The Importance of Getting Revenge

by Amanda Abram

  “Can we just get this apology out of the way, please? Sometime before I forget what you’re apologizing for would be nice.”

  I bit back a retort that most likely wouldn’t have helped to make my apology seem sincere. So instead, I asked him again if he would let me in.

  With a defeated sigh, he moved aside and motioned for me to enter. “Fine.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  It felt weird entering the Holloway house without Trish by my side, as she was the only reason I ever had to be there. It also felt weird to know Jase and I were completely alone in the house, since I didn’t see either of his parents’ vehicles in the driveway.

  “So…your apology,” he said as soon as he shut the door behind him.

  I decided not to beat around the bush. Instead, I swallowed my pride and said, “I’m sorry, alright? What I said earlier was uncalled for, and I didn’t mean it.”

  “Yes you did. I know what you think of me. It’s what pretty much everyone thinks of me—that I'm some sort of player because I’ve dated a healthy portion of our school’s female population. You don’t need to apologize for that. It’s not like I’ve ever given anyone any reason to think otherwise.”

  He had a good point, but I was surprised at how quickly he had dropped his jackass act. When he spoke now, he sounded somewhat sincere.

  “Okay. Then I’m at least sorry for insinuating Kylie is an airhead. Because, surprisingly, she’s not.”

  “I know she’s not. And apology accepted. Now it’s my turn.”

  I blinked in confusion. “Your turn?”

  He nodded. “I should have consulted you before telling Eric about everything. So, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry about that. I completely understand why you told him, and it’s not like it was some previously established rule that we had to get permission from each other first before telling anyone else about it. I just got kinda freaked out because I don’t know how good Eric is at keeping secrets.”

  “Oh trust me, he’s pretty good. He's been keeping a couple of mine for years.”

  I glanced sideways at him with my eyebrows raised. “Jase Holloway has secrets? Do tell. I’ll bet I’m even better than Eric at keeping them.”

  Jase snorted. “I don’t think you could handle my secrets.”

  With an exaggerated huff, I said, “Fine, then. I guess I won’t tell you any of my secrets, either.”

  “It’s a deal.” He paused for a moment, as if deep in thought. “So why did you come all the way over here just to apologize when a simple phone call would have sufficed?”

  I gulped. I didn’t exactly know the answer to that question, because honestly, calling him had never even crossed my mind. However, for once in my life my brain was actually capable of coming up with a quick response, one that didn’t even sound incredibly stupid. “I figured you’d see my name on your phone and not answer.”

  He seemed satisfied with my answer. “So how are you getting home? Did Jeffrey offer you a round trip?”

  “Nah, I’m just going to walk.” I glanced down at my watch and realized I was dangerously close to dinnertime. “I should probably leave now so that Mom doesn’t start freaking out if I’m not home for dinner.”

  “Don’t be silly. I can take you home.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely,” he replied with a devious grin. “And if Weston happens to look out the window at the right time and sees you getting in my car, maybe he’ll think I’m taking you out on a date.”

  The thought of that was enough to make me accept his offer. “Thanks then, I guess. I’ll owe you one.”

  Jase chuckled and winked at me. “I’ll just add it to your bill.”

  ***

  He pulled up in front of my house about fifteen minutes later and turned off the engine. Which, like the last time he did that, meant he had intentions of starting up a conversation with me.

  I was right. After only a few short seconds of sweet silence, just as my hand was reaching for the door handle, he spoke up.

  “So when are you going to ditch those clothes?” he asked, pointing to, well, my clothes.

  I arched an eyebrow and said in a completely playful manner, “Jase, are you trying to seduce me?”

  “Hardly,” he was quick to say. And to be honest, it stung a little. The tone of his voice implied that not only was he currently not trying to seduce me, but that the chances of him ever trying to seduce me in the future were slim to none. And not only that, but he seemed utterly appalled at the idea.

