the girl named winter

| 48 |

f o r t y - e i g h t
d a y s
b e f o r e

"I'm jealous of that stranger."

I sarcastically raise an eyebrow at Veronica. "Really?"

She nods as she takes a forkful of her spaghetti. "Yeah."

I make a pft sound.

She chews on it carefully, studying me as I play with the slice of pizza I ordered. "You have your phone in your hand 24/7 now, and you don't even reply to my messages anymore."

I drop my fork and look up to meet her glossy eyes. "Veronica -" I choke.

"It's okay, Winter. I knew this was going to happen."

"Veronica, no."

She sighs, toying with her spaghetti. "This was my plan after all."

I scoff. "If you want me to pity you -"

"Pity me?" Her voice is growing louder as she smashes the fork on the table. "You think I want to be pitied on?"

I lick my chapped lips. "There's something wrong, right?"

"Marie's condition is getting worse," she murmurs.

"What do you mean, getting worse?"

"I mean." She stops.

I take shuddering breath.

"She has a huge chance of dying."

I stand up and walk to sit beside her. "She's not going to leave you," I assure her, enveloping her in my arms.

"Of course she will," she murmurs against my neck. Her hands grips the back of my shirt. "It's not her decision. It's her fucking body's."

I cringe.

Veronica never cursed.

I pat her back. "Marie's strong. She can go through this, no matter what."

"I don't know," she says.

I bite my lower lip as I close my eyes.

We're both going through something.

We're both drowning in a flood that would never stop, pushing us deeper and deeper until we're ready to give up.

We have no support.

I couldn't be her lifeboat and she couldn't be mine.

We're going to drown together.

She sniffs.

I close my eyes.

Veronica pleads, "Distract me."

I grimace. "The stranger's a lot like you. He doesn't like it when I say Jesus Christ."

Her eyes sparkle. "Oh so we found a suitable Christian boy for you!"

I spend half the lunch hour narrating to her about him.

Veronica slurps the remaining spaghetti on her plate. "What if destiny is playing with the four of you?"

"Four?"

"What if you fall for him and Marck falls for this Amanda and vice-versa?"

My eyes widen. "Marck's only five!"

She smirks. "Love hits in you in the most unexpected moment."

We stand and walk to our classes.

She leaves her dirty plate on the table, and I leave my food untouched.

••••••••••••••••••••

12:59 am

How old is Amanda?

Why are you asking me this?

I'm curious of her.

I'm jealous of her.

Oh aren't you? ;)

Now you're the flirt :P

Pft no way. I have a three-month rule.

Three-month what?

It's a rule. I cannot fall in love until three months since we broke up.

When did you break up?

September 30.

So you're only allowed to flirt when?

December 30 maybe?

And you're dedicated to this?

Strongly as fuck.

And what about him? Is he following this three-month rule?

No.

Then he's not worth it.