Willa & the Extraordinary Internship

CH. 12

She was almost at her car when Maryam dashed out the door after her. "Wait!" her friend called out, fumbling to put on her shoes. There was enough time for Willa to get in, shove the key in the ignition, and leave like she hadn't heard Maryam. But she didn't. She turned around and waited for Maryam to catch up with her.

"Willa," Maryam said, eyes pleading.

"I'm done. I'm just done, okay? I can't hang out with her anymore."

Maryam's warm brown eyes turned stricken, mouth downturned. "You don't mean that. She's our friend."

No, Willa wanted to say. She's not my friend. She may be yours, but only because you forgive her everything. Because she doesn't do anything to you. Because you don't want to be the one to burn your bridges. Because you'd rather lose me than lose her.

"She's just angry right now," Maryam tried again.

"Are you in love with her?" Willa blurted out.

Maryam's eyebrows shot to her forehead. "What?"

"Because if you're not, I don't get why you justify everything she does."

"Wow, Willa, really?" Maryam asked in affront. "Seriously?"

"I don't know what you want me to say," Willa replied simply. "I didn't consciously write Cyn as Hanna, okay? I get why she thinks that, or rather, why you put it in her head to think that, but Hanna is not based on Cyn. Yeah, they both do makeup and vlog on Youtube, and sure, Hanna's brazen and sarcastic, but my book isn't supposed to be some messed up commentary on Cyn's life. It's just not."

"You kind of made it sound like those things make Cyn feel better about herself. Like she's some damaged, frail soul who self-medicates by being beautiful."

"If that's what you guys read into it, that's not my fault. I shouldn't have even trusted you to read it!" Willa hissed.

Maryam looked hurt. She actually had the gall to look hurt. "Let's just call it a night," she said, voice shaky. "I don't want to fight with you, Wi. Truce?"

Willa didn't want to. She had let go of too many fights when it came to her friends, and this was one that she didn't want to relinquish. But Maryam was so earnest, so ready to mediate, that Willa couldn't help but be seduced by the idea that things could still be okay between them. Between all of them, even. "I don't know."

"I'm not on anyone's side. I just don't want you guys to fight."

"I know."

"Do you?" Maryam cocked her head. "Because it sounds like..."

"No," Willa interrupted. Her arms felt shockingly hot and cold in intermittent flashes. "It sounds like you guys invited me here to ambush me."

"I wasn't involved!" Maryam's cheeks pinked. Whether it was from the chill of the night, anger, or embarrassment, Willa couldn't tell. "I even hid in the kitchen so it wouldn't look like we were ganging up on you! Cyn was the one who invited you to my apartment. I didn't even know." Her eyes softened. "I better go back in there. But please, Willa, I'll talk to Cyn. Don't be mad."

Willa gave a jerky nod, not trusting herself to speak. Maryam gave her an elated, beatific smile, waiting on the curb as Willa slipped into her car. Neither spoke, but both raised their hands in farewell, gazes locking through the glass.

Author's Note: I hate making my babies hurt like this :( Do you think Willa was right or did she screw Cyn over? As writers, we all get inspired from somewhere, and sometimes creative license can be a fine line to tread upon! Or cross completely, like Cyn thinks Willa did :p Gimme your thoughts, readers! I really, really want them.