Page 48 of Casualties

“He's staying in town at his dad’s house.I don’t know, he isn’t close with his family like we are.”I feel bad that he has to be alone—and probably work for his dad—through break.

“You guys have been together for what, three months now?You didn’t think to invite him?”I hate when she asks questions she already knows the answer to.I can’t invite Jackson, not with Ace next door.For one, I'm not ready for that, and two, Jackson and Ace can't stand each other.I would like a peaceful holiday at home.

“You know why I can't do that.”After Jackson dropped me off that day we went to his father’s house, I told Cassie everything.From start to finish, she finally got all of the gory details.Some parts of the story were no surprise at all—like the fact that Ace is in love with me.Other parts shocked her—like the night I hooked up with him.In her words, she didn’t know I had it in me.

My phone rings with a FaceTime call from Jordan.I answer and shove myself into Cass, so she can be on camera, too.

“AC!Bitch!Where the fuck have you been lately?I’m shocked you even answered my call.Hi Cass!”God, she's so dramatic.But that’s Jordan for you, drama queen extraordinaire.Cassie and I say hey in unison.

“I know, right?All of a sudden she gets a man, and forgets who her main bitches are!Shame on you, AC.”Cass shakes her finger at me, feigning tears.

“You guys are ganging up on me, and it’s not fair.”I cross my arms in front of my chest, pouting.

“Okay, fine.New subject that I have been dying to talk to you about,” Jordan says.Cass and I lean in to hear the surprise news.

“I'm transferring to Boise State next year, but plan to move at the start of summer.”She cups her hand around her ear waiting to hear our response.

“Oh my freakin’ God!Are you serious?You’re serious right, this isn’t a joke?”Cassie and I are simultaneously squealing with excitement.She was around for a bunch of my video calls with J, and they kinda clicked from there.

“Ha-ha, yeah, the transfer was approved.Are your parents still cool with you guys getting an apartment next semester?I'm hoping we can get a three-bedroom, and move in together.”J has the biggest smile on her face.Hands-down, no questions asked, we are moving in together.

“They said yes, and we'll start apartment-hunting once the school year ends.”I wish Jordan could be here to help us choose where we’ll live, but her moving here is enough for me.

“You know I'll be happy with whatever you both choose, but please make sure the kitchen is nice.I know you guys burn water, so a kitchen isn't top priority for you.But if you want home-cooked meals, I better have a kitchen worth cooking in.Someone needs to make sure you both are surviving on more than takeout.”She’s right.Our bodies are probably eighty-five percent takeout.

“That’s what vitamins, running, and a fabulous skincare regimen are for.”Jordan rolls her eyes as I try to justify our unhealthy eating habits.

“Quit playing, you both need to eat healthy.Besides school and meeting super-hot men, I'll be a part-time nutritionist.”

“What, dating pool getting slim where you’re at?”Cass asks jokingly.Jordan’s face contorts in a brief grimace like something’s wrong.She fixes it quickly with her larger-than-life smile again.That was strange.

“The dating pool is non-existent, and I'm in need of new surroundings.Not to mention, my best girls!”J’s head jerks up quickly, and she has that concerned look on her face again.Before I can say anything, she turns her head back to us.

“Gotta run, girls.I'll be there in time to help decorate.Love you long time for a short time.”Then she hangs up.

“That was weird, right?Not that she's moving here, but that strange look she had on her face,” I ask Cassie, wondering if she picked up on the same vibes.

“Yeah, I noticed that too.Hopefully it’s nothing, but if it is, she'll tell us in her own time.”It’s funny, Cass and I both treat Jordan the way we treat each other.Jordan, on the other hand, would be berating us with questions to get the scoop.

Cass’s phone dings with a text.She glances at it, but then quickly flips her phone down.I know that move all too well.

“Who was that?”I ask.

“Nobody worth mentioning,” she huffs out.

I ask her the one thing I've been dying to know.“How is Ace?Well, I mean, how are Ace and Morgan?”I'm embarrassed, almost forgetting to ask how my brother has been as well.Morgan and I keep in touch, mostly through texting, but other than an occasional coffee date, I haven’t seen much of him.

“Morgan is being typical Morgan, but I haven’t seen much of Ace.Just in passing here and there.From what Morgan said, he keeps to himself, and only focuses on school and work.”Her shoulders shrug like there’s nothing more to say.I give her a smile that doesn’t touch my eyes.She gets it, and doesn’t say more.

The day I chose Jackson, I expected Ace to show up at some point and try to force me to break things off.He never did.The boy next door must have come to the same realization I did: space is the best thing for two people in our lose-lose situation.I can admit to myself that I miss him—a lot, if I’m being honest.But I don’t regret the decision we made, it was best for all of us.

I’m not sure how Christmas break will go, but it will be nice to spend time with the people I love most.

TWENTY-FOUR

AINSLEY

We did it!We made it to Christmas break, and I could not be more thankful to have three weeks off from school.I’ve been in core classes so far, so most of my writing has been assignments the teacher gives us—not a lot of time for my personal writing projects.That will be rectified over break.I plan to finish a short story I have slowly been working on, as well as a new poem.

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