Lori’s POV
“So, it’s settled,” I chirp. “You’re going to tell Zac the truth about getting two jobs and dropping out,” I summarize, not seeing the tall shadow behind me.
“WHAAAAAAAAAT!?!?”
* * *
I whipped around quickly to see Zac’s devastated face looking down on me. I’m too surprised say anything, so we just stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. Wes’s voice coming from my phone jolts the both of us back into reality.
“Lori? Can you hear me?” says the muffled voice of my boyfriend. Zac’s eyes snap to the phone in my hand, and a hostile look takes over his face. The pain in his eyes makes me recoil. In that one second, the only emotion I feel is fear. The immature, playful Zac from this morning is long gone. And before I can utter a single sound to stop him, he turns his back toward me and leaves.
A small tear escapes my eye as I start to fully grasp what happened. Zac overheard me talking to Wes. He found out the truth before Wes could tell him. I thought I would be relieved when this moment finally came. But then I remembered the pain shining in my best friend’s eyes. He was hurting. And it was my fault.
“Lori?” Wes called once again, and I flinched at the sound of his voice. Panicking, I put the phone to my ear and force out the words.
“Zac…heard…me,” I whisper.
My words are met with complete silence. For a moment, I assumed that Wes didn’t hear me. Just as I open my mouth to repeat the dreaded words, an earsplitting crash resounds through the phone and the line goes dead.
* * *
It takes a while for me to spring into action once I realized the damage that I’ve caused in the relationship of two of the most important people in my life. Quickly stuffing everything inside the basket that Zac had been carrying earlier, I started running toward my best friend’s home. The ten minute walk drags on as I come up with the most horrifying scenarios. What if Zac and Wes start fighting physically? What if they sever their friendship forever? All because of me? This is all my fault.
I hear them before I reach Zac’s house.
“Get the f--- away from me!” A voice was shouting.
“Zac, man, just listen to me!” another voice was pleading. Wes. Hearing the desperation in his voice, I ran faster, and the scene unfolded in front of me.
Zac was standing with his body in the doorway, his hand trying to pull the door closed. Wes was standing on the outside of the door, holding it open. Something was trickling down his leg. My eyes widened as I put a name to the thick liquid. Blood. Zac’s voice brought me back to reality.
“—done with you, a--hole! I thought we were friends!” he spat at Wes.
My boyfriend was cringing away from Zac’s harsh tone as he tried again. “I was going to tell you. I really was. Just calm down—“
“Calm down? Calm down!? NO! I’m tired of this! I’m tired of you and your d--- secrets! Just go Wes!” Zac interrupted.
“Zac, I can fix this.” Wes began.
“NO, YOU CAN’T!! Now, get off of my property before I call the police.” The threat in Zac’s voice was clear. No hesitation whatsoever.
Wes’s shoulders slumped, but he was persistent. But just as he opened his mouth, Zac leaned forward and shoved Wes. Time seemed to slow down as Wes tripped over the front steps and fell to the floor. Zac took this opportunity to shut the door and disappear into his home. He didn’t even notice the limp body of his best friend on the floor.
YOU ARE READING
You and Me
Teen Fiction**ON HOLD** “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Her eyes widened in shock as she registered my words. “Because I could always walk by another time.” -Wes Adams Wes is a college boy, who works at a nearby gas station to make ends meet. He’s g...
