Page 51 of The Second Kiss
At the stop light the Nag sputters. I put it in park and rev the engine. The guy in the car next to us looks over at us, either checking us out or trying to figure out why the engine is making so much noise.
Jasmine checks him out, but I guess she doesn’t like what she sees because she looks back at me. “That’s crazy. There’s this whole war going on.” Jasmine brushes her fingers through her hair and checks her face in the visor mirror. “My cousin, Ray, just got home from Iraq. Aunt Carmen was stressed out the whole time he was gone. She lit candles in church every week until he came home.”
I concentrate on the road and don’t answer. I keep hearing news reports about more troop deployments. I don’t like to think about the possibility of Jacob or Matt going to war.
“Ugh. Why is it so packed?" Jasmine says when we pull into the parking lot.
“Um. Christmas?” I pull out my list. “Which stores were you thinking? Who do you need to shop for?”
“Oh yeah. Mostly me. My winter wardrobe is seriously impoverished. Dad gave me some early Christmas money.”Jasmine heads for the nearest clothing store. One I can’t afford. She has no idea what the word ‘impoverished’ means.
“I have people I need to shop for. This is my only day,” I protest, but she isn’t listening.
Jasmine easily spends twice as much as me and as far as I can tell, she only get things for herself. I spend half the time agonizing over whether I should get something for Jacob. I finally settled on the same box of chocolates for him and his brothers. Not very personal, but at least it’s something.
“I’m beat,” Jasmine says as we’re picking up smoothies at the food court. “I can’t believe you’re going to teach kickboxing after this.”
“Thanks for reminding me. We need to get going,” I look at my phone. It’s getting late.
Jasmine takes a sip of her smoothie. “One more stop and then we’ll head home. I saw a to-die-for skirt on the way over here, something perfect for New Years.”
The to-die-for skirt is followed with a pair of silver heels and a sequined blouse. “It’s all on sale. Almost half price,” Jasmine says admiring herself in the mirror. “You should be proud of me.”
“It’d better be half price,” I answer, “there’s only about half the fabric.”
“Yeah, but it makes my butt look fabulous.”
I roll my eyes, but she’s right.
“You should try the green one,” Jasmine says.
“No,” I glance at the time. “We need to go.”
She steps out of the dressing room, still wearing the blouse and skirt and starts searching through another rack. “You need to play up your assets more, Jess. You worked hard for that body. It’s okay to show it off.”
“I just went Christmas shopping. I don’t have money for new clothes and I don't need anything.”
She eyes my clothes, the usual jeans and t-shirt. “Yes, you do. The sporty tomboy thing makes you look about twelve.” She holds up a pair of stretchy blue shorts, about four inches shorter than what I usually wear. “To work out in.” She pulls out a black skirt and holds it up to me. “And this for New Years. I bet Jacob would notice if you wore this.”
I turn red and start to protest. “We’re just friends...he’s way too old--”
“Yeah, right. You don’t believe that, and neither do I.” She shoves the clothes into my hand. “I’m not leaving until you try both of these.”
I walk out in the skirt. It’s simple, not as short as the one she’s wearing, but tight. Jasmine whistles as I turn around in it, so does a guy standing next to the counter.
I turn to give him a look and realize who the whistle belongs to.
“Jess, you look insanely hot in that. You should get it.” Brad moves closer. “And wear it to the party.”
“Party?” Jasmine says.
The skirt suddenly feels very bare. Brad and I have settled into a mutual understanding of avoiding each other at school, but it still makes me nervous every time I’m around him, and right now he’s standing way too close for comfort. “New Year’s, Grant’s parents are going on a cruise.”
Jasmine stands in front of him, her arms crossed. “It’s an open invitation, right? We can bring whoever we want?”
Brad thinks for a second he says slowly, “Sure. Grant’s house is huge, a few extras won’t make a difference.”
“Maybe we’ll see you there,” Jasmine says.
