Chapter 19 The Rescue Squad
The Rescue Squad
I slept better than I thought I would, and after waking up earlier than usual, I threw on my headphones and running clothes and walked down the hall on my tiptoes.
Mike was still asleep on the couch. I closed the door softly, thinking he’d remain that way for a while, but when I got home an hour later, all the guys in the house were up and about.
Will greeted me as I stole a piece of toast from my brother’s plate, licking it so he wouldn’t take it back from me.
“What the hell kind of host does that?” Spencer asked.
“The hungry kind,” I replied.
Mike laughed, so I decided that made us allies and took the stool beside him. Spencer yawned and pushed his mug toward Will for more coffee. I had rarely ever seen him groggy, and I must admit, I found it funny.
“Long night?” I asked.
“Conventions, am I right?” Mike joked.
“Jen’s still a child about these things,” Spencer announced.
“Yeah, and you’re a grandfather,” I teased. “I remember I used to have a brother who could make it through a one-night stand without moaning and groaning about how he needs more coffee the next day.”
“Wait and see, sister,” he responded. “When you’re my age, I’ll be the one laughing at you. Anyway, I’m just getting the lead out before my morning run. Which will be your second morning run. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Spencer!” I shouted pointlessly. He was already on his way to Sue’s room to change.
Will and Mike grinned as I headed for the door.
On his best day, Spencer would have smoked me—he had eight inches of height on me and probably seventy pounds of muscle.
Thank goodness his, er, extracurricular activities had worn him out.
He took off like lightning, but soon enough, he had to slow down, and I managed to match his pace without coughing up a lung.
It was getting close to midday when we stopped in a park. I tried to buy an ice cream at a nearby shop, but Spencer forced me to get an energy drink instead. I drank it despondently as we sat on a bench. At least it was orange-flavored, I thought.
“You can have your ice cream when I leave,” he said dismissively.
“Need I remind you of how many times I’ve watched you eat an entire box of chocolate cereal?”
“Jen, we barely ever see each other nowadays. Just let me play the responsible older brother for a few hours.”
I smiled and took another sip. We were sweating and our cheeks were flushed, even though it was starting to get cool out and most of the passersby were in long sleeves.
“What time do you have to go?” I asked him.
“The gate opens at eight, so I’ve got time. By the way, my presentation went great, thanks for asking.”
“What did you expect me to do, crack Sue’s door while you two were getting it on to ask?”
“Yeah…maybe it’s best you didn’t. Anyway, for your information, I nailed it. Oh, and I wanted to ask you something: I heard you got back into painting?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Jack gave me a set of oils and charcoals for my birthday, and I’ve really been enjoying myself. You remember how much I loved it when I was in high school?”
“I’ve got to tell you, sis, your face literally lights up when you talk about him,” Spencer observed.
“Shut up!”
“Hey! Respect your older brother! Anyway, I mean that in a good way. He’s a nice guy. I like him. It’s a relief seeing you with someone who’s not a total douche.”
I looked away, and Spencer wrapped an arm around me. “Sorry,” he added. “That was over the line. I shouldn’t have brought him up.”
No matter how much time passed, I didn’t think I’d ever feel comfortable talking about Monty. I could still remember too well what it all felt like, and I wondered if it would always be that way. My greatest wish was simply to forget he existed.
At least he hadn’t tried to get in touch with me again. Maybe now that he had Nelle to boss around all the time, he’d forgotten me. I sure hoped so.
Spencer asked, “Are you up for another mile or two?”
“No, I’m good. Remember, recovery’s important, too. Hey, since you mentioned him, have you seen Monty?”
They lived down the street from each other. It wasn’t exactly a stab in the dark. “I’ve caught sight of him,” Spencer said. “But only once or twice. He knows better than to try to talk to me. If he came within a foot of me, I’d beat him to a pulp.”
“What’s up with Nelle? Are they still going out?”
Since the funeral, I’d started to feel bad about how I’d treated her. Her timidity, her defensiveness—I had been the same way when I was going out with Monty.
Spencer scratched his chin, unsure how to respond.
“She’s around. I wouldn’t say she’s doing great, let’s put it that way.
I’m not one for gossip, but I don’t think that’s exactly a secret.
