Swirling Abyss of Time and Chance

CHAPTER TWO

"Hey, Mr Scott" Jack said to Uncle Marshall, plopping himself on the kitchen chair.

"Jack" Uncle Marshall replied in greeting. He was busy putting a sandwich together.

"Want a sandwich?" he offered Jack, who was distracted with his phone.

"Sure. Thanks", he said.

"She'll be down in a second" Uncle Marshall added, referring to Freddie.

There was a party at Naomi Neumann's house and by some miracle, he had been invited. The first party of the school year. Rain had said they were having a séance at her house so she couldn't make it. That left only Freddie. Once again. Freddie hadn't wanted to go at first. Thank goodness, Rain had been there to convince her. Jack didn't know many sophomores so he hadn't wanted to go alone. Uncle Marshall hummed while making the sandwich and Jack welcomed it, Freddie's house was always quiet and peaceful that was one of the major reasons he loved going there. A sandwich and orange juice later, Freddie came stomping into the kitchen.

"What took you so long?" Jack asked, squeezing his paper napkin into a ball and aiming it at the waste bin and missing it by several inches. Uncle Marshall shot him a dirty look and he said, "Sorry".

"Make sure you bring her home in time" Uncle Marshall yelled as they left the house.

"Bye, Uncle Marshall" Freddie called on her way out.

"Bye, Mr Scott" Jack yelled at the same time.

Freddie and Jack watched three teenagers go into the house, the music was so loud, they could hear it from the street. Freddie had her hands on the steering wheel.

"How do I look, Jack?" Freddie asked and Jack looking out the window fully distracted, said "Great, you look sensational. Do you think the triplets would be there?" he asked. She hoped not, Freddie blew air out her mouth.

"Whatever, let's go" she unlocked the car and stepped out.

She waited as Jack donned on a leather jacket, "Woah" she said.

"Cool right? It's Tyler's. Let's just say I borrowed it" Jack laughed.

Freddie shook her head and rolled her eyes as he did a spin for her.

The party seemed to be in full swing, pizza, punch, chips, the staple foods for every party were laid out on a large table. Freddie stuck to Jack like glue, she didn't know anybody and was not ready to. Everyone there was either a freshman or a sophomore although some juniors were present, but many of them didn't even go to Maydale High. Jack seemed to be looking for someone, they went from the den to the dining room, to the kitchen.

"Hey!" came Naomi's voice, "Jaaaaack, you came!" she drawled his name for what seemed like twenty minutes to Freddie, heading over to where they stood by the stairs.

"Naomi, this is my friend, Freddie" Jack said and Naomi said a quick "hi" without sparing Freddie a glance.

"Come, I want to show you something" Naomi pulled his arm and Jack went along forgetting all about Freddie.

"Jack" Freddie called him in a futile attempt to get him to remember that she existed. He didn't turn around. What a schmuck! Freddie sighed and rolled her eyes. She looked around her and people were doing either of two things, making out or pressing their phones. She decided to wait out the party quietly somewhere. She went out to the pool and found a quiet place underneath the stairs. Freddie sat and crossed her legs beneath her, plugged in her earpiece and relaxed against the wall. Her jacket was caught underneath her, she bent her head to pry it loose when she noticed that someone else was also there with her.