Forever and Always

Chapter 3

"Come on Jess," Ash leads me towards a door.

"Ash, I'm nervous, I know your friends don't like me," I plead with her.

"Who cares, Jess? You're my friend at that's all that matters." I look down at the ground.

"And...James will be there" Ash says, as though adding that small detail will make me feel better.

It does. I look down at the necklace he gave me last night. I can't help the smile that begins to spread on my face.

"Come on," Ash laughs pulling me into the house and towards the living room. I follow.

"Oh look who decided to show," Valerie laughs. She has always hated me.

"Chill Val, leave her alone." Liam scolds her. She playfully hits him in the arm. Liam has always been nice to me.

Liam turns to me, "I like your necklace, Jess."

Valerie frowns, obviously not pleased with the lack of attention on herself.

"Thanks, Liam," I smile, trying to ignore Valerie.

She comes up to me, and before I realize she pulls the necklace from my neck, reading the back of the pendant.

"' Forever and always?'" she mocks, "what kind of bullshit is this?" she laughs. The rest of the group laughs along with her.

"Please give it back to me," I worry that she already broke the clasp.

Valerie ignores me, continuing to mock me, "what kind of loser gave this to you?"

I am beyond angry, as I spit "MY boyfriend."

"Oh, yeah?" I hate that she finds my anger so humorous.

"I'm not lying!" I scream in defense. "Ja-"

My voice is cut off as James walks towards me and drops his cup, spilling the alcohol all over my top.

"What the hell, James?" I know it wasn't an accident.

He rolls his eyes and returns to the couch with Valerie, as Ash pulls me to the bathroom to change.

"What's Valerie's problem?!" I scream as I pull my shirt over my head. It's stained red. Great.

"She's just a bitch, Jess," Ash tries to help me wash my shirt, but it's stained.

"I'm going to run upstairs and get you something to change into, I'll be right back."

Moments later she returns with a replacement shirt. It's cropped. When I put it on, I notice it's very small and tight on me.

"I'm sorry, I know it's not your style, but it was all I could find."

I understand what Ash meant when I look in the mirror. I would never wear this, it's way too revealing, outlining and putting my curves on display.

"It's fine," if I were in my right state of mind, I would just put my stained shirt back on, but I am so angry that I could not care less. Ash leaves me to finish getting ready and returns to the room.

I walk back to the group, but James doesn't notice me before I see him.

Valerie is leaning on him, practically sitting in his lap, with his arm around her. Tears prick my eyes as I look at the chain around her neck. My necklace. James and Valerie are laughing, and he looks...happy?