Page 121 of The Fate Of Us

“New York,” she said to my face, turning to see me beside her, her eyes wide… but notwith fear.

“What?”

She smiled up at me, her blonde braids shifting as she shook her head. “I’m… I’m comingto New York!”

All I could do was stare down at her as I muttered, “What?”

She let out a sigh as she perched on the end of her bed, making me do the same, her righthand holding my left. “The morning after you left, I went downstairs to make some breakfast, and they were both sitting at the table. When I saw them I turned around as fast as I could but they noticed me, and asked me to sit down with them.”

Her left hand found its way to the tuft of hair at the end of one of her braids. “Dad lookedlike he hadn’t slept… neither did Mom. I don’t think I’d ever seen them so… exhausted.” I nodded, I’d just seen firsthand what she meant. “Anyway, they started talking, apologising over and over again for putting their wants, and dreams, before my own. I obviously wasn’t going to let them get away with it that easily,”

“I’d never suspect any different,” I laughed, before she smiled and carried on.

“I told them how abandoned they made me feel, and while I knew they were putting medown a path that I know some people dream about… it wasn’t my path.” Her cheeks were painted the most gorgeous shade of pink, only popping the more she smiled.

“They asked me what my path looked like, and I felt very grown up when I looked themboth dead in the eyes and told them that they should already know what it looked like, considering I told them every time I mentioned how I hated acting.” Her head shook, her eyes burning straight ahead as she muttered. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the regret on their faces.”

I squeezed her hand at that, pride rippling through my pulse. I knew that, in a moment where itfinally felt like she was on top of the world, that haunting image would probably do just that… haunt her. It was a small price to pay for standing up for herself, but I guessed that she’d pay that debt a million times if it meant she never had to step foot on a film set ever again.

“And what happened after that?” I urged her, nudging her shoulder slightly, the glarefrom the sun beating down on the house casting over the tops of our knees.

“Well, after I let what I’d said sink in, for dramatic effect,” A chuckle slipped from mymouth. “I told them what I wanted to do with my life. That I wanted to go to college. That I’d been accepted onto a psychology course at Liberty Grove. Everything. I told them that New York meant being closer to you, and that it was one of the reasons I’d applied to study there… well, that, and also studying in Central Park during the springtime just sounds heavenly, to be honest.”

I nodded, “Well, I wouldn’t know about the studying aspect of it all, but the park is greatduring spring, and fall… but Flo can tell you all about that—”

“Oh yeah! And New York means finally meeting her… and Jacob, and going to herbakery!” she laughed. “Perhaps you can all give me a tour?”

Once the cloud of pastel yellow I felt my brain was bathing in settled, the light bulb inmy brain flicked on. “You know, I actually know some girls who would probably be better at giving you the whole college student tour of the city.” I only felt sorry for Flo, who’d have to deal with Cora and Rory’s squeals when I introduced them to Goldie.

“But… everything sounds like you’ve got it all planned out, Goldie. I’m…” I swallowed,ignoring the lump that had formed in my throat. “I’m so happy for you.”

She smiled up at me, and I didn’t worry when her eyes got wide this time, because sheonly clocked the amount of tears that had fallen down my face in the last two seconds, the cocktail of emotions that had been swimming around me these past few days finally overflowing.

“Hey… this is supposed to be a happy thing,” she reminded me, stretching her legs andmoving in front of me. “Why are you so— ohhh.”

I looked up at her face, all-wise and knowing, more than it usually was. I shook my headat her. “What?”

Her arms become folded, making me feel like I’m about to be scolded. And the look onher face doesn’t help with the impending telling-off either. “You owe me an explanation.” Oh no. “For whatever the hell was going on between you and Nate, what Dad was saying, all of it.” I dropped my head. “I just… what happened, Addy?”

I didn’t know where to start. Didn’t think I could look her in the eyes when I told her.

Didn’t think I could tell her, period.

“And if you deny it I’ll throw one of my psychology books at you.”

That made my head spring up. “Goldie, I—”

“Saw how big they were? Well, then maybe you’ll finally stop keeping me in the darkabout you and Nate and tell me the truth.”

Oh, she had a fire alright, and I wasn’t about to find out how bad it could burnme when she put her mind to it.

I think she saw the look on my face finally, and put two and two together: that demandingthe truth, though she deserved it, was a lot easier than it would be to hear it.

She was by my side again, a hand smoothing my hair, as I dared a look at her. “I canhandle it, I promise.” She muttered.

I took a deep breath, taking in as much air as my lungs would allow… and I told her.

Everything.

---