Free Jayne Doe by jamie brook thompson

snoring lightly. It’s not quite noon yet and Martha will flip-out if Jayne goes in there. She wants to talk to someone about Casey. She wants to talk to me.
    Jayne heads back to her room, stopping at mine to peer inside. I stand behind her as her eyes dart around the freshly painted walls, the lifeless space that no longer contains any indication that I'd ever been there. Her eyes cloud with tears and she turns away, rushing into her own room and flopping down on her bed.
    Her small frame is racked with sobs and she buries her face into her pillow, trying not to make any noise. She doesn't want Martha or Mom to wake up.
    “I’m right here,” I say, but she doesn’t hear. I settle on the bed next to her and bury my face into her arm. I want her to know that I'm here with her.
    A heavy knock sounds at the front door. I pull myself from Jayne's side and concentrate on the figure on the porch.
    Casey?
    Jayne rolls over and pushes herself up, startled at the noise. She wipes the tears from her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt before she opens it.
    Casey holds out the red Solo cup. “I wanted to bring this back.”
    “It’s a plastic cup,” Jayne says, letting her lips lift into an easy smile. “You could’ve just thrown it away.”
    “You can wash them and reuse them.” He smiles back, handing it to her, before shoving his hands in his pockets. The tension between them is so thick I feel like I could touch it. “I-I just didn’t know if you wanted it back.”
    Jayne rubs the tip of her polished toe on the avocado linoleum. “Thanks.”
    They’re like two kids with grade school crushes.
    “Well...” Casey pauses. “Have a good day.”
    “You, too.” Jayne stands there with the door wide open. She wants to call to him, make him come back so she can wrap her arms around him. Because he’s the only one who’s been there for her in the past. Whenever she needed him. Her longing is masked with feelings of betrayal, like she's hiding something. Though I don't know what could be so bad.
    “I should probably go. I don’t want your mom paying to heat the neighborhood.”
    It’s a trailer park . I correct him.
    “Yeah, she’s asleep on the couch.”
    Liar.
    “How is your, Mom?” His eyes soften and his nerves mold into concern.
    “She’s alright.”
    “Jayne, I’m really sorry. I never felt like I got to tell you that.”
    “Thanks.” Her eyes begin to fill with tears and she quickly brushes them away with the cuff of her sweatshirt.
    “I’ve got all kinds of pamphlets and books to help. If you want, I could bring them around sometime.” Casey looks at the cracked and warped wood of the porch, afraid that he's being too forward.
    “That would be nice.”
    “Well then...” he says, pushing his hands deeper into his pockets. Casey turns and heads for the steps.
    Air catches in Jayne's throat as she watches him take one step, then another. Her mind is racing and I'm struggling to keep up with her thoughts.
    Casey takes slow, measured steps, berating himself for not saying something, anything. His heart pounds in his chest and the staccato thump, thump thunders in my ears.
    “Casey—”
    “Jayne—”
    They stare at each other for a breath and Jayne's cheeks redden. Casey clears his throat. “Can I buy you lunch?” he asks before she gets the chance.
    “I would like that.” Jayne's doing a happy dance inside and I smile at her though she can't see me.
    “Where would you like to go?” He’ll take her to the moon and back if she asks.
    “You want to go like, right now? I look like a train wreck.”
    He smiles as his eyes trace her body from head to toe. “You look amazing.”
    Her blush deepens. “No, seriously, I should change.”
    “No, seriously, you look perfect.” He reaches out with nervous fingers and brushes hair away from her face. “I’ll go get the car warmed up.”

Ten
    For the life of me, I can’t understand why Jayne picks McDonald’s. Even worse, I think she’s