Montana Mansion

Friendship

Willa's POV:

I cannot believe I just said that. Truly, I can't. I was angry, sure, very angry, but I knew better than that.

I looked around myself to see that the rest of my friends were still standing still as boards in their respective positions around the room. Perhaps they were debating whether or not to go after her, like I was.

"Let's give her some space," Philby breathed. My neck snapped towards him, as did everyone else's. He clamped his mouth shut.

"I'm not sure if we can after that," Finn glared at me. "Who knows what she'll do?"

"She's not a child, Finn," Maybeck snapped. "Show her a little respect. After that," he waved his arms wildly at the three of us. "I think she deserves it."

"We can't." Hesitantly, I joined in on the conversation. "We don't know that she won't quit."

"After all this," Philby chimed back in, his voice strong and full this time. "I'm not sure I blame her."

Philby's POV:

Eventually, everyone left to creep back to their respective bedrooms but I slunk away to look for Charlene. The only reason I said that we should give her some space is so that I could go see her. 

After turning the entire house upside down to no avail, I quietly stepped outside and let out a sigh of relief when I saw her petite form sprawled out in the grass.

"Isn't it a little late to be outside by yourself?" I commented casually as I lay down beside her. 

"Maybe I'll get kidnapped. Or murdered," she nodded to herself. "Yes. That one."

"Hey now," I propped myself up on my elbow. "You don't mean that."

"No, I don't," she admitted, gazing steadily up at the sky. "Then I couldn't skate anymore."

"You love skating, don't you?" I replied calmly.

She nodded. "I really do. It's amazing: so freeing."

"That's why you really want to quit," I pressed. Her neck snapped towards me. "Not because you're worried that everyone will hate you forever."

"How did you know?" she breathed after a long pause. 

I shrugged. "After three years of being in love with someone, you know things."

"I am so sorry," she bit her lip, her eyes watering.

I waved my hand as if to wave away her apology. "Don't be. You had no control over my feelings. Just what you told me."

"Oh gosh," she flopped back down onto the grass. "Am I a horrible person?"

"No. You just want to do what's best for yourself. That's not wrong."

"But this fight, between us and the O.T.s, it's bigger than me. It's about," she laughed bitterly, "the world. Aren't I betraying them if I pull out?"

"Not if you don't think you're best served in the group anymore," I replied. "Though we'll all miss you."

"Yeah right. I'll bet Willa will just be beside herself," she said sarcastically.

"She'll be sad. But she wants what's best for you, Char. We all do. And if that's to skate then go for it."

"Am I that easily replaced? You think you can just find someone to do my part?"

"We could never replace you, Char," I grabbed her hand, pushing it into the ground gently. "Never."

"Is this the right thing, Philby?" she looked at me with tear-filled eyes. "I just, I just don't want to make a mistake."