FADING (A novel)(38)

Pulling up to my house, I see Kimber’s car and Seth’s jeep parked out front. I was hoping she wouldn’t be here. I really just want to be alone right now instead of having another awkward and tense interaction with the girl who used to be my best friend—who I wish still was.

When I walk through the door, the house is quiet, and I assume they are in Kimber’s room. I walk back to my room and begin powdering my pointes. I hang them up in my closet to air-dry before hopping into the shower.

As I am rinsing the last of the shampoo out of my hair, I hear the sounds that are becoming all too familiar from Kimber’s room. “Are you kidding me?” I mumble in frustration. All I want is some peace and quiet to ease the stress I’m feeling.

Shutting off the water, I step out of the shower and quickly dry myself off. I throw on some underwear and a white tank top then walk into my closet to grab my black velour sport pants and matching zip-up hoodie. Standing in front of my mirror at my dresser, I shake out as much water as I can from my hair before throwing it up into a messy, loose bun on top of my head. I quickly apply some powder and swipe on my lip-gloss before sliding into my Uggs.

Hearing Kimber and Seth is making my skin crawl at this point, so I throw my sleeping pills in my purse, grab my keys, and get the hell out. I figure I can just spend the evening at Jase’s apartment. I really need a little space to clear my head and relax.

When I arrive at Jase’s and let myself in, I’m shocked to see Ryan sitting on his couch. I stop in my tracks and stare, unsure of what to say. What is he doing here?

“Hey, is everything all right?” I hear Jase ask from the kitchen.

I turn my head away from Ryan and focus on Jase. Taking a few steps further into the apartment, I respond, “Umm, yeah . . . I mean no.” I’m stumbling over my words like an idiot, but I am so caught off guard that Ryan is here. And then realizing that it wasn’t but a few minutes ago I was in the shower and here I stand with my wet hair that’s tied up in a hair tie is making my head swirl.

Jase walks around the bar with a couple bottles of beer and heads over to the couch to hand one to Ryan. “What’s that mean?” he asks.

“Nothing, never mind.” I let out a deep sigh and walk over to take a seat in the oversized chair that is next to the couch. I flop down and lean my head back. “I didn’t know you would have company, or I would have called or something.”

Laughing, Jase says, “Candace, I gave you a key so you wouldn’t have to call. You can come over whenever.”

“You okay?” Ryan asks me.

I turn my head to look at him, then back at Jase, whom I know is wondering the same thing. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I say as I shift my eyes to the TV, which is playing SportsCenter. “Where’s Mark?” I ask as I continue to zone out on the football highlights that are currently playing.

“He’s finishing up rehearsals with the band. He should be here shortly, then we are heading out to Malone’s to shoot some pool and chill,” Jase says. His cell begins to ring and when he answers it, he grabs his jacket and excuses himself to the balcony.

“So, I take it the rest of your day didn’t go well?” Ryan asks.

Looking over at him, I say, “Not exactly.”

Even though I was extremely uncomfortable the other night at Spines, I’m feeling a little more at ease after hanging out with him this afternoon at work.

“Don’t want to talk about it?”

I shake my head and turn my attention back to the TV when Jase walks back in.

“Who was that?” I ask

“Just Mark. He’s heading over now.”

“Hey, did you get a chance to think about Saturday?” Ryan asks. When I look over at him he is taking a sip of his beer.

“Saturday?” Jase questions.

“Yeah, I asked her to come with us.”

I wish he wouldn’t have brought this up because I know Jase will hound me until I say yes. He is on a mission to get me out more.

“Oh yeah? You coming?” Jase asks me.

Eying him, I say, “I have a lot of studying to do before finals.”

“Please, we both know you are way ahead in all your classes,” Jase says. “You should come. We are hiking up to the Tolmie Peak Lookout.”

Not wanting to argue with Jase in front of Ryan and make him wonder why I am so anti-social, I appease him with a simple, “Fine.”

When I look up at Jase, he has a big grin across his face, and I shake my head at him. Honestly, I don’t really feel uneasy about going hiking. It’s November, so there more than likely won’t be too many people there, and it’s not that often that I go to Mount Rainier. I went over the summer to go running a few times. I have never hiked to this particular lookout, but I have heard that the peak has an amazing view of the Sound.

I hear my phone ring from my purse that is sitting on the floor next to me. Reaching down, I pick it up and see that it’s my mother again. I hit decline as I did when she called earlier and toss it back in my purse.

When I look up at Jase, he is giving me a questioning look, so I go ahead and answer his unspoken curiosity. “My mother.”

By the time Mark arrives, I am ready for sleep. Having been at work this morning by six, I’m exhausted. As the guys get ready to leave, I ask Mark, “Do you mind if I stay here tonight?” I feel like I need to ask Mark most of the time instead of Jase because Jase will never tell me no.