BACK TO DAISY'S POINT OF VIEW
*****
Karma had a funny way of working.
It was almost comical, wasn't it? I mean, I'd lied about how my father had really died to Elias. And now I'd found out that he'd been lying about his father being, well, dead. It hurt to know that he'd been lying to me for the entirety of our relationship. I mean, gosh, I felt like such an idiot. The amount of times we'd bonded over our dead fathers, comforted each otherânone of it was even real. I'd never been so open, so vulnerable with someone, the way that I was with him. He knew how much I'd been through with my father, so why? Why would he lie to me about something like that? Especially when he'd had so many chances to come clean. Perhaps he didn't trust me?
At first, I was angry. Furious, even. However, the more I thought about the situation, the more... understanding I began to feel. After hearing the way Elias and his dad spoke to each other, it was pretty clear they had a bad relationship. Of course, I didn't know all the details, but I knew what it was like to have difficulty opening up. To have secrets so huge, that you struggle to even tell the people you love most. How hypocritical would it be, for me to judge him about lying, when that was exactly what I'd done in the first place? And so, despite the fact that he'd hurt my feelings by keeping such a big secret from me, a part of me was still willing to hear him out, the same way he had done for me.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when my classmates suddenly erupted into noisy chatter. Confused, I began to look around the previously silent Biology class. I was met with the eyes of Andre, who was awkwardly staring at me. I slightly quirked an eyebrow, as if to say, yes? He promptly cleared his throat.
"Mr. Edwards said to compare last night's homework answers with our neighbor," Andre explained at the confused look on my face.
"Oh," I nodded, before glancing down at my blank notebook page.
"You didn't do it?" Andre said, but it was less of a question and more of a statement.
"No, sorry," I admitted. "I forgot we even had homework. I've been a little busy lately."
"You don't have to apologize."
After he said that, we fell into a bit of an awkward silence, surrounded by the noise of the classroom.
"Five more minutes," our teacher hollered.
I was certain it was going to be an agonizing five minutes. After all, the last time Andre and I had spoken, he'd pretty much called me a murderer. We'd ended our friendship on a pretty low note, and I was certain he wanted nothing to do with me.
"So... are you excited for prom?"
I was stunned to find that Andre was attempting to strike a conversation.
"Um," I slowly blinked for a second, "to be honest, with everything that's been going on, I kind of forgot about prom. When is it?"
"It's in two weeks," he answered.
"That's so soon," I gasped in surprise. Had time really flown by that fast? "I'm not even sure if I'll go."
"What? But you and Eliasâ"
My face fell, and Andre sharply cut himself off.
"I'm sorry," he looked regretful. "I forgot..."
"It's okay."
There was an awkward silence again. Thenâ
"So, it's really true?" Andre questioned, looking a bit disheartened. "You guys are over?"
I bit my lip and nodded. "Yeah. I ended things a couple weeks ago."
Andre hummed in thought.
"You don't look surprised to know that I was the one who ended things," I pointed out.
"Because I'm not," he confessed. "With the way that boy would speak about you, there's no way in a million years he'd ever break up with you."
His words caused me to smile, but it fell shortly thereafter.
"I'm sorry," Andre said, taking note of my distant expression.
"Don't be. It's not your fault we broke up."
"Not about that," he frowned. "I mean, I'm sorry about all the things I said to you the last time we spoke. I take it all back."
My eyebrows slightly raised. I felt shocked that he was actually addressing the elephant in the room, and I also felt slightly hopefulâperhaps we'd finally rekindle our friendship. Nonetheless, when I remembered the hurtful words that Andre had hurled at me, the judgement in his eyes after he'd found out what I'd done, I suddenly felt my resolve harden.
"That's not how it works. You can't just take it all back," I said, crossing my arms. "You were supposed to be my friend."
"I know. I never should have judged you like I did," Andre admitted, his dreads covering his forehead as he looked down. "I practically called you a murderer, and I... I can't even begin to imagine how much that hurt you."
"Andreâ"
"Please, just let me finish. This has been eating at me for weeks," Andre said, looking remorseful. "After Heather revealed your secret to everyone, you ran out of the party, and Elias... he ran after you. He didn't hesitate to stand by you that night, to be there when you needed someone the most. I, on the other hand, immediately believed the worst about you without giving you a chance to explain. I think that's the difference between him and me, and I think that's when I realized... it's him that belongs with you. Not me. Him."
