Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 17

"I wasn't allowed to be in sports. I was okay with art. I ran for pleasure and because I like to eat. It's a good way to keep the body fat off so I can eat whatever I want," Jenna said.

Dana laughed. "That's why I run too. You should be able to run now."

"I don't know how far I'd be able to go. It's been weeks since I ran," Jenna said.

"How far did you run before?" Dana asked.

"Usually five miles most mornings," Jenna said.

"I bet you could do at least two. Why don't we plan on a run in the morning?" Dana suggested.

"I don't have running shoes," Jenna said, wiggling her feet.

"We'll get some tomorrow. So you like to eat. Do you like to cook?" Dana asked.

"I love to cook. I used to do all the cooking because Mom and Dad were always working. I'd make stuff they could take to work with them," Jenna said, and a sad smile played on her lips. "I majored in home economics so I could cook at school."

"They still have that?" Dana asked wrinkling her nose. "I hated Home Ec."

Jenna laughed. "I think it's something that has made a comeback and both girls and guys take it. I could easily manage a household while working full-time and have five kids."

"Do you want kids?" Dana asked.

"Lord no!" Jenna said without hesitation.

Dana laughed. "So what was your big dream?"

Jenna turned and sat cross-legged facing her. "Cara and I had this dream that we would get jobs where we made lots of money and be able to travel all over the world. She even talked about becoming a doctor. My ambitions were a lot less stressful. I thought about being a college professor, but I'm not sure I would want to teach. I don't know." Jenna stroked her jaw, which was still very tender. "I guess I thought it would just happen, whatever it was that I wanted to do."

"It sounds like a lot of that dream was what Cara wanted, and your dream was to make her happy," Dana observed.

Jenna gave her a crooked grin. "Yeah, I guess so. She used to accuse me of being a guy because I'd always agree with what she wanted, but when it came to what I wanted, I had to be in charge."

"That does sound a little guy like," Dana agreed.

"I don't know," Jenna laughed. "I always wanted to do boy things, but I was never allowed."

"Really?" Dana asked.

"Oh yeah. My dad almost killed my mom over letting me have a cowboy outfit that I played in when he wasn't home," Jenna said.

Dana studied Jenna for a little bit and then asked, "What do you like to cook?"

"Italian," Jenna said without hesitation. "I should have suggested we go to Olive Garden tonight. That would have been good."

"Tomorrow you're going to go in with me, and we're going to get some answers about what's next for you. On the way home, we'll go to the grocery store, and you're going to pick out some things so you can cook for me. I want to see what you can do," Dana said.

"You're on. I'd love to cook. I would have before now, but I didn't feel comfortable going through your food," Jenna said.

Jenna nodded in agreement. "I don't think my own mother would recognize me."

"That's good," Dana said.

Stroking her chin, Jenna noted, "I've lost a lot of weight."

"Yes," Dana said. "One of the side effects of having your jaws wired shut, I'm afraid."

Suddenly, Jenna turned to Dana. "I want to try something."

"Okay."

"Do you have a pair of old jeans and a baggy shirt?" Jenna asked.

"Yeah," Dana said.

The idea that was forming in Jenna's head was bringing forth an old dream that Jenna had not thought about since she was a small child. She looked like a guy, and that was something she'd always wanted but had never been allowed to do. "I want to try them on."

"Okay," Dana said questioningly and left the bathroom. She went into her bedroom and found the clothes Jenna asked for and brought them back to the bathroom.

Jenna took the clothes with a grin. "Okay. I'll be out in a minute."

Dana went back to the living room, sat down on the couch and turned on the news. She was focused on a story about a bombing in Europe when Jenna came out of the bathroom and stood next to the television. Dana did a double take when she saw her. Dana's pants were baggy on Jenna's thin frame, and too short. Jenna half tugged the oversized shirt in the front of her pants, and let the rest hang loosely around her waist. The dark hair was slicked back with gel and Jenna had taken Dana's eyebrow liner and drew a thin beard and mustache on her face.