It All Started With a Diary

again

"Hey, are you alright?" Maggie asked once I sat down.

Her sharp eyes were outlined with black eyeliner. She wore black army boots, along with a pair of black pants and a strapped burgundy tank top covered with a black jacket.

I nodded my head. "Yeah."

"I saw your call, but I didn't have my phone on me at the time. I kept calling you back, why didn't you answer?" she frowned. "I stopped by your place too, no one was home."

I looked at her. Her catlike eyes stared me down. I could tell she was genuinely worried, though I slightly didn't know who to trust anymore.

I sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't even notice the call. It was a family emergency."

"Oh, is everything okay?" she asked me.

I stared down at her black printed fingernails. "Yes, sort of, I don't really know." My words were tangled with my own emotions.

"Tell me all about it. It's not like she's going to teach anytime soon," she nodded at the teacher, who sat with a slouch and a book in her hand. So, I did.

***

"Guess who just earned a spot on the soccer team!" Jax announced as I placed my tray down alongside Raven.

Maggies' green eyes rolled, though by the smile on her maroon shaded lips, I knew that she was proud of her brother. "Good job, dipshit."

"Yeah," he snatched one of her tater tots. "Just think, I can finally kick you in the face with a ball and have an excuse for it," he tilted his head, smiling.

"Do it, and I swear that ball will be so far up—"

"Okay, Dolan Twins," Raven chuckled, glancing to me. "Are you alright, Kimberly?"

She was in front of me, so we both were unable to hide our true expressions. I nodded with a faint smile.

"Yeah, we tried to call you back. You wouldn't answer the phone," Jax said. 

"I went by your house, but no one was there," Raven informed me, reaching over to grasp my hand.

"I'm alright guys, I'm just...." I couldn't find the strength to tell the story all over again.

Even if dad was alright now, I still didn't want to think about what could have happened.

Maggie looked at me, head tilted so I knew she understood. "Do you want me to tell them?"

I nodded, and she began to tell them about what happened in the midst of so many blended days. I wasn't worried. I trusted them, and I didn't feel like they would go and share this type of information with anyone. After they asked if he were okay and how we all were doing, I thanked them for their generosity.

"We are shitty ass people," Jax mumbled as soon as Maggie finished the story.

Raven agreed, as did Maggie. I disagreed immediately at what they were saying, at least they called back and came by my home. I hadn't checked my phone in days, nor would I have been able to feel the small vibration amongst it all.

I sighed. "Guys, you're not bad friends. I know you all would have been there if you knew, and at least you tried to get in contact with me," I smiled at them. "I appreciate it and all of you."

I could tell they still felt bad, but there was truly no reason to. I didn't hold any malice. I attempted to uplift the spirit as the lunch period carried on.

"Jax, you made the soccer team," I congratulated him with a small grin.

Maggie snorted, drowning her corn dog in mustard. "He fucked someone on the team, and I'll prove it," I heard her mumble under her breath.

I giggled as Jax feigned a look of hurt. "Either way, we'll still love you, Jax."

We all continued to converse, and despite everything, I didn't know how badly I had needed this normal until now. It was calming, despite the obliviously taunt clench of my heart every time I glanced around the room. I tried to ignore the tug at my heart when I caught sight with his friends, but not him. It was all a fight to continue on like normal, and I wasn't even sure if I could win it.