desertion

103

LYDIA

The house was quiet-eerily so. It wasn't something I was used to, not with Chris usually chattering away about school or my dad bustling around doing something. But today was different. Dad was at Buck's helping with some project, and Chris was at school. It was just me, the silence, and the faint scent of cookie dough wafting through the air.

I stood at the counter, stirring the dough in a large mixing bowl, feeling a small flicker of satisfaction as the ingredients came together. Baking had always been therapeutic for me, but this time it wasn't just for me. It was for Dad.

The last few weeks had been rough on him. Hen and Chimney being drugged by that firefighter had hit all of us hard, but no one more than Bobby. He'd been blaming himself relentlessly, going over every decision he made that day like he could somehow rewrite the past.

I couldn't stand to see him like that. He always did so much for everyone else-he deserved something to make him smile, even if it was small.

So, I decided to bake cookies. Simple, classic chocolate chip cookies. They wouldn't fix everything, but maybe they'd remind him that he wasn't alone in this.

The oven beeped, signaling it was ready, and I carefully scooped dough onto the baking sheet. As I slid the tray into the oven, I smiled softly. It felt good to do something kind, even if it was just baking.

With the cookies in the oven, I grabbed my phone and flopped onto a kitchen chair, scrolling through Instagram. A few posts in, I froze.

There they were-Isabelle, Nathaniel, Julian, Delilah, Tyler, and... Miles. All of them at a nearby coffee shop, laughing and smiling.

Without me.

My chest tightened, and I stared at the picture for a long moment, my lips pressing into a tight line.

I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Maybe they'd just forgotten to invite me. Or maybe... maybe they didn't want me there.

I sighed, my finger hesitating over the "like" button before I just scrolled past. They have every right to leave me behind, I thought bitterly. I've been so caught up in my own problems lately that I've barely been there for them. Maybe I deserve this.

The timer on the oven beeped, snapping me out of my thoughts. I stood and pulled the tray out, the warm, sweet smell of cookies filling the air. They were golden brown, the chocolate chips perfectly melted. I transferred them into a container, my mind still swirling with thoughts of my friends.

Once the cookies were packed up, I grabbed my keys and slipped out the door, locking it behind me. My car felt like a safe space as I climbed in and started it up. The gentle hum of the engine was soothing, and I allowed myself a small smile as I pulled out of the driveway.

The drive to Bobby and Athena's was peaceful. I played some soft music, letting it fill the quiet and ease the ache in my chest. By the time I arrived, I felt a little lighter.

I parked and made my way to the front door, the container of cookies clutched tightly in my hands. I knocked, and a moment later, Athena opened the door.

"Lydia!" she said warmly, pulling me into a hug.

"Hi, Athena," I said, hugging her back.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, stepping aside to let me in.

I held up the container with a small smile. "I thought Bobby might appreciate some cookies."

Athena's face softened, and she nodded. "He'll love that. Come on, he's in the kitchen with May and Harry."

She led me through the house, and when we entered the kitchen, Bobby looked up and smiled.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, his gaze falling to the container in my hands.

"Cookies?" May squealed, her eyes lighting up as she pointed to the container.

I laughed, setting it on the table. "Yes, cookies."

I took a seat as Athena asked, "You hungry, Lydia?"

I shook my head. "No, I just ate."

Athena nodded and joined us at the table, her expression warm.

May leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Wait, weren't you hanging out with your friends today?"

I stiffened, my smile fading. "No... I wasn't invited."

Her mouth dropped open. "What? But I thought you and Miles were okay now!"

I shrugged, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I thought so too. But after the dispatch fire... I slipped up. I said I loved him before hanging up the phone. It's been... awkward since."

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Miles want to be together again?"

I nodded. "He did. But... I must've done something wrong. It's fine."

"No, it's not," May said firmly. "You didn't do anything wrong, Lydia. Miles is just being... well, a guy."

I shrugged again, trying to brush it off. "It is what it is."

Before anyone could respond, Harry reached over and opened the container. He grabbed a cookie, biting into it as everyone stared at him.

"What?" he said, his mouth full. "I wanted a cookie."

The tension in the room broke, and we all burst into laughter. Harry grinned, crumbs on his face as he joined in.

For a moment, everything felt okay again. The laughter, the warmth, the cookies-it reminded me of what really mattered. Maybe things with my friends weren't perfect, but here, surrounded by family, I felt like I belonged. And that was enough.