The Party Scene Saga: Stories Yet To Unfold

Part 29

Jack

I walked all the way to school today because I didn't want to face being alone in the morning again. I don't get it. The six of us met up every morning exactly 5 minutes before the bell, yet none of them turned up yesterday. I called Lily all night but she never returned the favour. All I got from Rian was a text saying he was sick, and Isobel said she'd dropped Alex off at school herself, yet I didn't see him all day. I was so pissed with all of them, and they'd hear it whether they liked it or not. Just as I was working through an argument with Alex in my head, a familiar face caught my eye. She looked so miserable and tired, and like she needed a good hug.

"Lily?"

"Oh, hey Jack." she mumbled. "Didn't see you there."

"Sweetie are you alright?" I asked quietly, draping an arm around her.

She shrugged. "I don't know anymore." she croaked.

I hated seeing her like this. Lily being sad made me want to punch something or someone. Zack caught my eye as he came down the corridor, but Lily walked away before I could do anything else.

"Lil? What is it, honey?" I asked, running after her.

"Zack...the Merricks..." she managed to say. "I c-can't b-b-be with them a-anymore." Lily stuttered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Has something happened?"

Lily looked around helplessly, probably looking for Zack, then half-heartedly pulled me along behind her. We shoved our way through the corridor and into an empty classroom. She locked the door behind us and sat on the teachers desk at the front. I took the desk opposite, holding out my hands until she took them.

"Whenever your ready, sweetie." I told her, giving her hands a gentle squeeze.

She nodded slowly. "I'm...not really sure where to begin." she said timidly, looking at her knees. "My mind's just this big blur right now."

Even though she wasn't looking at me, I knew she was about to cry. I can read her like a book; she thinks she's great at hiding how she's feeling, but the fact is she isn't. Lily was a broken mess, but she'd never admit that. She'd much rather put up a barrier and hide behind it.

"It's okay, take your time." I reassured her.

Lily took a breath and broke into her explanation. "Y'know how I never really felt like I belonged with Carla and Mark?" she said slowly.

"Not this again..." I sighed.

"Jack are you going to listen or what?!" she snapped. "Well I found out why I always felt that way. I was right, I don't belong with them. I belong with someone else."

I thought for a second she was gonna go all romantic on me, but I just got confused by it.

"I was adopted." she said quietly. "My parents are dead and because my mom wanted her brother to look after me, Mark was the one who adopted me. Mark's my uncle. Zack and Sam are really my cousins."

"No way..." I murmured. "I-I don't know what to say..."

"What can you say?" she said bitterly. "I'm sorry." she said quietly, closing her eyes. "I'm just hurting a little."

"I know." I nodded. "I understand."

"I'm sorry for not telling you." Lily mumbled into my chest. "Lisa was the first person I thought of after I left the house. I went to her place and I've been there the last two days. Then Lisa blabbed to Rian, Alex and Kara, and they all stayed with me yesterday. I tried to make them leave, I really did, but they just wouldn't listen. I'm sorry, Jackalope."

"Sweetie it's fine." I fake smiled; Lily's not the only one who's good at that. "If it makes you feel awkward by worrying me all the time then it's okay. I understand. Sometimes you just needs your friends. Sometimes they're the only ones who can make you feel okay."

She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thanks for understanding, Jackalope." she smiled weakly, resting her head on my shoulder.

I managed to plant a small kiss on top of her head when the door suddenly flew open. I looked up, half expecting to see a teacher. But it wasn't.

"Lily?" he said quietly.

"Go away, Zack." she snapped, her voice muffled by my arm.

"I just want to-"

"Now's not the right time, bro." I said quietly.

Zack glared at me, then turned and walked away. This is all so shit. I'm pushing away one of my best friends for the sake of his sister...what sort of a friend am I? I stayed by Lily's side all day - even got a note from the principal to leave my own classes early so I could be waiting outside her classes for her - nobody was going to hurt her today, not on my watch.