Trying to live #Wattys2024

Chapter 20 (Edited)

"My parents won't give me access to my fund until I turn 21. Can you believe that?" Rose practically shouted through the speaker of my phone.

"And that's bad...?" I guessed, while unpacking the rest of my stuff from home. I had never fully unpacked my clothes and the belongings I brought for my stay at the Avilla mansion. The window  let in the afternoon light, casting a warm glow over everything.

It was Sunday, and since I had nothing better to do, I thought unpacking was a good idea. Until I realized it was boring, so I FaceTimed Rose. The closet stood open, half-filled with my hastily hung clothes, and my bed was strewn with various items waiting for their place.

My phone was sitting on top of five textbooks from school and leaning against my pencil case. So, technically, Rose was sitting there.

"It's extremely bad because the original age was 18, and I'm going to turn 18 in a few months," she whined. "Anyway, tell me something about your life."

I was amazed at how quickly Rose could shift moods. I could do that too, but not like her. She had whined for more than ten minutes about how hard life was for her. I was still surprised she didn't continue.

I folded one of my jeans and put it on the pile on the ground. I admit, I did go back home and bring new clothes only because I needed them. I had sectioned my clothes into piles, but I didn't get far because I procrastinated too much.

I looked at Rose and shook my head. "I don't have anything going on in my life."

Which was true. I didn't think she would be interested in my argument with Henry yesterday. Also, I was very determined to forget the incident, and I was kind of succeeding.

Rose looked at me oddly, but the expression changed the second she realized she looked off. I waved it off in my head; I shouldn't worry about that. Rose might not know what was going on in my life, but I had a good reason for that.

I didn't want to attach myself to her. If I did, I might get hurt in the end, and it was for the betterment of both of us. I had already lost my friends, so I pushed Rose away every time she got too curious. And she was often curious but never took it wrong.

She always gave me space and was loyal to me. I might not be a good friend, nor did I ever admit or say that she was my best friend because I was scared that I would hurt us both in the end with the baggage I was carrying.

So, yes, it was selfish of me to take everything from her while giving her nothing. I had to decide who was more important—her or me—and I chose myself over her.

"Figured that out," Rose finally said. "Well, I'll tell you my latest news—Dolores is avoiding me. I took her to the vet, but she said she's fine. I don't know what's with her because she's normal with my parents and even my brother."

Dolores was Rose's three-legged dog. Her dog had endured a lot, and Rose adopted her from an animal shelter. Rose said it was love at first sight when Dolores looked at her with those soulful eyes. Dolores was a delight to watch. She lived her life to the fullest, even with just three legs.

She was strong and fierce but also had a very soft side to her. I just loved that dog.

"Maybe she doesn't like you anymore, and maybe it's for the best. She found out that you're unbearable. Only a good dog could figure that out," a bored voice answered from behind me.

I stared with an open mouth, although it was actually my fault that the person was in my room. I was pretty sure the universe didn't like me at all.

Rose shrieked. Of course, she had every right to, but oh my, did my ears hurt from that scream. "Who was that, Em?!"