Always Connected

Chapter 10 - Everyone has a story

Fuck. I've turned into one of those pathetic broken girls, running to their best friend crying because of a boy. Fuck boys, fuck everything, fuck me... wait I didn't mean it like that. I should have slapped Mason right across his stupid face when I had the chance. He's trying to 'protect' me but he doesn't know shit. And now my heads filled with angry thoughts and swearwords that I never say out loud.

How can someone make you so crazy just because of a secret? But in my defense, it has something to do with me and my dad, so if anything I have the right to know whats going on.

Paige fiddles with my hair, as I'm using her crossed legs as a pillow. I sigh hopelessly as Paige tugs my hair behind my ears, reminding me of my mom and how she used to do when I was little. 'You may look like me, but your stubbornness and good heart come from your dad' was what she always told me. I never knew what she meant by that.

"I think he's lying. I don't think there's any secret. He just wants you to talk to him." Paige states blatantly.

"Maybe... but he seemed genuine, like it actually concerned him."He was so traumatized like it hurt when he thought about it. What if he's right. What if it would hurt me so much so that I want to physically hurt myself.

"That's how he lures you in. He acts all sad and babyish and when you fall into his trap he's going back to his evil personality and act like the devil he is," Paige is fuming. Even more then I am.

"Someones spend to much time on Wattpad I see," Her fuming face turns into the grin I was looking for.

She grins at me mischievously, and I wonder what she's thinking."I only read Harry Styles fanfics," she snaps and I roll my eyes at her. She's not even kidding.

She helps me up on my feet and pushes her golden-brown hair back behind her ears. "Let's go out to eat and forget about Satan in disguise," The name she uses makes me twitch. I don't think Mason is that bad that he should be compared to Satan, but Paige always likes to exaggerate. A drama queen since day one. Her words, not mine.

I snatch the keys off of the desk as we make our way out into the hall.

"Hey, guys." We instantly turn our heads in reflex. My eyes meet the deep brown of Melanie's eyes. She smiles at us kindly with her hand waving in the air awkwardly. She sees me noticing her hand and pulls it back down and decides to fiddle with her curly hair instead.

"Hey," Paige reply blatantly and uninterested. She's never been good at letting people in as you can tell.

Melanie bites her lips and hides her face behind her dark curls.

"We are just going out for boba. You're more than welcome to join." I send her my most welcoming smile I can muster right now.

Her cheeks turn a bit red. "I don't want to intrude or anything..."

"You're not intruding at all. We'd love to meet new people," Melanie looks over at Paige.

Paige clears her throat and clashes her foot with mine without Melanie noticing. "Yeah what she said," she sighs with the fakest smile.

After persuading Melani into coming with us, and a few sarcastic comments from Paige, we finally get into my dad's car and head of to the road.

"Wow is this really your car," Melani seems mesmerized.

"No, it's my dad's," I laugh as Paige rolls her eyes subtly.

"This must be so expensive" she laughs stiffly.

To change the subject I ask her one of the most generic questions. "So do you have any siblings?"

I can see her embarrassed expression in the corner of my eye, and I wish I wouldn't have asked her that.

"7 actually. I'm the oldest." In some way, I'm kinda jealous of her. I've always wanted siblings, and she's got 7 of them.

"Wow, your mom had it going." Paige comments and I shake my head in disbelief. What's going on with her today?

"I was adopted," she replies to Paige's once again snarky comment. "My brother Malik and I were in foster care since I could remember. And one day this kind couple took us under their wings. And even 6 other kids." The air in the car has thickened, and I can tell that Melanie is full of emotion. Even Paige has decided to shut up and put the snarky comments aside.

"That's amazing of them. You're very lucky to have them as parents." I compliment as Paige nods her head agreeing with me. Adopting a kid is not easy and they adopted 8 kids in total, kudos to them.

"Yeah, I'm very lucky... Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild are the most generous people you'll ever meet. They used their lifesaving on us. They could have had everything, a big house, an expensive car, but they choose to spend it on us. Every last dime they had was for something that benefitted us..." Paige and I are all blanc, what do you reply to that.

"I'm sorry I wasn't planning on killing the mood."

Paige opens her mouth and I pray to God that she won't mock Melani.

"No worries. Your story is inspiring," she mutters with genuine compassion. This is the Paige I know and love. I know she seems heartless and very sarcastic sometimes, but behind the hard shell, there is this compassionate kind-hearted girl.

"Everyone has a story that's created and molded the person you are right now. This is a part of my story... What's yours?" I've never looked at it that way. She's right though, all of these different moments and memories in our life has molded the personality we all have. So my moment is the death of my mom and Mason leaving. I don't know if I can be that open about my bad memories with a person I've only met once.

My eyes meet Paiges in the rearview mirror. I can see the confusion in her eyes. She doesn't know what to do. She points at herself and I wonder what she's about to do.

"When I was a kid I was the outsider. The weird kid that didn't go to public school, the kid on the block that never came out to play. Then one day I was told by my parents that we were going to move. I didn't care, I had no one to say goodbye to. And when we arrived at the new house, we were greeted by McKenna and her dad. Mr. Parker welcomed us with a smile when his daughter stood awkwardly beside him with a sad smile on her face. I'll always remember that moment and look back at it and laugh. After the rocky start and some awkward interactions, I finally found a friend that I now treat as my sister." My eyes start to water making it difficult for me to focus on the road. At moments like these, I feel like I'm the luckiest friend in the world, cause I am.

I park at the lot in front of the boba shop. We all step out and walk into the small colorful shop. I give Paige a fast hug and she greets me with a shy smile. What have I done to deserve such a great friend?

(AU: hey guys. Long time no see, I've had a lot on my plate in the last few weeks, so I haven't had the time to write. But now I have summer break and fully ready to write as many chapters as I can muster. I hope you all are doing well, and that you and your family are safe and sound. Best wishes- Jade)