I blinked, stunned by Andre's words.
"At first, when I came to that realization, I was pissed," Andre admitted, looking embarrassed. "After I found out that you and Elias had made your relationship official, I became even more upset. That's why I told you he was going around threatening people not to talk about you. I knew that would hurt you, and I wanted to tear you two apart. Truth is, though, you guys are made for each other. I was just too jealous to admit it."
I was at a loss for words. "I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to forgive me," Andre said sincerely. "I just... I regret ruining my friendship with you. I regret ruining my friendship with Elias. And now I have to live with that."
Before I could respond, the teacher garnered our attention. "Alright, if everyone's finished taking up the homework, open your textbooks to page 394..."
I gulped and faced forward. However, it was impossible for me to tune in to the rest of the lesson after Andre's heavy revelations. Truth is, though, you guys are made for each other. I was just too jealous to admit it.
Was? Did this mean he'd gotten over his crush on me? I dearly hoped so, because the truth was, I missed our friendship, and I longed for everything to go back to the way it was. When the bell rang, Andre exited the classroom, and I quickly followed after him.
"Little Women," I read the title of the book Andre was carrying atop his stack of textbooks and binders. "Classic. Have you got to the part whereâ"
"Quit it, Daisy, you know I hate spoilers," he huffed, before freezing in his tracks and glancing down at me in shock. "Wait... you're talking to me."
I amusedly nodded and shoved my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. "Yes, I am."
Andre looked apprehensive. "So, does this mean you forgive me?"
"Eh. You seem sorry enough, I guess," I jokingly shrugged, causing Andre to smile. "Besides, everyone makes mistakes. I've made plenty myself."
"In that case, I know it's not my business, but I really think you should give Elias another chance," Andre casually said.
"You don't even know what he did."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure he had a reason. And like you said, we all make mistakes, don't we?"
"Touché," I narrowed my eyes. "I'm surprised you're defending him. Aren't the two of you, like, enemies right now?"
"I guess," Andre shrugged. "But I know we'll make up."
"What makes you say that?"
"This isn't the first time we've fought, and it's probably not the last. We can both be a little stubborn sometimes, but at the end of the day Elias is like the brother I never had, which is why I want what's best for him."
"And what exactly is best for him?"
"You."
I was taken aback by Andre's bluntness. Nonetheless, I'd missed his clever insight on situations, his dry sense of humor, and his nerdiness when it came to anything school-related. It felt good to know that our friendship had finally been rekindled.
As we continued walking down the hallway, Andre and I caught up on all the details in our lives that we'd missed within the last few weeks. I'd asked him which university offer he'd accepted, to which he had pridefully informed me that he was attending Brown University for some mathematics program. It didn't surprise me to know that he was going to an Ivy League.
"What about you? Where are you headed next year?" Andre curiously asked me, before shaking his head. "Wait, nevermind. I forgot that you didn't apply anywhere."
"Actually, I did," I shrugged. "I applied to this one program at Columbia, and I got in, so I decided to accept it on a whim."
"What? Daisy, that's amazing!" Andre loudly congratulated me.
"Shh!" I quickly hushed him, becoming bashful when a few heads in the hallway turned to look at us. "It's no big deal or anything. In fact, you're the first person I've told."
"Wow, I'm honored. And yes, it is a big deal," Andre said in disbelief. "That's an amazing school, Daisy, you'll be set for life. But, can I ask you what changed your mind? The last time I asked, you were completely against the idea of going to college."
He was right. I would've never applied to the schoolâan Ivy League, no lessâif Elias hadn't convinced me to. Although the school had only offered me a partial scholarship, I'd spontaneously decided to accept the program, merely because it was time I do something for me. Besides, the scholarship covered a hefty amount of tuition. I'd just have to pay off the remaining half with some hard work.
"Yeah, well, someone changed my mind," I replied to Andre, looking down.
"I'll bet I know who," Andre muttered, furrowing his eyebrows together. "Daisy, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"It's just.. I'm kind of curious. What made you end things?"
The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated to answer it, because I wasn't quite sure how much Andre knew. Elias had lied to me about his father being dead. Who knew if he'd done the same to his friends? If that were the case, I didn't want to air his dirty laundry.
