Falling Slowly

Chapter 22 - Seeing Old Friends

"Lyla? Hi, I've missed you guys too." Honestly I didn't know if that was the truth or a lie, but at the moment I didn't care because I was too curious as to why Jacob hadn't called me, since this was his phone.

I could hear Lyla's smile through the phone. "That's great to hear. We've tried calling you for a while now." She stopped speaking for a moment and I heard rustling and hushed voices in the background before I heard Lyla's voice again. "Hi sorry about that. We have a lot of things we need to talk to you about. Can you come over today?"

"Uh, sure." This honestly wasn't what I thought my first time speaking with them again would be like. They didn't ask a bunch of questions nor did they seem really excited now that they've finally made contact with me. However I don't think I sounded too happy either so I couldn't blame them. Although... I had really thought that all of them had been lying to me this whole time, and would have turned their back on me just like Jacob did. Did this phone call mean otherwise?

"Okay, great! Come over to my house in one hour? Sorry for the short notice, it's kind of urgent."

"Yeah, that's fine." I silently thanked myself for not agreeing to go with Damian to the movies tonight.

"Okay, see you then!"

After hanging up, I frowned at the television, suddenly not feeling in the mood to finish the action film anymore. I turned off the TV and went upstairs to my room to lie on my bed.

Okay, let me try to get this straight. So I thought Jacob was calling but it was actually the pops who I had deemed as backstabbers too, but they seemed friendly and wanted me to meet them. Never during the phone call did Jacob show up, and I don't know how they got Jacob's phone or how they knew that my number was somehow on his phone. What was even creepier was that I never even gave him my number. Also, when Lyla mentioned "we" who exactly was she talking about? Everyone? Everyone except for Jacob? What if going to their house was some sort of trap and then Tammy and that weird buff guy would be with her and she would hurt me again?

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind. I guess the only way to find out is to go. What the hell, there was nothing to lose now, was there?

[1 hour later]

I rang the doorbell of Lyla's house and awkwardly waited outside. My palms were sweating and I could feel my heartbeat beating abnormally fast. I'll admit, I was nervous and scared about what was going to happen on the other side of that door. Was I going to come out this alive? I surely hope so.

Looking around, I felt like a stranger to this place even though I've been here so many times before. In the past everything seemed so warm and inviting, but now everything felt so different- so unfamiliar.

It didn't take long for the front door to open. "Rebecca!" Lyla yelled, throwing open the door and practically crushing me into a bear hug. I awkwardly patted her back as I tried my best to cope with the uncomfortable situation.

"Hi..." I said as she finally let me go. My voice trailed off as I looked behind her and saw the rest of the pops excluding Jacob. Where was he?

I entered the house and looked around at the smiling faces. Why were they are all so happy to see me? The next few minutes went by in a blur as each person came up to me and gave me a hug. They asked a few questions but most of them I just absentmindedly answered. My mind was still trying to process What was going on. Was there going to be a "surprise guest" coming later? And where is Jacob?

Eventually I found myself sitting down on the sofa in the living room surrounded by old friends. Sam was the first to speak up. "So Rebecca. Wow, it's been over a week since we've last seen you." She paused, seeming unsure of her next question. "Listen Rebecca. We want to know... What happened? Why did you leave?"