Believable (r.a.l.)

Chapter Forty

Justine's POV
"Why can't I have a sleepover in the middle of the week?" Jillian wines as I hustle around my room, tidying it up for when Hannah arrives.

"Because you aren't old enough. When you're in high school you can have sleepovers any day of the week like me."

"But that's like ten thousand years away!" She exasperates.

I stop and stare at her. "You're not that young. You'll be a teenager before you know it."

"But what if I don't have friends when I'm in high school?"

Do you even have friends now besides Jackson, I wanna ask but decide against it.

"I'm sure you will, Jillian." I give her a smile and continue organizing everything. "Now why don't you go bother Jackson, please?"

"Ugh, fine!" She stomps out of my room to find her twin brother, leaving me to myself before my own friend gets here.

Minutes later, she's knocking on the front door. I open it up to let her in. She grins widely and steps in, opening her arms for a hug. Laughing, I give the hug and pull away shortly after.

"We've got tons to talk about," she informs, her expression suddenly serious. I frown a little, confused as she tugs me toward my room so we could talk privately.

She lets go of my arm, dumping her things on the floor next to my bed where she takes a seat.

"What's up?" I ask, closing the door behind me. I walk over to her and plop down next to her.

"How has the cyber bullying been? Has it calmed down?" She worries too much. But I'm glad she cares.

"It has definitely gone downhill since I broke up with Rocky. They see that I'm never around the Lynches anymore so they can't hate on me for being around them a lot, much less dating them. But here and there I see someone coming at me for breaking Rocky or Riker's heart because they notice how depressed and lonely they look. It doesn't get to me though because they don't know the real story."

"That's nice to hear."

I nod, thinking about those hideous words and fiddling with my necklace subconsciously.

"What's that around your neck?" She asks, staring at it.

I look down at the necklace I wear 24/7. Taking it again in my hand I answer simply, "it's the pick necklace Riker gave me."

"Well why are you wearing it?" She shakes her head scowling at the item.

I shrug. "Because I like it?"

"No, no, no. You can't."

"Why not?" I inquire, furrowing my eyebrows, and being completely confused.

Hannah sighs with exasperation. "Because it's a gift from your ex-boyfriend that cheated on you."

"I don't see your point."

"It's common sense that you get rid of everything you own that has to do with a boyfriend that cheated on you. That includes gifts he gave you, even if you still like it," she says as a matter-of-factly.

I frown, again looking down at the necklace that hides under my shirt every day. I don't really wanna get rid of it. Even if it came from someone who hurt me, it's still full of love. It reminds me of the part of Riker I loved.

But Hannah isn't going to back down. I might as well just give in. It's better that way. She does have a good point. The thing sometimes makes me sad and I shouldn't be.

"I guess so.." I reply quietly after a moment. I unclip it in the back and fold it up in my palm. "I'll give it back to him tomorrow."

"Good girl. Now we can get back to our sleepover." The smile returns to Hannah's face. But mine stays invisible as I place the piece of jewelry on my nightstand.