Jamie stormed past the mirror, throwing it an angry glance before collapsing face-first onto her bed, knocking one of her stuffed animals off. "Did you see her today? I just wanted to kill her! Kill her! She infuriates me!"
Lavi retrieved the fallen teddy bear and took a seat on a nearby chair. "I know she can be a bit much, Jamie, but she didn't really do anything that bad. I mean, she's allowed to flirt with guys. You are, too."
"You don't know what it's like to have real problems, Lavender," Jamie replied.
Lavi bit her lip and looked away. "Apparently not."
Jamie shook her head. "I need some time alone."
Lavi sighed, feeling much more malicious than usual due to Jamie's assumptions about her. "Oh, I get it. So you can, you know." She made an exaggerated gagging noise that caused Jamie to strike her across the face.
Jamie glared at her. "You are such a bitch, Lavender. I don't know why I even bother. I need new friends who aren't so inconsiderate."
"You have a problem."
"Yes. That I'm friends with you and Jessica." Jamie spat out Jessica's name angrily.
Lavi stood up. "You know what I mean, Jamie." She tossed the bear lightly onto the bed and left the room.
Jamie bit her lip, taking the bear in her hands and squeezing it, trying to control herself from ripping it apart. She finally abandoned it, throwing it roughly against the wall, and went into the bathroom.
What did Lavi's thoughts matter, anyway? Lavi didn't know what it was like to be so flawed. Jamie gave her reflection a heated glare. She would do what she wanted. She didn't have to answer to any of her friends.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang. Then, her mother's voice called up the stairs. "Jamie! Jessica's on the phone!"
Jamie stormed into her room. "What the hell does she want now?" she muttered to herself before picking up the phone. "Hello?" she said in a forced cheery voice.
Jessica waited until Jamie's mom had hung up the phone downstairs before she spoke. Her voice was wavering and unsure, unlike anything Jamie had ever heard from her. "Jamie," she whispered. "I'm scared."
"Of what?" Jamie asked, annoyed.
"I don't want to die, Jamie."
Jamie rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Jessica. This is dumb. You're wasting my time." She took the phone from her ear and put her finger on the button, ready to turn it off.
"I did something really dumb, Jamie. I don't know what to do."
"Such as?"
"Pills, Jamie. Remember in ninth grade when we made that list of things we wanted to do before senior year? I said that I was going to be a famous pop star. Well, I came home tonight and thought about that. Senior year starts tomorrow, Jamie. And I'm not famous. And I didn't see what there was to live for." Her voice trailed off.
A chill ran over Jamie. Jessica, annoyingly perfect Jessica, had tried to kill herself? "I'll be right there, Jess. Hang on." She hung up and raced downstairs, calling out quickly to her mom before running out the door. She took all of the back ways to Jessica's house, all the ways that they had taken when they were little. Jessica's house was dark, but the door was unlocked. She ran in, taking the stairs two at a time to find Jess sitting on the floor in her room, looking at Jamie with frightened, almost child-like eyes. The fact that her own teddy bear, the one that matched Jamie's, was in the middle of her terrified grasp added to this effect.
"Oh, Jess, Jess." Jamie went down on her knees next to Jessica, trying to regain her breath. Her eyes caught the empty pill bottle on the floor, and she felt as though her heart had stopped beating. "How many did you take?"
"It was half-empty."
Jamie could feel her heart again, racing with fear. "You are so, so, so stupid," she said, her voice broken and frightened. "Why did you call me? I don't know what to do."
"I need you." Jamie looked up from the bottle, letting her eyes meet Jessica's. "I'm so scared."
Jamie swallowed, trying hard to hold back the tears that were beginning to prickle her eyes. "Come here, Jessica." She stood up unsteadily, helping Jessica up after her. She slowly led her to the bathroom, making her kneel on the floor. "I don't know if this is going to help," she murmured, using her shaking hands to pry Jessica's mouth open. She extended a trembling finger down to Jessica's throat until she began gagging. "We'll get it all out. Come on, Jess."
She sat patiently beside her friend until she began to vomit, waiting until the girl finished with a dry cough. Jessica looked up at her, her eyes still full of fear.
Jamie reached out to stroke her face gently. "With your passion, I definitely think you'll be famous soon enough."
Jessica smiled gently. "Thank you."
Jamie walked Jessica back into her room. "If anything doesn't feel right, call me. But call the hospital first."
Jessica nodded as she climbed into bed. "And Jamie?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Jamie smiled and left the room, closing the door behind her and knowing that, no matter how obnoxious Jessica was, she didn't want to kill her anymore.