It's 2:15 at the Crescent Café and I'm anxiously stirring my coffee awaiting Liz's urgent and probably disappointing news. I don't even like coffee just its sweet aroma and the way it keeps me awake after even my most sleepless nights. Like last night for example. I came home to tear stained pillows and Liz's words being drowned by the sobs that embodied her. So as her best friend I stayed up with her until she fell asleep, telling her everything would be okay even though I could tell it wouldn't be.
Flash forward to today and here I am in a place a little too upbeat for the inevitable bad news soon to be delivered, with coffee a little too bitter for my liking. Still stirring my beverage I watch as Liz returns from her third bathroom break.
"Liz you know you don't have to tell me until you're ready."
"I'm ready." She says unconvincingly.
"That's what you said the other two times... Liz really it's fine." I say trying to ease her into talking.
She sits down and inhales slowly. "My dad is sick again-"
"Liz oh my gosh. I'm so sorry, I didn't know I wouldn't have-" My body feels heavy, as if a part of me has sunk.
"Aria I'm not finished. There's more... I can't- I um." Liz glances upwards in an effort to push back surfacing tears. "I'm moving out. I'm going back home to be with my dad and my family. I'm really sorry I didn't want this I tried to make things work but there's no other way- I have to go."
"Liz it's no big deal. You're fine, everything's fine. I completely understand, family comes first always." I say acting significantly less upset than I actually am.
"But what about you? You're 'idée fixe'?"
"My stupid little fear? I'll be okay, I promise. You just take care of yourself and I'll do the same." I say with false validity. There was nothing 'little' about my long-standing phobia and it was certainly not, in any way, manageable.
"It's not stupid, Aria. It's legit and you've had it since you were a little girl. You need a new dorm-mate to take my place." Liz says obviously leading to something further.
"I'm fine, really." I affirm her.
Liz dismisses my statement and proceeds. "That's why I've arranged for several people to temporarily take residence in our dorm until you've found one that you can be satisfied with."
"You what!? Why?" I say astonished though not entirely surprised at her actions. "Liz I get that this is an awful time for you but that does not give you the right to-"
"Aria it's not a big deal. I'll be there for the first one or two people so we can critic them together and then after that I'll leave and you can continue until you find the right fit." She assures me with a hint of amusement edging her voice.
"Yes it is, you're essentially allowing strangers into our house. I don't approve." I say sternly.
YOU ARE READING
The Night's Lullaby
Teen FictionLevi Vitale, with his tattoos and sarcastic attitude, was everything Aria didn't want in a potential roommate. But when her best friend Liz has to move out due to family complications, she's left with one option- find a replacement and fast. Little...
