Faking Fate

Chapter 2

As I sat beneath the towering tree in the outdoor rec area, I felt a gentle breeze rustling through my hair, and the soothing sound of leaves rustling above offered a moment of tranquility. It had become a sort of refuge for Lily and me during our lunch breaks, a spot where we could escape the bustling hallways and immerse ourselves in a bubble of sisterly conversations.

But today, Lily was nowhere to be seen. I glanced at my watch, realizing she was running late again. Sighing, I decided to claim our spot under the tree and pulled out my sketchbook from my bag, ready to immerse myself in some much-needed creative time.

Just as I started to sketch, I heard the familiar sound of laughter approaching. Turning my head, I saw Lily hurrying towards me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Despite my initial annoyance at her tardiness, her enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile as she plopped down beside me.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late!" she exclaimed, panting slightly. "You won't believe the gossip I just heard!"

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the prospect of some juicy news. "Oh? Do tell," I said, setting my sketchbook aside and giving her my full attention.

Lily leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing classified information. "You know that new girl, Sarah? Well, apparently, she and Josh – you know, the soccer team captain – have been secretly seeing each other!"

My eyes widened in surprise. Sarah was a girl I vaguely knew, and Josh was indeed one of the most sought-after guys at school. The revelation was unexpected and had the potential to set the rumor mill on fire.

"But I thought Josh was dating Kaylee" I ask confused

Lily continued, her excitement growing. "They've been sneaking around for weeks, and guess who caught them red-handed behind the bleachers yesterday?"

I shook my head, my curiosity piqued. "Who?"

Your sister, Mia!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "She saw them kissing, and now she's caught in the middle of it all!"

Mia couldn't just stand there and watch," Lily said, her voice tinged with admiration. "She marched right up to them and confronted them. I heard she was calm but firm, demanding an explanation."

"And what did they say?" I inquired, curious about their excuses.

"Well, from what I heard, Josh tried to deny everything at first," Lily explained. "But when Mia confronted Sarah, she broke down and admitted it all. She said they'd been seeing each other behind Kaylee's back for weeks."

I gasp in disgust, "That's terrible and oh my gosh Poor Kaylee." I say with sympathy "There's nothing more I hate than cheaters"

"Same here" Lily says as she sits her back against the tree trunk.

We sit there for the rest of time just talking about anything everything. The bell rings and we both head off in different directions.

"Sleepover at my place tonight?" I ask Lily

"Sure thang" she smiles and shoots finger guns at me as she walks away. I laugh and shake my head.

As I hurriedly made my way to my next class, the loud school bell ringing in my ears, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw a text from my sister, Mia. My brows furrowed as I read her message, already sensing that it wasn't going to be good news.

"Hey Em, can you cover for me at home tonight? I really need to go to this party. Mom and Dad won't let me, but you know how it is. Please, I'll owe you big time! 🙏"

I let out an exasperated sigh while typing my response, " Mia, I have my own plans tonight, and I can't always cover for you. Mom and Dad set rules for a reason, you know. Maybe it's time you start following them for once."