Chapter 13
How can we know whether someone is being honest?
Despite their apparent sincerity and smooth delivery, can we truly distinguish between truth and deception?
Do lies evoke the same emotions as the truth when we find ourselves uncertain?
Or does love simply translate into blind trust, and is there no further discussion?
What a ridiculous nickname—dummy. Did it imply that I was easily swayed? That I was merely a plaything, here for amusement until I wore out?
“Hey, I'm right here!” Jessica called, waving her hand in front of my unfocused gaze.
“Sorry, I just froze for a second,” I replied.
“Come on, it's been ages since the three of us hung out. That's why I invited you over for dinner—to have some fun! My mom made delicious seafood pasta, and we've got wine. Let's just unwind!” Jessica exclaimed, raising her arms in excitement.
I glanced over at Emily, who still seemed uneasy about our tangled romantic history.
But honestly, I was over it. If she wanted to date Marco, that was her choice.
Oddly enough, I felt okay with it; maybe it was because I had already found myself in another complicated situation.
I chuckled as I looked at Jessica. It was crazy.
“Yeah, you're right. It had been a while since we enjoyed each other's company,” Emily added, her gaze shifting between us. I hadn't noticed before, but Emily had grown taller and slimmer; she looked more mature, and her style had transformed.
Gone were the hoodies and sneakers, replaced by leggings, skirts, and stylish boots paired with chic tops and sweaters. She seemed older than her years.
Meanwhile, I hadn't changed much at all: still in my skinny jeans, sneakers, and hoodies. I was still wearing Marco’s oversized ones, which I probably should have returned to him. My hair was long; I couldn't even remember the last time I had a haircut—maybe two years ago?
Jessica, on the other hand, had developed a curvier figure, though her face remained slim. She looked fantastic, even if she lamented about needing to buy a larger size in jeans.
“Remember those days we used to dance half-naked on my bed with Mr. Fluffy?” Jessica said, a wistful smile spreading across her face. Mr. Fluffy was our beloved giant stuffed elephant, who had seen more adventures than we could count. In the end, we had loved him to pieces—literally.
“Rest in peace, Mr. Fluffy,” Emily chimed in, her eyes glistening with nostalgia. “Now we have real Mr. Fluffies to entertain us.” She paused, her eyes widening in realization as she took a sip of her wine, the implications of her words sinking in.
I saw the trajectory of Emily and Marco’s relationship heading toward something more intimate, which seemed to happen more frequently as we got older. Did that mean growing up accelerated those experiences? Had they done it already? And did I want to know?
“I truly miss him; he was my favorite,” Jessica said, her expression turning somber.
“Let's raise our glasses to new beginnings and our unbreakable friendship. No matter what life throws at us, we'll always be there for each other,” Jessica proposed, and we all lifted our glasses in solidarity. Maybe everything would fall into place after all.
Perhaps we could leave the awkwardness behind and return to being the close friends we once were. It felt comforting to share laughter and memories again, reminiscing about our adventures and trips. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
This past week had slipped by, and the small talk with my mom during dinner had become almost routine.
Just two days ago, I had dinner with my dad, and the sight of him was heartbreaking.
He looked worn out, his beard unkempt, with dark circles under his eyes.
He was staying at a local bed and breakfast, and the whole town seemed to be abuzz with gossip.
I had no interest in hearing any of it—it was too painful. I missed him so much.
Meanwhile, the Vipers had turned their sights on their next target: a timid second-year boy with braces. I wasn't entirely sure what they did to him, but he was clearly terrified and did everything Jake commanded.
Just the other day, I watched Jake point at a girl, and before I knew it, the poor guy was over there, touching her breast. She responded with a swift punch, and the laughter that followed echoed around us.
I still couldn't wrap my head around why Zane chose to hang out with them. He was different, so why did he stay?
“What are we doing tonight? It is Saturday, after all!” Jessica beamed, her excitement palpable. I tried to push my thoughts aside to engage in the conversation fully.
“What do you have in mind?” Emily inquired with genuine curiosity.
“I had no idea we were going out,” I responded, a hint of surprise in my voice as I gestured to my casual outfit.
“Oh, come on! That doesn't matter. If you're really concerned, I can lend you some of my old clothes,” Jessica offered, giving me a once-over.
