Gloria's Revelation

9

Tiffany came home and ran upstairs. She expected to see Monica waiting for her in her room but she didn't. That was odd. They had plans to study and if Tiffany knew anything about Monica, it was she did not play about school. Maybe she made the index cards and went back home. Tiffany found the blank index cards in the same place she left them. She ran back down stairs and found her mother in the kitchen. She was baking a cookies.
"Mom, have you seen Monica?" She asked as she grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
Gloria dropped the pan of cookies on the counter. "What?"
"Mo? Our neighbor. Have you seen her?" Tiffany asked again. Her mom looked so spaced out. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Why would you ask me if I've seen Monica?" Gloria asked. Surely one of the neighbors had seen her come over and said something to Tiffany in passing. She knew. Oh god, she knew.
"We were supposed to study together. She said she would do our flash cards but she didn't. It's just not like her. I'm going to go over and check on her." Tiffany said as she started to leave.
"Wait, Tiffany." Gloria put the cookies she made in a container and handed it to her. "I made too many. Take some to her."
"Okay. Are they oatmeal raisin? They're her favorite." Tiffany said, inspecting the clear box.
"They are." Gloria knew that. That was the whole reason for making them. She knew Monica loved her cookies. She had ever since she was a little girl. One time Allen caught Monica standing on Tiffany's shoulders so they could reach the cookie jar. Good thing he walked in when he did. Someone was bound to get hurt.
"Cool." Tiffany took the container and walked over to Monica's house. She knocked a few times, but nobody answered. After knocking one more time, she helped herself to the key in the stone frog's mouth. Monica and Tiffany affectionately named the frog Legs when they were kids. She came in and took her shoes off at the door. Mrs. Jones was a huge germaphobe and would freak if she saw someone wearing shoes throughout the house. She went straight to Monica's room and scared the hell out of her. No wonder she didn't answer the door, Tiffany thought.
Monica was lying on her bed with her headphones on blast. She was listening to a breakup playlist her and Tiffany put together the last time she called it off with Lance. She thought she was alone and almost died when Tiffany opened her bedroom door. She quickly muted the music and took the headphones off.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" Monica asked as she sat up.
"I'm sorry. Were you crying!?" Tiffany asked. She was really concerned now. Monica didn't skip study sessions and she rarely ever cried. Something had to be going on and she wanted to know what.
"No." Monica lied. Lately it felt like that's all she did to her best friend. She wanted to stop. "Well, yes."
Tiffany sat on her bed. "What's up?" She suddenly remembered the container of cookies she had and handed them over. "Oh yeah. They're from mom. They're your favorite."
Monica smiled weakly. She didn't want her guilt cookies, but they smelled so good. Monica shrugged. "I just wasn't feeling well. I felt sick to my stomach." That was not a lie.
Tiffany put her hand on Mo's forehead because that's what her mom did when her or Jackson weren't feeling well. "You don't feel like you have a fever. Was it something you ate?" Tiffany asked.
"Maybe." Monica laid back down. She wanted to be alone but didn't have the heart to tell Tiffany to leave. It wasn't her fault and she was just trying to be a good friend. Tiffany laid down beside her. She liked company when she wasn't feeling well and thought Mo would appreciate it too.
"So you probably won't be at school tomorrow, huh?" Tiffany asked.
Mo shook her head no. She didn't want to leave the bed. She was kicking herself. What did she honestly expect to happen? She was Gloria's daughter's best friend. She was married. There was no way they could be together. Were they supposed to sneak around for the rest of their lives? Was she supposed to leave Allen for their secret affair and never be with anyone else ever again? Monica didn't know. All she knew was she was hurting and she just wanted it to stop. She felt a little betrayed and embarrassed. She was crying again.
"Mo, if your stomach hurts that bad maybe we should call your mom. She's literally a doctor." Tiffany was only growing more concerned. What if something was seriously wrong with Monica?
"No it's okay. It's probably just be cramps or something." Monica said before she wiped her face.
"Oh. Well I'll get you some Tylenol and a heating pad. Be right be back." Tiffany hopped up and went to go retrieve the items.
Monica rolled over and grabbed her phone. She started to text Gloria but changed her mind. She wasn't even sure what she would say. "Hey thanks for the cookies. I'm still mad at you." Monica rolled her eyes and put her phone down.
Tiffany came back with all the items she needed to help her friend feel better. She handed her two pills and a glass of water. "Take those and I will plug this in." Tiffany plugged the electric heating pad in and gave it to Monica.
"Thanks, Tiff." Monica said as she made herself comfortable.
"Duh." Tiffany sat in Monica's computer chair and opened her laptop. "Now we'll just have to study while you're on your deathbed. Sucks for you."
Monica laughed and sat up. "Okay." She was thankful for Tiffany. She really was the best friend Monica could ask for. She always had her back and made sure she was okay. She did not deserve her.