It All Started With A One Night Stand

Clean

"So your mom is really sick?" Jasmine asked me while looking at me with clear sincerity and kindness in it.

"Yes." I said as I snuggle into her hug. She is the best hugger and she always says that hugs can be a bandaid solution to a problem. It does not always fix it but it can definitely help.

"So you are really going home?" Jasmine asked me as we continued to hug. We have been hugging ever since I started bawling and that was about an hour ago.

After coming home all I wanted to do was leave here without talking to Jasmine and Victoria. How wrong was I? Yes things happen but they are still my best friends. Now all I want to do is stay in this embrace as this is the safest and happiest place I've been in a while. It's like in her arms I can forget about my whole life and just focus on being in the moment.

"Yes I am. I feel like it is definitely my best option. I am going to really miss school but right now I need to be with my mom." I said as I looked around the room and realized that I had a lot of work to do.

"Okay then I will help you." Jasmine said as she broke out of the embrace and leaped up. "Just tell me what you want to do boss."

It took us almost 5 hours to get all my belongings packed and ready to be moved out. It was a lot of work but it was also really fun as me and Jasmine spend time talking about the different things I had in my room and the different memories we had with it. We also ended up watching a movie downstairs and went for a dinner break but those were definitely necessarily breaks.

"So you've almost done packing everything." Jasmine said as she sat on my suitcase.

"Yup I'm almost done. I'm going to miss this place." I said as I sat on my duffle bag beside the suitcase. We put all of my bags in the living room beside the door so that we can move them to the car easier.

"Well I know that I'm definitely going to miss you." Jasmine said while smiling at me with a bittersweet smile.

"Yup me too. I am going to miss you, and the house, and everything." I said trying not to bring up the fact that I knew that I was going to miss Victoria and Nathan too.

"And Victoria and Nathan. I know that you are going to miss them too." Jasmine said making me look away and bite my lip, thinking about the best way to get out of this conversation. "But I know why you are angry at them and I think you are definitely right to feel that way."

"You know what happened?" I asked her surprised that Victoria will tell her.

"Yup. The night you left Victoria came home very upset about what happened and told me about it." Jasmine said as she scooted to come closer to me and dragged the suitcase with her.

"I don't wanna talk about it." I said feeling bad remembering what happened that night. I completely understood why Victoria did what she did but I don't think I can forgive her just like that. And Nathan really broke my heart with what he did. I don't think I'm ready to think about what happened or forgive them anytime soon.

"I know that you are really hurt but I also know that life is short. And pride can really ruin important relationships. I also know that Victoria is very sorry for what she did and for what happened. She always come around with a sulk and would always ask if you came home. I'm not saying that you forgive her but at least talk to her." Jasmine said as she stood up and dusted her pants off.

"Okay I will for you!" I said as I stood up and had back pain from carrying heavy things and sitting up on a duffel bag. "When is she coming home?"

"She should be here soon..."

"I'm home." Victoria said after about half an hour. Jasmine and I decided to sit on the couch and watch TV waiting for her but we ended up talking about our year.

We had a crazy year this year. Jasmine tried out for her first play and got a supporting role and was able to balance it with her cheerleading and being an honor roll student, she's amazing. And I was able to be a volunteer coordinator, be a writer and an intern for the school newspaper, and was on student council. I also fell in love but I will lock that down into a piece of me.

"Why is there a car in front of our house?" Victoria asked as she walked into the living room. "Oh my god Alyssa you're here!"

Victoria quickly walked toward me and as much as I wanted to hate her and avoid her, without even thinking I walked over to her and gave her a giant hug.

"This does not mean I forgive you." I mumbled as we hugged.

"I know! I'm sorry." Victoria said as we continued to hug.

"Aww group hug!" Jasmine said as she came and joined in our hug. We broke apart and readjusted so that it was a three way hug.

"So why is all your stuff downstairs?" Victoria asked me as she looked around the room.

"It's a long story." Jasmine and I replied at the same time.

"So how bad is your mom?" Victoria asked me as I filled her in on what was happening.

"I don't know. My mom has Lupus and is not reacting well to her treatment." I said as we laid on the couch.

"Are you scared?" Jasmine asked me as she moved to put her head on my stomach.

"Yes definitely." I said. "I don't know how to live without my mom." I said as I put my hand under my head and held hands with Victoria who was lying beside me.

"Don't worry. Your mom is strong, she will make it." Victoria said as she tightened her grip on my hand, giving me strength.

"Yup your mom is amazing and so are you." Jasmine said as she looked up at me and smiled brightly.

"Okay so how long will you be gone for?" Victoria asked as she wiped the tears out of her eyes.

"I will be gone until Finals and will come back to finish them." I said as I looked at the time and realized it was already 7:30. I had to leave soon so that I will be able to get home before my mom gets worried.

"Okay so let's get this show on the roll." Victoria said as she carried out two of my bags.

It ended up taking us almost an hour to move all my stuff out and put it in the car. By the time we finished the sun was setting and the sky was turning dark blue but if you look at the sky line you could see all shades of gold, pink and purple.

"So you are all packed up." Jasmine said knowing what this meant.

"Yup." I said also knowing that this is the last time I will be here for a while.

"So do you have everything?" Victoria asks me.

"Hopefully." I said as I looked back at the house and thought through the answer.

"Look whose here." Jasmine said as I looked back and saw Nathan taking a stroll pass our house and stopping when he saw me.

"I completely forget that he comes here." Victoria said as we all looked at him.

"What is he doing here?" I asked as Nathan started walking closer to us.

"He comes here every evening since you left. He used to come like 5, 6 times a day. But he started coming here less." Victoria said.

"Yup let's completely forget you scaring him off saying that he shouldn't come here as much because it might scare Alyssa off if she ever came home." Jasmine said.

"Okay maybe that happened too." Victoria said. I looked at her. "What I was upset?"

"Alyssa." Nathan breathed out as he saw me. I turned my head to look at him and knew that I was at crossroads.