Disclosed Truce

I'll Fight For You This Time

"You know who I am?" Michelle happily asked. She couldn't believe it. She just knew Lei would question who she was.

Lei blew out an annoyed breath. "You still look like you did years ago," Lei's face lit with the same anger from before. "Now answer my question, Michelle."

Michelle briskly nodded. "Right. Can you sit down first?"

Lei continued to stand and stare Michelle down. Her facial expression contorted in disgust. Michelle felt more vulnerable than she had in months. She realized then it would be easier to ask any guy out than talk to Lei. She got it. Lei's pissed. Beyond it.

But if Lei would hear her out, she would know it wasn't easy for Michelle. Lei wasn't accused of some petty crime, no she was blamed for murdering her family. That did not sit well with her parents at all. Especially, her father.

Lei turned on her heels and began walking away. Michelle's eyes searched the entire room, hoping to find an answer.

"Lei wait! It wasn't my fault. I'm not even suppose to be here right now," Michelle pleaded. That caused Lei to stop in her tracks. She did not immediately turn, but she stopped. Good enough to Michelle. "If you will just hear me out, I will leave you alone if you want me to."

Michelle watched and patiently waited for Lei to make her decision. She stood still for what felt like an hour, then finally turned. She made her way back to Michelle. Michelle searched Lei's face for any familiar expression, she only saw the same anger.

"So what do you want?" Lei asked plopping down. Her long arms stretched out onto the table, folding her fingers into one. Her eyes lit with interest. "No here's a better question. Why now? Why are you here? Wanting to clear yourself of some sort of guilt. If so, save it Michelle."

Michelle took it all in, and gulped it down. Lei had every right to be pissed at her. They were best friends before the incident, inseparable. And now? Michelle could understand how that looked to Lei.

"My-my parents. Not just mine, but the others, too. They made this pact to cut off all communication with you. Trust me Lei, we all tried to overturn it or find a secret route. They were on us. But I'm seventeen now, and I no longer need their consent."

Michelle expected Lei's menacing posture to relax, but it didn't. Lei did not even move, or blink. For a while, Lei stayed silent. Her eyes searched Michelle.

Lei slowly parted her lips, "And the others? What's their excuse? You're the last birthday of all of us. What's their lame ass excuse?"

"Well...I told Cammi today, and she had a mental break down. Shelby wouldn't listen to me, and as for Bristle..." Lei tensed at her name, "she's not the same. None of us are, but it's so apparent with her."

"Should be." Lei said satisfied. "You turned your backs on me."

"It's not our fault. We tried."

"You should have tried harder!" Lei yelled. Her voice was laced with so much anger and pain. Michelle felt even worse than she did before about herself. Lei was right, Michelle did not try as hard as she should have. If she did, Lei would not be at that table. She'd be in school with her. Michelle failed her.

Feeling her eyes water and burn from their unwillingness to release, she only nodded. Gulping it in, Michelle's chest heavily heaved up and down. "Yo-you didn...you didn't deserve this."

Lei rolled eyes. "Cut the shit, Michelle. It happened. Still is."

Michelle wiped her teary ears. A quick scan of her finger, she saw the eyeliner and mascara, so much for looking great for her best friend. But compared to her, Lei looked sickly. Heavy bags weighed at Lei's eyes. Michelle wondered if it was from sleep deprivation or stress.