You Can't Keep Running

Chapter 8: Forgive But Don't Forget

 "Jackie, is this yours?" I heard Maria all the way from my room. 

I came downstairs, to the second floor where Maria was holding up a jacket to Jackie. "No, that's not mine. Just toss it out." 

Only after they had suggested throwing it away, had I realized that it was the hoodie Ryan had lent me. "That's mine!" I exclaimed as I snatched it from them. 

"I've never seen this before." Maria stared at me questioningly. "Did you just buy it?" 

"Oh, no. It's Ryan's." I saw the two of them exchange glances with devilish looks on their faces. "What?" I demanded.

"We didn't say anything." Jackie said nonchalantly.

"But your faces did." I pestered. 

"You're imagining things Karm. I think you spend too much time under the sun." Maria waved me off as she was about to turn and walk down the stairs. 

"He just lent it to me because I was sick." I tried to explain.

"It's okay. We understand. You're in high school. Things happen." Jackie followed Maria down the steps. "Look out for any dropped pants while you're cleaning, Maria."

"Nothing happened!" I stomped.

"Don't worry, we get it." Maria shrugged.

"I don't think you do!" I watched them as they walked into the kitchen laughing and whispering. "Otherwise you would know that nothing is going on!" I yelled, waiting for a reply.

Just when I thought I had won the last word, Jackie yelled back. "Calm down. We were teenagers once too!" 

"What the..." I muttered softly. I stomped down the staircase and marched right into the kitchen, hoodie in hand. "Listen up." 

"Oh, you're still on this topic? We've moved on darling." Jackie was grabbing a plate full of scrambled eggs and bread. 

"Just hear me out." I pleaded.

Maria stood at the counter cleaning up the stove, while Jackie had taken a seat across from me. "Go on." Maria spoke up.

"He only lent me this jacket because he thought it would make me get better faster." I looked at their faces but saw no expression of emotion.

"Did he think that because you're totally in love with him or because he's totally in love with you?" Jackie kept insisting.

"No!" I thought hard. "I mean, neither! He used to wear this when he felt under the weather and he said that it made him feel better." I looked down at the crumpled piece of clothing in both my hands. "We're just friends. Nothing more, alright?" I softened my voice, hoping they would believe me.

"Psh!" Came Jackie's reply. "My friends never did that for me when I was your age!" 

"Maybe, you were hanging out with the wrong friends then." I stuck my tongue out at her. 

Jackie shrugged finally letting go of the topic. "Maria made blueberry pancakes, go have some doll." Just then the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." She said getting up and pulling a chair out for me as she walked towards the door.

Maria came towards me as I sat down, carrying a plate of pancakes. "Thank you." I smiled and placed the hoodie on the chair beside me.

I heard Jackie shut the door and when I saw her enter the dining room, she was carrying a bouquet. "Who's that from?" Maria asked, flipping a pancake.

"Ryan." She seemed dazed, walking as she stared at the flowers, as if she were in a trance. 

I chocked on my bite of the pancake just as she said the name. "Why did Ryan send you flowers?" I asked in between my fits of coughing.