All Smiles

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A year later

~~Lana~~

I hated that douchebag Ali was dating. Yes, we did keep in contact every single day since we've met. And I've visited every once in a while, also seeing her trash boyfriend and Melissa, along with a few others by the names of Jaylene, Brianna, and Ariana. They were cool.

Her boyfriend on the other hand, was not.

Ethan Crosbitch could go die in hell for all I care. The amount of heartbreak he's put Ali through is something no one should go through. He's cheated on her so much and he's always drunk or high, which really puts him on the edge. It was like Ali was only there so he wasn't alone.

Ali was with him because she felt like she could change him. He would always apologize with the same bullshit sentence of "Baby, I'll do better, I'll change." And all that jazz, but it was bull and we all knew it. She really was wrapped around his finger. Anything he needed, she got it.

She wasn't benefitting from this either. She was always drunk and high too, whether she was alone or with him. She was killing herself slowly, and I couldn't stop her.

I wanted to so bad. I'd fallen down that dark hole a while back and I wanted her to come up so desperately. I needed her in my life.

I began feeling this feeling where I needed her around me all the time after I left. I didn't come to terms with it at first. I thought it was just me being silly and imaginative. But, I came to terms with what I felt for her, which was love. I hated seeing her like this. I cried every night for her. I had tried so many times along with her friends to get her to find help. She wouldn't listen. She said she loved the feeling.

I felt like that was partially true, but deep down she wanted to keep Ethan by doing what he did. I mean, she could get anyone in the world, and she settles for this scumbag that's poisoning her.

I felt a vibration interrupt my thoughts as I saw it was Ali calling. I clicked answer right away.

"Hey you!" I said, hoping she was sober.

"Heyyyy Lizzy! I want you to come visit me! I wanna dance with you and get high by the beach with you." She said laughing at the reference. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Maybe you should come and visit me all by yourself so we could spend a few days together, like the first time we met." I said flatly. I wanted to hang up so bad, but I knew she would think I was giving up.

"How could I dare part with my Ethan?" She jokingly said to me, just laughing her ass off. "He probably wouldn't mind. He would find another Bonnie to fuck. It don't matter to him." She said softly. I could tell she was looking down, stirring her drink. Wanting to down it and order another.

"Please, don't do it." I said. You could hear her eyebrow raise.

"Who's gonna stop me?" She asked, downing her drink, just disobeying me. She was so damn stubborn and helpless.

"I'll pay for your ticket. You can meet my family. And even Melissa can come. Please, I'm begging you. Just a little retreat from all the shit you've been through." I begged. I almost cried at that moment. I just needed one week with her to get her to see she needs to leave him, possibly for me.

She sighed, signaling she was going to accept. I was smiling ear to ear. "Fine." She grumbled. I mouthed 'thank you' to the man above.

"Great! I'm booking your flight now. How's tomorrow at 11 am?" I asked, wanting her to get here as soon as possible. Sure, Melissa was gonna be there, but that was ok with me. I was jealous still, but I know I needed her to help me.

"Ok." She hung up, no proper goodbye. I didn't even care, she was coming to see me. I had a chance.

~~Melissa~~

I was already with Ali in the bar. She had the phone in with headphones, so I could listen too. I didn't want to be here seeing my best friend drink her life away, but she needed a designated driver, and I cared that much.

"Leaving tomorrow, eh? What'll Ethan say?" I asked. I knew he had a short temper and I didn't want anything bad to go down.

"I don't know, but I don't care. I need this break, honestly. It'll probably help me sober up, and I get to see Lizzy." She said so flatly. She was so lifeless. It hurt to see. It made me want to cry. I gave her a hug, something I never usually do. I could tell she needed one. She hugged me back so tightly and cried into my shoulder. This happened almost nightly.

I picked her up and walked her back to the car. I knew she didn't want to talk about anything. She needed time, and that's what I would give her. I was going to stay the night to wake her up for the flight, and make sure Ethan would let her "off her lease" for a week. He didn't deserve her.

"Thank you so much, Benjamin." She said so weakly. I haven't heard that nickname since freshmen year of high school after reading Animal Farm. I smiled and started the car to what she called "home".

~~Ali~~

I didn't know how much I could do this. Ever since I laid eyes on Ethan, I was in love. I couldn't stop the feeling. I didn't want to leave him for a week or in general. I couldn't get him out of my head all night. He's always in there. God I love that man.

He's probably out fucking some cheap whore, while I sit here and cry myself to sleep for the 300th day in a row. Yes, that's exact.

I felt a warm body creep next to me in the bed. I didn't even remember the car ride. I turned to see Melissa, smiling at me. I cried into her neck to which she rubbed my back to. I fell asleep to be awoken by yelling.

"What the fuck is this?" Ethan growls seeing Melissa leave. I jump out of bed, trying to explain.

"I'm going home, calm yourself. I'll be right back, Ali I'm getting my bags." Melissa said fearlessly.

"Melissa was just sleeping over. We're leaving for California today for a week and she wanted to be here to wake me!" The words spilled out of my mouth so fast. I could feel the tears forming. I'd gotten so used to the hangovers that the pain wasn't even there. There was just a deep pain in my heart that had been there since I've dated him.

"California? Why today?"

"Lizzie invited me. Please, just let me go for a week. I'm so trapped in this endless cycle of misery." I said crying now. He looked down at me with real remorse. That made me cry even more.

"Ok, baby. Take a week off. I'll miss you." He said gently. I hugged him so tight and gave him a long lingering kiss. He rubbed my back and even helped me pack. Melissa stood there shell-shocked when she came back from getting her bags. I was quite shocked too.

I was packed and ready to go. We were off to California for what I was hoping to be the most refreshing week of my life.