Page 160 of Next to Everything We Wanted
But not asking
Arielle
SIENNA WE LOVE YOU
I shook my head. They were incapable of acting normally in a group chat, even in a serious situation.
Sienna
Hey guys
Arielle
OMG SIENNA YOU’RE HERE
Raina
Hey Sienna can we come over?
Or can you come over?
Sienna
I’m not in the mood guys
Thanks for the concern though
Before they could respond, I turned my phone off. I hated shutting out my friends, but I didn’t want them to see me like this. I didn’t want them to ask questions or say something that would make me feel worse, even if they had good intentions.
I didn’t want to be alone, but it felt like I had to be.
Raina had been serious about breaking my door down. Sunday evening, bright lights flashed in the driveway. I peeked out my window to see Arielle’s white sedan pull in the driveway.
I groaned. What did they not understand about leaving me alone?
A minute later, Arielle swung my door open. “We’re here!” she sang, plopping down at the foot of my bed.
“Caleb suggested snacks,” Raina said, handing me a bag of white fudge pretzels.
“Thanks.” I opened the bag and ate a few pretzels. “And thank you guys for caring, but I’m still not in the mood for a heartbreak dance party. Gracelynn isn’t even here.”
“She’s on her way,” Raina said, sitting in my desk chair. She accidentally kicked Bailey, who woke up and shot her a glare.She rubbed the spot she’d kicked. “We’d never have the party without her.”
“Guys.” I sighed. “I don’t want to be around anyone right now.”
“We know, but we’re worried about you.” Arielle put her hand on my leg. “You were so in love with Ivan.”
“I wasn’t in love with him!” I crossed my arms over my chest. “We weren’t meant to work, and I’ll be okay with that one day.”If only I believed those words.
Arielle and Raina exchanged a wary look, probably detecting the lie on my face.
“Guys.” I rubbed my forehead, my head pounding from my thoughts. “I don’t want to talk about it. Why don’t you understand?”
“We do understand,” Raina said softly. “But you’ve been pushing us away so much lately, and we’re worried. We don’t want to lose you because a boy messed with the wrong girl. And I’m sorry I got mad at you for not telling me stuff. I just wanted to be there for you because it sucks going through something alone.”
I frowned, guilt pinching my insides. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to tell you guys what was going on.”
Raina waved a hand. “I get it. It was none of our business.”
