With or Without Me

2

September 2, 2024
I am in my little black sports car my mom bought for me last christmas for all of 30 seconds before I remember that I forgot to grab my lunch off of the counter. Everyday for the past 11 years my mom has reminded me to grab my lunch before school while she watches the cartoon reruns on the TV, not anymore though because half way through summer my parents decided to be selfish and cheat on eachother. And I do mean each other, they accidentally booked the same hotel for the same night with their side pieces, they ran into each other there and when I got home the next day I was told they were getting divorced. After it was finalized rather than go to court about it they just said i would live in the house with whomever stays there, that ended up being my dad, it's not like I'm mad about it i love my dad but mom and i had a rhythm and now she just buys me stuff like that's parenting.I ran into the house and got my lunch bag then ran back out to my car.
Danni got into a wreck last month so her car is totaled and I've been picking her up a lot ever since, so naturally I have to pick her up for school today too. I'm about to pull out of the driveway when I see Theo waving and jogging towards me. I move to roll down the window to say hi but he gets over to me faster and opens up the passenger door.
"I'm so sorry to ask but would you mind taking me to school today? Mom's car won't start so she took mine and dad already left for work-" he's talking super fast as if he's scared i'll say no to him. Except he doesn't know that I can't say no to him, not when he bats his pretty gray eyes at me, and has his lips parted ever so slightly panting cause he ran over here, his blonde hair falling in front of his eyes. Oh how much I want to reach out and fix it, but I can't because he's just a friend.
"No, of course I'll take you. Just hop in, we have to pick up Danni so i've got to go now though" oh no, i agreed to quickly. Maybe he won't notice it or maybe he will just not read into it too far.
He face relaxes as soon as the words left my mouth, "You are a lifesaver seriously I owe you Lyd,"
Lyd. That nickname came around almost 10 years ago, I had just moved in next to him. When I was little I had no care in the world, so when he asked me for my name I said, "Lydia, like the top of a cup with an 'ia' at the end." To him it was the funniest thing ever, and since that day he has called me Lyd.
"I'll hold you to that" I laughed at him, "but for real i need to go so in or out?"
"In. I'm in, don't want you to be late. Lydia May Vandyke, miss perfect, never missed a class or been late in her life." he teases.
I scoff as I pull out of the driveway and drive towards Danni's house, "Oh you know that's not true, I got chicken pox in 5th grade and missed a whole week of school. We went on a field trip to the aquarium and I cried because I had to miss it so you brought me back a stuffed shark to make me feel better."
"Oh yeah that's right and everyone at school kept asking if you were my girlfriend and if you were dying." he laughs softly at the memory. That laugh I love so much, so sweet and innocent, so great that I'm the one who caused it.
The rest of the ride to Danni's is mainly in silence, but not the suffocating kind; it was a soft comfortable silence, like old friends just enjoying each other's presence after being across the ocean from each other. When she gets into the car she looks at me and raises her eyebrows, a clear sign of confusion and questioning. I shake my head towards her hoping she will drop it for now so I can explain the situation to her without the main subject in the room with us. Danni is the type of person to be quiet around people she's not super close with, so the ride to school consists of me talking to them individually rather than a group conversation until the topic of Allison is brought up.
Theo is finally at the point where we can talk about Allison and he talks about all the shit she put him through rather than how much he misses her and how he wishes she had given more signs before ending it with him, but when Danni brings up the fact that we have nowhere to sit because we are not friends with her anymore and he gets visibly tense. Danni sees it and gets an idea.
"So...? Are you going to sit with the B.I.O.T.C.H. today?" she asks in an accusatory tone.
Theo spins around in his seat to look at her as soon as the words have left her mouth, "Who is the biotch?"
Danni laughs and says, "Oh that's Allison."
"B.I.O.T.C.H. is an acronym, Beast of burden, Inbred, Oxygen thief, Twitter feminist, Coffee slurper, Hypocrite." I explained, inserting myself into their conversation.
"Well jeez you guys, that's a little harsh. And though it doesn't matter, yes I was planning on sitting with my friends today," I can't quite tell if he's offended over the way we talk about her or if he's just not putting up with our bullshit.
"Don't get snappy, I was just asking" Danni raises her hands in mock surrender.
He hangs his head in small defeat, "I know, it's just been a long day"
I turn into the school parking lot, "It's not even 8 o'clock hun"
He mimics me in a silly voice, "I'm aware of the time Lydia"
"Ok, ok" I laughed softly, "Keep your eyes peeled people, we need to get a good parking spot"

Authors note
I am putting these chapters up fast because they have been written for months and I am just now publishing them here. Please let me know what you think. Love you all
~Lia~