Should I choose?

Chapter Twenty one

Hi guys how are y'all doing?.…..❤️❤️

Elly's POV

I was trying to sleep but I wasn't doing any good. The day after was a school day and not just any other day but a Monday. I stayed awake anyways after alot of struggle. I drifted to sleep after some time but soon after, there was a knock on my doors. I guess I should check what Maggie's doing. She's been around forever, but these days we hardly talk. I’m too wrapped up in my own world, and she's... well, she's Maggie. Always there, but lately it feels like we’ve been on different planets. Also the fact that I wanted someone to talk to about everything that's been going on.

I freshen up and get ready for school. I walk into the kitchen, dragging my feet. There she is, standing by the stove, making what smells like pancakes.

"Morning," I mumble, rubbing my eyes.

"Morning, sunshine," she says without turning around. "You're up earlier than usual." I really missed her. Ever since mother got back, I just sorta shut out everyone.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep," I say, grabbing a glass of water. I notice she’s not wearing her usual smile. Weird.

“Late night again?” she asks, but it’s more of a statement than a question. I can feel her eyes on me, even though her back is still to me.

“Something like that,” I say, not really wanting to get into it. "You know how it is."

“Uh-huh.” She flips a pancake, still too damn quiet. Usually, she’s humming some old song or joking around. Today, nothing.

I lean against the counter, sipping my water. There’s this awkward silence filling the space between us, and it’s driving me nuts. We used to be best friends—talk about everything. Now, I can barely get a full sentence out.

"Do you... want some?" Maggie finally asks, holding up the spatula and pointing at the pancakes.

"Sure, why not?" I say, shrugging. Not like I have anything better to do.

She plates up a stack for me and slides it across the counter. I sit down and poke at the food for a second before finally breaking the silence.

“You okay?” I ask, surprising myself. “You seem kinda… off.”

She turns around, leaning against the stove with her arms crossed. “I’m fine. Just thinking, I guess.”

I raise an eyebrow, mid-bite. “About?”

She sighs. "About you, actually. We don’t talk much anymore, Elly. It’s like I don’t even know what’s going on in your world. What am I supposed to say right now, I don't know. You changed and I just don't know how to act anymore around you."

I stare at her, not knowing what to say. "I mean... I don’t know. Shit’s just... a lot, you know?" I was playing with my jeans.

"Yeah, I do know. But you used to tell me when things were rough. Now it’s like I’m the last person to know anything. You don't even notice that I am here. It's ok if you want to be left alone you are a grown ass man and I understand but when you come back again like this I don't know how to start this shit over again."

I feel a little guilty, not gonna lie. She’s right. I’ve been distant. Not on purpose, though—it’s just been hard to keep up with everything. But hearing her say it out loud? Damn, that stings.

“I’m sorry, Maggie. It’s not like I’m trying to shut you out or anything, it’s just… life’s a mess right now. You wouldn’t wanna hear about it.” I said staring at anything but not her.