  I suddenly felt deflated and uncomfortable and ready to leave the car.

  “You know what I meant. These new outfits of yours, they just don’t look right on you.”

  That was sting number two. I was surprised I wasn’t going into anaphylactic shock. I was also surprised I hadn’t exited the car yet. With an annoyed sigh, I said, “Jase, we’ve already had this discussion. You hate the way I look, and so do I, but it’s necessary.”

  “How is this necessary? It’s not going to help you get him back, you know.”

  And that’s when I decided I’d had enough. “I’m not trying to get him back! My God! When are you going to get that through your thick skull? I’m not doing this for him, I’m doing it for me.”

  He shook his head. “You just contradicted yourself. Why would you want to do something for yourself that you hate?”

  I let out a cry of frustration. “Forget it,” I said and then let myself out of the vehicle.

  Unfortunately, Jase followed, jogging around the front of his car to join me in stride. “No, I’m serious. Why are you suddenly so hung up on your appearance? And for that matter, why are you so hung up on getting revenge on a guy who doesn’t even deserve for you to give him so much as a second thought?”

  By that time, we had reached my doorstep, but I hadn’t even made an attempt to find my house key. “Jase, if you really don’t want to go through with this—”

  “I’m not saying that!” he shouted. He must have realized how loud and angry he sounded, because the next words out of his mouth were lower and calmer. “I just hope after all of this, you move on with your life. Because honestly, you deserve so much better than—”

  “Jase!”

  I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of my mother’s voice. At some point during my little conversation with Jase, she had opened the front door behind us.

  Jase’s frown instantly dissolved into a charming smile as he glanced over at my mom. “Mrs. Turner!”

  “Are you here for dinner?” she asked, her voice full of hope.

  “Actually, Mom,” I began, and Jase finished with, “Yes, I am.”

  My mom let out a squeal as I glared over at Jase. But he didn’t even notice. Or, if he did, he chose to ignore it and followed my overly-ecstatic mother into the house with a smug look on his face that only I could see. I sighed as I followed them.

  I made a mental note to myself right then that the next time I got a fake boyfriend, I would make sure it wasn't someone I wanted to strangle.

  Chapter Ten

  I pushed the food around on my plate with a fork, and then I stabbed my lasagna with it.

  Jase was sitting to my left, and he was having no trouble at all devouring his food, much to my mother’s delight. He had complimented her on her cooking abilities more than once, and I could actually see her head getting bigger each and every time. And in between compliments, the two of them made pleasant small talk about, I don't know, whatever. I wasn't paying attention.

  My father wasn't either. He was using the distraction that was Jase as an opportunity to read the newspaper while he ate. My mother usually scolded him for that and took the paper away until after we were all done eating. But with Jase there, she hadn’t even noticed.

  Aaron, in the meantime, remained perfectly quiet across the table from us. I couldn’t help but notice he kept sneaking wary glances over at Jase. And sometimes, those wary glances bordered on glares. At one
point, I kicked his leg lightly under the table, to get him to look over at me.

  What is your problem? I mouthed to him. He responded with a shrug and proceeded to shove a large portion of lasagna into his mouth. That boy was lucky he never choked to death, the way he ate sometimes.

  “So,” my mother said, finally tearing her eyes away from Jase to look at me. “I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to find out you two were becoming friends again.”

  “Oh, we’re not friends,” I was quick to say, taking a gulp of my milk.

  “That's right,” Jase agreed with a nod. “We’re dating.”

  The milk suddenly took a detour down my windpipe and I began to sputter and cough as I desperately tried to rid my lungs of the liquid. Aaron laughed, but stopped immediately when Jase reached over and placed a hand on my back.

  “Sweetie, are you okay?” he asked, with the best fake concern I’d ever heard. He gently rubbed circles on my back in a soothing manner.

  I shot him a death glare out of the corner of my eye as my coughing slowly subsided. “I’m fine.” Reaching around, I hastily removed his arm from my back.

