Wish We Could Turn Back Time m.c

Chapter 29

.

.

.

Jasmine's POV

.

.

.

Summers near the campus of Miami University were full of wild parties and long hot days at the beach, not unlike spring break when Lacey was here. Everything was making me feel nostalgic of that week with her even though it was only for a short time. Rachel is a good friend, but that week felt like I was hanging out with my sister for the first time, despite all the problems we had. I keep replaying that first moment at the airport over and over in my mind, us dropping all our bags and hugging for the first time, her awed at how short I actually was and me awed at how tall and model-like she actually was. I was missing Lacey hard, but I had to get over because I'm usually not one to be so emo. A good party always makes me feel better.

Anyway, I didn't have to miss Lacey really because the two of us were constantly messaging and FaceTiming through out the summer. Like, if Lacey didn't respond to a text withing fifteen minuets, I usually got worried and the opposite was true as well. Even with the time difference of her being in Australia and me in Florida, we some how made it work. It made me appreciate our friendship ten fold. With all the late nights and early mornings the two of us had over the phone, I don't think any two humans could ever become closer. I'm glad I messaged Lacey on Twitter that day.

The other day though, Lacey did tell me some shocking news. I knew her home life was not quite the same as mine, but I had no idea how much they struggled until this conversation.

"Oh and you know how my mom told me she still had her job and that everything was fine when I came home from your house?" she'd asked me when we were updating each other on our lives.

"Yeah..." I drawled, wondering where she was going with this.

"Well apparently she's been lying ever since then! All this time that she's been away from the house 'working,' she's really been out job hunting. We've been living off of savings for a good month. She finally had to come clean today cause she needs me to get a job while she searches," Lacey ranted to me. Knowing Lacey, she probably wanted to do what was best for her family, but any teenager would be upset to have to work two jobs all summer.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Lacey. Is everything okay? I mean, if you're in financial trouble, I can-"

"No no, everything is fine. She'll find something. She always does. It's just, he thing that upsets me most is that all the pressure seems to be put on me whenever my mom fails to come through, you know?" There was a pause. "I'm just a human too," I quickly assured Lacey that she would get through it and that her moms loves her because I know what it's like to have parents that don't want to be involved and Lacey's mom is not one of those parents. Their family just needs some time to get back on it's feet.

Sure enough, towards the end of July, Lacey and I were calling again and she'd said her mom found work at some fancy place on the other end of the city, allowing Lacey to quit her night job. Relief rushed through me to know that my best friend was okay again and she could enjoy her summer.

Another critical factor in Lacey's life that I'm pretty interested in (some friend I am, living through her because her life is so much more interesting. Give me a break,) is the fact that she and Michael Clifford have been in contact again. Apparently, Lacey started messaging him at the beginning of the summer and they've been going at it every day since then.

"What kind of stuff does he say?" I asked curiously one day when we were discussing it.

"Well, usually we just banter and be silly and you know, getting to know each other. He does try to figure out who I am quite often, though," this made my jaw drop.