e v e r y t i m e (hs)

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND

July 13, 2019.

"So, what happened after?" Ali asked me. "He said that and he hugged you?"

"Yeah" I said, curled up all in my blanket. "I thanked him. I told him I broke up with Adam. He said he understood and didn't have to say anything else if I wanted to"

Ali looked to the side, looking back to me after a moment.

"You said he was Billie's brother?" Ali asked me.

I sat up on the couch. I nodded at Ali.

"Well, he's different from Billie" Ali said. "At least he's better than Adam"

"I know" I said to Ali. "I feel so embarrassed that I cried in front of him. He said I didn't have to explain anything but I feel like I still do"

"You could" Ali said. "I would. Is he coming back to rehearsal soon?"

"I don't know" I said. "He only came twice"

"Well, you can always go to him" Ali said.

"I doubt Billie would allow me" I said.

Ali shook her head.

"I never liked Adam" She said. "I always felt something was off about him. He really said he broke up with you because of his kid's privacy?"

I nodded my head.

"He's lying" Ali said. "Hello, what did he think he was getting into when he asked you out? If he really did care, he wouldn't have asked you out"

I looked down, biting my lip.

"I'm pissed off. What kind of excuse is that?" Ali said. "Aren't you pissed?"

I was. But not anymore.

"Not really" I said. "At first I was but I think I got everything out when I cried"

"Are you sure?" Ali asked me. "Because I'm here if you need. I'm always here. You could have called or texted me that night. I would have came over immediately"

"No, it's okay" I assured her. "I know you would but I wasn't ready to tell anyone. When he broke up with me, it just felt surreal"

"Surreal?" Ali asked. "As in?"

"Like I didn't expect him to" I said. "I was in denial. Then, I tried to find why he dumped me. I became angry with myself and then I cried. I think I'm in the acceptance stage now"

"Don't you want to kill him?" Ali asked me. "Or punch him at least?"

I shook my head.

"No, not really" I stated. "I mean, yeah, I'm sad that what we had is over but there's always something better. I'm not going to sink to Adam's level just for revenge. I'm better than that"

Ali sat back, looking at me.

"You always had to be the more wise one, huh?" Ali asked.

"I'm one year older than you" I said.

"I got laid sooner though" Ali said.

I threw the pillow next to me at her.

"Hey!" Ali said. "It's true"

I got up from the couch. I grabbed my phone off the table.

"Gotta make a call" I told Ali.

"Let me guess . . ." Ali said.

"Billie" We both said at the same time.

We nodded at each other. I walked away into the hall. I unlocked my phone and went to my contacts. I scrolled down my recent calls until I saw Billie's name. I tapped on her name. I pressed my phone to my ear. There were a few rings until Billie picked up.