The Story of Jessica Long

Jessica Long woke up to the sound of scrapping chairs and books being slammed shut and being forcefully shoved into each owner’s cases. She stared blankly from left to right, her jet-black hair covering most of her face. Next to her were her 2 best friends Samson Ngube and Rika-Nee Nakemaro. On her left, Sam was scribbling frantically on his page. Samson was the same height as Jessica and the same age but he was extremely well built, though he never showed it. Many people thought he was gay because he always preferred being with Jessica and Rika. His thick Glasses didn’t help much either but his outer appearance said nothing about him as a person but as far as Jessica could tell, he preferred that.

Sam gave up and slammed his book shut in disgust. He lay back on his chair so that the chair’s front legs rose into the air and looked over Jessica’s back to see Rika, who was still writing. He was shocked at what he was seeing. It was always a shock to see Rika doing any kind of work, especially schoolwork. The only things she did as far as Sam knew was miss class and sleep around.

“Hey Rika?” Sam paused considering what he was about to ask, “What are you doing?” Samson asked with the tone of a man who was wondering if the world had fallen apart.

“Work!” Rika answered, her face still in her book, “What does it look like?”

“This is going to sound weird, but why?” Sam asked.

Rika stopped writing and looked at Samson. Her eyes where heavy in mascara in a typical gothic style. Her hair was jet black like Jessica’s but hers stopped on her shoulders and Jessica’s almost reached her waist. She wore her traditional trademark leather jacket with shiny metal studs. Under the leather jacket was a bright yellow dress that stopped way before her knees and over it was a big silver cross, which hung from her neck.

“Look. My dad got my attendance report and said if I don’t attend class. I’ll be paying my own fees from now on.” Rika replied

“I get it,” Sam said nodding his head, “but you’re here now. So Why the writing? It’s not like you study anyway. You always prefer to cheat from Jessica.” Said Samson scathingly.

“Look! You don’t understand. My dad burst into my room and opened my books and notes to find nothing written. So I just need to make it seem like there’s something there. Get it?” Rika said slamming her book shut and getting up.

“I get it but would it kill you to do some actual studying?” Sam said grinning

“Fuck you.” Rika said getting annoyed with the constant jabs at her.

“I’m surprised you haven’t. After all, you’ve fucked everyone else here” Samson said never losing a beat.

Rika stood up and raised her head.

“Sorry Sammy you’re to much of a fag for my taste” Sniffed Rika.

She knew she hit a nerve with that one as Sam stood up too.

“Taste? What taste? Please Rika. All anything needs to be of you’re taste is a pulse and a car!” Sam returned, his muscles appearing though his shirt before he quickly relaxed them.

Rika was about to answer when Jessica got up and slammed her book bag down and stuffed her books in her bag and left. The quarreling pair followed behind her. Sam caught up as they both got out the door.

“What’s with you?” Sam asked, concerned.

“I’m getting bored of all you’re shit.” Jessica replied annoyed.

“I’m getting bored of his shit too” Chimed Rika from behind.

“I’m tired of both you’re shit!” Jessica said exasperated, “I’ll just walk to work today thanks” And Jessica left them behind.

Samson and Rika both stared at each other as Jessica walked off. They both shrugged at each other and finally Rika shouted out.

“Hey Jes! You’re not working today its you’re day off! We’re supposed to be going to the party! Remember!”

Jessica stopped dead and fell into a siting up position on the campus grass before lying on her side. She’d forgotten out of sheer exhaustion. She was running on automatic and she didn’t even notice. The party was something she’d been waiting for for quite a while now. Rika pulled her up and hugged her tight. Rika nudged her head at Sam as a signal to come. Naturally Sam was awkward in these cases. He’d heard that people thought he was gay and didn’t like it. Jessica and Rika had been the only people who had accepted him for him. He dismissed any of his insecurities and joined the group hug. Jessica sat up, frozen in one spot, staring blankly at the grass in front of her. Everything seemed so blank and dreary. She was blank, empty, and meaningless. She couldn’t even cry any more. She sometimes wondered if she even had tears any more. As She was never truly sad, upset or even happy. She always faked her emotions, it was a good fake. It was such a good fake that even Jessica fell for it.

“Hey it’s okay” Samson said as soothingly as he could, which wasn’t very soothing.

