Once Again [Unedited]

- 7 -

"And," I stopped to take a next bite of my hamburger. "That's what happened."

"Well that was surprising," said Dahlia as she slurped her chocolate milkshake. 

We were now hanging around Julie's diner, well it wasn't her diner. If we are being specific, then the diner is owned by her parents but she works full time in place for them.

"I was also surprised as well. I actually didn't expect for her to even speak to me at all."

I haven't had much of an appetite since day so instead of eating, I was now playing with a single French fry by poking it around the plate with a fork. "Still I'm glad I at least got to speak with her before I end up leaving for college. Plus after the conversation, I actually feel like things wont be so...bad."

"Can't believe you're going to leave us here all alone," mumbled Dahlia as she chewed on a fry. "Who will I have to talk about the newest kdramas coming out this year?! Zachary attention span is complete shi-"

"Just because I don't like watching your 1 hour long shows don't mean my attention span is garbage." bit back Zachary.

"- and Julie is too absorbed with the diner to even do anything," she continued to whine while purposefully ignoring her sibling.

"Aye! Just know that my obsession with this diner is what's giving y'all this free food," said Julie as she approached our table.

"Which is something we are very very much thankful for by the way," Zachary replied as they raised their iced coffee in the air.

In response Julie rolled her eyes and took off her apron before sitting beside me at the table.

"Anyways, you ready for college life kid?" she asked as she rested her head on the table before stealing some of my fries.

"I'm ready for anything. Just as long as it involves getting out of this shitty town," I replied after taking a sip of Dahlia's milkshake in which she sent a sharp glare in response.

"Want me to give you a lift up to the airport when you are leaving?" asked Julie as she continued to munch on my fries.

"Actually no it's fine. Surprisingly my mom offered to take me," I said with a slight tone of disbelief.

Julie raised her eyebrows a bit but then gave a little hum in response before continuing to stuff her face.

"It's going to be so boring without you here," whined Dahlia once again.

"You'll be fine. I'll still make a few visits here and there during break and I already promised to call you guys weekly," I assured her.

"...mhmm fine. Let those calls be daily though!" she shouted back while pointing her fork towards my chest.

I placed my hands in the air jokingly, "Yes ma'am."

Suddenly Zachary stood up, "Shoot!"

"What's wrong?" asked Dahlia, concern now written all over her face.

"Mom told us to pick up Danny at the daycare at 5 remember?!" they were now rushing to pack all their left over food by shoving it in their small knapsack.

Never waste free food I guess.

"Holy crap-" she said before jumping up.

I looked at the time which now read 5:46 pm.

"Bye guys, got to go. Talk to you later. Bye again!" and that was the last I heard from them before they busted out the glass doors.

I heard a giggle from beside me.

"Why are they always like this?" said Julie in between laughs.

I let out a small chuckle, "I really don't know to be honest."

"Poor Danny I swear," said Julie with a sigh before she munched onto another fry.

"Well enough about them. How are you feeling?" she asked as she ate the last fry left. "You know if there's anything wrong you can always reach out to me. After what happened last time I just... don't want you to reach that state again."

"I don't know Jules," I stopped to take a deep breath feeling my guard immediately deteriorate. "I miss her. I really do miss her a lot There are nights where I find myself staying up late wondering if I was the problem, wondering if I just wasn't enough to make her stay. Then there are other nights where I'm mad. Mad at her for being cowardly and just leaving when things got tough. Mad at myself for being so naive by stupidly opening my heart out to someone that easily. And then sometimes mad at the world. What is so wrong about love? What is the big sinful difference between two girls liking each other and two people of the opposite sex liking each other? I don't get it and I don't think I ever will." 

Control yourself Fayna. Having a breakdown now won't help anything.

"Well," began Julie. "I've never been in you position before but what I can say is that this world will always love to be harsh onto people who dares to go against it's societal rules. That's just how it is."

She paused for a second. "But Fay, you don't have to bend to those rules and it's also okay to feel conflicted and anger."

She turned to me, "You need to stop being so hard on yourself Fay."

"I know." was all I said in response.