Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 25

Skyler's POV

I glance around the apartment, from what I can tell it's an open floor plan with two bedrooms and one bathroom. It has hardwood floor throughout and different shades of grey on the various walls. I spot Nat's suitcase in the right corner pressed against the wall and I get a strange feeling in my gut. 

"Nice place you've got here." I grin Sylvana handing me three plates. She blushes.  "Thanks, I mean it's not much but I like it." she shrugs putting two slices onto a plate and handing it over to Nat. 

"So, girls night huh?" Nat asks in between chews.  "Indeed, I have decided that it has been far too long!" I announce.  "And... we brought Love Actually." Sylvana adds waving the disk in the air. Nat sends me a look obviously catching on to what I was trying to do, I smile at her and she rolls her eyes. 

"Pass me the ice cream." Both Sylvana and I cheer doing a little dance around her island counter top. Nat giggles "You're both idiots." "I'm a part of the idiots club now, I feel so honoured!" Sylvana jokes.  "Don't, it just means we're going to start bothering you a lot more." Natalie replies sitting dow at the table. 

We all eat our pizza and talk about the weirdest fashion trends we've seen in Cali, which in the end Sylvana wins talking about a guy the kids on campus know as The Big Baby because he only wears a diaper to class. 

We pop the movie in at about 9:20 and all sit on the floor a large blanket wrapped around all of us.  We all take a spoon and pass around the tub of ice cream in between monologues. "You, know what's missing?" Sylvana asks half way through the movie.  "What?" "Popcorn." Natalie gasps excitedly. 

"Oh god, here we go." I groan trying to focus my attention on the movie. "You are my soulmate!" Natalie squeals hugging her.  "Alright I'll take that as a yes, I should go make some." she replies standing up and walking over to the microwave.  "I literally always have popcorn" she calls as we begin to hear the popping. 

I scoot over next to Natalie and she tries her hardest to ignore my presence.  "So..." "Skyler I don't want to talk about it." she whispers bitterly "Natalie you can't just not talk about it!" I reply sternly.  "Is this why you're here to lecture me on MY choices?" "God of course not Natalie you're my best friend, but-" "BUT what?" she yells standing up.

"But every time you get scared you run, and you leave me to clean up the mess you create!" "I'm sorry that not everyone is like you! That not everyone has the perfect life with the relationship and a perfect boyfriend!" she says angrily.  "Nat…." my voice cracks frustrated tears threatening to fall.  "You of all people know that's not true." I whisper wiping my eyes.  I send Sylvana an apologizing smile then grab my bag heading out the door. 

I try to call Luke from the car but he doesn't answer so I settle on calling my mom.  "Hey darling!" she answers.  "Hi mom" "How is everything, I miss you!" "I miss you too mom." I say trying to think of how to put into words what I was feeling.

"You know I've been so stressed out with your father recently..." she begins, I bite my lip.  "Mom if you ever want me to come home for a week or something…" I offer.  "No, no you stay there live your life." I nod slightly but then realize she was on the phone. 

"I love you" "I love you too Sky, I'm so proud of you." I chuckle "I haven't even done anything for you to be proud of yet!" "With nothing, comes the possibility of everything" she replies I roll my eyes she no doubt read that on the back of one of the thousands of self help books she bought but have yet to open. 

"I'll talk to you soon Mom." I assure her hanging up the phone as I turn into the familiar driveway. As the car pulls to a stop I rest my head against the steering wheel and take a couple calming breaths before heading inside.