Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1) (17 page)

She was still smiling when she walked into the kitchen. The last time she had fun was before she had been kidnapped. A pain squeezed her heart as she thought about her old friends and all the fun they had had. She sighed knowing she would never again see any of them ever again, and then pushed the memory out of her head.

Her only obstacle now was Alex. She had to find a way to convince him it was a good idea. She looked around the house, finally finding him on the couch flipping through TV channels.

“Hey,” he mumbled as she sat down beside him.

“I thought you would like to know we were invited to a beach party tomorrow night by the kid who helps Arlene around the house.

“That’s nice,” Alex muttered not taking his eyes off the TV.

Jenna hesitated. She had a feeling Alex wasn’t going to agree to let her go. “I’m going,” she said. “Do you want to come with us? It’s a chance to meet the kids who will be in our class this year.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Jenna,” Alex said never taking his eyes off the television. “We should be lying low right now. Making friends just complicates things. We can’t trust anyone but Arlene.”

Annoyed that Alex wasn’t even considering letting her go she flicked her wrist and the TV turned off. “Making friends is just what
I need
right now,” she exclaimed. “And I don’t care what you say; I’m going. I want, no
need
to feel like a normal teenager, even if it’s only as long as we stay here.”

Alex turned toward her furious. “If you want to be a normal teenager then act like one. It’s doing little things like that that will attract attention to us,” Alex exclaimed pointing toward the television. “You never know who could be watching.”

Jenna knew he was right, that doing things like that could get them discovered again. It was just that for the first time since her mom’s death she had hope her life wouldn’t be as awful as she had thought.

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” Jenna said as she turned toward Alex. “It’s just that it sounds like fun. I’ve never been to a bonfire before, and I really want to go. We both know that at any moment they could find us and if that’s how we have to live then I want to experience as much as I can while I’m still alive.”

Alex was silent for a minute. “Fine we’ll go,” he mumbled. “But, we stick together and no drinking.”

Jenna’s eyes widened with excitement. “Great!” she exclaimed as she jumped up off the couch and headed up the stairs to her room. “You’ll see; we’ll have a good time,” she called back over her shoulder.

Jenna hurried into her room and closed the door behind her then grabbed her journal out from under her mattress and sat down at her desk. She glanced out the window to see Dylan pulling the tractor out of the barn. Jenna couldn’t help but smile as she watched him disappear around the back of the barn, and then returned her attention to the journal.

Mom,

I can’t believe it. I was invited to a beach party tomorrow night. And there’s even going to be a bonfire. Alex wasn’t happy about it at first, but I convinced him it would be fun. I really miss you and wish you could be here. I know I have to get on with my life, but it’s hard knowing you’re not here.

Love, Jenna

JENNA
checked her hair one more time in the long mirror on her closet door.
Maybe I should put it up
, she thought as she played with it to see how she liked it best. She let go of her hair letting it fall down around her shoulders as she heard the crunching of gravel outside her bedroom window.

She hurried over to the window to see Dylan climbing out of an old dark blue Chevy truck. As happy as she was at that moment, she still couldn’t help but feel guilty. Was it fair to her mom to want to have some fun? She shook her head forcing herself to smile. Her mom would have wanted her to go. She would have wanted her to make some friends.

Jenna hurried over to the mirror and checked herself one more time then started for the door. She paused remembering that Dylan had told her to bring a jacket. So she grabbed her blue sweatshirt. Excited about getting out for the night and possibly making new friends, she hurried down the stairs reaching the bottom just as the doorbell rang. Not wanting to seem too anxious, she waited a minute, and then answered it.

“Hey,” Dylan said as she opened the door. “You ready?”

Jenna smiled as Dylan stepped into the house. “I sure am, but only if you have the marshmallows you promised to bring,” she joked.

Dylan laughed. “Don’t worry, I remembered them. They’re in the truck,” he said nodding towards the truck. “Is your brother coming? I want him to meet some of my friends.”

“Yeah, he’s coming,” Jenna replied as Alex came out of the living room and joined them at the door.

“Hi, I’m Alex.” Alex extended his hand toward Dylan.

“I’m Dylan. I’m glad you decided to come with us,” Dylan said shaking Alex’s hand. “There are some people who want to meet the both of you. Should we get going?”

“We’re leaving,” Alex called to Arlene who was sitting in the living room reading a book.

“Have a good time,” she called back.

Dylan led the way to his truck, the door creaking as he opened it. He held the door as Jenna slid into the middle of the seat then got in bedside her as Alex walked around to the other side and climbed in the passenger seat.

“She may look like she’s seen better days, but she’s never let me down,” Dylan said as he started the engine. They rode in silence as they drove past the apples trees and off the orchard property.

“So,” Alex said finally breaking the silence. “What’s the town like?”

Dylan shrugged. “Just like any other small town I guess. Everyone knows everyone else
, and
their business. That’s why I like working for Arlene so much; she keeps to herself and doesn’t gossip.”

“Have you lived here all your life?” Jenna asked.

“Yes, my parents too.” Dylan turned onto a dusty road that seemed to be a dead end, but before long Jenna could hear the sound of music and laughing teenagers.

“Here we are,” Dylan announced as he parked the truck next to a red Jeep Cherokee on what seemed to be a secluded beach bordered by trees. “We call this the pit. As long as we don’t get too rowdy, the local cops leave us alone.”

