A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 23

"Lucy, can we speak in private?"

It was the last Friday in March, the day before Ken and Headley's engagement party. I was at lunch with Ellie, Helena, Leisha, and Anna. Lunch was coming to a close, and Anna had asked me if we could speak alone.

"Of course." I said to her, getting up from the table.

The past few months had been rough with her. She hardly even looked my way at lunch, and it made me feel uncomfortable each and every day. It felt like a glimmer of hope that she wanted to speak with me.

We went outside and out front of the dining hall.

"I wanted to apologize to you." she said, looking down at the ground. "I'm sorry that I've been very distant toward you the past couple of months. I was hurt...but I am ready to move past it."

It's about damn time.

"It's okay, Anna." I said, "You really don't have to apologize. I just want us to be friends again."

"Friends, then?" Anna looked at me.

"Of course." I said.

Anna then pulled me into a short hug. When we pulled away she asked me, "You and Valerie...you're doing well?"

"Yes, thank you." I said.

"Good." Anna nodded, "I'm happy for you. I'm sorry it took me a bit."

I went into the weekend glad to have her in my corner again.

I was apprehensive about the engagement party. I was going to have to see Chad- and Valerie was also going to be there. She promised that she wouldn't approach him in any kind of way, even though I knew that she wanted to.

Ellie came over early and got ready for the party with me in my room.

She looked very pretty in a green dress that paired well with her light strawberry blonde hair.

"You seem nervous." she said to me, "Extra nervous."

"I don't want to see Chad." I said.

"You haven't seen much of him lately. I figure that's a good thing?" Ellie looked at me.

I hadn't told her about what happened at my birthday dinner.

I sighed and said, "He's worse than we thought, El."

"How so?" Ellie furrowed her brow.

I then told her what happened on my birthday. And how I had a bruise around my wrist for over a week.

Her expression got more and more furious as I spoke.

"What a fucking prick." she said, "I could kill him. Lucy. You're not marrying him."

"I know." I said, "I am planning on coming out. I don't have an exact plan yet. But I am not going through with this wedding. I am going to be with Valerie."

Ellie gave me a smile. "You know that I am always going to be here for you, right? Nothing has to change between us, even if things get bad with the family."

"I know that I always have you." I said to Ellie, "And that means the absolute world to me."

"I'm not going to take this lying down either." Ellie said, "I'll be sure to remind our family how awful they are for not accepting you."

"Maybe one day they will come around." I said.

"Maybe they will." Ellie gave me a sad smile.

"Are you ready to go watch Headley revel in being the center of attention?" I asked Ellie.