Different Sides To The Same Story

Chapter twenty-three - Lilith Pearson

   I didn't bother to hold back my tears on the way back. Callie drove as Jaime sat in the back seat with me and let me cry into her shoulder.

Jaime was surprisingly comforting, saying sweet things so me like 'you don't need him.' or even, 'he doesn't deserve you' which I know is a lie, all well combing her fingers through my hair which made me feel better.

"It's gonna be okay Lily." Jaime says.

"I'm gonna miss you guys." I tell them between tears.

Callie looks back in the review mirror meeting my eyes, "Oh fuck that, just 'cause you're not with Jason doesn't mean we can't still be friends."

"Besides Callie and him aren't really on speaking terms so it's not like we'll hang out with him anytime soon." Jaime whispers to me.

I laugh a bit through my cries as Callie somewhat glares at Jaime jokingly. "I can't believe he slept with Emily-fucking-Greenburg." I mutter.

"Hey Callie, go through the wendy's drive thru, we should get some milkshakes. This girl needs to rehydrate." Jaime says, pointing to a drive thru.

I let out a few laughs, leaning off Jaime's shoulder and getting a killer headache. Callie orders one of each the basic flavours, and then pulls over in the parking lot, sliding into the backseat beside me.

"It's gonna be okay Lily." She tells me, passing me one of the milkshakes and Jaime the other one.

I sip it, finding it's chocolate. "What's your sign Lil?" Jaime asks me.

"Aries." I mumble, sipping my shake again.

She opens her phone reading of it, "'you never need to worry about an Aries woman when it comes to breakups. They will be able to move on very quickly and it's rare when they do become stuck on their ex.' see, you'll be fine." She tells me.

"Switch." Callie calls, passing hers to me and taking Jaime's as I hand Jaime mine. "Wait Aries, so your birthday's coming up?" She half asks.

"Yeah, March twenty-second." I tell them.

Jaime brightens up, "That's in like a week, we should do something."

"Can I ask you guys about something?" I ask, sipping the vanilla shake, they both nod and actively listen as I say the next words, "I got a scholarship to UCLA."

"Seriously? that's amazing." Callie tells me

"I was planning on denying it, that way I could stay with Jason and there wouldn't be any stress on our relationship. But now there's nothing between us to put stress on, I wanna go." I admit quietly.

"You should totally go, I mean me and Jaime are heading to CIU." Callie says.

I side glance her, "Really? What are you guys going into?" I question.

"I'm gonna be a lawyer, I got into CIU for Art History's." Jaime says, sounding proud.

I look over at Callie, "I've already taken a course in Human Psyche, but I got in for general psychology." She tells me.

"Aw so you guys are going to the same university, that's so cute." I comment.

They both laugh a bit and we continue talking about our hopes for the future. Callie lets me sleep at her house so I don't go home at four am.

---

I unlock the door, opening it and seeing my mom in the kitchen. She looks rushed, she's got half her makeup on and her hairs in a mess of frizz. She's cooking frantically, I drop my bag by the door "Mom, what's wrong?" I ask, entering the kitchen.

"I have a job interview this morning and I'm running late." She tells me, still stirring the scrambled eggs.

I take the spatula from her, "Go get ready I can make breakfast." I offer.

She looks at me thankfully, but stops as her face shifts into realization, "What're you doing home so soon?"

"Oh it's nothing, I'll tell you about it tonight when you tell me about how well the interview went." I tell her.

She knocks on the wood cupboard before leaving the room, making me laugh. I stir the eggs trying to distract myself from my thoughts as Dillion enters the room, "Hey, you're back early." He comments.

I turn off the burner scooping eggs onto his plate. "Yeah." I mumble.

"What's up?" He asks, taking the plate from me.

"It's nothing." I lie, "Enjoy breakfast I'm gonna go to my room." I tell him, not waiting to hear his reply before I leave the room.

When I get to my room I try not to dwell on the fact just a few days ago, Jason was lying in my bed and was kissing me. I pull out my laptop, opting to sit at my desk instead. I pull out the acceptance email.

'Check yes to attend our university next year or check no to not attend.' I read. I hover my mouse over the yes button. I don't have anything to lose, Jason doesn't want to be with me. Who knows maybe I'll find the love of my life at UCLA. And I click it. Yes.