Sunday, September 26, 2004 Based on a True Story; The Demise of the Trio

The party had come to an end. The drinks were drank, the fun was had, what was left was the beginning of a new day.    Jenny awoke abruptly to the laughter of one of her best friends, Nara. Nara held a camera phone to Jenny’s groggy, sleepy face and took a snapshot.    “Gaddam it,” Jenny yelled, trying to shield her face, “Whatchoo do that for?!”  Laughing, Nara replied, “ Sorry! I stole Jake’s phone because he’s the only one with a camera phone and I felt like taking pictures!”  “Oh God,” Jenny said as she rubbed her eyes and proceeded to sit up.    A thought occurred in her head a few seconds later. (Nara knows very well that I have a camera phone. We’ve taken so many pictures of all our friends with it.) However, Jenny eventually dismissed the thought and continued to converse pleasantly with her best friend.    Jake laid next to Jenny on the open futon. Jake and Jenny mutually liked each other and had been hanging out together for the past several months. He couldn’t help but wake up to Nara’s admittance that she had stolen his phone in his sleep. He had way too much to drink the night before, but was forced to wake up due to the two laughing friends that shared the room with him.    Jake received a call from his mom on his phone and told Jenny that he had to go home, particularly because he had to return the cell phone. The phone belonged to his mom.   As Jenny collected her things, Jake brushed by and said in a hushed voice, “Your friends are wack.” “Huh,” Jenny said, “Why would you say that?”  “I’ll tell you later.” Jake replied.  Jenny hated having to wait to hear what was on his mind, being prone to panic attacks and all, but she figured that she would hear it later anyway and let it go.    Ready for a shower and a nap, everyone got up and left for home. Ann, Jenny’s other best friend was the last to be dropped off. Jenny had made the round and sat with Ann as they usually do when Jenny drives Ann home. They reminisced about old times. They spoke about how refreshing the night was for the three of them, including Nara. Ann had also done some pretty evil things the night before and sought advice from Jenny. Together, they worked out the possibles, as only best friends could. Jenny loved Ann dearly. She would’ve done anything in her power to help Ann or Nara, no matter what the consequences. She had always been there and always counted on the same from them.    Eventually Jenny went home herself for a nap if she could afford it.    Later that night, Jenny hung out with Jake, as they often did. Jake and Jenny had been having misunderstandings lately and Jenny wanted to make amends and spend time with him, considering that he was leaving the country soon.    As they sat together watching movies, one of their favorite pastimes, Jenny remembered and asked Jake, “Earlier, you said my friends are wack. You told me you’d tell me why later. Well, later is now.”    Jake seemed to gather himself, which frightened Jenny even more. She suddenly got bad vibes.    “Last night,” he began, “You’re friends were flirting with me. They kept texting me and wouldn’t leave me alone. I wanted to save the texts to show you, but you know this morning when Nara had my phone? She took it and erased all the texts so you wouldn’t see.”  “Oh. You know how they are. They were drunk and they were probably kidding with you.” Jenny said.  “No, Jenny. They were serious. If they were simply joking, why did Nara erase the texts and why didn’t they tell you.” Jake replied sincerely.    Jenny remained in denial and kept defending her best friends. However, Jenny listened to what Jake was saying; that they suggestively flirted with Jake and invited him to make out with them because they had both secretly had crushes on him.    “They told me not to tell you, Jenny. There was, like, fifty texts!” Jake said, “And it made me angry. That’s why I was angry last night.”    Jenny recalled his baffling behavior last night. Jenny began to tremble. Her anxiety issues started to shake her as she fought off the thought.   “No they wouldn’t do that to me. I know that they both thought you were cute. Maybe that’s all,” She continued to say, but Jenny’s stomach began to twist, “But I tell you. I hope you’re wrong,” her eyes started to glisten; “I just hope you’re wrong because it’s starting to sting really badly.”    “They were serious, Jenny. Nara told me that she did crush on me all along and Ann had always flirted with me. One time she was rubbing my leg on the beach, and when her boyfriend came she stopped. They told me all this because they wanted me to know before I leave. They didn’t want me to tell you, but I thought their actions were messed up and it made me mad and I wanted to tell you.” Jake continued.    Jenny remembered a past situation when Nara had been text flirting with Jake and a party where Jake and Nara flirted in front of Jenny. Granted, Jake was solely the bad guy in the situation and Nara helped Jenny confront him that night. Nara had also assured Jenny that she had no feelings for Jake anyway. However, Jake’s testimony proved that wrong.    Jenny sat quietly battling denial, pain, panic, and the spinning hurricane of thoughts that attacked her.    “Thank you for telling me this Jake. I need to talk with them. I need to know if this is true!”  “Oh God. They’ll be mad at me. I don’t want to be a part of this. Don’t tell them,” Jake worried.  “You did a good thing Jake! Why are you even worried? Why do you even care?” Jenny said, as her breath got harder to hold onto.  “You’re right. I guess I don’t care.” He replied.    Jenny’s head started to feel light. She could barely sit up straight. She wanted to be sick. She wanted to pass out. She needed to know the truth. Jake brought her a glass of water and after a few sips, Jenny ran out of the room, overwhelmed by emotions.   Jenny sat in her car, and dialed Ann on her cell. Ann picked up. “Ann, I hope I didn’t wake you,” Jenny sobbed as tears poured from her eyes, “but Jake just told me something that you and Nara did last night! Is it true?”   Jenny was broken as she spoke to Ann. Ann and Jenny had grown so close in the recent months that she held Ann dearly. She was Jenny’s truest friend and closest confidant. Ann was the absolute last person that Jenny could ever suspect to hurt her; especially after all they’ve been through together.    “Well,” Ann began, “We played with him...........can I call you back in a few minutes, babe?” “Yes.” Jenny said and hung up the phone as she held her weeping face in her hands and cried uncontrollably.    She then attempted to call Nara, but her cell was off.    Jake quietly came out to the car and sat inside. He placed an arm on Jenny’s shoulder and consoled her with tender words.    “Thanks for telling me Jake. Its not just that they were flirting with you. Its about trust. I never did anything like that to them. I had always wanted to be someone they could count on. I can't trust them anymore. Jake, you don’t know how much your courage to tell me means to me.” Jenny told him.   Jenny had lost hope in the two people she trusted and counted on the most. Jenny sat in the car with Jake and they talked while they waited. Ann never called back.