A Tangled Web We Weave (Completed)

38. Remember the Squirrels?

Israel

Sabrina's leg lay on top of mine as we sat in her bed, watching Orange Is The New Black which is her new favorite show. She absentmindedly put a chip in her mouth as she scrolled through her Instagram feed and watched the show at the same time. And I could sit her with her all day.

Her other hand landed on my head and started scratching my scalp. I turned and kissed her palm.

She looked up at me. "What?" She asked, her nose wrinkling.

I shook my head, smiling. "Nothing." 

She snuggled down closer to me and popped another chip into her mouth.

The door burst open and Cal, followed closely by Andy, stumbled in. "Listen, Sabrina, I need to talk to yo-"

Andy stared at me. "What are you doing here?"

"Excuse me?" I growled.

"Andy, let's just grab Sabrina and talk to her alone, ple-"

Sabrina shot to her feet. "What do you mean by that?"

Andy smirked at her. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"You dumb bi-" I stood up.

Cal scoffed. "Stop being stupid, you know we're about to tell he-"

"Tell me what?" Sabrina spat.

"That Israel was been secretly seeing his ex's best friend for years on the low," Andy crowed.

I froze.

"And, he-" she continued.

"Stop it, Andy-"

"Saw her last night and a bottle of tequila was involved." Andy finished.

Sabrina whirled towards me. "Is that true?"

"Don't even try-"

"Andy, close. Your. Mouth."

"C'mon, Sabrina, do you really believe Andy, who has been-" I started.

"I asked you a yes or no question," she interrupted quietly. "I expect either a yes or a no."

The venom in her voice was so tangible, I hesitated. "Ok, so technically, yes, but-"

She slapped me. "Really, Israel? You dropped me off at eight."  

I was quickly shoved out of the room and the house.

I stood on her front porch for two hours before her mom came outside and told me to go home because I was scaring her and that I should only come back once I've cooled off.

It's completely my mother's fault that I'm watching a chick flick right now. When I was eight, she sat me down in front of the television after I lost my soccer game and we watched While You Were Sleeping. Not only is it one of my favorite movies, but it's what I watch when I feel down. Sandra Bullock jumps onto the train tracks to rescue Peter Gallagher and I check my phone. No new notifications. It's about the fifth time I've checked. In the last minute.

I couldn't believe how quickly everything fell apart. I had gone over to Elena's and brought with me the bottle of tequila from my father for her father because they were old friends. 

Melissa had either seen or heard from someone and told Cal, who jumped at the opportunity to cleanly cut me out of Sabrina's life. Why Melissa was so gun ho to shoot me down I'll never know.

Me and Elena had always been friends. And always would be. She had needed me. Her parents were tiptoeing around each other and a divorce. Hudson was dragging her through the dirt. She felt like her life was crumbling around her.

We're friends. But, because of Regan firstly and secondly because there is zero connection, we'd always only ever be that.

Glynis Johns says, "How did Joe Kelly get to be a lector? He takes marijuana!" and I chuckle despite my rather grim frame of mind.

There's a knock at my door and my dad pokes his head in. "Hey, punk. Whatcha doin'?"

"Mom's favorite."

He doesn't move. "Ah. Well, I'm off to a work dinner. I ordered your favorite from JJ's, which should be here any minute, and I won't be home until late. Night." The door closed.

That's another thing. My dad seemed to care less and less about who I was with and what I was doing. We hadn't argued in a month. Not because we had nothing to fight about, but because he was never home. His secretary probably ordered my takeout. I doubt he would lower himself to think about my meals.

I heard the garage door close and finally left my room, plodding down the stairs. 

There was a knock at the front door. Thinking it was my food, I excitedly swung open the door. It was Elena.

"Listen, I'm not really in the mood to talk-"

"Like I care. I know you're watching some movie from the 90s, so press play and eat this food. I'll just wait till you are in the mood to talk." She held my Chinese out in front of her. "Move, it's hot out here."

Silently, I stepped aside and let her in. At first, we watched in absolute silence.

Then I explained to her what had happened. And then she held me while I cried for a bit. More watching in silence. Then she talked for a bit, about feelings and apologizing and explaining.

The movie ended, Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock lived happily ever after, Elena left, and I wrote a very long letter.