Jenna looked around as they all climbed out of the truck. There were about twenty kids there already working on setting up and getting the bonfire pit ready. Coolers were scattered everywhere, most with chairs next to them with towels thrown over the back. Dylan walked around to the tailgate of the truck, pulled it down and pulled his own cooler onto it.

“Let me help you with that,” Alex said as he grabbed one end of the cooler.

“Thanks,” Dylan said grasping the other handle and lifting it off the tailgate. “Jenna, could you grab the bag and blanket out of the back,” he asked as they walked toward an open spot in the sand near the water.

Jenna reached over the side of the truck and grabbed the grocery bag and blanket. She smiled when she saw a bag of marshmallows sitting on the top of the stuff in the bag. She picked up the bag and blanket and followed Dylan and Alex.

“Is this spot okay with you guys?” Dylan asked as they set the cooler down.

“Fine with me,” Alex said.

“Me too,” Jenna replied as she set down the bag and started to fan out the blanket.

“Here, let me help you,” Dylan said as he took two sides of the blanket and helped lay it on the sand.

“Hey, Dylan,” a tall slender girl with blonde highlighted hair, a tight fitting tank top and snug fitting shorts yelled from across the beach. She ran toward him and hugged him. “I’ve missed you. Where have you been and why haven’t you called me?” she asked as she threw Jenna a nasty look.

Dylan took a step back away from the girl looking annoyed. “Don’t start, Sandra,” he told her. “You know I’ve been working and why I haven’t called. Let’s not ruin this party for everyone else.”

Sandra glared at Jenna with daggers in her eyes. “Oh, I see how it is.” She turned toward Jenna, put her hands on her hips and looked her over. “Where did you pick up this one?” she asked sarcastically as she shook her head.

If looks could kill, Jenna thought she’d be dead by now with the way Sandra was glaring at her. She knew this was one girl she was never going to be friends with.

“It’s none of your business anymore who I hang out with,” Dylan told her as he stepped in front of Jenna. “And, for the record she’s not my girlfriend. They just moved here and are living with Arlene. I’m showing them around town.”

“Well, if that’s your story, but don’t think I buy it for a minute,” she retorted before giving Jenna another nasty look then rudely turning her back and walking away.

Jenna and Alex just stared at Dylan who was shaking his head in disbelief. “Sorry about that. We dated for about two months, before I realized the only person she cared about was herself and that I was just her arm candy. She can’t get over the fact that I dumped her and not the other way around.”

“Can’t blame you there, bro. She doesn’t seem all that stable,” Alex pointed out as he watched Sandra laughing and pointing at them from across the beach.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re harmless, all talk that’s all. But, this tough guy on the other hand, is all trouble,” Dylan laughed as a tall teenage boy with short brown hair and a muscular body jogged toward them.

“Hey, Dylan, glad you made it, man. It wouldn’t have been the same without you,” the boy said as he bopped fists with Dylan.

“Wouldn’t have missed it, you should know that. And, I even bought some new friends.” Dylan gestured toward Jenna and Alex. “Dean, this is Jenna and Alex Connors. Arlene is their Aunt. They’ll be staying with her for their senior year.”

“Great, two more people to join our little group of misfits,” Dean joked. “That is, unless you’d rather be part of their group?” Dean gestured over his shoulder at Sandra and her friends.

“No, thank you,” Jenna replied smirking. “I’d rather be a loner and eat lunch in a bathroom stall every day.”

Alex, Dean and Dylan laughed. “Can’t blame you there,” Dean said. “I still can’t figure out what my buddy here was thinking when he thought dating the drama queen over there was a good idea.” Dean jokingly punched Dylan in the arm.

Dylan shook his head. “I’m pleading temporary insanity on that one. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking either.”

“Well, I don’t know about you but I’m not going to spend the night talking about someone who’s not worth it. Come on, you should meet the rest of the gang.” Dean gestured for Jenna and Alex to follow him to a group of kids sitting by the water down the beach a little ways.

“You’ll like these kids better. I promise,” Dylan told Jenna and Alex as they followed Dean to the group.

Alex shook his head. “Anyone’s gotta be better than that girl, Sandra,” he said.

When they got to the water, Dean introduced them to three more teenagers. Jasmine was a petite girl with short blonde hair and a curvy figure, Tommy was tall, with a spiky haircut, and last was Carla who had an hourglass figure and was very well endowed making Jenna think she was popular with the boys. Everyone seemed nice enough and Jenna could easily see herself hanging with these kids.

“So, where are you from?” Jasmine asked.

“Oak Forest, Texas,” Alex responded. “Our parents’ job transferred them to China for a year and instead of making us go with them they said we could stay with our Aunt Arlene so we could finish our senior year.”

“Wow, China. What do they do?” Tommy asked as he picked up a Frisbee and tossed it back to the group of kids who had thrown it.

Jenna shot a look at Alex; they hadn’t discussed what their parents supposedly did for a living. “They’re architects. They were asked to design this really cool mall in China and couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

“That’s sounds so cool. You’ll have to show us pictures after it’s built,” Carla said as she hooked her arm through Tommy’s as if to stake her claim.

“Watch out!” Dean exclaimed as he stepped in front of Jenna and caught a Frisbee that would have hit her otherwise.

“Oops,” Sandra giggled as she ran over to get the Frisbee she had tossed. “Guess I threw it little too hard,” she said seeming very pleased with herself.