Free Mirror in the Forest: Book One by B. Groves Page B

twirling a little.
     
    “I love it,” Mary replied, barely able to contain her excitement.
     
    Mary approached her daughter and said, “Alright time for me to parent again. If things get out of hand, I do want you to call us and we will come get you.”
     
    Jessica knew she had to reassure her mother. “I will Mom, I promise.”
     
    Mary smiled and remarked, “It’s not you I’m worried about.”
     
    “I know.”
     
    Mary hugged and kissed her daughter, and said, “I am so proud of you.”
     
    Tessa pulled up and beeped the horn. Jessica grabbed her purse and said goodbye to her parents for the night.
     
    “Look at you, you sexy thing,” Jessica joked, getting into the car.
     
    Tessa scoffed. Her hair was teased, and she was wearing a tank top with makeup and jeans with boots.
     
    “You look hot girl,” Tessa said laughing.
     
    Jessica turned, glancing into the backseat. “Where’s Alex?”
     
    “He decided to go with his team. You know he has to keep up the façade,” Tessa said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
     
    Jessica nodded in understanding as Tessa pulled away from the house.  
     
    “Do you have enough insulin?” Jessica asked.
     
    “Plenty. Just stab me if I need it,” Tessa said smiling.
     
    Tessa had taught Jessica how to administer insulin if they ever got into that situation. Jessica only had to do it once, and never wanted to go through that again.
     
    The girls talked excitedly as Tessa drove them to Mandy’s house.  
     
    “Do you think you will kiss Danny tonight?” Tessa asked giggling.
     
    “Yeah, right. He could have any girl he wants. Why would he want me?” Jessica asked doubtfully.
     
    “Did you practice on the pillow like Cosmo says to do? Just in case?” Tessa asked, ignoring Jessica’s doubts about herself, and then breaking out in a fit of laughter over her question.
     
    Jessica laughed at the absurd advice that magazine gives, but had to admit she tried it.
     
    “No,” she lied.
     
    Tessa laughed again and said, “Liar, but practice makes perfect.”
     
    Both girls gasped as they turned onto Mandy Cooper’s street and could not believe how huge the houses were. Jessica knew she had never been down this street before, because she never had a reason to come to this part of town.
     
    There were cars parked everywhere, so the party was long underway.
     
    The girls spotted the lit up house at the end of the street, and Tessa had to end up turning around to find a parking space, because so many people were here.
     
    Jessica could hear the music coming from the house when they were close to it, and people were walking towards it talking to each other excitedly.
     
    “So thrilling,” Tessa said smiling.
     
    Tessa finally found a parking space, and both girls exited the car.
     
    Jessica tried to calm her nerves, and tried to talk to herself to just relax and have a good time. She tried to convince herself that she was worrying needlessly, and that it was all in her head.
     
    She grabbed her purse, and the girls started to walk towards the huge house.
     
    Jessica noticed the home was older. Maybe, a Victorian style, though Jessica didn’t know much about those things.
     
    All the lights in the home were on, and she could hear the beat of the music and laughter coming from the house as they walked closer to it.
     
    Tessa smiled at her as they passed some classmates and said hello.
     
    Some were genuinely shocked to see them, but said hi.
     
    It did not get past Jessica that some were already drunk as they downed their beers, and other cocktails.
     
    They came up to the door and Tessa asked, “Do we knock?”
     
    “I don’t know,” Jessica said shrugging her shoulders.
     
    Tessa was about to knock when the door swung open and Mandy stood there with a drink in her hand and a cigarette in between her fingers.
     
    “Welcome ladies!” She said loudly over the music.
     
    “Thanks!” Tessa answered, yelling.
     
    Tessa went in and