  That little bit of commotion temporarily snatched my father’s attention away from the sports page. “You’re dating the Holloway boy?” I don’t know why, but my dad always referred to Jase as “the Holloway boy”, even when addressing Jase himself. A brief, impressed look crossed over his features before he returned his attention back to the newspaper.

  “We’re not dating,” I said in a strained voice, as I hadn’t yet fully recovered from my choking episode.

  “We haven’t been on an official date yet,” Jase said, “but we have confessed our romantic feelings towards one another, so I think that still counts as ‘dating’.”

  I suddenly wanted to die.

  My mother stared over at me with wide eyes. She looked as if she were going to burst out into happy tears at any moment. “Honey, you didn’t tell me!”

  I cleared my throat and shifted in my chair uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, uh…” I realized I pretty much had nothing to say on the matter.

  Unfortunately, Jase did. “It just happened today. I’m sure she just hadn’t found the time to tell you yet.”

  My mother seemed satisfied enough with that. “And to think of how worried I was when I came home to find you alone with Jeffrey.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

  I glanced over at Jase, who suddenly didn’t seem as perky as he had a moment ago. In fact, he looked somewhat perturbed at the mention of Jeffrey. I could tell by the way his jaw slightly jutted out.

  “You don’t need to worry, Mrs. Turner. She’s all mine now.” He reached over and lazily draped an arm around my shoulders.

  My mother beamed. Aaron snorted. My father grunted and shook his head at something he’d just read in the sports section. And I clenched my hands into a fist under the table.

  “Well,” Mom said, “this is certainly wonderful news. I have to admit, I always hoped this day would come. How long have you two had feelings for one another?”

  Resting my elbows on the table, I buried my face in my hands.

  Jase sat up in his chair. “I can’t speak for Lexi here, but I know I’ve had these feelings the whole time she’s been with Jeffrey. It’s been a tortuous three years, let me tell you.”

  My mom placed a hand over her heart and let out a soft, “Aw.” Meanwhile, I removed my hands from my face and turned to stare at the idiot sitting beside me. Was my family actually buying this crap?

  “Can we please talk about something else?” I asked frantically. I glanced over at Aaron with a pleading look, one that clearly insinuated I would be eternally grateful if he would say something to change the subject. Unfortunately, Aaron wasn’t in the mood to help out his older sister, so he just shoveled more food into his mouth.

  “There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Jase said, flashing me a wide grin.

  “Jase is absolutely right, honey.” Mom stood up from the table and began picking up everyone’s plates except for Aaron’s, since he was currently embarking on thirds. “I think this is absolutely fantastic news. And you know, I always did have a sneaking suspicion that you had a crush on him.”

  “Mom!” I screeched, appalled at the words she had just spoken. “I have never had a crush on Jase! Ever!”

  Jase, who was donning an expression of pure amusement on his face, piped up, “You mean, until today.”

  “I wouldn’t even say that,” I snapped at him. I shot up out of my chair. “I need to start my homework.”

  “Lexi,” my mother scolded me, “you have a guest.”

  “He knows the way out,” I mumbled. And before anyone could protest, I left the room as fast as I could.

  I was only halfway down the hallway when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me.

  “Wait,” Jase said, reaching out and grabbing my arm to stop me.

  I glared up at him. “What the hell was that in there?” I hissed in a low voice, pointing in the direction of the dining room.

  He sighed. “Maybe we should talk about this outside?”

  I couldn’t have agreed more, so I let him lead the way out the front door.

  “So?” I asked, following him down the length of my driveway, toward his car. “What gives? Why did you tell my parents we’re dating?”

  “Why not?” he replied with a shrug. “We can’t just pretend to be dating only when we’re at school. The more people outside of school who find out, the more convincing it will be. And now that your brother thinks we’re dating, maybe he’ll tell one or two of his friends, who in turn will tell one or two of their friends, and eventually it will get back to Jeffrey.”

