The Angel on Her Shoulder

Chapter Six

∆Every action has an equal and opposite reaction ∆

"How much do you want her to know?" Janet asks in a hushed tone. I shrug, my arms protectively around my stomach while I stare at a crack in the wall.

"I don't care," I say softly.

Lilly is pacing the front room and quite frankly its nauseating to watch. So instead, I sit at the end of the couch, feeling as if im a stranger in my own body, suddenly more aware of every bump, scratch and scar along my skin.

But none of it truly matters.

Janet sits in the arm chair, crossing her legs and looking very professional. "Lilly, please sit down or at least take a deep breath." Lilly tries to sit down at the opposite end couch but gets right back up and starts pacing once again.

"Im sorry, I cant. Just, please, someone tell me what the hell is, no has been going on with who I thought was my best friend." Lillian pleads.

Jannet sighs and motions once more for Lily to calmly sit down, this time she does, only bouncing her leg frantically.

"What all do you know, Lillian?" Janet asks gently.

"I- I-," Lilly stutters.

"Deep breathes," I remind her, earning a stare from hell.

"All I know is something about a C-section and a baby." Lilly rushes.

I wince, closing my eyes to stop the tears from falling.

Janet leans forward slightly, a sad smile on her face. "Honey, it's not that simple. There's a lot more to it than that."

Before my step mom has time to form another sentence, I'm out of the room standing out on the back porch.

I cant do it, I cant.

I thought I would be able to sit through Janet's retelling but hearing someone explain what happened to me as if they were reading a children's book hurts way too damn much.

Nearly an hour later, I am laying on my back in the grass, my eyes closed and my mind thinking of all the things that could have been.

Footsteps lightly approach and I don't need to open my eyes to know whom they belong to.

"Mind if I join you, miss Reba?" Lilly's voice shakes, evidence that she was recently crying.

"You haven't called me that since we were what, nine?" I point out and, unlike usual, she doesn't make a sarcastic remark. Instead, she lays beside me and stares at the clouds.

"I didn't know," Lillian's three words cause a laugh to erupt from my chest.

"That is the point of a secret, is it not?" Lilly ignores my snide comment and sits up, bringing her knees to her chest.

"Is...what happened the meaning behind your tattoo?"

I remain silent, knowing full well Lillian Legend doesn't ever ask only one question. She always has a strand of them after you answer her first.

"Janet told me..." Lily trails off, trying to gain the confidence to ask questions i know she wants answers for.

"She told me the reason you missed nearly a month of school last year was because you were depressed but talking with a therapist." Lily begins again.

"That wasn't a question." I point out, narrowing my gaze slightly.

"Are you still in therapy?"

A slight sigh of relief leaves my lungs. "No, waste of time." I say almost nonchalantly.

Lily nods her head slightly. "Meds?"

"You should already know the answer to that, I don't even take birth control."

My scalp begins to prickle, my stomach sinks.

Shit, shit, shit.

Without turning around, I know Roy and Blake are here.

What a fucking coincidence.

"Lily, people are here. We can continue this conversation any other time but right now, I need a friend, not an interrogation." i plead, hoping my best friend wont be difficult. Lily tenses and turns slightly behind us to face the window, confirming my suspicion.

"Okay." She says so softly, i almost didnt hear it. I embrace Lily in one of the tightest hugs ive ever given her, a weight being lifted from my shoulders.

"I've wanted to tell you forever, lils." I whisper before either one of us leave the embrace.

Lilys shoulders begin to shake violently, I hug her tighter.

"You two okay?" Blake hollers from inside. Lily and I let go of each other and grin, flipping my brother off in sync.