the various chances

chapter eight

Jeremy

I hate this feeling, my wildly racing heartbeat. That little flower annoys me to such an extent that it is difficult to put the same on some papers using some stupid words. She hoped out of the car after a weak yet genuine 'thank you for the ride' and ran as if her tail was on fire. It should have been me, avoiding her, running away from her yet like a fool I asked her to follow my orders to drop her home as it was getting late.

The drive to my house gave me enough time to compose myself because the storm named Aaron was waiting to fire questions at me the moment I step in. And true to my misery, the very moment I place my foot in my penthouse, Aaron says, "Lily, huh!"

He was sitting on the couch of the living room, more specifically sprawled on it with a plate of Chinese takeout. On the table there was another plate with 2 glasses of lemonade. Thank god, at least this idiot has the food ready! "be right back", I announce and head to my bedroom for a quick shower and change of clothes.

Back in the room, I take my plate and start with the food while Aaron was busy watching the latest episode of his own series. A few bites and none of us speaks, then the episode playing on the TV pauses and I feel Aaron turn his body towards my direction, "you are avoiding me."

I shrug, digging my spoon and taking a bite on the rice, "I am not." "I asked you about Lily" "what about her?" yet again I shrug, making a pathetic attempt to keep my focus on the food. "Seriously Jeremy, why are you behaving like you don't know her at all? And the fuck she came from after 7 years?" I could sense the confusion in his voice but I myself don't have the answers to the questions he just asked.

Chewing and gulping down I say, "I don't know anything." He throws his hands up in my direction once, "what are you? Jon Snow? Because last I knew you were...." The doorbell ringing interrupts him, he stands up and goes to answer the door. Lorenzo barges in with a bag in his hand.

Pointing my spoon to the bag I ask, "what's that?" "you are going to need it after our discussion", Aaron answers. I had finished my last bite and with that I place my spoon in the plate and sigh, "what discussion?" Lorenzo had settled on the couch as well, me and Aaron were sitting on the same couch at an arm length while Lorenzo takes a seat on the opposite one.

"Lily", Aaron deadpans. I sigh heavily, "I don't care about her then why are you guys so worried about her." Lorenzo loosens up himself by unbuttoning his cuff links and top 2 buttons of his baby blue dress shirt, "you gotta be shitting me Jeremy, we all know the truth."

"and may I ask what is it?" I ask raising an eyebrow. "you..." Aaron starts but I pause him after a word, "complete the sentence I dare you." "I was going to say you care about her, you deepshit", Aaron blames. I raise my hands in surrender. My gaze goes to the table where Lorenzo had opened a bottle of vodka, sprite and gin.

Maybe I'll take one shot!

"I am going to get the shot glasses", Aaron says and walks to the kitchen while Lorenzo narrows his eyes at me to which I throw my hand up in the air to show my irritation, "you guys are pushing me." "for truth", he completes.

"tell me Jeremy, why has she re-appeared after 7 years?" Lorenzo asks. "fuck if I know", I answer, defeating. He hums in response, "do you want me to investigate?" The offer was tempting but why would I want to know about that little flower. But again, I wanted the answers about how someone like her was in the current situation.

Her current address showed she'd rent some cheap living place, her clothes appearing somewhere borderline normal, boots overused, bag used by a college going new adult and her old phone looked like it went through cyclone, hurricane and tsunami combined.