Brad's Girl, Page 2

  Chapter 2

  That weekend was long. I didn’t call or see Brad.

  I was afraid to. Those words he spoke, about ‘next time’, managed to stay with me from the moment they departed from his lips.

  He blew up my phone, calling me at least a hundred times a day, and sending me at least fifty or sixty text messages. I just couldn’t bring myself to talk to him right away after he had allowed his hand to bruise the side of my face.

  I needed some time to breathe.

  I needed some time to think.

  I needed some time to myself.

  I spent the better part of my Saturday up in my room with my headphones on, listening to every sad song about how much love hurts.

  It was that bad.

  My best friend, Jetta McIntyre came by my house after I ignored her attempts to contact me via phone.

  I let her in. Maybe that’s what I needed after all.

  A friend.

  Jetta stepped inside my home, dressed in her cheerleading uniform.

  It had totally slipped my mind that there had been a game today.

  “Jen, you look horrible,” she scolded as she made her way inside and closed the door behind her, “why haven’t you been answering the phone? Are you sick or something?”

  Jetta was always so concerned about me. Even when she had absolutely no reason to be.

  “I’m fine Jetta, really. Just had a bad night, that’s all.”

  Jetta sighed.

  “Well, why don’t you go to the mall with me? Retail therapy always cheers a girl up.”

  I smiled.

  “I really don’t feel like it, Jetta. I think I should just stay at home today.”

  Jetta folded her arms and stared at me. I knew that she was not just going to drop this conversation.

  “Okay, spit it out. What’s really bothering you?”

  I wanted to tell her the truth.

  That Brad had smacked me so hard, and had made me feel so humiliated.

  But I didn’t want to speak bad about him.

  I loved him.

  “Jetta, really, it’s nothing. What were you going to the mall for?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

  Jetta followed me upstairs to my bedroom, blabbing on and on about how she needed something to wear on her hot date with Troy Stevens, the second hottest boy in the school.

  Jetta and Troy had been dating for only six weeks, but she could tell that Jetta was really into this guy.

  “So, where’s Troy taking you?” I asked, trying to sound interested in what she was saying.

  “I just told you. We’re going to LaGrange. Weren’t you listening to a word I said?”

  I would have been rude to tell her no, so I just smiled instead.

  “I heard you, just didn’t hear the name of the restaurant.”

  Jetta sat down on the edge of my bed and sighed.

  “Troy is so gorgeous, Jen. I think I may be ready to go to, you know, sleep with him.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Jetta was such a pretty girl. She had long flowing jet black hair and moss green eyes.

  She was petite, standing only four feet eleven.

  She always made sure to keep her weight in check, which was why she probably only wore a size four.

  Her skin was a smooth and creamy light brown like she tanned, even though she didn’t.

  “Jetta, are you sure you’re ready for that? I mean, there are so many consequences.”

  Her eyes lit up.

  “Jen, when Troy kisses me, I melt. When he touches me, it’s like waves of electricity rush all over my body. I know that I’m ready to show him how much I love him.”

  I could see the happiness in my friend’s face.

  I knew that she was really into this guy.

  But at the same time, I knew she wasn’t really ready for everything that came with having sex.

  “I don’t know Jetta. Maybe you guys should wait. At least until after prom.”

  Jetta frowned.

  “You and Brad didn’t wait, did you?”

  Now Brad and I were a completely different story.

  I knew that Brad would be there for me when it was all over.

  I couldn’t say the same for Troy.

  “Look, I can’t tell you what to do. What I can do though is suggest that you at least make sure that he uses a condom.”

  Jetta was ecstatic. She threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.

  “Thanks Jen. I can’t wait,” she paused as she loosened her hold on me, “that’s what we’re doing tonight. Troy already booked a hotel room and everything.”

  I swallowed.

  “Oh wow, he’s ready, huh?” I joked.

  Jetta let her glance fall to the floor.

  “I’m ready, too.”

  All this talk of lovemaking made me think about Brad.

  I wondered what he was doing.

  I wanted to call him, but at the same time, he needed to be taught a lesson.

  You don’t hit a woman.

  Especially not someone you claim to love.