Jen's Journal

“Ivory just asked if she can have your number,” Derek said from across the room.

I spit out the toothpaste in my mouth and ask, “what for?”

“She didn’t say. What should I tell her?”

“She can have it,” I guess. I say this in my head as I walk towards the couch where he’s sitting.

It’s been weeks since I met Ivory and the rest of Derek’s friends. I was drunk, so I remember bits and pieces, but I do remember arguing with Ivory. Derek filled me in the following morning, and some of it came back to me. 

What the hell would she have to say to me? I got a message from her moments later, and she said to meet her in the empty parking lot behind the city market. I was hesitant, but I went anyway. 

I found Ivory leaning against a fence post smoking a Camel Whites cigarette. She offered one to me when I got close enough. Not even the smell of cigarettes could disguise the stench of manure around here.

“We did it. Tim and I both broke up with our partners.” Out of everything I thought she would say, this I was not expecting.

“Wow, good for you guys.”

“My ex is pissed. I barely got out with the only belongings I could get my hands on.” She paused for a second to take a drag and then continued, “he’s not a good person.”

She took a shaky breath here then said, “He beat me. It’s not that I wanted to cheat on him. I just wanted a way out, and Tim was always there for me. I know it’s too much to ask, but can I stay with you guys? If he finds me after I left him, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

Ivory was crying now. She covered her mouth to quiet the sobs, but they just kept coming. “Of course you can stay with us, as long as you need to. I know I just met you, but you came to me about this, and that means a lot to me.”

I couldn’t shake the thought off my mind. We were practically strangers, yet here she was, spilling her heart out to me. I was proud of her for ending things. The way they looked at each other in the bathroom, it’s the way Derek used to look at me. Maybe it will be the best thing that ever happened to them.