“No, thanks. I think I'll sit this one out. You two can go without me,” I replied, already picturing a cozy night in my warm bed with a good book.
“Nonsense! You're coming with us!” Emily insisted.
“Where exactly?” I asked, irritation creeping into my tone.
“Please, don't be upset! Zane is picking us up in ten minutes; he's on his way,” Jessica said, scrunching her nose playfully.
My mouth fell open in disbelief, and my heart raced as memories of the bus ride flooded back—our fingers awkwardly brushing against each other before he left without a word just five minutes after that.
I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I felt a pang of guilt towards Jessica.
“I'm definitely not going!” I reiterated.
“Yes, you are! Come on!” Emily urged.
“But where are we going?” I pressed.
“To the next town! There's a bar with a DJ, and it should be packed!” Jessica declared, excitement bubbling as she began to clear the table and load the dishwasher. Emily headed to the restroom, and I joined Jessica in tidying up.
“Will your parents let us go?” I asked, knowing they were usually strict but trusting, especially since Jessica always adhered to her curfew. Sometimes she had to negotiate for a later time, but she always respected it.
“Yep, it's fine! I'm going to let them know now,” she said before disappearing down the hall. Emily returned shortly after.
“Are we okay?” she asked, her tone slightly anxious.
“Of course, we're fine,” I assured her.
“I want you to be honest with me. Just so you know, I'm talking to Marco, but we haven't gone out yet. I just want to take my time,” she said, locking her eyes on mine.
“Taking time because of me?” I pressed.
“Taking time because of your history. I don't want to be a rebound if he still has feelings for you,” she admitted, her concern evident.
“I'm confident that's not the case. He's been distant lately,
and I think I finally understand why,” I replied, hoping she would pick up on my hint. It felt strange; I looked as if I was pushing my ex towards her, but the truth was that it had been over for quite some time; it just took us a while to realize it.
“We're set to go until 2 AM; that's the best I could negotiate. The party starts at midnight, and Zane is here,” Jessica announced as she rejoined us.
Jessica occupied the front seat while Emily and I slid into the back. We said “Hi” to Zane, though I couldn't recall his reply. Jessica was engaging him in conversation, but he remained silent, and I sensed the tension in the air. To ease the awkwardness, she turned on the music.
Zane adjusted his rearview mirror, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes met in the reflection before I quickly looked away.
My discomfort around him was palpable, more intense than I cared to admit, and my heart raced.
I couldn't allow myself to feel this way; after all, he was Jessica’s boyfriend, and harboring such thoughts could damage our friendship.
I focused on the darkness outside, finding it easier to avoid him, yet whenever a car passed and illuminated the interior, I fought the urge to gaze into his amber eyes.
There was an inexplicable pull towards him that I desperately wanted to resist, needed to resist. So, I adopted my usual tactic: feigning indifference and pretending I didn't care.
When we arrived at what I guessed was a lounge, it was starting to fill with a mix of people, mostly our age but some older too. The atmosphere was dim, with black walls adorned with cherry-red sofas and small golden tables, flanked by fake potted plants.
To the left, a large bar glowed with orange and red lights, and ahead lay a dance floor surrounded by tables and sofas. In the right corner, a small stage stood ready for a DJ, though no one was there yet—just the thumping music playing in the background.
Zane walked off to speak with a waitress, presumably to secure a table.
“Can you at least pretend to enjoy yourself?” Emily whispered in my ear, making me jump.
“I'm sorry, I told you I wasn't really in the mood for this,” I replied, forcing a smile.
“Come on, you're eighteen—just relax,” she urged with a grin, giving me a playful nudge. I did my best to unwind and let the music wash over me as we followed Zane to a cozy corner with two small round tables. Before long, four drinks arrived.
“What's in this?” I asked Jessica, deliberately ignoring Zane. She shrugged and turned to him for an answer.
“It's a strawberry caipirinha!” Jessica shouted over the loud music so I could hear.
I had never tried one before. We all removed our coats, and I found it increasingly difficult not to glance at Zane.
He wore a slim-fitting dark blue dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves that revealed the contours of his muscles.
Damn, he must have spent a lot of time at the gym to achieve that physique.