Enigma

  Jenna Brooks's POV

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

  I jolted awake, startled by the noise. Ow. My head was throbbing. I rubbed my temples trying to remember what had happened last night but I failed to. How did I get home? How did I get to my room? This must be what it feels like to be hungover. How much did I drink? Why was my head pounding so much?  Was it the tequila? The whiskey? The rum? The wine? Mixing all four? Who knows.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

Shit. What time was it? I checked my phone: 8:05 a.m. Fuck!

"I'm coming!" I shouted, trying but failing to put on my best I-definitely-did-not-just-wake-up voice.

I yanked open the door. It was Jeanette. She was all dressed for school except, she hadn't yet put on makeup.

"You're not ready yet?" she asked me, her eyes scanning my appearance with suspicion.

"Yeah…I'll be down in a sec."

She mumbled a  'hurry up' before I closed the door and rushed into the bathroom. Jeanette still hadn't done her make up yet so I still had time. 

In less than thirty minutes, I was ready. I swung my bag around my shoulder and made my way out. As I had predicted, Jeanette was still doing her make up. Jamie wasn't in sight, so as Conrad. They were probably already waiting in the car. After eating my breakfast, Jeanette and I baded Auntie Laurel goodbye. 

  ***

  I had been standing on the school field for about twenty minutes now and I was already getting exhausted. A whole twenty minute!!! It was gym period and we were all out on the field. Some students were enjoying playing handballs, some were gossiping and some of us were just fed up of the whole thing. 

The vos (very obedient students) sat down on formidable chairs to rest their feet and were shaded by umbrellas, sipping cold water from water bottles that were freshly plucked from a cooler filled with ice cubes. 

  I could also seat on formidable chairs to rest my feet and stand under a shaded umbrella and sip cold water from water bottles that were freshly plucked from a cooler filled with ice cubes but I didn't get that kind of luxury since I wasn't an obedient student. 

I wasn't sure if it was the hang over or the alcohol's effect was still taking hold but when I got to school this morning, I didn't go to class. My head was throbbing and I needed somewhere else to unwind so I went behind the bleachers but ended up falling asleep. A teacher caught me and standing all through gym period was my punishment along with the other class ditchers. And it just happened to be the gym teacher's birthday, talk about bad luck. The gym teacher provided everyone else with umbrellas and drinks and chairs to unwind while I stood in the hot sun.

Conrad had skipped gym period and the class before, I wonder where he's always at. Now, while the others enjoyed the rear luxury of latching around and doing nothing during gym period, me and the other unlucky students stood in the hot sun, umbrella-less and water-bottle-less and sweating through every single one of the layers of our scratchy, must-smelling, great depression era clothes–gym clothes. One the bright side, the heat from the sun helped in curing my hang over.

  Finally, gym class was over. After washing up, I made my way to the cafeteria, I didn't miss my way this time. From what I had seen the last time, I knew better than to miss my way.

I sat on an empty chair and placed my plate on the table. I had just finished eating when Liam appeared, placing a drink on my table.

"For your hangover, or whatever it is you're going through." Liam said, a smile on his face.

"Thanks," I murmured. I tilted open the lid and poured the liquid down my throat. It was refreshing. "Thanks again."

He sat across me, his eyes scanning me, "You look pale."

Yeah, I wasn't feeling so good. At all. The refreshness of the drink only lasted for a little while and my body was back to feeling miserable again. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach as I absentmindedly clutched my lower abdomen.

"Are you okay, Jen?" he asked again.

I forced a smile, "Yeah, it's just a slight stomach ache." 

"Maybe the chicken on the salad was bad,"

"Maybe."

Suddenly, Conrad appeared from no where and told Liam he needed to speak with me. The way they both glared at each other showed that they weren't on speaking terms but Liam stood up anyways.

I watched as Conrad sat across me, his expression unreadable. His presence didn't really bother me because my mind was preoccupied with the slight stomach ache that seemed to be growing stronger. Fuck! I'm never taking alcohol again, ever! I tried my best to dismiss it, hoping it would fade away on its own. 

He crossed his arms and leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper, "You didn't tell mum about the party last night, did you?"

Although, his voice was barely a whisper, it held an accusatory tone. Somehow, the way he placed the question annoyed me, the way he said it annoyed me, the way he glared at me as if I was entitled to answering him annoyed me. The fact that I couldn't understand how I was feeling and why I was being so sensitive annoyed me.

Annoyance filled my heart as I felt the anger rise within me. I impulsively stood up, ready to leave, but before I could take a step, Conrad called out my name, his voice laced with a seriousness that startled me.

I hesitated, my curiosity piqued by the unusual tone in his voice. Slowly turning to face him, I saw him standing protectively behind me, the worry visible on his face. His words sent a chilling shiver down my spine as he whispered, "There is blood on your skirt."