Saving Pierson

Old Friends

Pierson

"Stay hopeful. It's not your fault." I pace back and forth.

Suddenly I hear talking in the background.

"Hey love, I gotta go. I'll call you when I get the chance." he says in a rush.

"Okay, bye!"

"Bye."

He hangs up and I sigh.

I miss him so much. It's so hard to do this without him by my side, but, I understand completely.

I gotta get more snacks for the house anyways, so with that, I grab my keys and drive to the Kroger down the road.

Within long boring minutes, I arrive and park in the back of the parking lot.

I don't mind walking.

Once I get up to the entrance, I grab a little cart and sanitize it down with the wipe the store gives.

I walk to my favorite snacks section when I hear laughing.

"Aye! Straight!" someone picks up the little bites and tossed them into the cart.

I gulp and tighten my grip on my cart anxiously.

Please leave.

"Pierson? Is that you?"

Fuck.

I turn and my eyes widen when I see my old friends.

"Waverley? Hadley? Noah?" I gasp.

"Girl we've missed you!" Hadley puts her hands up, causing me to flinch.

But she doesn't catch on, she just hugs me.

"It's been a year! Where have you been? You just disappeared!" Waverley exclaims.

"Yeah, what was that all about?" Noah asks.

Hadley pulls back and looks at me.

I try to form words.

Truth is, Addax made me change my phone number and stop being friends with everyone, including these guys.

"Family issues." I lie straight through my teeth. "How have you been?"

"Great! I got into Auburn!"

"I'm engaged!"

"I'm living with my girlfriend."

I frown.

They've come so far compared to me...

"And you?" Waverley asks.

I look up at her. "I'm still living with my mom."

"We get it! Any boyfriend? College? Anything?" Hadley tilts her head.

I sigh. "None of that."

"Oh..." Noah looks at them.

"Well hey! We got some more running to do but here's my number! We need to hangout!" Waverley pulls out her phone.

I smile at the fact I'm getting my friends back.

"Definitely!"

We all exchange numbers and say our goodbyes.

This is gonna be fun now!!

**

"Want some?" Hadley passes me the joint.

I shake my head and hands. "No thank you." I cough at the smell of it. "When did y'all start smoking?"

"Bout five months ago." Noah replies, putting his cigarette in his mouth.

"Come on, try it!" Waverley points at the joint.

"No. I'm sorry, but, I'm not into that." I say.

"I remember you were never fun." Noah laughs and shakes his head. "It's okay, you'll get there."

I gulp. "Yeah, I sill." I lie just to get them off of my back. "You guys wanna watch netflix?"

They turn to me and I instantly regret saying anything.

"Yeah no." Hadley laughs. "You guys wanna go to the club?"

"Yea!"

"Yessir!"

I look at them. "Can we just stay here?"

"Still don't like to go clubbing?" Waverley smacks her gum around in her mouth.

"Exactly." I respond.

"Well, we're going clubbing. You can have fun sitting here alone." Noah stands up, grabbing his keys. "I'll drive us."

I sigh as I watch them walk past me.

These weren't the people I was friends with.

It's kinda scary.

But with that, I leave the garage and drive back home.

I feel lost right now... it doesn't feel right at all.

Once I walk into the house, mon comes to greet me, but instantly gasps. "Pierson! Why do you smell like straight weed?!"

"I promise you it wasn't me!! I didn't smoke, I swear!!" I defend.

"I believe you weren't, were your friends? Well, obviously. That's ridiculous, Pierson! You need to stay away from that." she places her hands on her hips.

"They're cool. Mom, I haven't seen them in a year because of Addax! You know how much I missed them! Please, it's okay. They don't even do it a lot." I lie.

She sighs. "I don't know."

"I know how to take care of myself." I reply.

"I know that, Pierson. But have they pressured you into trying to smoke it?" she raises an eyebrow.

I shake my head. "No, I mean they asked if I wanted to, but I said no."

"Good." she walks off.

I know she's angry.

Sighing, I stagger my way to my cozy room and jump on my bed.

Just as I'm about to go on my phone, River calls, causing me to jump up and answer. "Hey!"

"Hey love, sorry I haven't been consistent today, I've been running all around like a chicken without a head." I hear the exhaustion in his voice.

"Aww bud... you need to get some sleep. Please? You need rest." I frown though he can't see me.

"My dad's my fucking rock, Pier. He's in critical condition and I don't know what the fuck to do." the sadness is his voice is becoming audible.

"I know, but you need to stay strong for him! I'm here for you if you need anything and you know that. Everything will be okay." I response in a soft, reassuring tone.

"I hope you're right. I have no idea when I'll be home. As a Georgia state trooper that travels around Georgia all the time, I feel so fucking far away here. I feel like shit and I look like shit. I wanna come home, but I need to be here for my dad and mom. Fuck."

"Do you want me to drive up there?" I ask.

"No, stay the-" he's cut off by someone walking in and beginning to talk. "-alright. I'll talk to you later-"

He hangs up.

I clench my jaw and pull my blanket up to my chest.

Something doesn't feel right at all.

Hadley :
Mall. Tomorrow. I'm picking you up at 12

I sigh.

Me :
okay

I have a bad feeling about everything right now.