobbing again. “I'm sorry. I'm such a mess.”

“You should go. Try to make amends with him. I can take care of things here.” You methodically rub her back, attempting to soothe her convulsing sobs.

She nodded, “I plan on flying out tomorrow morning.” Her fingers tangled in her blonde hair, pulling on it. “I need to tell Zoey that I can't work. It's holiday season; she'll need all hands on deck. Maybe I should just quit but-”

“Jenny,” you cut her off. “Don't worry about it. I am sure Zoey will give you all the time off you need. She knows you wouldn't leave suddenly if it wasn't an emergency. I'll talk to her myself. It won't be an issue.” You smiled at her, pushing some hair behind her ear to see her face. She gave a sad smile back.

“Thank you Y/n, but I really don't want to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble, really.”

“I guess, I just feel I should tell her in person. Go to her house tonight or something-I owe her that. I don't want to put you in that position.”

You bit your lip. You knew what going to Zoey's meant. “You should sleep. I can go talk to her.” Jenny was about to argue but you cut her off. “I'll be fine, I promise. Please, let me do this for you. You've helped me so much already.”

Jenny paused, reading your face only to find that you were set in your decision. “Thanks.” she sighed as she caved.

You smiled at your victory. “Of course. Now you should sleep. Worry about packing tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Jenny agreed but didn't move. Getting up, you start to change into something a little more formal before visiting Zoey. It didn't take long since you weren't very particular about it; you just felt it required more than a t-shirt and sweatpants. After you grabbed your jacket, you were ready to go.

Except Jenny was still on the couch.

“Jenny?” you asked, approaching her, “Is there something else you want to talk about?”

She didn't look at you. “It's just… He's leaving me everything. I guess since I'm his only child but…” She wiped her tears away before they fell. “I don't want his money. If it hadn't been for his money, our family would have never split apart. I don't want to be corrupted by that or have other people use me just to get it. That's why I ran away. I… just can't believe he found me. That he actually looked.”

You hugged her to qualm all her thoughts. “You're too kind to get corrupted like that. You already know the consequences of it too so I know you'll never let it happen. As for people using you, that's just a danger of being human. No matter how much you have, others will always desire it-whether it's your body, a lover, an heirloom, or riches. You just have to be wary.” Pulling away, you smiled into her orbs of blue. “You'll be fine. Just sleep. You've been through a lot in the past few hours.”

Jenny nodded, hugging you again. “Thank you so much Y/n.” You nodded and saw her to bed before you left. Time to face your fears.

(So Y/n is headed off to Zoey's (& Zane's) place. How do y'all think that is going to turn out? I'd love to hear your thoughts :3
-Dirty)