Missing

Jay

Around noon Jay wandered from her shared bedroom to the kitchen looking for a snack. She found nothing in the refrigerator that she wanted to eat, walked into the living room and outside to the front yard once she spotted her brother's best friend Rebecca. She walked out and headed over to the neighboring fence next door.

"Hey Rebecca, where's my brother?" she asked, "He's supposed to be unpacking."

"No clue Jay. He'll turn up though," she replied. With a smile, she added, "How about you join me for a walk?"

With a smirking grin Jay says, "Do you promise not to chase any cars or werecats? I don't want to have to deal with Taylor and her bad kitties after me just yet."

Rebecca chuckles and promises she won't chase anything or anyone, that it will just be a nice, relaxing walk. Jay agrees. Both Jay and Rebecca head down the street and to the park.

"So besides spying on me and Nicole what have you been up to?"

"Well, I had nothing else to do since Caleb went to basketball camp."

"Are you sure? Nicole's been checking you out."

"Nicole or you?"

"That's beside the point."

They make their way to the park not stopping or even speaking until they get towards the end where the river heading to the forest begins. Jay starts to get uncomfortable. The forest was bringing back unpleasant memories. She tells Rebecca that they should head back, she quickly gets what's going on.

"I see," she says, "Isn't this where you and your friends spent your last moments with Lia?"

"Yeah so? There's nothing we can do about it."

"Don't worry nothing will happen. We can walk back to that bench we just past a few minutes ago."

"Fine."

Rebecca takes Jay's hand and they walk over to the bench and sit down. She asks her what happened that other day.

"Nothing unusual. We were hanging out like normal. The next moment Lia was gone," Jay says, "Let's change the subject. How about you and your girlfriend?"

"We broke up. No big deal. Besides I'm over that girl."

"Is that why you've been looking over our back fence more often. You're interested in me."

Rebecca leans in close enough to kiss Jay.

"Do you want me to be interested in you? I can do that."

Jay almost gave into kissing her before pushing her away.

"I can't. Nicole. And what would my brother say?"

Rebecca sits back and says he isn't into Nicole and that Caleb has no control over who she dates. She tells her that she'll think about it and call her in the morning. They both head home in separate directions. When Jay gets home she grabs her journal from her room and heads outside to write in it.

September 1st.

I do like Rebecca. We even got to hang out uninterrupted today. Since I and my sister have been getting closer and confiding in each other more I don't want to hurt her feelings or break her heart. Besides, it would be a little weird to date my brother's oldest friend but Rebecca is right. Caleb doesn't decide who I or his friend choose to date. If Camren and I or Kayla were speaking I could tell them this but ever since the Lia Accident none of us have been talking to each other at all. Oh well, I can handle this myself. I can a) make myself happy by choosing Rebecca or b) make Nicole happy by ignoring this. I think I'll choose myself. Nicole doesn't have to know yet. Plus right now she's spending the night with Monique. I'll write more later.

Jay dials Rebecca on her cell phone and tells her to come over to her house. Rebecca exits her house and climbs over the fence dividing the two properties.

"So, what's your decision?" Rebecca asks.

For her answers, Jay leans in towards Rebecca and kisses her.

"I'll take that, that you want to go out with me," she smiles.

"Yes, but we keep this from my family and yours."

"Deal."

The sun begins to set and they hear the front door opening. Caleb's home and Rebecca hurry back over the fence and inside her home. Jay does the same and greets her brother at the door. She asks him where he's been and they head into the kitchen where their mother was cooking a new kind of dish. It was some kind of new steak.

Their mother tells her children that Nicole called earlier that she's staying an extra night at her friend's. She also tells them that their father was working late at work. Caleb and Jay's help set the long table for dinner and he begins to tell his sister what he's been up to. He tells her that he got a cup of coffee at the new coffee place and that he also ran into Kayla. This took Jay a little off guard.

"Really? How's she doing?"

"She's doing well. Why don't you call her and find out?"

"No. It would be too awkward."

"You're her best ghoul friend and you're not going to speak to her because of what happened with Lia?"

"There's more to it Caleb. We're better off not being friends for now."

"Don't force your sister, son. It's her decision," their mother said as she began serving up dinner, "Get your younger brother as well."

Soon dinner was over though and Jay went up to her room and began writing in her journal again.

Later.

I and Rebecca decided to date but I made her promise not to tell either of our families. At least not yet. Before dinner, Caleb told me he ran into Kayla. I shouldn't have been surprised, she is dating my brother. It's still not a good idea to talk to her though. Monday is going to be hard though. At least I'm a junior now. Who knows maybe one day I and the g**g will get back together one of these days.

Just then Jay received a text:

"I've got you now. One more kiss and I tell."-L