Jess Be Yourself: Jess In Time, #1

By Blake Lamar

Jess's life begins to unravel on her thirteenth birthday.

First, she learns of her parents' separation.

Then she's forced to spend the rest of the summer living in her grandparents' camper trailer by the lake.

When she finally gets to come home for the first day of school, she discovers that her friends have abandoned her and nothing she remembers seems to be true anymore.

Everyone keeps calling her Jessica when they know she goes by Jess!

Does she have amnesia, or is everyone at school in on some elaborate joke?

The truth is crazier and scarier than she could have ever imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: South Valley Press
• Release date: Apr 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781952323072

Book preview

1

Birthday

My life ended on my thirteenth birthday.

I know that sounds overly dramatic, but that’s how I felt.

I didn’t expect my parents to throw me a big party. Although, a small get-together with a few of my closest friends wasn’t out of order. Especially since I was a newly minted teenager. But all of my friends were on vacation with their families. Every single one of them.

A conspiracy!

I know everyone else’s life doesn’t revolve around my birthday, but this was ridiculous. I couldn’t blame them for wanting to get away. It was the middle of June, scorching hot, and there isn’t exactly a lot to do in South Valley, a small town in southwestern Oklahoma.

I had been checking my phone all day, but there wasn’t a single Happy Birthday! message from anyone. No texts, no calls, nothing on Facebook or Instagram. I was starting to wonder if I actually existed.

Does Daddy know what restaurant we’re going to? I asked my mom, Lorraine.

My dad worked late most evenings, so I didn't think it was any big deal that he hadn't come home yet, even though it was well after five o'clock.

Of course he does, Mom said. Did you finish packing?

I can do that tonight, I said.

Jessica...

Everyone who knows me calls me Jess, except Mom when she’s annoyed or angry. Dad never gets annoyed or angry. He’s easily the greatest dad in the world. And he doesn’t need a t-shirt or a coffee mug to prove it.

Okay, I said. I'll get packed. I don't know why you have to dump me off at the lake anyway.

My mom got that stern look on her face that told me to stop asking questions and do as I was told. She got that look a lot lately. It went perfectly with her new hairstyle, a short bob that she said looked more professional. I'd never been a fan of the style.

Sometimes people ask me if she’s my real mother. She’s tall with dark hair and dark-toned skin. I’m a foot shorter than her and not likely to grow much more. I’m also slender with long, bright red hair and pale, freckled skin. Traits I inherited from my father.

Your dad and I just need time to sort this out, she said.

My mom had just started her new job as a real estate agent a couple of weeks ago. Before that, she had been a stay-at-home mom.

We can’t leave you at Alicia’s house every day, she added. Besides, they won’t get back from vacation until after next week.

I was a little miffed at Alicia. I knew she had a family vacation planned for this summer, but she never told me it would start on my birthday. She didn’t even call me and tell me bye this morning.

Why can’t I just stay home by myself? I asked. I’m old enough. I’m responsible.

I’m sure you are, she said. But I worry too much. Besides, it’ll be good for you to spend some time with your grandparents.

I guess, I said. But the lake…

You love the lake, she said, although the lack of confidence in her voice was palpable. You can go fishing with Grandpa, sleep in a tent…

Are you kidding? I asked. I’m not leaving the camper. You know what the sun does to my skin.

I went upstairs to my bedroom and started packing for what I was sure would be the worst week of my life. I packed way more than I needed as usual. It looked more like I was ready to move in with my grandparents rather than stay a few days.

Mom poked her head into my room just as I zipped up the last suitcase. Go ahead and load them in the car.

I’m going to the lake tonight?

Your father and I have work in the morning, she said. It’ll be easier if we go tonight. Besides, the restaurant is already on the west side of town.

Why can’t Grandpa come get me in the morning?

And cut into his fishing time?

I see your point.

I loaded the suitcases into the spacious trunk of a black Cadillac that had been given to my mom by the real estate agency. The logo for Future Realty was painted on the door. I thought the car was an odd choice for a realtor to drive. It looked ominous. Like a car for a secret government agent.

Before we left the house, I let my dog Ruffles out into the backyard for a few minutes to do his business. Ruffles is a medium size brown dog. Part labrador, part something else.

I’m gonna miss you, buddy, I said, scratching him behind the ears when he came back in the house. If Grandma didn’t hate dogs so much, I’d take you with me. Yes, I would. I sure would.

Ruffles wagged his tail and panted.

The drive to the restaurant was quiet. Mom seemed lost in her own thoughts while I tried to think of some way to get out of going to the lake tonight—or at all.

Mom, you missed the turn, I said.

Oh, sorry, honey, she said. I guess I’m on autopilot.

Down the street I could see a big sign that matched the logo on the car. I’d never been to her place of work before.

Do you mind if I stop by the office real quick, she said. I left some paperwork that I need to go through tonight. I was going to grab it after dinner, but since we’re almost there…

Fine, I said. I’m sure I won’t die of starvation for at least another hour.

Mom turned down a side road that wound to the back of the building. There were several other cars parked in what I assumed was the employee parking lot.

I thought the office closed at 5, I said.

The front office does, she said. But a lot of agents stay late to finish up paperwork or meet with clients who can’t get away from their own jobs during regular business hours.

I didn’t know South Valley had a big enough population to have that many people in the market for new homes on a given day, I said.

The town is growing, she said. Lots of families moving away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Is that Kelsey’s mom’s minivan? I asked. Does she work here, too?

Probably just a coincidence, she said. Why don’t you come in with me? You’ve never seen my new office.

I’m sure it looks just like dad’s office, I said. Mounds of paper cluttered around a monitor and keyboard.

I’m not as messy as your dad, she said. Come on.

I followed her to the back of the building where she opened the door for me. It was dark inside beyond the small arc of light spilling in from the outside. I walked in, hesitantly, feeling for a light switch to the left of the doorframe.

Surprise!

When the lights came on, I was greeted with the smiling faces of all of my friends and their mothers and siblings. Some of the moms blew noisemakers. Alicia and Kelsey popped balloons and giggled. Lindsey and Michelle’s little brothers threw confetti into the air as they ran around a long table in the center of the large room. All while the newest Taylor Swift song blared from a pair of giant speakers.

Streamers stretched across the ceiling. Colorful balloons were everywhere--in bunches, taped to chairs, rolling around on the floor. Homemade posters from my friends lined the walls. Some just said Happy Birthday, others had personal messages like giant birthday cards.

You guys! I said, on the verge of happy tears. You lied to me!

I didn’t lie, Alicia said. Technically we left for the Bahamas this morning. We just got off to a really slow start.

I straight-up lied, Kelsey said. Come on, girl, you know I ain't going nowhere.

Patricia Lewis, or Trisha as I’d always called her, was the only girl there I wouldn’t exactly consider one of my friends. We’d been friends a few years ago, mostly because she was the only girl my age in the neighborhood I used to live in. When my parents bought a bigger, nicer house on the other