Credit to queen-ema for this beautiful blend. It actually fits the theme of the chapter. Before I begin babbling on, here is the newest chapter of Faking Happiness.
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The next few periods were fairly peaceful. I didn't see Stephanie around anywhere, and Lucy stopped taking me to my next classes. It was a bit difficult to get around, but I actually thought I could get through this day without something bad happening.
I was wrong.
Usually when someone puts their headphones on, it means they don't want to be bothered. Especially if you're sitting alone at a table. I didn't mind really, I didn't like to many people to be around me, except for my close friends. Stephanie as a couple of tables over, talking to her bitchy friends that she's known since pre-k. I met them once and knew to stay away when they insulted my choice in clothes.
In the span of a few seconds after I sat down, Lucy rushed to my table and sat down with me. I gave her another look but she seemed to ignore it.
"What do you want?"
"I want to apologize."
"Didn't you do that a couple of hours ago?"
"A real apology this time."
She turned and proceeded to take something out of her bag. I was annoyed yet a little curious on what she wanted to show me. Finally, she took out a shoebox. My eyes widened slightly when I saw it. It wasn't just any shoebox. On the top, in black sharpie marker, it read, Our Adventure.
Lucy, Bryson and I originally buried it over five years ago because we wanted to see how our life had changed in twenty years. I completely forgot about the box, but clearly Lucy still remembered.
"We have been friends for almost a decade. Since the summer before second grade started. So much has happened between them, some good, a lot of them bad. I know it seemed like a big betrayal when we cut off all communication with you, but we couldn't stop it."
"You couldn't or just didn't want too?"
"A little bit of both." She said sheepishly.
"I was so vain when I was fifteen. I only cared about appearances and how I looked in front of an audience. When I saw what happened to you, I didn't know how it would affect me. I was really selfish. I can't speak for Bryson but I really am sorry."
I knew she was sincere because it was really hard for her to speak about her faults. She grew up, knowing that she had to be perfect, and one little imperfection could cost her everything. Her parents never liked me, maybe because I was poorer than her, but also because of the way I acted. I wasn't a goody-two-shoes and I'll never be one. In a sense, she was risking it all by talking to me.
"What about now?"
"I changed. Over these past few months, I learned how my attitude really affects people. Ever since Bryson left-"
"Bryson left?" I could never imagine that the last person of the Big Three would leave as well. Lucy and Bryce were even greater friends than I am to them. Then again, everyone has to move on.
"He had a chance to study in France for a couple of semesters. He left in January of this year. He'll be back in a couple of months. He originally asked me if it was the right decision to leave and I said yes. I could never let my friend miss such an amazing opportunity, for my own benefit."
If we were fifteen and Lucy was in this position right now, she would say no in a heartbeat. She was always afraid of being alone. Her parents were always on business trips and she didn't get along with her brother. She knew that once Bryson left, she would be alone.
"Anyway," She added on, "My mother forced me to hang out with these socialites. She thought it would be good for my future if I made friends with them. My god, they were awful Zoe. They were so much worse than I am. If I so much sneezed the wrong way, they could criticize me. I didn't realize I was like that until now. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to apologize. Not only because I missed my friend, but because I wronged you."
Damn. That was deep.
I looked at the pictures in the box. The most recent one was Bryson, Lucy, and I in a pool on a hot summer's day. Another one was me carving into a tree. I smiled at the pictures. I was really happy then.
"So it took both of your friends to leave before you realized it?"
"Is that what you got out of this? God, I am so bad at apologizing." She put her hands on her head and I knew she was taking this hard. Having her two best friends leave her, obviously took it's toll on her.
Relax. I forgive you." She looked up hopefully and relief flooded her face.
"I just don't think we could go back to the way we were. I felt betrayed and I can't get over that so easily. I won't hold what happened against you any more but it will take a while to get over it. It was two years Lucy. I can't forget about it in a day."
"That's fine. We don't have to jump straight to the way we were. We can start off as acquaintances. I don't want to be on your bad side anymore."
I thought about it for a while. Even though I didn't show it, I did miss her terribly. I knew it was better if we weren't friends, because so much had changed that I didn't know where to start anymore. Maybe it was my selfish instincts, but I said yes.
