Beneath the Surface|COMPLETED

ten|you're sort of pretty

Friday, November 9th, 2018

2:46 PM

It's been about a week since the Halloween party. True to his word, Jordan did indeed go back to University and patched things over with his parents. Whether that last part was true or not, that's what Emery told me and I don't think she'd lie about that. Jordan and I haven't spoken since he left. The party was unexpected and not what I needed, but he doesn't seem to remember much of it. He texted me a few times, but I've just ignored them.

To say I'm beyond happy that it's Friday is an understatement. Thankfully, Xavier is already waiting at the car when I reach it.

"Amara!"

I stop putting my things in the back and look to see Adam jogging towards me.

"Hi." I smile.

"Are you doing anything tonight?"

"Yeah, I am. My sister's play is tonight. Sorry."

"No worries, I'll catch you later." He smiles and leaves.

6:34 PM

"I'll never forget you guys." Rosie sobs. Well, fake sobs. "Thank you for helping me on this journey."

The kids do a group hug, the lights dim, and the crowd cheers. The lights go up and they bow with huge smiles on their faces.

"Good job! You did amazing Rosie!" I hug her when she comes down.

"Thanks Amara!"

"Mi hija, mi estrella. Fue excelente." Papá tells her, also giving her hug followed by mamá.

I nudge Xavier.

"What?"

"Don't you have something to say to Rosie?"

She looks at him expectantly.

"You did good, kid."

We all roll our eyes at him.

"Where would you like to celebrate." Papá asks.

"Where else? Chick-Fil-A!" Rosie beams.

"Then let's get going."

"Funny seeing you here."

Turning to see who it is, I tell my family that I'll meet up with them.

"Hey Adam. What're you doing here?"

"Oh, my little brother was in the play."

"I didn't know that. Why didn't you tell me you'd be here earlier?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well, I wish I would've known since now I have to go."

He opens his mouth to respond when a voice cuts in.

"Come on Adam! Stop flirting." A boy who I assume is Adam's younger brother comes up to him.

"Chill, Jack. I was coming."

"Whatever. Who're you?" Jack looks up at me.

"I'm Amara."

"You're sort of pretty, so I'll give you a pass for delaying our journey to Burger King. Bye!" Jack says, tugging Adam away from me.

"I'll see you in class Amara." Adam waves as I laugh.

9:07 PM

Rosie's celebration went well and she went to bed with a huge smile on her face. Mamá y Papá were so proud. Acting's her thing, and of course she's more than good at it. Xavier's thing was soccer, but he's not into it anymore. Me? I don't really have a "thing". I wouldn't have time for one even if I wanted to.

I stop by Xavier's room on the way to mine and knock on his door.

"Come in."

"Hey." I say, coming inside.

"What do you want?"

"Just wondering how things are going between you and that girl Abigail."

"They're not."

"Why not?"

"They just aren't. She likes someone else and I'm dumb to think she'd ever like me." Xavier expresses.

"Xavier, don't say that. You may be my little brother, but you're not bad. Of course she'd go for you. You're dumb not to shoot your shot."

"And you're giving me relationship advice because..."

"Because I'm your big sister, and can see things and think about things in a different perspective as you."

He just shrugs and I leave as I see that he's not in the mood.

Walking into my room, I'm startled by the outline of someone sitting on my bed. I turn on the lights and see that it's Jordan.

"Hi." He says timidly.

"Uh, hey..." I say confused. "What are you doing here? How'd you get in?"

"Your mom let me in a few seconds ago. I saw that you were talking to Xavier and didn't want to interrupt. As for what I'm doing here...I came to apologize."

"For what?" I ask even though I know the answer.

"For the party. It was out of line."

"It's fine, Jordan. Really, don't worry about it."

"Amara. Stop it. It wasn't okay. This is your house. You were kind enough to let me stay and what I did was a dick move."

I stay quiet, not knowing if he's done or not.

"Not to mention...I was an idiot, and a drunk one at that. I...I didn't notice it at the time but over the past week or so, I think I put the pieces in place."

"About what?"

He closes his eyes for a moment before continuing. "I'm so sorry Mar. I'm a complete idiot. I - I realized that the guy that I had "congratulated" you on sleeping with was the same guy who came by the other day with the money. Amara. What's going on? Do you - do you sleep with him for money?" Jordan asks incredulously. 

I don't respond. Instead, I walk over to my closer to get my pajamas and start undressing. I know Jordan will look away, and when I glance over at him, I see that he is. Once I'm done, I turn off the light before going to sit next to him on my bed and turning on my lamp.

"No, Jor. That's not what I'm doing." I reply calmly.

"Really? Then what is it? Please, enlighten me."

I close my eyes momentarily and take a deep breath. "He's from Lakeview. I let him borrow some money a few times and he was just paying me back that day that you were here. At the Halloween party...it was a spur of the moment thing. I promise. You don't need to feel bad about anything." I explain.

Jordan looks at me skeptically before nodding and noting that he should be going home.

I walk him to the door and he turns to me.

"What?" 

He just looks me in the eye.

Out of nowhere, he hugs me. It's what I imagine a big brother hug would feel like. I hug him back.

"I really am sorry Mar. Even if you say I shouldn't be." Jordan kisses my forehead and goes home.