Marked Read online

  Marked

  By Stephanie Arehart

  Copyright © 2018 by Stephanie Arehart

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  To my parents, all three of them, for giving me the confidence to believe I can do anything I want. I’ll write something cheerier for you one day Mom.

  To my brother Matthew for being a mostly-willing guinea pig to read my first and second attempts.

  To my husband David for supporting me as I follow my dreams, and never judging my crazy ideas as I put them onto paper. I have many more waiting to be set free.

  And to Taylor, Davis and Dawson – you’re my inspiration to be a better person every single day.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 1

  Jenna flung the door open and soared into the room with the energy of a thousand suns. Giggles filled the halls of the dorm, but Jenna’s laugh stood out from the rest with an almost angelic quality. This first day of college was the beginning of something special, even for this girl who’d already achieved so much in her short seventeen years.

  Jenna’s mother, Judy, floated through the doorway with an air of grace and dignity, while her father Jim followed behind the two women like a puppy on a leash. He was burdened with luggage and a few boxes, physically aware that he’d need to make numerous trips from the moving trailer to get his princess all settled into her new place. He dropped his haul gently on the floor next to the small bed Jenna had pointed at, and then quietly returned to the elevator.

  “Is this not the most fabulous place you’ve ever seen in your entire life?” Jenna asked her mother as she dove onto the bed.

  “Yes, it’s quite fabulous,” Judy said, casually staring out the window while arranging her perfectly-bobbed hair. “It’s probably hard to believe, but I still remember my first day at college, moving away on my own for the first time. It was great, but Jenna, you are my only child, and I just think—”

  “Mom, are you worrying again? ‘Cause you know I’ll be more than fine, right?”

  Without giving her a chance to respond, Jenna jumped up and grabbed the closest box. She ripped it open and started pulling everything out, setting each piece on the empty desk. This box contained a portion of her awards through the years, for everything from beauty competitions to science fairs to basketball championships. A girl with all those gifts certainly had the right to brag, but she secretly viewed them as more of a security and an affirmation of her self-worth. Her mother, although not her biological parent, always had a sense for knowing how Jenna was really feeling, deep beneath her confident exterior.

  “You do realize that you don’t have to make this room look exactly like your bedroom at home. If you want, I could just take all these trophies back with me and keep them nice and safe for you. This is a chance for you to start a new chapter, and—”

  “No! I want my stuff here with me. It reminds me of what I’ve accomplished and keeps me focused on the goals ahead.”

  Judy resigned to let Jenna have her way, smiling on the inside at her daughter’s passion for achievement, hoping it stemmed from nurture instead of nature. Jim reappeared, silently setting more boxes down on the floor before leaving once more. Judy casually watched him go, with sadness in her eyes.

  “He’s really going to miss his little girl. He won’t say it, but I think he’s having a tough time letting go. Maybe you should spend a little time with him today before we leave,” she gently commanded.

  Jenna performed as the obedient child she always was, heading down to find her father. Somehow, she got all the way down to the parking lot without finding him. Assuming she’d missed him in the elevator, she found a shady spot in the grass nearby to wait for his next trip down. Looking around, people were everywhere, like frenzied ants.

  All my life I’ve been special, carrying this rare birthmark. Now I’m surrounded by tons of people just like me. I really hope I can do this.

  Fighting through her festering anxiety, Jenna mentally went to her happy place. It was her father who’d patiently taught her, as a very young and high-strung child, to meditate and calm herself down in this way. Jenna had always shown a tendency to blow things out of proportion and “bring stress upon herself,” or so she’d been told. But her father’s lessons were helpful; therefore she continued to use them, even as an adult.

  She struggled for a while to get into the zone, but eventually she felt the tension start to melt away. Calming feelings, nice and warm, enveloped her like a soft blanket on a snowy night. Out of nowhere, a cold wet sensation shook her from her peaceful trance. The automatic sprinklers danced all around her, leaving her stunned and soaking wet when her father appeared above her.

  “Weird time for a nap, Princess. We’ve been looking for you for an hour.”

  She wasn’t sure if he was joking, though his face seemed quite serious. It definitely didn’t feel like an hour had passed, but Jenna decided she was probably just tired. She stood up, feeling a little embarrassed, and unsure how to get back to her room without attracting the attention of every single person on campus. Her father magically re-appeared with a large blanket and wrapped her up, rubbing her arms to help her get warm again. She was really going to miss having him around to give her guidance and save her when she needed something. He always seemed to know exactly what to do for her.

  *****

  The picture-perfect family spent the next few hours unpacking Jenna’s belongings together. They relived a lifetime of memories while turning her side of the cold, blank dorm room into an inviting space, one that really showcased her sassy personality. She savored every last second with her parents, trying to snap mental pictures of them to save for later.

