isn't it lovely

chapter twenty-four: point of views

stella

"why the hell did you hang up?" i ask, annoyed.

"i didn't." he says confused.

i sit back down and rub my forehead. "fuck, dude."

"what's her problem?"

"i told her jess. about you cheating on me. she probably recognized you from that other time at galco's."

he swallows, embarrassed, "what's that gotta do with her, though?"

"she cares about me, jessie. of course she's gonna freak out when she sees my ex answer my phone while i'm inches away from his face."

"she should mind her business, she doesn't know me. and there's more to that story that i know you didn't tell her. she shouldn't be so quick to judge."

"well, she's billie. she is quick to judge. that's what she does. she sees someone who hurt me, of course she's gonna freak out. probably go write a song about it."

"your other friends would just start cursing me out." he paused, staring into my teary eyes, "she seemed, almost, hurt? what aren't you telling me, stella?" he says comfortingly.

i hesitate, my eyes filling up with even more tears. god damn i'm sensitive.

"oh. don't cry, i'm sorry. i shouldn't have asked you. i- i should go? what am i even-"

he starts to get up before i grab his wrist.

"you know i'm a crybaby, jessie. you can stay. it's just," i pause and lick my lips, "you can't really, like, tell people what i'm about to tell you. and i know you got pushy friends so just don't mention me all together and you should be okay. you won't say shit right?"

he nods, "of course, i won't say shit. not about you. i wouldn't do that to you stel."

"well, you haven't been proven very trustworthy in the past."

"you and i both know what happened. don't fucking do that to me, montgomery."

"we're not talking about this now."

"okay, then tell me what you were gonna say."

i sigh, "me and billie are kinda, like, more than friends, i guess."

his eyes widen and his jaw drops, before he lowers his voice, "you like girls?" he looks excited.

i nod, tearing up a bit from relief before he pulls me in for an unsolicited hug. i hug back anyway.

"i'm proud of you, stella. if you ever need," he stops himself, "i'm proud of you."

"my parents don't know. only charley and lennon and them."

"okay, that's fine. don't be rushed. you know i'm not." he chuckles.

i laugh also. "thanks, jessie."

"you're calling me jessie again." he smiles.

"is that okay?" i ask.