“Yeah?…Do you think she’d accept that?” Jordan snorted.
“I’ll talk to her too and tell her the same story – I’ll apologize and order her to stop the rumors. I’ll do everything I can Jordan.”
“Ok – I’ll try Alex. Lexi. Whatever.” Jordan said meekly.
“Alex. I hate that they’re calling me that stupid name….But listen – you have to promise to do something for me though.”
“What?” Jordan wiped another tear from her eye.
Seeing through her friend, Alex continued. “Jordan. I don’t think it’s over though. I think we can fix this. I think we both can be friends with Georgia and their group. They’re just saying that stuff because they got hurt.”
Jordan started to cry a little.
“What you need to do is go talk to Georgia, tell her that you’re REALLY REALLY sorry. Give her a REALLY good excuse. Like maybe tell her that you were in the hospital on Thursday and that you were super sick – which you were in a way – you don’t have to tell her WHY – tell her you had that sleep thing because you’ve been waking up super tired in the morning and they needed to check it out. Tell her that after you got home Friday, you got really sick from some of the medicine they gave you or something and your Mom made you stay in bed all day and wouldn’t let you touch the phone. Blame it on your mom. She’ll take the heat I guarantee it.”
“Yeah?…Do you think she’d accept that?” Jordan snorted.
“I’ll talk to her too and tell her the same story – I’ll apologize and order her to stop the rumors. I’ll do everything I can Jordan.”
“Ok – I’ll try Alex. Lexi. Whatever.” Jordan said meekly.
“Alex. I hate that they’re calling me that stupid name….But listen – you have to promise to do something for me though.”
“What?” Jordan wiped another tear from her eye.
“The next time we get invited to one of these – YOU WILL SAY YES. I DON’T CARE IF YOU POOP YOUR BRAINS OUT ALL NIGHT LONG. YOU WILL SAY YES.”
That announcement in such a public place peaked Jordan’s energy level, “SHHHH! OK OK OK! I will, I will.”
“Ok. Then. Let’s do this…. Best friends?” Jordan opened her arms for a hug.
Jordan obliged.
The two worked their Junior High social magic the rest of that afternoon and the counter-gossip movement quickly was set into motion. Before the day was out, Jordan’s name was at least partially cleared among Georgia’s circle. Georgia herself had mouthed the words “I understand, it’s ok” to Jordan after receiving her apology and explanation. They even had hugged.
Maybe this year is on it’s way uphill now, Jordan had thought at the end of the school day.
Before going home, Jordan stopped in the English 101 room for one final talk with Mr. Johns. Maybe he’ll cheer me up.
“Hi Mr. Johns, you going home soon?” She said as she knocked on his open class windowed office door facing the steel and concrete hallway.
“Not quite yet Jordan, I have a lot to do before then.” Mr. Johns said just barely looking up from his desk.
“Oh – I was just wanting to let you know I got my story all turned in; postmarked at 4:59pm on Friday; right before the deadline.” She smiled.
“Oh that’s nice Jordan, good to hear.” He said unenthusiastically, this time without looking up.