  Jim and Judy were the ideal couple, perfectly matched and still very much in love, even after so many years together. They both looked exhausted from the long trip, but they’d always been there for anything Jenna needed. Time had weathered her father’s natural good looks over the years, but he was still the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Despite his age, he remained a tall, strong man with a nice-looking face and wavy brown hair. Touches of grey were showing near his temples, and fine lines were emerging around his eyes. But it didn’t matter, because he would always be a superhero in his daughter’s eyes.

  Judy was also tall, thin and lean. She was an attractive woman with striking features. Her hair and make-up were always impeccable, though Jenna knew she had a lot of artificial help to maintain her youthful appearance. Judy’s stylish and professional wardrobe matched her intense personality. Her mother had been a high-powered government employee, and her father was an executive. Both of her parents had retired earlier that year, so they were able to focus on Jenna even more than they had previously. She was their entire life.

  The joyful trio were too busy eating pizza on the floor and reveling in their successful move to notice when a pale, gangly girl entered the room. She was panting and sweating, like
she’d used the stairs instead of the elevator. When no one noticed her, she announced herself in a dramatic fashion.

  “You have got to be kidding me!” she shrieked with a Valley Girl accent. “I’m seriously rooming with Barbie herself? It literally looks like someone sprinkled happy dust and Pepto Bismol everywhere in here. How am I going to deal?”

  Jenna felt her face twitch, showing the beginnings of a frown. Without even making eye contact, she could hear her mother’s voice telepathically telling her to keep her mouth shut if she didn’t have anything nice to say. As she stood to greet her new friend, her intuition told her something wasn’t right with this girl. Jenna quickly brushed it off and forced the biggest smile she could manage, eagerly extending her hand.

  “Hi, I’m Jenna. You must be Amelia. I’m so glad you’re my roommate!”

  “Gross. We’re not about to be besties, so don’t even get your hopes up,” the strange roommate said as she shrugged past Jenna’s outspread hand and plopped down on the empty bed across the room. “I go by Vivian, by the way,” she said, her normal voice starting to come through.

  “Oh, I thought the paperwork said my roommate’s name is Ramona. Maybe you’re in the wrong room?” Jenna suggested.

  “I go by Vivian,” the weird girl said more forcefully.

  Jenna’s mother politely made her introductions. “Hello, Vivian. I’m Judy, and this is Jenna’s father Jim.”

  Vivian returned a mumbled greeting, then added, “Oh, I get it, your family’s doing a whole ‘J’ thing. Clever.”

  Vivian only carried one large, well-used duffel bag. She quickly unzipped it and dumped its contents onto her mattress, revealing a small pile of clothes and an olive-colored blanket. Jenna and her parents watched with mouths agape at this completely disheveled girl who’d somehow be working toward becoming a doctor alongside their gifted one.

  “Are you sure you’re in the right room?” Jenna finally blurted out, which led to a short but awkward moment of silence.

  “Oh, what Jenna means to ask is, do you need anything? Some extra sheets, perhaps? Are you alone, or will your parents be joining us?” Her mother sweetly injected an underlying tone of condescension.

  “What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Vivian snarled.

  Not entirely sure who she was asking, Jenna answered first. “Nothing, I just…well, your name apparently isn’t Amelia, and you don’t seem much like a pre-med student, that’s all.”

  “Amelia’s a family name, so I’ve always gone by my middle name. And believe it or not, Barbie, I am a pre-med student. I even got the mark to prove it, if you believe in that crap,” Vivian said, peeling her layers of grungy clothing away to reveal her neck.

  Jenna moved closer to study the strange girl’s birthmark, as she’d never actually met anyone with the same medical mark she herself had been blessed with. The spot did look almost identical to her own, yet something was different. She couldn’t immediately put her finger on it, but she was getting a weird aura about this girl and her perfect mark.

  Vivian definitely didn’t present herself as one deserving of the second-highest symbol, bestowed only upon those with a naturally healing soul. Jenna’s mother nudged her and gave her a stern look, reminding her that it wasn’t nice to stare. Vivian must have sensed the tension, as she covered her neck again and lay down on her bed.

  “So are you guys a package deal, or what?” Vivian asked.

  Jenna looked confused by her question, but her mother responded, “Yes, I suppose we need to let you girls rest and get to know each other. You both have a big day tomorrow, after all.”

  Jenna felt tears start to fill her eyes as she saw her parents get up and gather their things. She’d been so excited to move in and set up her new room that she hadn’t thought much about being away from her parents for the rest of her life. To say she was attached would be an understatement. Jenna was a real Daddy’s girl, and she had always envied her mother’s confidence and elegance.

  Those two people had been amazing to her through the years, taking her in when she was just a small girl, raising her as their only child. When she turned twelve, she’d been told the story of her adoption, how this couple had prayed so hard for her to enter their lives. The only sad part of the tale was that her birth parents had died in a car accident, and there was almost no record of their existence, no other family members. Jenna was an island.

