Falling In Love With You

Chapter 12.Forever

"You look like hell." Emily stood at her locker, regarding Bex curiously.

"Gee, thanks," Bex said sarcastically, even though she knew it was true.She'd barely slept the night before. The past month since Bowie had told her he might be leaving had flown by, much, much too fast. He hadn't really mentioned it again after the initial announcement. Bex had started to think that he'd forgotten about it, or changed his mind; made herself believe that he was staying with her. But then, the previous day, he dropped the bombshell. He was leaving on February 15th, the day after Valentine's Day. It was only two days away.

"Seriously, Bex. Are you okay?" Emily asked her, furrowing her brow. She searched her former friend's face carefully.

"I'm fine," Bex said. She'd woken up feeling sick, though. She'd been sick almost every day since Bowie told her his plans to go to LA, moody, her stomach constantly in knots.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, awkwardly. This was so wrong. Things had never been like this between her and Emily before. They'd had disagreements, but they never lasted this long. "So... how have you been?" She noticed Emily was wearing her hair differently, in a french braid. It looked nice.

"Fine," Emily told her. Her eyes darted down to her high tops. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Bex admitted humbly. She rubbed her tired eyes.

"So, what's been going on with you?" Emily asked her. She spoke in a detached way, as if Bex were just a casual acquaintance.

Bex shrugged. "Bowie's leaving. The day after tomorrow. He's going out to LA with his band."

"Oh." Emily said this tonelessly. "I'm really sorry. I know how important he is to you."

"That's kind of why I wanted to talk to you," Bex said. "I want to spend all the time with him I can before he goes. I think I could even convince him to stay! I know you're mad at me right now, but could you please cover for me one more time?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "I should've known." She turned back to her locker and started putting her things away.

"Please, Em," Bex pleaded. "If you do it this one time, I'll never ask you for anything again. Please."

The other girl slammed her locker. "Did it ever occur to you that I might have plans for Valentine's Day?" She nodded knowingly when Bex didn't answer. "Of course not. Because everything always has to be about Bex."

"That's not true!" Bex cried defensively.

"Maybe it wasn't true before," Emily told her. "But you've changed since you met Bowie."

"I have not!" she argued. "Maybe you're the one who's changed?"

"We used to have so much fun together," Emily said shortly. "I miss the way things used to be. When's the last time we really hung out? The only times you even talk to me now are when you're asking me to lie to your parents for you."

"You know how my home life is!" Bex snapped. "Better than anyone! I didn't think you minded helping me. That's what friends are supposed to do."

"Real friends don't ditch each other for a boy! When you came up to talk to me just now, I actually thought you wanted to make up with me. But all you wanted was to use me, as usual. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"Why are you treating me like this?" Bex asked her. She was on the verge of tears. "It might be my last night with Bowie. Can't you see how important this is to me?"

"I am so tired of hearing about Bowie!" Emily said. "I hope he does leave!" Her cheeks were pink with anger. She opened the to-go coffee cup she was holding, and took a long sip. "Just go, Bex. I have nothing else to say to you."