A LIE AT THE BEACH

Chapter 13: Athens.

It's 5:30 pm and we are done with the nails. I got peach artificials and Jill got neon green for herself. We're now heading to a small Italian restaurant with nice food as Jill told me. We walk in and sit at the table next to the windows to the back of the restaurant. This place is so peaceful I think as I look out at passing people and their pets and all. The waiter comes over to take our orders and I gladly tell him a chocolate mint milkshake with Oreos and Jill orders the same but instead of Oreos asks for whipped cream as topping. Waiter nods and walks off to do his job. "This place is so peaceful." I say to Jill. "Oh yeah it is. It gets boring at some point though." Jill says.  "I doubt that."   "You're only saying that because you're visiting, trust me."  Maybe.

"Hey..You didn't tell me about you and Jake, miss." I look at her with a serious face.  "Oh really? I remember telling you. Maybe you didn't pay attention." Jill says trying to divert me.  "Haha nice try but I don't get diverted easily so you better tell me." I say to her with a very acted straight face. She falls for it all.

"Ugh okay Jake and I are....friendswithbenefits." She says so fast but I still catch everything.

My mouth gapes at that... "What?"
I don't even realise I shouted and now everyone's glaring including Jill but I don't care. "How come...when...how come?" I ask. I know this shit happens but...Jill? I'm not judging or anything but that was never her thing. She never settled for less so there must be something else behind that. She breathes out a heavy sigh.

"See, this is why I didn't wanna tell you." She says seriously as though she is hurt. "Oh no, Jill I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you with my words but I was just too shocked really...like it was never your thing." I say honestly. "Well people change and now I don't want to talk about it. Please....at least not now." She says. It must really be big and now I'm realising I don't really give her time I mean, I don't even know how my cousin's doing. I feel ashamed of myself but I'll try my best to be there whenever she needs me. "Alright cuz. Take your time." I say. "Thanks."

The waiter brings our orders and we decide to go home with them. We pay to the waiter and tip him as well...handsomely too and he thanks us. We carry our milkshakes to the car and head home. I've never been in any uncomfortable car ride as this. I just keep sipping on my milkshake as I look at trees outside. Jill is so quiet. I even tried to begin a conversation but she couldn't give in so I gave up.

We arrive at home and we both move to our rooms straight away but Jill slams her door. Woahh! Something's definitely up...did I do something wrong to pressure her into telling me? But we had made a deal that I tell her and she would also tell me about her and Jake. I'm still changing to sweats and tank top and I receive a call from Sid. I dress up quickly and pick up the call.
"Hey.." I say. "Hello beautiful." I smile a little at that. "What's up? Why did you call?" I ask not in a mean way though. "Ouch. Can't I call a friend whenever I want to?" he asks and we both remain quiet for sometime...I dunno why. I guess because he called me just a friend. "Sid? You there?" I ask.   "Unhaa never went anywhere. Anyways how are you...and Jill?"   "Um, we're okayy....yeah we're good but I gotta go right now. She needs me." I say apologetically. Sid seems understanding enough and he says "That's okay. I'll call you later on. Okay?"   "Yeah I think."   "Bye Sid."   "Bye, A!" I put my phone on my bed and decide to go talk to Jill.

I meet mum on the way. "Hey. Is Jill okay? I heard her slam her door."

"I just need to talk to her right away...but she's okay." I hope.

Mum nods and continues down the hall. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding and move to Jill's door. I knock softly and listen for an answer. No response. I tap her door three times again but no response again. I slowly open her door and oh no, she's lying on her bed face down I don't know...crying? 

"Jill?" I ask softly as I approach her after closing the door. She indeed is crying so I sit on her bed near the edge. "Jill....it's Athens." I say dumbly. Of course she knows that. I'm really not the best at comforting people.  "Jill stop crying. Hush now...it's okay." I say patting her head. After a few minutes, she stops and I see her rubbing her eyes. She turns to me, "Wow...you're really the worst person to get comfort from." she mocks with a small smile. I smile back, at least I brought a smile on your face bish.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I ask her and she just looks ahead. "I guess I've no choice."  "Jill...I'm not forci...." She cuts me off  "Oh stop. Why delay what has to be said?" I nod slowly. 

"Well...Jake. Jake and I already knew each other from before." She pauses to see my reaction.

"What in the actual hell?!" I'm beyond shocked.

But why did they have to pretend they didn't when we met at the beach. "I know you're probably wondering how." She continues with a distant smile.
"Well...I knew Jake from campus. He was my first boyfriend at campus actually...."

My eyes have never grown bigger than they have right now. What in the what?! I signal for her to go on.

"We dated for the whole of first year but things weren't working out....it was sex and toxicity all the time, no love at all." she says with a humourless laugh.

This...is unbelievable.