Free Ruining You by Nicole Reed Page A

really don’t
know who all will be there.”
    Shaking my head in
disbelief, I stare at her for another moment before I blurt out, “Oh my God,
Mom! You really have to be kidding me. I’m having a...what? A, ‘Welcome
Home....Glad You Didn’t Kill Yourself Party?!?’ Please tell me this is not
happening.”
    “Jay, you have to
understand. So many people have missed you. It will probably be just a few
people, hardly anyone at all. I couldn’t turn Molly down.”
    Looking out the window, I
cringe listening to her. I just wanted to go home, get settled, and maybe, in a
day or two, call Molly and Kane to talk. At least I look decent. I’m glad I
decided on a pair of True Religion jeans and a grey hoodie this morning. In the
past couple of weeks with Eli, I have gained back about ten pounds. My cheeks
aren’t so hollow anymore. My dark brown hair shines as it flows halfway down my
back. It’s a far cry from the drab mob that adorned my head for the past couple
months. Glancing into the mirror, I notice that even my grey slate eyes seem to
glimmer.
    “Please don’t be mad or
upset,” my mother pleads.
    Knowing that she is just
trying to help, I send her a small smile. “No unexpected company in the future.
Okay?”
    Smiling back, she says,
“Okay. I’m just so tickled to have you home.”
    The rest of way, I glance
out the window, trying not to think about who is waiting for me.
    When we finally arrive,
there are several cars in the driveway. As she parks outside the garage, I
notice Molly’s, Reed’s, and Kane’s cars, but there is also a white van that I’m
not familiar with.
    Taking a deep breath, I step
out of the car with my stomach tied in knots. My mother comes to stand next to
me and reaches for my hand.
    “They’re your friends, Jay.
They love you, and they are only here for support.”
    Nodding my head, I let go of
her hand and walk to the front door. The pressure builds in my chest, but I’ve
learned to push it back. Closing my eyes, I reach for the handle, turn the
knob, and open the door.
    “Well you look great.”
Opening my eyes to Molly’s statement, I see her and Reed standing before me.
Her rich red hair gleams under the foyer lights. Her smile illuminates her face
as she looks at me. Reed’s dark eyes still look wary, but he also has a goofy
grin on his face. These two are my oldest friends in the world. Smiling, I step
over the threshold and embrace them.
    “Hey, you guys.” Stepping
back, I notice Molly looking at me.
    “Jay, you really do look
good. I guess I thought...” Her voice trails off.
    Letting a small laugh
escape, I know exactly what she is talking about. “You should have seen me a
couple weeks ago. I was scary and pretty skeletal looking.”
    Looking around, I only see
the two of them in the foyer. Reed must notice because he answers my unspoken
question.
    “There are only a couple of
us here to see you. Everything was last minute, and since school was out for
the holiday break, Molly and I came over to set everything up. Most everyone is
in the kitchen; however, there is someone who wants to speak with you first.
He’s in the living room.”
    Molly and Reed look at each
other nervously. Turning from them, I head that way. A million thoughts cross
my mind, and I can’t even imagine who it will be, or maybe I can. Stepping into
the room, I suddenly come to a stop. My heart falls from my chest and my head
spins.
    Gripping the doorframe, I
take in who sits before me. The silver metal shines new, but it seems more like
a cage in my mind than a chair. His blond hair is shaved close to his head, and
a jagged angry-red scar starts at his temple and runs down the side of his
face. In his blue shirt and jeans, I can tell he has lost so much weight that,
in a way, he’s almost unrecognizable. Everything is different with the
exception of the kind eyes I used to know so well. He grasps his hands together
in his lap and looks me over.
    “I guess you got my note,”
he says.