AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s all that’s keeping me here.” I looked around. “It’s a good location to campus. I can make it work for a while.”
Lo and Ryke exchanged a look, and then they offered to cover the cost of me breaking the lease. They’d help me find a new flat ASAP and pay the rent.
I wiped the mist behind my glasses.
Overwhelmed, because their love is unconditional. They’d do just about anything for me, no strings attached.
But I couldn’t accept.
It’s always been hard to say yes.
Yet, I’ve accepted a worse offer before. The one from our dad that does have stipulations and uncomfortable strings.
It’s not pride that stops me from taking money from my brothers.
It’s something else.
With my decision set, they flew back to Philly after we put in a security system and had dinner together. We hugged, leaving on good terms.
Now I’m racing around the flat in search of missing pink roses, and I can’t help but think this wouldn’t have happened if I moved.
“It’s okay, Willow,” Garrison consoles. “They’re just flowers. I can send you more.”
Palms sweaty, I switch the phone to my other hand. “You put a lot of thought into them though.”
“Maybe they’ll turn up. Look, don’t worry about it.”
I turn as Tess exits her room, carrying a khaki satchel with textbooks. Pretty sapphire earrings complement her dark-brown skin, and I’d ask if they’re new or from Sheetal, but on her way out, she must see my distress. “Hey, what’s happening?”
“Did you see any flowers get delivered?”
Tess shakes her head. “No, I don’t think Sheetal did either.” She sweeps the wine bottle graveyard. “Ugh, Salvatore left his shit out again?” She sighs, then says, “I meant to tell you, we’re doing a charades thing tonight. You should join us. It’ll be really lowkey.”
I shift my weight, hotter all of a sudden.
Their idea of “lowkey” isn’t exactly mine. I know because the last “lowkey” flat party involved dares and tequila shots.
“Um…” I hate rejecting their invites. I can tell they feel like they’re banishing me to my room.
But I’d rather be there.
I worry the longer I live with Sheetal and Tess, the more likely I’ll lose them as friends. I’m the standoffish one, and I know I should make a bigger effort.
It’s hard when parties are draining and my bedroom is a foot away with comic books calling out to me.
I thought we could watch The Flash together once a week, but no one paid attention to the TV and they always suggest other things when I bring up movies or shows.
My new eulogy: that anxious turtle, Willow Hale, she should’ve taken her brothers’ offer when she had the chance.
“It’ll be fun,” Tess smiles and nudges my arm with her elbow.
I think about it and then nod. “Okay.”
Tess high-fives me, and then says she’ll see me tonight. She has a huge advertising project that’s due later today.
Once she leaves the flat, I put the phone back to my ear. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah.” Garrison sounds tense. “Why’d you accept the invite?”
“I don’t want to lose their friendship,” I say softly, checking the bathroom for lost flowers.
“I’m gonna be an ass for a second, okay?”
“Okay.” I can’t help but smile at the warning.
“It feels like you’re choosing Tess and Sheetal’s friendship over your grades.” He knows I’m a firm B and C college student now. “You’ve tried the whole ‘maybe I’ll have fun at this party, maybe it’ll be different’ mantra and you always end up wishing you didn’t go. So don’t fucking go. If they’re your friends, they should understand that.”
“They feel bad leaving me out.”
“So what?”
I’ve never really cared about being invited anywhere, and now that I receive invites, I stress about how many I can reject without being alone here in London.
“I think I need to go to this one,” I tell him. “I’ve bailed on them too many times recently.” I shut the bathroom door, entering the narrow hall. “Or…I guess I could suggest dinner at Barnaby’s?”
That way, they won’t care if I retreat to my room early on through charades.
What I’ve learned: maintaining friendships offline takes work, and I just hope that in the long-run it pays off and gets easier.
“You do have to eat,” Garrison says lightly.
I want to smile. It’s just harder when I miss him so much. I rub my arm, wishing he was here to draw me into his chest. I just picture my cheek on his heart. And I can almost feel the warmth of his skin. I can almost hear the soft beat.
“Let me know how it goes,” Garrison adds.
“I will…” My voice drifts as I glance at an ajar door. Salvatore’s room. Pink rose petals are strewn around the bed, and a girl’s ankle sticks out beneath the sheets.
My stomach drops.
“Willow?” Garrison’s voice spikes. “You okay?”
“I found the flowers,” I whisper. “I’ll call you back.” Once we hang up, I take a breath. Confront them, Willow Hale.
