**TRIGGER WARNING: the next few chapters deal with depression and mention of suicide**
The day before school started Lyla paced around her room dreading going back to school again. She still hadn't talked to Elliott in almost a month. She missed him tremendously and wondered what happened. Why hadn't they talked? or at least texted? Lyla's whole world was spiraling out of control. On top of the whole Elliott mess, her life got even more upsetting. She had just been told that her aunt had passed away. It was almost like she didn't know how to feel. She didn't feel sad or feel mad. She just felt nothing. At school the next day Lyla tried to act as normal as she could, she didn't mention her aunts passing or the fact that she was upset about her and Elliott. At lunch, that day Elliott came over like normal which Autumn and Lyla thought was very strange because although he did come over occasionally he was going over to the other tables around them more often now.
He sat down and said "Hey, whats up? How was your break?" as he was ransacking Lyla's lunch (like normal)
"Why are you here?" Lyla stated in a confused and slightly angry tone.
"What do you mean?" he answered looking at Autumn and Lyla
"We haven't talked in a month and it seems like you've been avoiding me since I left to see family in November."
"Has it really been a month. Geez, sorry," he said, "and I'm not avoiding you."
"Then why haven't you answered my texts or talk to me in class or something. Does this have something to do with that party? Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" Lyla stammered.
"Erm, um... got to go" Elliott answered abruptly, leaving in a rush.
Lyla turned to Autumn, "What was that? What's happening?"
"I may not have told you the whole truth..." Autumn said slowly.
"What do you mean you didn't tell me the WHOLE TRUTH!" Lyla exclaimed.
"Let me expla-" Autumn started.
Holding back tears Lyla got up from the table and hurried out of the cafeteria. Lyla felt overwhelmed and confused. In the last 48 hours, she was told her aunt died, her best friend was lying to her, and her other best friend was as confusing as ever. Quinn eventually found Lyla in the bathroom.
"Hey, are you okay?" Quinn asked, "You seem a little on edge today."
"No, I'm not okay. How could I be okay? My whole life feels like is falling apart, I wish everything would just stop. I don't know how I can get through 5 1/2 more months of this." Lyla cried.
"Hey, it's going to be okay, and you will get through this. I think the reason Autumn and Elliott kept this from you is that they either didn't want you to get hurt by it or they didn't think it was a significant thing. Plus I think Autumn is a little upset today, it has been a year since her uncle died."
"My aunt just passed away, so I know how she feels," Lyla stated.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, you should talk to Autumn."
"It's okay and I'll just text her later, I'm still kind of mad she has been hiding something for 2 months from me and it seems like she's not the only one that knows about this"
"I totally understand but again it's probably not a big deal," Quinn suggested.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right I'm probably just imagining things. Thanks, Quinn."
"No problem" Quinn responded.
Lyla waited until after school to text Autumn about what had happened.
Lyla: Hey, so about lunch today, I'm sorry that I walked out I was so upset to find out you had been keeping things from me. Quinn also told me about your uncle, and I get it, trust me my aunt just passed away and I get how it feels.
**30 minutes later**
Lyla: Autumn?
Autumn: Yeah I'm here.
Lyla: Hey. Like I said before, I'm sorry I overreacted.
Autumn: So I'm guessing you want to know about what happened, why Elliott left suddenly, what actually went down.
Lyla: I'm not even sure I want to know about it, I just want to know why everyone sort of hide it from me, why you haven't told me?
Autumn: We didn't tell you because we, well I, didn't think it was in your best interest to know. It really wasn't that important.
Lyla: I still would have liked to know but, I would have at least understood why you hid it. Now I'm even more hurt. I mean if you don't want me to know that's fine. I wasn't there so why should it affect me especially when its been 2 months it's in the past.
Autumn: Wait so you don't want to know...
Lyla: Well you obviously didn't think I should know so, no, if you think that's the best way then I trust your judgment.
Autumn: Well okay see you tomorrow.
Lyla was upset that Autumn and Elliott had hidden something from her but she got over it. The next week in science class they learned about a field trip that was to take place at the beginning of February. They were all excited, Lyla had made up with both Autumn and Elliott which made it all the more exciting. Lyla finally found remote happiness. She had something to look forward too.
YOU ARE READING
Left Behind
Teen Fiction"We were never really friends were we?" she yelled. It had been 2 years since her best friend had cut off all communication with her. Why? She had no idea.
