𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚 | ✓

f i f t e e n

The past few days have been atrocious to say the least. Magnolia has been hiding in her room, watching Netflix and eating her weight in ice cream the entire time. Every time Charlotte wants her to come over she comes up with an excuse. If she were to go over there, she would be forced to see Brad.

Of course she misses him, but the thought of having to talk to him about this is painful. Brad has been going to parties to get his mind off Magnolia. Though, it hasn't really been working. He's never been able to not think about her.

Magnolia was finishing her third bowl of ice cream when Charlotte barged into her room. With her hands on her hips and a frown on her face she says, "You look pathetic, Mags."

"Shut up."

"I have some good news for you," she opens the curtains, causing Magnolia to hide under her blanket. "My mother just bought a hot tub."

She comes out from under her comforter, "So?"

"So, you are coming over and we are going to have a girls night. No excuses. I already asked your parents if you could and they said yes."

"Charlotte, I don't know if I c—"

"It's not up for debate, Magnolia," she huffs. "You look awful and you haven't had any human contact in days."

"I've talked to my family."

"That doesn't count. Now get up, change your clothes, pack a bag and meet me at my car."

And she did just that. Magnolia knows that Charlotte will not give up, so if she does this just once, then it won't happen again. All she had to do is steer clear of Brad and stay by Charlotte's side until she leaves their house tomorrow morning.

"You have your swimsuit, right?" Charlotte asks once Magnolia gets in the car.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good."

"Uh," Magnolia clears her throat. "Brad won't be there, will he?"

"I mean he lives there, so yes. But I don't think he'll be hanging out with us. Why?"

"No reason."

"Brad has been so annoying lately. All he does is leave early and come back late, drunk."

"Drunk? Brad doesn't drink."

"He does now, I guess."

That made Magnolia really sad. The fact that their argument was causing him to drink made her so upset.

She and Charlotte then arrived at the Simpson house. The butterflies in Magnolia's stomach were going so crazy, she was now nauseous. All she wanted was to be in her room and not see Brad.

"Why don't you go change in my room? I'll change down here since my suit is hanging up outside."

"Are you sure? I can just change down here—"

"You need to put your bag in my room anyway, Mags. Just change up there."

"Right. Yeah—I'll go change."

Magnolia walked as fast as she could up to Charlotte's room, trying to be as quiet as possible and checking behind every corner to make sure he isn't there.

Her swimsuit was cute and had a vintage look to it. It reminds her of the summer and going to the beach all the time. Back when life wasn't as stressful and drama filled.

When she opened the door, she began walking as fast she good back down the stairs. In fact, she was walking so fast that she didn't realize that Brad was walking up the stairs and ran straight into him.

His hands immediately land on her waist, making sure she doesn't fall down the stairs. Magnolia was so in shock, she didn't even know what to say.

"I'm—I'm sorry. I wasn't watching—"

"It's fine, Magnolia. Just watch where you're going next time."

"Right." she mutters as Brad makes his way back up the stairs. Her heart was beating out of her chest and all she wanted to do was go back in time and make that whole thing not happen.

Seeing Magnolia in her little bikini made Brad go crazy. He wanted to compliment her and make some corny joke about how other girls look like jokes compared to her. He wanted to kiss her and be with her. But if she is going to act like a child and not tell Charlotte, he doesn't want to continue to be with her. It's unfair.

Magnolia and Charlotte sat in the hot tub for a while, talking about things they've missed in each other's lives whilst Magnolia was hibernating. They mainly talked about Charlotte and Alex and their weekly fights.

"So, what are gonna do for your birthday?" Charlotte asks, splashing a few drops of water toward her friend. "It is your big one-seven."

"Probably nothing," she says. "Seventeen isn't a big deal."

"But you're going to be a dancing queen!"

"Who am I going to invite if I have a party? My non existent friends? Plus, it's not until January, Char. We have a while."

"Um, I plan my birthday at least two months in advance, thank you very much."

"Whatever. I'll I'm saying is that it isn't for a while and it won't be relevant, anyway."

Charlotte sighs, "It is relevant to me, okay? I'm going to throw you the best party you've ever had."

"What? Are you going to pity the kids from school to come? 'Hi, my loser friend, Magnolia is turning seventeen and I was really hoping you would come to her birthday party since she has no other friends,'" she mimics.

"You realize there are people that don't think you're a loser, right? I'll have no problem with inviting people. Plus, I'll get Brad to come and that'll attract people. Also Peter."

"I mean, I guess," Magnolia says uneasily. "I just don't want it to be a pity party."

"It won't be. I promise."

After that, the two girls decided to go upstairs to her room. They both took quick showers and then watched a few romcoms. By the end of the last movie, Charlotte was sound asleep. It made Magnolia think back to the times when she would go sneak into Brad's room after she fell asleep.

Maybe it was for the better if she and Brad didn't pursue their relationship. Magnolia doesn't want to lose her best friend, so why would she do the exact thing that would make her leave?

As soon as Magnolia heard Brad playing piano in his room, she began to cry.

All she wanted was Brad and Charlotte.

unedited