Beyond The Lie

Chapter 54: Reality Check

Adeline.

Tuesday morning arrived quickly. I was in my cabin, working and expecting two dear friends. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. It swung open, and Soph walked in, beaming with a smile. "Hey!" she said.

"Hi... Where's Liv?" I asked, looking around.

"She'll be here any minute," Soph replied, plopping down on the couch.

I let out a deep sigh. "I'm super tense, Sophia!" I exclaimed, leaning back in my chair. Soph chuckled.

"We know, that's why we came," she said reassuringly.

"I love you guys!" I said, smiling. Just then, my phone buzzed, and I quickly grabbed it, almost dropping it in the process. My heart skipped a beat, but fortunately, the phone landed safely on my lap.

I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Soph, who was watching me with a mixture of amusement and concern.

"What was that?" she asked, eyeing me curiously. I smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit flustered.

I hesitated, stumbling over my words. "Nothing... just... um..." I trailed off, and Soph raised an eyebrow.

I bit my lower lip, feeling a bit guilty. "I'm sorry again, but I thought it was him," I admitted finally.

Soph's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Him? As in Eryx-him?" she asked, her tone playful.

I nodded sheepishly.

"Why?" Soph asked, her expression turning serious. "You said he broke all ties and is now ignoring you."

I sighed, feeling a bit defeated. "Yeah, that's right. He's still ignoring me."

Soph's face scrunched up in confusion. "So, what's going on?"

I took a deep breath before confessing, "I kind of texted him last night."

Soph's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Liv burst into the room.

"Fuck no! Texted who?" Liv demanded, her voice loud and dramatic.

I cringed, feeling like I was in trouble. "Uh, Eryx," I admitted, wincing.

Liv's expression turned stern. "Adeline, what did I tell you about contacting him?"

"I'm sorry... It's just..." I sighed, feeling frustrated. "I don't get why he has to act this way. It's so immature, right?" I asked, seeking validation.

Liv raised an eyebrow. "Immature? He's a jerk, and he's always been one. And now you're being one too. He told you straight up that he wants to end things, Addie. Did you forget?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Liv cut me off.

"What's wrong with you? You're acting like he's the last guy on earth. Newsflash: there are plenty of other fish in the sea, girl!"

I looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I know it's just... I don't know, I guess I'm having trouble letting him go."

Liv's expression turned stern. "Letting him go? This isn't a drama, Addie. He made it clear he's done with you. So, what are you doing? Holding on to something that's already gone?"

I looked down, feeling a bit ashamed.

Liv's voice softened slightly. "You used to have self-respect, Addie. What happened to it?"

"It's not that... It's just... I'm seriously at a loss here," I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.

Liv sighed and came closer, her expression empathetic. "I get where you're coming from, okay? It's not like I don't understand. You two were inseparable, and then he just... takes off with some lame excuse. Of course, that's gonna hurt."