She’s thin as a reed, she never leaves the house, she got fired from her job…
her parents came and asked our parents for help, because they went through the same thing with you. ”
“I think you mean they refused to go through it with me. Dad I can give a little credit to, he did tell me to go to the police before he caved to the pressure from everyone else in town. But the way Mom acted was just despicable. I know I shouldn’t complain, I’m sorry, I just felt burned by the whole situation.
If you and Shannon hadn’t had my back, I don’t know what I’d have done. ”
“I know, Jenny. And I do get why you’re angry. I’m not sure what Mom and Dad told them. I prefer to stay out of it. It’s a sad situation, but it’s not my business.”
I nodded and said, “You know what? I changed my mind. I could do another mile or two.”
That afternoon, back in the apartment, while Spencer was in Sue’s room gathering his things, I realized how much I’d miss him, and I wished he could stay a little longer. It felt like he’d only just arrived.
I walked him to the front door of the building and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to go to the airport with you?”
“Nah. I’m a grown-up, Jenny, I can manage one train ride on my own. There’s no point in you wasting the fare.”
“Sure,” I said. He reached up and mussed my hair. “Are you ever going to stop doing that?” I complained.
“Yeah. When you grow up.”
“I’m turning twenty-one in February! When are you going to admit I’m grown?”
“Maybe when you’re forty, we can talk.”
I stuck out my tongue, and he chuckled, then waved, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked off toward the train station. I stood watching until he turned the corner and disappeared.
It had been cold outside, and I’d gone down in only a T-shirt. When I returned to the apartment, I walked to the bedroom and put on one of Jack’s hoodies. Mike and Sue were in the living room. Naya and Will were out for a romantic dinner.
“Aw, you look so sad,” Sue said. “You want some milk and cookies?”
“I’m not hungry,” I responded.
“I’ll take some milk and cookies,” Mike said.
“I didn’t offer them to you, parasite.”
Mike smiled, looking almost as carefree as he had before Jack and I went on vacation.
I sat down next to him and sank back on the couch.
I guess they must have seen the worry on my face, because they started pelting me with questions about whether I missed my brother or missed Jack or was worried about school or was on my period, and finally, just to get them to shut up, I cried, “It’s not that!
It’s not any of the stuff you’re saying!
It’s a friend. I’m worried about a friend.
Or not a friend. I don’t know what you’d call her.
Remember how we got high together that time and I told you both I’d had an anxiety attack because a friend hooked up with my boyfriend? Well, it’s her.”
They nodded, understanding now, and Sue said, “Got it.”
“They’re together now,” I continued, “and according to Spencer, things aren’t going well. I got that impression too when I saw her at the funeral. And I’ve tried to call and check on her, but she won’t pick up.”
“You can call her from my phone, maybe she’ll pick up if she doesn’t recognize the number,” Mike said.
“What if she hangs up on me when I start talking?” I asked, almost preparing myself to be disappointed.
Sue responded wisely, “At least you’ll know you tried.”
Hands shaking more than I’d like to admit, I grabbed Mike’s phone and dialed her number, which I still knew by heart. Then I turned on the speaker, and my two roommates leaned in to hear better.
Every ring was like an eternity. Nelle had never been the type to pick up right away.
In fact, she’d never been much of a phone person at all, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d missed the call.
But on the third ring, I heard scratching noises on the other line and saw on the screen that someone had picked up. Then I heard her voice: “Hello?”
She sounded normal. Tired, maybe, but normal. “Hey, Nelle,” I said. “Don’t hang up. Please.”
She waited a few seconds in silence, as though trying to restrain herself. “Why are you calling? Do you have a new number, or…?”
“I’m calling from a friend’s phone.”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she told me after a short pause.
“Wait!” I heard her phone moving and just knew she was about to hang up. “I just want to ask how you’re doing. That’s all. Tell me that, and you can hang up if you want afterward.”
“I’m good. Are you happy now?”
“Tell me the truth.”
“I did.”
“Nelle, I talked to Spencer. I know everything. I know you lost your job, I know you’re not eating…”
“I didn’t lose my job, I quit, OK?”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Nelle, listen… I know what you’re going through right now. I was in the same situation. I know it’s…”
“Jenna, you don’t know a damn thing about my situation! You left! You don’t even know me anymore!”
“How am I supposed to? You don’t call me, and you don’t pick up when I call.”
“I can’t pick up, all right?”