Pay the Price

Chapter Seven: Getting Friendly

White.

That's all I could see. My ceiling was blank, but my mind was whirling with thoughts; I'm moving, Jack doesn't even like me, and I'm going to miss regionals. Nothing is fair. Nothing.

"Jennifer!" I heard Mom call me up from the living room.

I furrowed my eyebrows when I saw both of my parents at the door with boots and a sweater on. "Where are you going?" I asked, watching Mack stuff himself with popcorn.

"We're going across the street to chat with a friend, we'll be home in a bit. I'll call you to come over, I want you to meet them." Clyde answered, heading out the door.

Before Leslie disappeared she added, "there's a hamburger left on the counter."

It was silent for a few seconds before I decided to go back down to my bedroom. "Mack, don't be too loud, I'm going to bed soon."

He just snorted a reply and I headed off to bed.

-

A loud ringing from my dresser woke me about a half hour later. I picked up the phone. "Hello?" I yawned.

"Jenn?"

"Oh," I choked, "hey Dad. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'll be over in five minutes." I said, flipping off my covers and hurrying upstairs.

Dad huffed. "You fell asleep, didn't you? Anyway, the address is 272." He hung up.

I stopped before going out the door. For some reason, that number sounded familiar. I glanced down the street to 272 and sighed. How could I have forgotten? It was Tony's house.

Since when were my parents friends with Tony's dad? From what I remember hearing, Tony only had his dad and an older brother.

I knocked on the door and waited, cold, outside. It was getting darker and a breeze had begun to blow.

The door began to open. "Hello-"

"Hi." I said to Tony. We stood there in silence. "I believe my parents are over."

Tony smiled. "Those are yours? Well, they are very nice, I'm surprised they like my dad." He spun around and I assumed it wasn't a topic he wanted to talk about.

I stepped inside to hear the end of my Dad's story about how Mack had gotten his head stuck in a tree fort we used to have. I rolled my eyes, it was starting to get old. My mom was laughing and Tony's dad seemed to be enjoying it, too.

I glanced around the house, it was really nice. The walls were almost a beige- gold colour with white trim and border. There were fancy lights hanging from the ceiling in the hall all the way to the dinning room where the adults were.

"Stan, how's work?" I could hear my mom ask.

I winced. How could I not think they were going to talk about work?! If my parents mention anything about it Tony will know I lied about Sport Tech!

"So, Dad, how do you know Mr. Anderson?" I butted in the conversation so the work talk would be forgotten.

Clyde hesitated. "Well, I think we starting talking when Gavin and Stan's son Stuart became friends."

I nodded, remembering something about a Stuart my brother used to hang out with. I didn't realize he was Tony's brother. Stuart had dirty blonde hair and tan skinned. He was fairly tall and didn't talk to me much.

Tony tapped me. "Wanna go to the kitchen?"

I hesitated, not wanting to leave my parents to say something to give away that I lied. Then I heard dad get onto the topic of Gavin and I knew that would last long enough.

"I never knew our parents were friends?" I said, slipping into the kitchen. Tony just shrugged. "It seems like they're pretty close."

Tony grabbed a beer from the fridge. He gulped some and offered me a sip. I quickly declined and he chuckled. "You don't know it, but your parents come over here quite a. It. Of course, I'm not usually home, but when I get back I see them leave."

Wow. That kind of surprised me. They never told me they came here all of the time.

"Jennifer, Honey!" Mom called from the dinning room. I hurried out. "We want you to meet Stan. Stan, this is my daughter Jenn." We shook hands and I whispered to Mom.

"Can I go home now?"

She nodded. "Thank you for introducing yourself, we should be home in a bit."

I waved a slight good bye to Tony and headed back home.

-

I hurried toward the school, since I was late. It turns out my alarm clock's broken and Karen had waited for me outside my house this morning but I didn't come so she bought I wasn't home. Now, I was rushed and I hated it.

Mme. Cormier greeted me harshly as I slipped quietly into my seat. Tony smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he would love my getting in trouble.

Mme. had handed out a sheet. There were ten questions on it and we had to answer them and put it in essay form. The topic was family. Oh great, would I have to lie to my teacher, too, about my dad so people wouldn't find out about it.

I started with the first question; Who is in your family?

-

Chemistry passed and so did lunch. I had sat with Zoya and Karen. I could see Jack trying to make eye contact with me. Zoya didn't notice me stabbing my macaroni extra hard today.

When I left the cafeteria a hand grabbed my wrist. "Are you avoiding me?" Jack asked, turning me to face him.

"What, no? I'm just a bit off from being late this morning." I spun and fled. I didn't want Jack to see me crying.

-

I decided to change for cheer practice early, so I grabbed my uniform and headed to the change room. I could hear something from inside.

I slowly opened the door and hid behind one of the lockers. It was Blair and Jack making out by one of the lockers. They were together, I knew it! Jack is just pretending not to be, with me so he can get some of my dad's money.

I decided to play dumb. "Jack? Was that you, are you in here?" I asked. Blair had dashed off and Jack came from around the corner.

"Hey Jenn, I was just- filling up the water bottles." He came towards me.

I tried to look all happy to be with him. "You know, we're here alone."

He smirked as I put my lips to his. It probably wasn't as good as the one(s) the other night, because this one meant nothing to me. I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face.

"What was that for?" He yowled in pain.

"Jack," I began. "I know you were just going out with me to get money, and I know you and Blair are dating, and guess what, I know Blair is hiding behind that trash can!"

Before slamming the door, I shouted. "And I was avoiding you!"

I stormed out and fled outside to where Siena was telling everyone to get changed. I hurried to Siena; because there was something I needed to tell her. It was only fair.

"Siena, I need to tell you something." I gulped. "I'm moving, and I'm going to be gone before regionals. But, I can still help and-"

"You're off." She stated calmly.

"What?" I gaped. "You can't-"

"You're off the team!" She snapped now. "If you're not going to be here you can't be on the squad. We'll have enough time to find someone to replace you."

I couldn't believe it. Siena was just glad that I was out of her way.

.....

So guys, I hope that was okay. It wasn't too exciting but it was still a chapter. I'm sorry I haven't been updating, but for a bit my updating thing wasn't working so I stopped. Now I'm back and I hope you liked the chapter!