MOON SHADOW

CHAPTER FIVE

Lilah's laptop started to ring as she got out of the shower, a video call notification from Jeremiah in their group chat with Arianelle. She sat down at her desk, clicking on the green answer button as she scrunched her hair up in the towel.

Jeremiah's face popped up on her screen and a waiting logo for Arianelle, but eventually disappearing when she didn't pick up. She was probably still practicing with Roman, she thought to herself.

"Hey," Lilah said, turning her chair to face her laptop completely. "How was practice?"

"Weird," he responded. "Other than the fact that my two best friends stole our asshole of a team captain, Campbell never showed up either even though I saw him during fifth period. It's not like him to miss and not say something."

Max Campbell..

"Hm, weird," she said nonchalantly, acting like she couldn't care less. In reality, she wondered where Max had gone.

Jeremiah continued, "Thinking of things that aren't like people: you hanging with Bancroft?"

The tone of his voice was different than the way Arianelle would say Roman's name. A tad bit bitter, like disgust was dripping off every syllable.

"Why do you say his last name like that?"

"Because he's Roman Bancroft, Lilah. He's a hardass who doesn't talk to any of us outside of practice as if we're not friends, turns down every opportunity for team bondings, and probably thinks he's better than the rest of us."

"You know he doesn't think he's better than you guys," Lilah defended. "He just has other friends."

"Friends? Mans got one friend."

"And you think because he likes to hang out with her instead that he thinks he's better than the rest of you?"

Instead of answering her question, Jeremiah countered with his own, "What's even going on, Lilah? This morning you said you two weren't friends, and now you and aria are hanging out with him after school? Now he's a Rose?"

"Shawn didn't want to be a part of my court anymore because of Aria!"

"So, what? You just randomly asked some guy you're not friends with, and he just casually agreed to be a part of this?" wondered Jeremiah.

"He's not just some random guy!"

"Then what is he to you?!"

"A friend!"

The two of them were practically yelling at one another over the computer, their faces turning a light shade of red from the tension. They had both sat up in their chairs, leaning more towards their screens as they spoke.

"That's not what you said this morning," Jeremiah grumbled with a softer tone, both of them leaning back until their backs hit the backrest of their chairs.

Lilah grabbed her towel again, hanging it off the back of her hair.

"What difference does it make, Jer? I asked him to be a part of my court," she said calmly. "How are you mad at me for making a decision about my birthday?"

"Why were you two even talking this morning?" Jeremiah questioned, still dodging her questions.

"He's Mrs. Mendoza's son," she responded.

"Your event planner?"

She nodded, and Jeremiah looked away from her, understanding washing over his face as he nodded.

Another screen popped up, moving Jeremiah's face to the left as a noisy atmosphere entered the call, Arianelle finally picking up. From her surroundings, it was obvious that she was sitting at a booth at an In-N-Out.