I stared at Mary Anne; she was lying on her bed, her face emotionless. Her eyes were lifeless, their usual green colour faded. She was pale, and she looked like she had just seen a ghost. She had explained everything to me as soon as I stepped into the house. Apparently, she wanted me to go live with her and her mom for three weeks. But how could I just up and leave? I couldn't just leave Justin... Not when he needed me the most.
"Mary Anne, I think you should talk to Logan before you do anything rash."
"I'm done talking to him, Lilly." She answered back in a cold voice.
"But-"
"Look. Are you coming with me or not?"
"Mary Anne, I don't think you understand, I can't just up and leave. I have Justin to think about."
"What about me? Don't my feelings matter to you?" She asked me, tears welling up in her eyes.
I touched her arm gently, making her turn her head to look at me.
"Mary Anne, I do care about your feelings. You're my best friend and I love you. But I can't just leave..."
"But I can't just stay here and let him ruin my life!" She bawled, burying her head in her pillow.
"I know. But maybe if you just talk to him. You might be able to work things out..."
She shook her head. "No, it's over. We're done."
"Mary Anne. Give him a chance to explain... At least give him that."
She stood up, grabbing a box of tissues next to her nightstand.
"No. I'm going to my mom's, Lilly. I'm going to be there for 3 weeks, that way it gives me time to sort things out. Clear my head. You can come, or you can stay."
I stared at her. "Mary Anne, I have to-"
"If it's Justin you're worried about then, just don't tell him." She explained.
"But he'll notice that I've gone."
"Lilly, he's worried about his mom, I'm sure 3 weeks won't make a difference to him."
I looked at her, hesitating. What if I left and he did realise that I had gone? What would he do? Freak out? Or what if he didn't realise I was gone? How did I feel about that?
I shook my head, trying to avoid the topic altogether. I didn't want to even have yo think about that.
"Mary Anne... I can't go." I whispered quietly.
"Please Lilly? I need you... you're my best friend..." she pleaded, her tears welling up in her eyes again.
"Aw, come on. Don't do this to me." I sighed, turning my head away from her.
"Please?"
"Mary Anne..."
'Please Lilly..." she begged.
"I can't just leave!" I sighed, throwing my hands over my face.
"It's only 3 weeks..."she said.
"Mary Anne... what if he notices I'm gone? No. There's no if about it. He will notice I'm gone and when he does, he's going to flip out."
"No-"
"Trust me Mary Anne, he'll notice."
"Lilly... Please?" She begged, the tears rolling down her face.
I groaned and rolled over onto my stomach.
"Can I think about it?" I asked.
Yeah."
I got up and sighed. I turned towards her keeping my eyes focused on her face.
"I think you should talk to Logan."
"I can't." She whispered.
"Yes you can. You just don't think you can."
"No Lilly. I wouldn't be able to without breaking down... I..." she trailed off, her sobs coming faster.
I sighed.
"Just think about it, okay? Think about it before you do it."
She nodded.
I stole one last glance at her, before I turned on my heel and made my way outside. I got in my car and drove off heading towards the hospital.
I reached the hospital in less than 10 minutes. Getting out, I made my way inside and into Mrs. Dawson's room. I opened the door and found Justin sitting at her bedside, his head down and his fist clenched.
"Justin?" I whispered, making my way over to him.
He didn't look up. He continued to stare at the ground, as if not noticing I was there.
"Just... Go away..." he managed to whisper out.
I crouched down next to him and forced him to look at me. He had his eyes closed, and his face was white.
"Justin. Talk to me." I told him.
"No! I don't want to talk about it." He snapped.
"Please?" I whispered.
"No!"
I flinched back away from him. I shook my head trying not to let that stop me from talking to him.
"Justin..." I stared, trailing off as he flinched.
"Lilly. Just go away!"
"No." I answered.
"Go-"
"No. Justin, you can push me away all you want. You can lock up your feelings and refuse to talk to anyone everytime something bad happens. But I'm not going anywhere." I told him.
He sighed and looked at me.
"She hasn't responded since that day... which is bad."
I frowned.
"Bad how?" I asked.
"It could mean..." he swallowed, trailing off.
"No. She's a fighter, Justin! Stop giving up hope!" I cried out, trying to get him to listen.
"Lil... she's..." he started.
"No! She's going to be fine." I stated, looking at him.
"How can you always be so positive?" He asked, gently.
"Because your mom loves you and she's not going to leave you."
He stood up and came over to me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tightly against him, refusing to let me go.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." I whispered back.
He kissed the top of my head and pulled me around to face him.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"For what?" I asked.
"For snapping at you."
"Oh." I answered.
"I don't know what comes over me. I just... I don't know. I just don't open up to people easily." He explained.
"I know."
He smiled and pulled me into his lap. I buried my head in his chest. He laughed gently.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm just thinking." He answered.
"Right...." I answered.
He shook his head and turned his attention back to his mother.
I sighed.
I had to stay with him. I had to.
