Contradiction Read Online Free Page A

breath as I pull on a pair of sweat pants and a t shirt. I pull my hair up into a ponytail as I stomp down the hallway.   
    Vanessa is in the kitchen cooking and Jeff is sitting at the bar sipping his coffee. I walk over to the coffee pot without as much as a word.
    "Someone is a still a real grump without their coffee, aren't they?" Vanessa says pointing the spatula at me.
    I nod and roll my eyes as I climb on the barstool beside Jeff.
    "So, Jas, since its ladies night at Bottlestopper, I was hoping you would go with me," she says.
    "I don't know about that now, I'm not really into the club scene." I say.
    "I don't mind, go ahead, have fun" Jeff says, winking at Vanessa.
    She hasn't changed a bit, she still gets excited at the smallest things.  I just stare at Jeff, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    "What?" He whispers.
    "I have to admit I'm surprised that you are ok with this," I reply with suspicion in my tone.
    Jeff picks up on it quickly and rolls his eyes. "There's nothing to be suspicious about," he says, his tone soft, "I figured you two would like to catch up and have a little fun."
    Bars and clubs are not my idea of fun, I'm more of a relax at home with a good movie and pizza kind of girl.
    "I'll think about it," I finally say looking back and forth between the two of them.
    Vanessa frowns at me and gives me the puppy dogs eyes.
    "That doesn't work on me." I reply taking a sip of my coffee.
    "Well... I'll just have to bug the ever living shit out of you until you buckle," she replies with a huge grin, raising her eyebrows at me.
    I laugh knowing she means it, thats how persistent this woman is. In my freshman year of high school she convinced me to sneak out and walk almost five miles to her house so we could have a secret slumber party. I did it only to find out it was a make out party. I got the beating of my life for that, but it was worth it to play spin the bottle with Michael Smith. I would have gotten away with it if he would have known how to kiss but his braces cut my lip.
    "I'll consider it, but right now I've got to get ready for work," I say heading to the bathroom.
                 
    Getting to work is a task. Waiting until the last possible moment, leary of leaving these two alone with each other, I have to take the backroads to work.  Driving down this old dirt road gives me chills. Only moments from where I grew up I stop the car. I glance at the clock knowing I'm going to be late. Slowly letting off the break I turn down that old washboard driveway.
    As the old run down trailer comes into view I feel my insides buzzing with fear, but noticing that my fathers rusty old truck is gone brings some relief.  I put the car in park and step out onto the uneven ground. I watch as an aging face passes the window. Her graying hair is pulled back into a messy bun and there are circles under her eyes, deep and dark, but her eyes are still the same bright blue.
    Making my way up rotting steps, the door creeps open. My mother steps out, butcher knife in hand.
    "Mom, it's me," I say holding my hands up in front of me.
    "Jasmine?" She looks at me and suddenly throws the knife into the grass and slings her arms around me. She sobs into my shoulder and I hold her tightly.
    "Mom, I'm sorry I left," I say fighting the tears in my eyes.
    "No, don't be sorry, everything your father and I put you through...," she says, her eyes looking me over.
    "It's the past, I have forgiven you, but I can't forget."  She nods clinging to me. 
    The fragility of the once strong, vivid woman in front of me breaks my heart.
    "I haven't had even a sip of alcohol since you left," she says taking my face in her hands.
    I smile a weak smile trying not to let the pools of tears that now fill my eyes fall.
    "Won't you come in? I'll make you some breakfast," she says turning to go inside.
    "I can't, I have to get to work, but I had to see you." She nods.
    Walking away from my mother standing there with tears in her eyes was