What It Cost

Lenses

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as the house buzzed with energy. The boys were scattered around, organizing and packing equipment in preparation for Matt's arrival with the vans and tour bus. Lilly, taking Noah's advice, sat at her desk and video-called Tasha.

Tasha's face lit up on the screen, her excitement contagious. "Lilly! Finally! I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too," Lilly replied, a smile spreading across her face. The sight of her best friend brought an unexpected pang of homesickness.

Tasha leaned closer to her screen, mock-serious. "But you better not be wasting too much time missing me. You're out there doing amazing shit, remember?"

Lilly laughed, but her smile faltered. She hesitated before confessing, "My mom called me yesterday... It wasn't great."

Tasha's expression softened. "What happened?"

"She...she basically told me I'm wasting my time out here," Lilly said, her voice wavering. "Like I've made the wrong choice."

Tasha's face darkened, a mix of frustration and sadness. "Honestly... I wasn't going to tell you, but yeah, she did come to our apartment yesterday... She said she wasn't speaking to you and didn't think she'd call you."

Lilly's heart sank further. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it doesn't matter," Tasha said firmly. "She's wrong. You shouldn't feel bad, not for a second. You're doing amazing things, Lilly. You're proving yourself, and you should never feel apologetic for that."

Lilly's eyes welled up, but she managed a small smile. "Thanks, Tash. That's why I love you. You always know what to say."

"Damn right I do," Tasha teased, leaning back. "So, how's everything else?"

"Busy but good. What about you? How's school?"

Tasha's grin widened. "Amazing! I've been sewing like crazy. Want to see?"

"Of course!" Lilly exclaimed.

Tasha disappeared off-screen and returned with an armful of clothes. First, she held up a pair of jeans, the deep indigo denim embellished with intricate, hand-embroidered floral patterns climbing up the legs. Next, she showed off two skirts: one was a playful A-line piece with layered chiffon in soft pastel hues, and the other was a bold pencil skirt in faux leather, stitched with a precision that highlighted her craftsmanship. Then came a sleek, midnight-blue dress, its minimalist design offset by an open back and delicate beadwork along the trim. Finally, she held up a work-in-progress, a long, elegant dress with a flowing train, its fabric a rich emerald green that seemed to ripple like water. "And I'm still working on this," she said, smoothing the fabric, her excitement shining through.

Lilly's jaw dropped. "Tasha, these are incredible! Can you make me something for the tour?"

Tasha's eyes sparkled. "Already ahead of you. I've got tickets for your show when you come back home."

The girls squealed in excitement, their laughter filling the room. After a few more minutes of chatting, Lilly glanced at the clock. "I think Matt's here with the van. I gotta go."

"Alright," Tasha said, her smile warm. "Love you, Lill. Keep kicking ass out there."

"Love you too. Talk soon."

Lilly ended the call, her spirits lifted. She packed away her laptop and iPad with their chargers, then methodically went through her camera bag, ensuring she had all her lenses, extra gear, batteries, and SD cards. She finished packing her suitcase and headed to the bathroom to gather the rest of her essentials.