"Okay, sweetie. I'll send the nurse in with the shot. Make sure you take one of my cards in case you have a reaction. Chances are you won't, but it has my number and the number of my associates if I can't be reached. And you don't need to make another appointment in ninety days. Just show up for the shot, and the nurse will fit you in. You won't need another exam for twelve months. Any questions?"
"No--yes. When will it take effect?"
"Because of the timing of your cycle, probably now, but give it twenty-four hours. You're aware the shots could make your periods cease altogether?"
"No, I wasn't, but thanks."
"No problem. Good luck." The doctor gave her a smile and another long look as if Jessica were an anomaly or something, and then walked from the room, shutting the door behind her.
****
When Connor came to the third apartment building, he knew he'd finally found the right place for Jessica. He knew this area of town like the back of his hand, so it wasn't hard for him to choose several complexes he wanted to see. This one was located behind a manned gate, with a twenty-four hour security guard on duty who allowed only residents and proven guests in and out. There were only two furnished units available, and he declined the larger of the two because it was near the back and close to an open parking area that wasn't lit up enough for his taste. The ground floor unit he chose was smaller, but it had the added safety feature of being near the complex office and it was nicer, as it had a small courtyard that overlooked the swimming pool. The safer location pleased him, and he imagined Jessica would appreciate the pool area since summer was about to begin and she didn't have a car readily available to take her anywhere.
He put a down payment on it and asked if they'd hold it for one day. The management agreed, and the very next afternoon when he received a positive report on her health screening, he went back and signed the lease.
That evening he called Jessica and told her she needed to be ready to move the next day.
****
Jessica sat on the sidewalk with nine boxes, two suitcases, and five purses exploding at the seams.
Her nerves were stressed to the max. Allison had left the day before and had promised to text her when she arrived at her house five hours to the north. She hadn't remembered, but Jessica had sent a text and Allison had responded that she'd made it okay. Jessica didn't blame Allison for forgetting; she imagined she was busy catching up with her parents and little sister. She resolved to get over the pinch of jealousy she felt at the other girl's home life. It wasn't as if Jessica didn't want Allison to have a family, after all, most everyone else did.
It was only Jessica who didn't.
And that sucked, but she'd live through it. It wasn't as if her own mother were dead, she was just incarcerated for the next twenty or so years. And who the hell even knew who her father was?
Her mom didn't. Or she'd lied about it and never shared the information.
Jessica hung her head between her legs and picked at a loose thread on her tennis shoe while waited for him to show up.
"Jess."
At the sound of her name, she lifted her head and saw another Geo student carrying a big box to the parking lot. "Hey, Anthony."
He stalled in his tracks to speak to her. She knew him fairly well, mostly on the surface, but they'd had several classes together and even studied together a couple of times.
"You need a ride?"
"No, thanks, I'm waiting on someone."
He frowned a moment. "I don't remember where you said you're from."
She smiled. "I don't think you've ever asked. I'm from Odessa."
"Is that where you're headed? To your family?"
"Nah. My mom's away for the summer. I'm staying in the area with a family friend."
"That's cool."
"Are you headed home?"
"Yeah. I'm so damn tired. I was up half the night partying and then packing. For once I'm glad my parents only live an hour away. Don't forget you promised to go to the summer mixer with me."
A small slice of something slid down her spine. She had forgotten, but now she was certainly remembering the conversation from ten days ago or so. "I'm just your back-up in case you can't find a date, right?" Connor had told her quite succinctly that she couldn't have a boyfriend, dates, or anything platonic that could be misconstrued.
Adding to her worry was a big, grey Cadillac Escalade pulling around the corner that looked as if it was going to be him. Now she just wanted to get rid of Anthony quickly so she didn't have to deal with an introduction or anything like that.
"Yeah, just my back-up. I'll text you when it gets close, but it's toward the end of summer."
"Okay, let me know. I'm pretty sure it won't be a problem." She was pretty sure it would be a problem. She'd never been good at letting anybody down for any reason. Hence, the predicament she was now in.
He must have heard a wavering in her tone. "You're pretty sure? You promised."
She stood up and prepared to start moving boxes. "I'll do my best. Just text me, okay?"
"Okay. Have a good summer." He moved closer to her and hefted the box he carried to one hip while he grabbed her and pulled her into a one-armed bear hug. "If you get bored, call me and we can hang-out, I'm not that far away."
"Okay, thanks." She gave him a quick hug back and watched him cross the street toward the parking lot just as the Escalade pulled up beside her.
Lifting the first box, she didn't wait for Connor to get out, she just moved to the rear of the vehicle where the top was already opening remotely. Oh yes, luxury at its finest. She shoved the box in and went for the second just as Connor came around to help her.
Their gazes collided and then glanced off again as they didn't speak but made short work of getting her things loaded. It took less than five minutes and then he was walking around and opening the passenger door for her.
Somewhat stunned at the gentlemanly gesture, she scrambled up into the seat as he stood holding the door and waited.
When he was seated beside her and they'd been travelling down the parkway for a few miles, he took his eyes from the road and turned his head and studied her momentarily. "Who was the pretty boy?"
The question caught her off guard. She assumed he'd seen the swift embrace, but as it had happened some fifteen minutes before, she didn't think he'd ask about it now. A tiny trace of anxiety disturbed her as she realized she needed to stick to the truth and face this now rather than later, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. "Anthony?"
"Does he mean something to you?"
"He's a just a friend. We were just saying goodbye. You know, for the summer. But--"
"But, what?"
"He's in a frat, and I told him a couple of weeks ago that I'd go with him to the summer mixer if he couldn't find another date."
"No."
Even though she'd expected that answer, it still shocked her completely that his voice would be so hard, so adamant. "But I agreed before I met you and we're only friends. And it's going to be during the day, at a water park, with a million people around and tons of other couples." Jessica struggled to sound meek; she attempted to keep her voice even, without inflection.
They pulled up to a red light and as he braked he looked over at her and spoke in a smooth, controlled voice. "The answer is no. Unless you want me to take you back and put all your boxes in his vehicle, and he can pay for your tuition and put a roof over your head."
Jessica held his eyes for as long as she could, and then she moved her gaze to the stop light and watched it go from red to green. Knowing he was still watching her, she shook her head softly, until he looked away and began driving once again.