Broken Bridges

Chapter 23

                          October 15th, 2020
                                    Harper
Isn't it strange how there are so many secrets just flying in the wind left unheard? People have so many internal thoughts that they keep to themselves that may or may not benefit or harm another. To contrast, there are so many secrets flying around in the wind that weren't supposed to be shared. Now, everybody knows about it and continues to spread it. The calm, flying wind of a secret that it once was, is now a tornado, destructful, and destroying everything in its path. It's destroying people's mental health, their friendships, and their reputations. Isn't that strange?
                                        ***
" Lilliana!" Maliyah and I cheer as she hits the ball over the net and onto the ground. Maliyah, Lucas and I are at Lilliana's volleyball game cheering her on. It's senior night, a night dedicated to the seniors on the team because it's their last game of their last season. They play the full game without getting benched and afterwards walk across the gym and receive a rose from their parents and a "Senior Hall of Fame" award from their coach. Lilliana is team captain and has been since sophomore year. Outgoing seniors never got the captain position in past years because she had it. The game ends and the seniors get a standing ovation.
"Lil!" Lucas screams as he runs out onto the court. He grabs Lilliana and hugs her as she sobs on his shoulder. Maliyah and I run out with him.
"I can't believe that was my last game." Lily sobs. She breaks out of Lucas's hug and runs to her team, first to the other seven seniors and then to the rest of the team, embracing herself in a group hug. Lilliana wasn't the only one crying now, the whole gym was in tears. The principal stood at a microphone and her voice projected across the gym.
"Please take a seat everyone. Seniors, when I call your name please walk across the gym for the last time and accept the rose from your parents who will be on the other side waiting for you. Coach Hendrickson will be waiting there also to present you with your hall of fame award. Names are in alphabetical order by last name."
Maliyah, Lucas and I take a seat back on the bleachers and Lilliana sits on the team bench on the left side of the gym.
"Savanna Andri." The crowd applauds, " Penelope Aimes." More applause. "Lilliana Blanchard." Lilliana walks across the gym and meets Christina on the right side of the gym. Christina was crying and so was Lilliana. She hands her the rose and hugs her. Coach Hendrickson hands her a plaque with her name and volleyball picture on it. " I present Lilliana the "Life of the Party '' award because she always brings a smile to everyone's faces with her beautiful smile, bubbly personality and kindness." Lilliana gasps for air as a smile appears across her face and more tears stream down her eyes. She hugs her coach and joins us on the bleachers.
" I'm so proud of you, baby." Lucas says as he hugs her again. The second he lets go, Maliyah and I surround her.
" I'm gonna miss this!" She cries into my arm.
" I know you will." I reassure her.
After all the seniors receive their awards, the principal retakes her place at the microphone.
" There is a special senior I would like to honor tonight. A college reached out to Coach Hendrickson and myself and is offering this player a full ride athletic scholarship to their school. It also just so happens to be this senior's dream school and one she applied to.  Georgia State University has granted Lilliana Blanchard a full ride to their school to play varsity volleyball for them as well as continue her studies majoring in psychology. Congratulations Lilliana!" The crowd erupts with cheers and Lilliana falls to her knees in shock.
" Oh my god." She sobs. Lucas grabs her hands and brings her back to her feet.
" Lilliana you did it. You deserve this." Lucas says, a tear leaving his right eye.
Happiness spreads all around the gym. Praise and excitement fills the air and Lilliana is the main character. She has a supportive team, supportive friends. supportive mom and boyfriend. It must be nice. It must be nice to live my dream.
                                      ***
The four of us go out to dinner to celebrate Lilliana. We go to Olive Garden. her favorite place, and get pasta and breadsticks.
"So psychology huh?" Lucas asks Lilliana, spinning his fork on his plate to collect pasta. " When did you decide on a major? Last time I was informed, you were undecided."
" I wanna be a therapist so I can help people who are struggling mentally." She says. She looks over at me and gives me a look, hinting that she likes helping me with my mental problems. I roll my eyes, slightly offended. " Majoring in psychology is the first step to becoming one so that's what I'm doing. I want to live a life where I'm helping people." She continues.
"What about you Lucas?" Maliyah asks. "What are you majoring in?"
"Architecture" he replies. "I'm going into the construction trades program at North Dakota State University. I've already been accepted. How about you?"
"I'm going into Law." Maliyah smiles as she presents her major. She's always been proud of her accomplishments.
"Wow, that's crazy. What school?" Lucas asks, astonished.
"I'm only a sophomore but I'm thinking about Harvard Law. I have all the requirements. I just need to get accepted junior year when I apply. How about you Harper?" Lucas interrupts before I can speak.
" Cmon, we all know Harper Fields is gonna be an author."
"Well yes. I'm gonna major in creative writing but for a career I'm not sure. I'm torn between an author or a news journalist."
"You'll kick ass as either one so I dont think it matters." Lilliana says.
We finish eating and Lucas offers to pay for all of us. Lilliana drives me home and Lucas drives Maliyah home, our houses being closer to theirs. On the ride home, I tell Lilliana about what happened between me and Jeremiyah.
" Jeremiyah and I got intimate." I blurt out. Lilliana takes her eyes off the road and looks at me in shock.
"What?" She yells, flabbergasted.
"Lily! Eyes on the road!" The car swerves but she regains control.
"I got him hard and rubbed up against him while he played with my tits. He almost fingered me but then you came home from getting things for dinner for your mom."
" You did it in my hottub?!" She questions. "Good for you." She praises, her whole attitude changing. "That's hot."
"Oh my god Lily." I roll my eyes at her playfully.
"How'd it feel?"
"Physically or mentally?"
"Both."
"Physically, my whole body was on fire. Mentally..." I pause. "I was on fire. In the best way possible." I smile, thinking about the memory.
"Well that's good. You're not ready for sex though, right?" She asks in all seriousness. " You're not gonna have sex though, right?"
To those two questions, I did not have answers.