Page 22 of Amethyst

I’ve already found her.

I scoot the chair a few feet across the hardwood floor until I’m only a foot away from Jenna, facing her. I grab her hand, but she doesn’t meet my gaze.

“Please. Forget what I asked. Even though you’re not with Mimi anymore, you’ve just ended a significant relationship. I had no right to ask you.”

“Jen, you had every right. We’ve been best friends since we were four years old. You have the right to ask me anything.”

“But I wasn’t thinking. You’re—youwere—in a relationship.”

I squeeze her hand. “Hey, it’s okay. You know what we’ve always said. We’d help each other bury the body.”

She smiles then, sniffling,

I grab the box of Kleenex off her nightstand and move from the chair to sit next to her on the bed, handing her a tissue.

She wipes her eyes. “I can’t tell you how many bodies I wish I could’ve buried on that island.”

Sadness whips through me. Sadness, and then anger. “I wish I had been there. I should’ve been there to protect you.”

“No one could’ve protected me, Max. Though I know if you had been there, you would’ve tried.”

“What happened that day, Jen? That day we were supposed to go to prom?

She blows her nose, loud and unceremoniously. “For a long time I didn’t remember. But through therapy, it came back. But I haven’t told anyone other than counselors. Not even Mom or Dad.”

“If you don’t want to tell anyone—”

She places her fingers on my lips, and my God, my whole body reacts, especially my dick.

“I always knew you would be the first person I told.” She drops her gaze to her lap. “But not yet, Max. I’m not ready yet.”

“It’s okay.” I cup her cheek and then tip her chin so she’s looking me in the eye. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you. And if that means taking you to bed, I’ll do it, Jenna.”

I’ll do it.

I’ll do it for her. Because I love her and she needs me.

And if I get my heart’s desire in the process? Just one time?

That’s simply icing on the cake.

I just hope I can handle the fact that once I eat that icing, it won’t be coming back.

8

JENNA

Aone-hundred-dollar bill.

I couldn’t believe it. A block away from the Garretts’ house, where I was babysitting. I cut through the wetland area, where Max and I used to chase praying mantises when we were in elementary school. He never minded that I was a tomboy who hated the color pink, hated wearing dresses. My hair was long, but it was always pulled back in a braid that hung down my back.

I wasn’t afraid of squishy things and worms and grasshoppers and praying mantises.

Every time I cut through this area, I remember those days.

And tonight is prom. Prom with Max.

I got screwed over by my boyfriend of three years, and though I’ve been on a few dates this year, in the end, I chose to go to the prom with Max. My best friend, Max. What a wonderful way to end our senior year of high school. Together.

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