~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter Three~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Jen’s fists struck the punching bag with frustrated force,
repeatedly pounding an angry rhythm that didn’t fail to reach
Trent’s ears. He dismissed his class, then watched Jen from the
doorway to the back gym.
"What’s wrong with Jen?" Tommy asked, stepping up behind Trent
and watching Jen pulverize the bag with a round-kick.
"I wish I knew, Tommy," Trent answered, troubled by the
expression on Jen’s face. "I wish I knew."
* * *
Thirty minutes later, Jen’s anger was gone, replaced by
exhaustion, but her confusion remained. Grabbing her duffel, she
headed for the exit, ready to go home and take a nice, hot bath.
"Jen?"
Jen, surprised, turned to face Trent.
"What are you still doing here?" Jen asked. It was dinner time,
and she’d thought he’d already left.
"I was waiting to talk to you," Trent explained gently.
"Are you all right?"
"Of course," Jen answered quickly, not wanting to discuss her
confusion over Billy with Trent. "Why would anything be wrong?"
"Well, you all but kicked the stuffing out of my punching bag,"
Trent reminded her.
Jen’s eyes strayed in the direction of the punching bag, then
locked on Trent’s face.
"I was just working out," Jen explained, uncomfortable with
Trent’s scrutiny. "What’s the big deal?"
"The big deal is, I care about you," Trent answered. "I don’t
want to see you get hurt."
"I’m not going to get hurt," Jen told him, positive that she’d
seen the last of Billy that afternoon.
"And I don’t like seeing you upset," Trent continued.
"I am not--" Jen stopped. Lowering her voice, she continued.
"I am not upset, Trent."
"You could have fooled me," Trent retorted.
"I’m fine, Trent!" Jen spun towards the door, and Trent grabbed
her wrist.
"What is it about Billy that bothers you so much?" Trent asked,
finally getting to his point.
Jen, feeling defensive, bit back, "What is it about Billy that
bothers you, Trent?"
Trent, surprised by Jen’s accusation, didn’t resist as she
broke free and raced out of Thunder Karate.
* * *
Jen was surprised to see Billy sitting on her doorstep when she
arrived home.
"I was wondering if I’d be sitting here all night,"
Billy said smoothly, standing as Jen stepped up to the door. He
stepped up behind her.
"Billy, what are you doing here?" she asked, fumbling with her
keys.
"I told you you’d see me later," he reminded her. He started
massaging her shoulders, and Jen froze.
"Billy, don’t," Jen asked, her insides in turmoil. She found
her house key and unlocked the door.
Billy kept massaging.
"You’re so tense," he noted, rubbing her sore muscles gently.
"I bet a nice bath would do you wonders."
Jen tensed at his words. The way he still knew her comforted
and scared her at the same time. She gathered her last ounce of
resistance.
"You’re right, Billy," she agreed, stepping inside. "Goodnight."
"Not so fast," Billy said, stopping Jen
from slamming the door on him. "Let me cook
dinner for you."
Jen choked back a laugh. "You? Cook?"
Billy could burn water! Which, as she recalled,
he had done once.
"Okay, the Thanksgiving incident aside,"
Billy fielded good-naturedly, "a lot of things have changed
since you last saw me."
Jen felt momentarily uncomfortable, but she relaxed when he
continued.
"And cooking is one of them," Billy finished, looking
imploringly down at Jen. "So, what do you say?" Jen, out of
excuses, couldn’t resist.
"Come in, Billy," she sighed. She pointed him in the
direction of the kitchen, then she raced upstairs to take a bath.
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