Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 69: Hayden

Friday, 10:22 A.M. EST

Waking up today wasn’t like waking up the past couple of days. I guess of the novelty of actually having revived Jena has worn off already.

That sucks.

“Good morning,” I hear Ren say from across the room as soon as I open my eyes.

Sheesh. It’s like she was just waiting for me to open my eyes!

“Morning,” I say with sleep in my voice. My eyes to flutter shut again as the morning light burns them.

That joint last night had me knocked out! And Ryan wasn’t lying about the whole pregnancy symptom relief! I haven’t woken up feeling like I could eat something in forever!

“Did you sleep well?” Ren asks after a few moments, pulling me from the doze I allowed myself to fall back into.

She asks in a way that makes my stomach feel weird, but I chalk it up to the defenses I’ve had up with her since the start.

“I did,” I say with confidence. It isn’t a lie, but I can’t help myself from wondering if that’s the real reason she’s asking.

She nods her head, not bothering to look at me as she prepares her response.

“Oh,” she says after a second. “That’s interesting.”

Okay… something is definitely off.

I pull myself from my mattress and turn to her, though careful to keep it nonchalant. “I guess,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.

She still doesn’t face me. She sits there humming a tune I’m not familiar with.

What’s going on?

“How did you sleep?” I force myself to ask, trying to feel her out a little more before I let my head jump to any conclusions.

She shrugs her shoulders. “I had a nice nap yesterday,” she answers, though with something I can’t quite grasp behind it. “I didn’t sleep well last night though… they changed my meds a few days ago. The new ones don’t work.” 

Oh, does she know about my nightly breaks now? Does she think she finally has something to hold over my head?

“That sucks,” I say, acting as if I’m still clueless.

Maybe she’s just having an off day. I mean, I was sure she was asleep when I left with Ryan last night, and when I got back. 

Ren nods her head, dropping what looks like a lump of clay down on the nightstand beside her bed. She jumps off, slipping on shoes and a cardigan before starting to head toward the door.

“Well!” she says as she stops in the doorway, turning back to glare at me. Her face is turned up in her infamous smile; It brings the weird feeling back to my stomach. “I’m off to chat with Reyborn before group and NA later!” 

I’m not sure what she expects me to say. I’m a little confused right now I’m not going to lie.

She goes to walk out of the door, but turns back to lower her voice and lean toward where I still sit on my bed.

“Oh and say hi to Ryan for me!” She whispers with a wink. “He’s super cute… I didn’t know America’s sweetheart was such a… bad girl.”