"Okay. We'll start over. Although I'm not going to introduce myself again because that's stupid. Oh, and bury that box. We still have fifteen years left."
She laughed before putting the box away again. "Deal."
The rest of the day went by relatively smoothly and I almost cried when the bell rang to signify school was over. I didn't feel like taking the bus so just decided to ride with my dad and Stephanie. It couldn't possibly be that bad. I waited in front of the school for my dad to come and a couple of minutes later, Stephanie arrived. She gave a visible look of disdain but I ignored her.
Soon enough, he arrived in his Nissan Sentra. I was about to sit in the front, when stephanie quickly shut the door on me and gave me a sickly sweet smile.
"Fine then. I'll sit in the back, your royal highness."
I opened the backdoor instead and slid in. My dad gave his usual greeting, trying to ignore the tension in the car. He must have picked up Giselle before us because she was sleeping on the other side of the backseat.
"So how was your day Zoe? Did you make any new friends?"
"Not really. I guess I made one friend if you count the boy who took me to one of my classes. I don't know his name though."
Dad was about to respond when Stephanie chipped in, "Are you sure Zoey? Because I saw you sitting all alone if the cafeteria like a loner."
I rolled my eyes at her attempt to throw me under the bus, "Well, I'd much rather be alone than hang out with your bitchy friends."
"Girls-"
Stephanie turned towards me and sent me a glare, "Takes one to know one."
"Steph-"
"At least I'm not as bitchy as you, Miss 'I always get the front seat.'"
"Zoe-"
"You can't just come in and take everything that was mine. It's not yours to take."
"GIRLS!"
We stopped our argument once dad shouted. His yell was even loud enough that it woke Giselle up. We didn't even know that he already stopped the car.
"This is ridiculous. I know you don't get along but you used to be so close. I don't know what happened. I expect you two to act like responsible women, not children like Giselle."
"Hey!" Giselle exclaimed at the insult indirectly sent towards her. My dad ignored her and continued speaking.
"This is why we are going to do a little exercise. Get out of the car."
"Not this again." I said. I knew exactly where this was going. He always told us that when he was a kid, his mom made him and my dad's brother get home by themselves when they didn't get along. He claimed it was a bonding exercise. I personally think it's a load of crap.
"Yes again. Now give me your phones."
Now it was Stephanie's turn to speak. "What?"
"We didn't have iPhones in my age. You'll be fine. You know this city like the back of your hand."
Begrudgingly, Stephanie and I gave up our phones.
"Good. Now be back before dinner. Love you."
With that we stepped out of the car and closed the door. Not even a second later, he sped off, leaving the two of us alone.
Judging from where we were, we couldn't have been more than ten blocks from our house so we might get there in twenty minutes if we walk fast.
I started walking but Stephanie stayed behind.
"Are you coming or not?"
"This is all your fault."
I've been fairly patient up to this point but I ran out of fucks to give.
"How is this my fault? You are the one who started everything in the first place. You are the one who starts everything. Who do think covers for you when you come home flat faced drunk from a party? Not your fairy godmother."
It felt good to say what I felt but it instantly vanished when she fired back.
"It was only a couple of times. At least I didn't steal from innocent people."
"I learned from my mistakes. It's clear that you didn't. Don't think I don't notice the small footsteps at three in the morning heading towards the wine cabinet."
Since it was getting cold outside, I started walking leaving her behind. Finally she got over her shock and tightly gripped my wrist.
"We are not done with this conversation."
Instantly my fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. I hated when people touched me, especially in a violent way. Without having time to think about it, I pushed her off of me and punched her in the face. My mind was still hazy and I didn't realize what I've just done.
"Don't touch me!" I spat.
"What the hell Zoey?" She touched her face trying to cover up the place where I hit her. I didn't notice until now but people were staring and looked at me after what I'd just done. Someone came up to Stephanie and tried to help her. The women gave me an angry look. Not knowing what to do and feeling slightly claustrophobic, I stepped back. Hot flashes soared throughout my body, and I felt extremely warm, contrast to the cool September air. Knowing that I wouldn't be of any help and that I would just get in more trouble if I stepped in, I ran away.
That way I wouldn't hurt anyone again.