Choices (Book Four)

Chapter 29

Lyla

Somehow the end of my Senior year is in three weeks. I graduate from college in three weeks. It's still hard to wrap my mind around. It feels just like yesterday I was starting my sophomore year here, yet at the same time so many things have happened and changed in my life since then. The last month and a half has blown by between placement and getting ready for finals. Not to mention I've had a track meet almost every weekend. Not that I'm complaining as I have been performing my best in all four years of college track. I have placed first in every single one of my events.

I hear my Professor finally dismiss our class for the day and I let out a relieved sigh as I pack my laptop away and follow the line of students out of the room. I am meeting Bailey for coffee on campus right now since I have an hour break before my next lecture. We've been trying to meet up since the night of my incident with Connor, but both our schedules have been so chaotic that this is the first time we were both able to find a spare hour that lined up. I exit the building and hit the sidewalk heading towards the coffee shop on campus. It's finally fully transitioned to Spring weather and I breathe in the fresh air as I feel the sunlight on my skin.

The walk to the coffee shop is only a few minutes away and I enjoy every moment of the walk. When I walk inside I don't see Bailey at any of the tables so I quickly grab one that's free and wait for her. I order a vanilla latte from the server before they disappear. I can't help but feel a bit nervous to see Bailey again. I had texted her that afternoon after I bailed from her apartment without a single word of thanks to her. I felt like a total jerk after everything she did for me that night. Movement at the front door catches my eye and I look up to see Bailey walking inside. She gazes around the shop and finds me quickly as she smiles and makes her way over. I stand from my seat and she wraps me in a tight hug when we meet.

"It's so good to finally see you," she says into my ear before she lets me go.

"You too," I agree with a smile.

We both sit down at the table just as the server drops of my drink and takes Bailey's order of a coffee.

"I'm so happy we were finally able to meet up," Bailey says.

"Me too," I agree. "I really wanted to thank you again in person for that night last month. You have no idea how much it meant for you to come to my rescue," I tell her.

"Of course," she says sincerely. "I could tell that guy was bad news. No need to thank me at all, I just did what you would have done for me."

"Well, still, thank you," I tell her again.

"I want to apologize for calling Shawn that night. You asked me not to and I should have listened and not butted it."

"Bailey you have no reason to apologize. I completely understand why you called him, it makes total sense. I'm not upset about it, I promise you," I assure her.

"Okay good," she says as she breathes out a sigh of relief. "I wasn't sure if you hated my guts now for going against you wishes."

We both giggle together and I shake my head side to side.

"Never," I tell her.

"You're doing okay since that night though?" She asks me hesitantly.

I take a breath and ponder the question. I am definitely doing better. I got into contact with my therapist again and scheduled a session once a week just to talk through things again. Within a week my sleep schedule was back to a somewhat normal state. It helped to have Megan too who I was able to talk through things with and she was always more than happy to listen and try to help. Coming into this meet up with Bailey today I knew the topic of Connor would probably come up and I had decided I was going to tell her about my past with him.