On The Floor (Second Story) by Jennifer LaCross

guidelines for conduct while we’re there during the day. The group seems excited that they’ll have Saturday night free. Even though they're all under twenty-one, they should be able to find something to do there.
    After they leave, it’s just me, Jake, and a whole lot of tension left in the common room.
    “Rachel?” I look over at him. He sounds sad. He doesn’t even know how much he just stomped all over my heart. “Is everything ok?”
    I put a big fake smile on my face. “Yep. Just nervous about this date I have next weekend. He sounds really great!” I say hoping to do a little stomping myself. I don’t know if what he said last night was what he really felt, but if it was, then he should be feeling close to what I am feeling right now.
    “A date?” he asks, his face darkening a little even though he's still smiling.
    “Yep. Another set-up, but this guy actually sounds really great. I think he has some real relationship potential, unlike some guys I know.” Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
    “That sounds great. Hope you have fun,” he says, a tight smile on his face. With that he picks up his stuff and leaves the common room.
    Why did I just do that?
     
    ***
     
    I get to Jenna’s room and the door is wide open. She’s sitting on her bed with a bowl of kettle corn (my favorite) and the remote.
    “Talk then Channing, or Channing then talk?” She gives me a sad smile.
    I love her.
    “He doesn’t remember,” I say holding back tears and going to lie next to her on the bed. This is the type of thing I would have gone to my mom about, and before Jenna, I would have to deal with it on my own. She’s the only one, other than my family, who knows about everything I went through after my mom died. She’ll never be able to replace the comfort and love my mom gave me, but she usually knows just what I need. She’s amazing.
    “What do you mean? You said he sounded and acted fine. He couldn’t have been that drunk,” she asks quietly.
    “Well, apparently, he was. He says he doesn’t remember how he got home. And he acted like nothing was different between us.”
    “What did he say when you told him about it?”
    I do some sort of a sad laugh/sob thing. “There is no way I’m bringing it up. If he just said those things to get in my pants and didn’t really mean them, I’ll be more crushed than I already am. I’d rather think that he meant them and doesn’t remember, than know that he doesn’t feel that way about me.”
    And here is where the best friend truth-that-you-don’t-want-to-hear-but need-to-hear comes. “You’re full of shit. You know he feels the same way. Just tell him.”
    And I do know he feels the same way. I could see it in his face when I told him about my upcoming date with Nate. He was jealous. But just because she is right about his feelings, it doesn’t mean it is what I want to hear from her. “Talking done. Time for Channing,” I say reaching for the bowl of kettle corn.
    Jenna shakes her head at my stubbornness, but then she smiles at me and holds up two movies. “ The Vow or Magic Mike ?”
    Sad and teary, you don’t remember our love? Or hot male strippers?
    I want to escape my situation, not think about it.
    “Definitely Magic Mike .”
    She smiles. “I may have to call Will after the movie is over so I can have a live reenactment!” We both start laughing. This is just what I needed.
     
    ***
     
    On my way back to my room, I run into Jake on his way out. I decide to try to make an effort to be friendly and stop being so chilly towards him.
    “Hey Jake!” I say smiling, trying to make the effort.
    “Hey,” he says and walks right by me. No smile. Nothing.
    I don’t see Jake for the rest of the week.

Chapter 7
     
     
     
    I was in a foul mood all week. Jake was never in his room when I went to go see him. I didn’t run into him in the halls. And he certainly didn’t come looking for me.
    Jenna arranged for her, Will, Nate, and I to go to dinner and then Sound