  I couldn’t argue with that, because what he said made perfect sense.

  With a defeated sigh, I said, “But did you really have to lay it on so thick back there? I mean, did you see my mother’s face when you said you’d been in love with me the whole time I was with Jeffrey?”

  “I did see that. Mothers love hearing that kind of stuff.”

  “Yeah, well, my mother loves it just a little too much.”

  “I figured she would.” He glanced down at the ground with a smile.

  I rolled my eyes and leaned up against the side of the Mustang. The thing I noticed about Jase was that, while he seemed to admire his car greatly, he wasn’t obsessed about it. He didn’t seem to mind if people touched it, and he didn’t even complain about me leaning on it. I tried that once with Jeffrey’s car, and he wouldn’t speak to me for the rest of the day.

  Leaning against the spot right next to me, Jase said, “Are we cool?”

  I stared down at the asphalt and shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “Yeah, we’re cool. For now.” I paused for a moment, not knowing what else to say.

  We stood in silence for what felt like a full minute before he pushed himself off the side of his car and said, “I should get going.”

  “Okay.” I removed myself from the car as well. “Thanks for staying for dinner. And for making my mother possibly the happiest human being on the planet.”

  Jase grinned. “She really likes the idea of you and me together, doesn’t she?”

  “She really does. I’m going to feel terrible the day you and I ‘break up’, when I have to tell her about it. I think she’ll be devastated.”

  Jase chuckled and stared down at the keys in his hand. “As long as you don’t tell her we broke up so you can get back together with Jeffrey, I think she’ll get over it.”

  “I sure hope so,” I said and then glanced up at him. “So, uh, see you tomorrow I guess.”

  He nodded as he made his way over to the driver’s side. “I’ll meet you at your locker tomorrow morning. I’ll swing by and flirt with you.”

  “I can’t wait,” I said with mock-sarcasm.

  Giving me a single wave of his hand, Jase climbed into the car, started the engine, and within seconds he was pulling out of the driveway.

  I had a weird sensation th
at somebody was watching me, and when I walked back into the house, I realized it was because Aaron had been standing at the window, staring out at us. As soon as I walked through the door, he stepped in front of me, preventing me from going anywhere.

  “So,” he said in a cool voice, staring down at me. “Jase?”

  “Yeah,” I said, in a voice as equally cool as his. “What of it?”

  His demeanor suddenly softened and he sighed. “He has a new girlfriend every other week. Doesn’t that worry you? Doesn’t that make you wonder how long you’ll last?”

  I blinked up at him in surprise. Was that concern I detected in his voice? “No, I’m not worried. What Jase and I have is special.” Fake-special, sure. But special nonetheless.

  He studied my face for a moment before saying, “It’s just that after the whole Jeffrey thing, I’m inclined to hate any guy you bring over here. Even if that guy has an incredibly hot sister.”

  I refrained from bursting out in laughter. “Aaron—”

  “I mean,” he interjected, “do you have any idea how badly I want to punch that creep in the face every time he walks by with that new skank of his?”

  He was talking about Jeffrey now, and he actually looked angry. My heart began to swell in my chest. My little brother was going into protective-brother mode.

  “Whatever you do, don’t punch him in the face. I don’t want you getting suspended because of Jeffrey.”

  “Or Jase,” he added. “Because if he breaks your heart too…” His voice trailed off as his hand formed into a fist at his side.

  But then, as suddenly as his fury came on, it disappeared. His hand loosened up, as did the expression on his face. “I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt though. But if he ever comes over for dinner again, can you make sure he at least brings Trish with him?”

  I groaned and shook my head. That last comment didn’t even warrant a response.

  All it took was a simple push to move him out of the way of the stairs, and seconds later I was ascending them, heading for my bedroom. Not to do my homework though, but to call Trish. I had quite a bit to tell her.