TEENAGE FEVER

15

I exhaustedly set myself onto a chair in the restaurant, my eyes on Jenny as she flicked her hair behind her shoulders and looked up from her phone at me. My mom and Aisha had gone to the bathroom, leaving us with the responsibility to order for both of them. I ran a hand through my hair, scratching my scalp slightly before I reached for one of the menus.

"You okay?" Jenny asked. Her nails caught my attention. They were painted matte blue colour, to go with her dress. The function was going to be the next day and I was being extra careful with everything I touched. I'd gone for short nails seeing as I had a preference for them, and I failed to understand how Jenny managed to handle her long ones without fear that she'd damage one before the next day.

"I'm fine," I answered, opening the menu and checking the drink choices I had. "I'm just.....I've been thinking alot, about life, you know?"

She nodded, urging me to go on. I sighed.

"I know about what happened with Christina and Jaden,"

There was an awkward pause in which she set her phone on the table, her lips pursed. She raised an eyebrow at me. "Who told you?" She asked me. Her voice was stiff, adopting a tone I would never expect from her. I swallowed, looking at my menu instead of at her. I wondered whether I was willing to throw Hector under the bus when I remembered the bitterness in his tone when he had told me about what had happened.

"Hector told me. That day we went to the park. Well before that,"  I admitted, sighing, "And I wanted to tell you that I knew but I needed to think about it first."

"Jaden is a good person, Maddie."

I was shocked by the declaration. It had come from no where. Well, not really no where. I had expected that she would defend him- I hadn't expected that she would feel the need to prove to me that he was a good person. I also hadn't expected that I'd actually need the reassurance. I had been so sure that I knew exactly who I was dealing with but from time to time I had my doubts.

"I know that," I told her. "I just....I don't know why he didn't tell me all this himself. I mean, if I'm as important as he makes me seem why we would he keep it from me?"

She answered almost immediately, "Did you ask him about it?"

I clenched my jaw slightly. "I shouldn't have to ask," I told her. I was aware of how much of a hypocrite I was being. I had my own secret too. The difference was that I planned to open up sooner or later. Jaden didn't seem to have any plans of sharing any time soon.

"Look, Maddie, Jaden is complicated. You know that. I grew up around him and I've seen how hard it has been for him to make friends because of his temper and his background," she leaned towards me, the only barrier between us not being just the table. Her eyes held a level of sincerity I didn't feel like arguing with though, so I didn't argue. "He's going to take some time to fully trust you. I'm dating his brother, the more open one, and there are still so many things I have yet to know. But I have faith that he's going to tell me when he's ready. All it takes is a little patience."

I reached for her hand and gave it a tight squeeze, smiling at her. She smiled back at me.

"Thank you Jenny," I told her, "Really. Thank you."

She yanked at my hand, just as her phone beeped with a phone call from Uriah. Blushing, she excused herself and I watched her walk away, yawning slightly. I pulled my phone out of my pocket.