  She walked down to their car with them and stood motionless on the curb. Her mother grabbed her and hugged her tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go either. Even though Jenna was an academic superstar and extremely mature for her age, a mother’s love wouldn’t let her walk away from her baby that easily.

  Jenna’s dad couldn’t wait anymore, so he hugged the joined pair, whispering in Jenna’s ear, “Love you, Princess. You’ve got this. We’re so proud of you.”

  “Be careful, Jenna,” her mother sternly added. “Give your roommate some, um, space.”

  Her father’s words were exactly what she needed to hear, as she was feeling immense levels of self-doubt, totally out of character for her. The whole experience felt surreal. And she was just seventeen, after all, having graduated from high school a year early despite her mother’s objections. Now she’d been thrust onto a huge college campus filled with brilliant adult minds, suddenly realizing that the challenges of a medical degree would be daunting.

  Then, just like that, her saviors got into their car and drove away into the dusk. Jenna had never felt so alone in her life. Slowly she marched back upstairs and into her room, as if she were walking straight to the electric chair. The energetic and confident Jenna from earlier in the day was long gone, almost as if that other personality had been stolen somehow.

  Vivian hadn’t moved a bit during Jenna’s long goodbye to her parents. She was still on her bed with her eyes closed, but Jenna couldn’t tell if she was asleep or not. Moping, Jenna quietly sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. She imagined finding several new messages from friends, all wishing her well and asking how she was doing.

  Then she spent a few minutes deliberating about what she would have done differently if her life’s occupation hadn’t already been decided for her. Jenna resolved that it wasn’t worth the effort to worry about decisions that she didn’t need to make. Instead, she tried to write some generic responses to her made-up friends, since it was the polite thing to do. But she found typing quietly so as not to disturb her grumpy roommate too difficult, so she closed her computer and gave up.

  “What’s wrong, Barbie? Are your fingernails too delicate for typing?” Vivian sarcastically inquired.

  “I thought you were asleep. I was trying to be considerate, something you might want to learn about. And don’t call me that. My name’s Jenna.”

  “Ok, Barbie Jenna. Gotcha. I’ll just call you Barbie J,” Vivian retorted.

  “Did you really come alone?” Jenna said, ignoring her roommate’s obvious attempt to get under her skin.

  “What do you mean?” Vivian asked, her voice filled with insinuation and contempt.

  “I mean, where are your parents?” Jenna clarified calmly.

  “You’re really a nosy little thing, aren’t ya, Barbie J?”

  Jenna fumed silently. After a long silence, Vivian sighed loudly and sat up. “So it’s not even 7:00, and we’re in bed like a couple of old ladies. What’s wrong with this picture?”

  “I can’t think of anything better to do,” Jenna said with a roll of her eyes.

  “Well, I can think of like a million better things to do than sit around here and feel sorry for ourselves. Let’s just go!” Vivian said with the most enthusiasm she’d displayed yet.

  “Go where? I have class tomorrow, and I—”

  “Oh, does Barbie have a Ken back home in Mayberry, waiting for her to get that doctor degree so they can get married, have kids, find a dog or some shit and live happily ever after?” Vivian chided.

  “No. I don’t have a boyfriend, if that’s w
hat you’re getting at,” Jenna softly replied.

  “Okay then, come on. You’re only young once.”

  In a strange way, the potential for friendship beckoned Jenna, even with this girl who was clearly her polar opposite. And Jenna felt like resistance would only drag out the inevitable, so she just decided to give up and go along with Vivian’s crazy request. She didn’t ask any further questions as she grabbed her jacket and purse and followed obediently. At some level, she had a need to get to know this mysterious stranger better.

  This must be how my dad feels all the time, just trailing along behind my mother, doing whatever she dreams up.

  As they walked, Vivian surprisingly struck up a conversation. “Aren’t you going to ask me anything about myself and pretend to care about me as a person? Isn’t that what rich people do to us poor folks?”

  “What? I kind of tried that earlier, and you almost bit my head off. Anyway, why would you say that? Are you poor?”

  Vivian laughed, instantly softening her whole demeanor. For a second, Jenna thought she looked almost pretty. Then Vivian spoke again, and the magic was gone.

  “I’m only kidding. You really are uptight, though, Barbie J. Don’t worry, though. I’m sure after one semester with me, you’ll be a whole new person.”

  “I doubt it. I’m pretty true to myself. I know who I am and where I’m going, and that’s not going to change for anyone.”

  Jenna noticed Vivian had stopped walking and was now intently peering into a large glass window. The neon sign above the door indicated it was a bar, or some kind of eating and drinking establishment. Feeling anxious about being underage in front of a potential bar, Jenna moved closer to Vivian, as if somehow seeking her protection.

  “I’m not trying to go in, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Vivian said casually as she stepped up and pushed her face against the glass, using her hands to cup the sides of her face.