“It’s okay, I’m just a little tired” Jessica replied weakly.

“Do you want to rest? I’m sure it won’t matter if you missed this one thing” Rika lied.

One thing? Rika was lying and Jessica knew it. They were popular and very known somewhat known, which is the absolute best thing you can be in university, since popularity was a high school thing. People would have noticed if they weren’t there ad Jessica liked being noticed. It was what she lived for.

“You know I won’t do that, Claire would be offended!” Jessica said.

The truth was Jessica didn’t care about Claire but she wanted to go anyway.

“And we care because…” Rika said nodding her head slowly as if pulling the answer it of Jessica with it.

“Because we don’t want to burn our bridges when it comes to Claire.” Jessica said slowly and clearly so Rika could understand what she was trying to say.

It was business and you needed connections and shit like that. Her dad told her abut it all the time. Jessica hated the concept of it but she understood it and knew how to use it.

“No” Rika said shaking her head, “Not really. You don’t even like her.”

“God Rika!” Sam said exasperated, “No one fucking likes her! But never having

to join the unemployment line. Makes people like her.”

Rika looked at Sam.

“It’s not that bad.” Rika said finally.

“It is for those who actually plan on using their studies to get a job not to find a husband.” Sam said. Digging at Rika again.

“Could have fooled me” Rika replied swiftly.

Jessica was impressed at the come back but hid it.

“Look! Stop it. Even if it’s just for today.” Sighed Jessica, “Lets just get ready and stay at my place before we go.”

“Fine” Grumbled Sam. Still reeling after Rika’s comment.

“That’s fine with me! You always have the best list of alcohol at you’re place!” Rika said jumping up and rushing to Sam’s car.

Their 1st stop was at Sam’s place. The Sun could barely be seen through the dark clouds, which gave the city a dark and bleak look. Sam got out the car, leaving Rika and Jessica. After 10 minutes he came back dressed in a dark jean, a dark yellow shirt and a brown jacket with African patterns. He always wore this on special occasions. He said it was his lucky jacket since it showed his love for his old home. Next stop was at Rika’s place and came back half an hour later still wearing her jacket and cross but instead of the dress she wore a black mini skit and a black top, which was way too small.

The sun was setting when they arrived at Jessica’s house. This time, everyone got out. Jessica opened and got into the house only to nearly be knocked over by a little Chinese girl with jet-black hair and eyes the size of saucers.

“Jesus I nearly knocked you over!” Jessica said stopping just in time.

“….” The little girl said nothing and just stared, wide eyed, at Jessica.

Jessica just rolled her eyes and carelessly pushed her sister aside. The girl continued to stare. That’s all she did. Stare blankly. She never spoke. It wasn’t that she couldn’t talk but just that she didn’t talk. The doctors said they didn’t know why or what the reason was. Naturally Jessica did her own research and the most common answer was because of the environment the subject lived in. Jessica and her dad were just about the only people in her environment so naturally, Jessica took it personally. But lately it had just become another little wave in her ocean of issues. She decided to confirm that some of her issues really existed by asking the usual questions.

“Is dad her?” Jessica asked.

The girl shook her head.

“Was he here?”

The girl nodded.

“Did he bring groceries?”

The girl shook her head.

“Did he say when he was coming back?”

She pointed to the sky then dropped her hand slowly, still pointing, which meant ‘Later’

So he was coming back later. Great he always said that. Jessica thought. Jessica knew where he was though. Drinking. Drinking his ass off. Drinking his problems away as usual and because of it they where always struggling in their nice big house, which they couldn’t sell. It always upset her that although they were poor. He could afford to drink. It used to always make Jessica cry before she learned how to deal. She cried because this was the man she looked up so much. Others did too. He was the best policeman ever and it wasn’t just her who thought so, others did too. She’d over heard them saying things like that often. She heard other policemen say that he could read the crime scene and everything was a crime scene to him.

“Fine. I see. We’ll make noodle or something for you. Take Sammy to the entertainment room.” Jessica said after sighing and rolling her eyes.

The girl nodded and pulled Sam’s arm dragging him deeper into the house. Jessica looked to Rika who was already waltzing into the kitchen. Jessica followed and watched Rika search.

“It’s in the bottom drawer up ahead.” Jessica said after a few minutes of watching.

