Arm Distance Apart | ✔️

21

Chapter Twenty-one | Silent roars
"Never. Ever. Ever. Get rid of the desire to climb a tree or run through the sprinklers"

Lyra and I danced side by side to the imaginary music in our heard through the hallway. Yes, we were getting weird looks, and yes, I was self-conscious, but the feeling of having fun with my best friend was worth the embarrassment. Lyra laughed and stopped dancing but clapped rhythmically as I continued dancing. "Go, Hadley! Whoop Whoop!" I smiled at her and stopped dancing. School just ended, luckily and we were heading over to one of the most retro diners in town.

Why? Because Riverdale, hunny. I love my best friend. Even though she's kind of insane. She threw her arm on my shoulder and we walked in a synchronized way all the way to the car. When we finally got to her car she was called over by Max and a few of his friends for a second and they were talking but I got into the passenger seat and turned on the car.

Music instantly started blasting and many people turned to look at me with startled expressions. I smiled innocently at them and they looked away. I waited patiently for Lyra to come back, which didn't take long. "Max is stupid." She declared as she put on her seatbelt. I nod in agreement with a soft laugh. "Seriously, Francesca was hard core flirting with him just now and for some stupid reason, he hasn't asked her out!"

I shrugged. "Maybe he's just shy?" She scoffed and a candy cigarette out of her purse. She looked at me briefly to see I was looking at her.

"What? You want one?" I shook my head slowly. She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Whatever they're delicious." She chewed on one end with her eyes on the road.  She looked like a farmer with a price of wheat between his teeth. "Wanna go out tonight?" She asked and turned down the thumping radio.

I pursed my lips. "Where to?" I asked though I felt like I already knew the answer. Knowing Lyra she'd wanna go to a party. But as I mentioned before; just to make fun of all the drunk teens. "...I don't know Lyra. You know how I feel about that kind of stuff." I told her honestly.

She frowned slight. "C'mon, Hads. Live a little. We're teenagers, we're supposed to go to parties." She pressured.

'We're teenagers'. Being a teenager has its very own stereotype. You are expected to party, get drunk, get high, rebel, do all these things that not everybody is okay with doing. I certainly am not. And I hate to be told that I am not living a 'spectacular' life because I'm not into that. We all have our own ideas of 'living a little', mind just happen to include being in my room by myself.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Lyra, not too long ago you were exactly like me." I muttered. She seemed upset about my statement though.

"Yeah, but I grew out of it. It isn't like I stayed isolated all my life like you have at least—." Before she could go and tell me how I need to get out of my comfort zone and actually experience life, I cut her off.

I sighed. "You can go if you want. I'm not going to be pressured into it—."

"–I'm not pressuring you."

"You are, Lyra. Apparently, without realizing it, you are pressuring me." I explained to her calmly.

She let out some kind of screeching sound and the car swerved a little. My breath caught in my throat. "Sorry, there was a bunny. Anyway, I'm not pressuring you. I'm encouraging you to have some fun!" I internally rolled my eyes. "You're going."