✓ 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 ↣ 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧

PART: 24

I wasn't sure where to begin as Pete and I picked out a small table in the cafe close to campus. I couldn't stand the thought of lying to his blue eyes again. I couldn't stand the thought of losing my best friend again. As we sat quietly, glancing at each other with awkward smiles from time to time, both of us didn't really know what to say.

We left off badly and we stayed that way for the longest. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him. And of course, I managed to. With words circling around in the air-headed brain of mine, I was searching for a sentence that couldn't start off bad.

"So, um, how have you been?" Pete askes. It's a relief to have him start off as I was still looking for words that would have taken hours to find. I didn't want to mess up and have him hate me for all eternity. He's my best friend, he wouldn't do that.

"I've been okay...." I smile lightly. "How have you been?"

"Good. Good to be back at school."

"Only you would feel that way." We both laugh and it warms my heart. This is the comfortable state of mind that I like. This is what our friendship is about.

We hit another silence break until I say, "I need to explain to you somethings that you should know."

"Okay," he says. He shakes his blonde hair out of his face, wrapping both hands around his coffee.

I still couldn't tell him about the OFH. And I also couldn't say I couldn't tell him again. I know he's going to bring up that question and it's one that I want to avoid. I might as well make up the grandest lie I can think of so our friendship won't be on the line again.

"The reason why I couldn't tell you where I was is because..." I stop, hoping he will believe every word I say, ".....I'm staying with my parents. You know how they are all superficial and all and they didn't want anyone to know that their daughter-who's-dorm-got-destroyed is staying with them. It will give people the "impression that I could have gone to a better and different school that my parents couldn't afford. God forbid anyone would think that."

Pete nodded along. I made sure that I use a lot of eye contact and hand gestures while speaking. As far as I know, he believed me. I have to admit that was a very good story that is definitely believable. Lying so much to people about my feelings at the OFH has come in handy.

I still hated the fact that I had to lie to Pete again. But it's a secret worth keeping.

"Rowen, you could have just told me. I wouldn't have judged," he says.

"I wasn't worried about that. I wanted to tell you but if my parents found out I told you or anyone for that matter, they would have kicked me out and made me get a hotel or something. It's not like I could call you privately because my phone got destroyed in my dorm."

Pete drinks his coffee. "I'm sorry that I got mad at you," he apologizes.

"It happens," I shrugg.

"Then who was the British man that answered? I called the number back you called from but then he directed my call to another number." Oh shit.

Quick, bullshit your way through this.

"I used my dad's cellphone to leave you a message to let you know I was okay. He felt that's all you needed to know so I couldn't use his phone again. That British guy is named Phil. He works with my dad and is like family. He answered and directed you to the house phone because my dad works a lot."

"Why would he answer you dad's phone?" I start to sweat under my arm pits and on the back of my neck.

"They're close friends. Like I said, he's like family."