Rika grinned as she rushed to open the drawer. She took out bottles of Gin, Vodka, Rum, Cane and Potency.

“Great!” Rika said excited but she stopped and gave Jessica a look, “Why do you keep everything in the bottom?” Aren’t you worried about you’re sister?”

“Me?” Jessica said annoyed at being accused of something she had nothing to do with, “Its not me, any way I doubt she’d like it. She has an amazing sweet tooth and she’s not a baby. Putting it on the top drawer would do nothing”

Rika accepted this, much to Jessica’s relief, and said.

“Got anything less powerful? Like cool drink?” Rika asked

“There’s beer and they’re in the fridge.” Jessica said opening the fridge door and walking out the kitchen, “I’ve got to get changed. Please boil some water the pot under the sink.” And with that Jessica left.

After 20 minutes Jessica came out dressed in a black mini skirt and a black top, which was open in the back and less tight than Rika’s top.

“Wow you look great!” Rika said grinning, “Hey I found you’re noodles and boiled them. I also found a few extra’s” She grinned again at Jessica and winked when Jessica blushed.

Great! The clothing was getting the desirable effect. Jessica never wore mini skirts or anything too revealing until she met Rika. Before she met Rika she didn’t get or care about getting attention in school but after she met Rika she immediately started to get noticed. She loved it. Then Rika showed her how to get her own attention and in return Jessica helped her with her subjects. Jessica got the hang of it really quickly and using her great intelligence she mixed words with her looks to get all kinds of attention. She could suddenly work anyone to be her friend or manipulate people to doing weird things.

With this the threesome had become very popular in high school. In university they took different courses but made sure their subjects were similar so they would stay together. Popularity never mattered in university but Jessica made it work for them.

Jessica and Rika made enough food for every one with the ‘extra’s’ Rika had found. The duo walked in the entertainment room with trays of food. Samson fell over his chair with his mouth gaping. Jessica’s sister giggled at Sam’s antics and smiled at her big sister.

“Wow. Jessica! I’m impressed. I hope this means you’re going to have fun today.” Samson said getting up.

“She’d better! But don’t worry I’ll make sure of it.” Rika said winking at Sam who grinned. She laughed as she pushed Jessica gently so the food didn’t fall.

They set up the food on the table, which was in the middle of the room. They ate and talked with everyone fully relaxed. Jessica took the plates back and sat down gain as Rika disappeared into the kitchen. After a while she came back holding a try. On it where 3 tall glasses full of a horrible looking brown liquid and a smaller cup of, what Jessica hoped was, juice Rika had found in the fridge.

“Say hello to the Rika-Nee special!” Rika said her already large chest swelling with pride.

They all took their glasses (cups) Samson sniffed his before retching on the spot.

“Fuck Rika! What’s in this Cyanide?” Sam asked putting it down carefully as if it would explode.

“Funny! Really funny!” Rika said sarcastically.

Jessica sniffed it and fought hard to keep a straight face. It truly smelt awful!But Jessica did not want to hurt Rika’s feelings. Which was surprisingly easier then most people would think. This was supposed to be Jessica’s day off and although she loved her friend. She just didn’t want to spend it making Rika feel better. She took a breath and downed it. It burnt as it went down her throat. On its way down it set her organs on fire. Rika finished hers in 2 goes and both of them waited for Sam as he took ages drinking and makes faces for a Jessica’s sister’s amusement.

“Lets hurry up it’s already dark and late.“ Jessica said inexplicably annoyed at her sister instead of Sam.

“What about you’re sister?” Sam asked.

“She’ll be fine there are emergency buttons all over the house and remember this is a policeman’s house.” Jessica said in a fake confident tone.

She had no idea when her dad was coming. Great! Jessica thought to herself. ‘Guilt that all I need!’ She screamed in her head. Jessica took her sister into her room and closed the door. As Jessica got to the main door Rika appeared behind her with a large flask.

“Just made a batch for the road!” Rika said pushing past and rushing t the car.

Jessica shook her head as she locked the door of the house. It always amazed Jessica how Rika could make her self at home anywhere she was. Rika was herself with everything she did. Jessica could never do that in a million years. They got in the car and an old Chinese man, with a rugged beard and rugged clothing stumbled towards the house. Jessica breathed a sigh of relief. At least her dad was there to watch her sister now.