"Let's just say, he kept something pretty huge from me," I cryptically replied.
"I just don't understand. I mean, I know a lot of people think Elias is this complete asshole, but he's got a soft spot for you, Daisy. You probably know more about him than I do, despite the fact that we've been best friends since kindergarten, andâ"
Andre suddenly cut himself off, and I could practically see the gears shifting in his brain.
"It's about his father," Andre quietly realized, stopping in the middle of the hallway.
My lips slightly parted in shock. "I... how did you know?"
"Because, Daisy, that's the one thing Elias refuses to talk about with me and Malcolm. His father's unchartered territory." Andre scoffed. "Look, Daisy. I don't know exactly what happened between you and Elias, but if it's something to do with his dad, then you've gotta hear him out. That man is to blame for everything that's ever gone wrong in Elias' life."
I widened my eyes at Andre's last statement, which sounded awfully dramatic, however he looked more serious than ever. Just then, I noticed Jayla walking past me in the hallway. She smiled and waved at me, to which I returned the gesture.
"Who's that?" Andre asked, appearing to immediately forget what we'd been talking about.
"What?" I replied, resuming my leisurely pace towards my locker.
"That girl you just waved at."
"Oh yeah, what about her?"
"Who is she?" he groaned at my slowness.
"Oh, that's Jayla," I chuckled. "We work together. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing," Andre quickly replied, toying with his dreads. "I just didn't recognize her."
"She's a junior."
"Oh."
"Oh?" I repeated with an uncharacteristic smirk. Elias had clearly rubbed off on me.
"Don't even go there," Andre scoffed at my suggestive tone. "I don't want anything to do with a junior."
"Why not? It's only a year difference! Malcolm's gotten with plenty of juniors, hasn't he?"
"Yeah, well, Malcolm has the IQ of a frog, so that's not a very good example."
"I have the IQ of a what now?"
Both Andre and I flinched at the sound of Malcolm's voice. He weaseled his way in between the two of us, sporting an offended look on his face.
"Where did you even come from?" Andre asked incredulously.
Malcolm began to speak very slowly, as though he was talking to a toddler. "Well, Andre, when a man and woman love each other very much, they do this thing whereâ"
"Oh, shut up, Malcolm."
As we finally arrived at my locker, I sighed, as I was beginning to sense an oncoming argument.
"You shut up. You're the one that said I have the IQ of a frog, yet you don't even know how babies get produced. Idiot."
"I know how babies get produced!" Andre yelled, causing people in the hallway to look at us.
"Sorry, ladies, he's off his meds," Malcolm whispered to a group of nearby girls, who began to shyly giggle.
"Whâstop making it seem like I'm crazy! Chels, are you hearing this?"
"Leave me out of it."
I confusedly glanced up to see that Chelsea was leaned next to my locker. What was it with everyone creeping up on me? I hadn't even noticed her arrival, but there she was, applying her strawberry chapstick and staring at herself in her small, compact mirror.
"Wait a sec," Chelsea snapped her mirror shut and glanced between Andre and me with wide eyes. "Since when did the two of you make up?"
"I didn't even notice," Malcolm gasped in realization. "Did Andre realize he was being a dick and finally apologize?"
Andre and I shrugged in sync.
"Yeah."
"Pretty much."
"Perfect," Malcolm beamed, "now we just have to wait for mommy and daddy to stop fighting."
I poorly stifled a giggle.
"Did you just call Elias your daddy?" Andre snorted.
"Yeah, I did," Malcolm sassed. "Got a problem with that?"
Andre opened his mouth to retort, however I tuned out to the rest of their useless argument. The mention of Elias, combined with my previous conversation with Andre, really had me thinking. No matter how much I had tried to push him away, the fact remained, I wanted him in my life. Perhaps it was time I really do hear him out and resolve our issues once and for all.
Just as I gently closed my locker, a crease formed between my brows as I watched the familiar figure of Elias storm past. His usual composed demeanor was replaced by an unsettling mix of anger and distress, leaving my heart twisting with worry. He walked by so quickly, that he did not even notice me standing there.
"Elias!" I called out, my voice barely audible above the bustling noise of students changing classes. But he didn't stop, didn't even slow down. I exchanged a quick, puzzled glance with Chelsea.
"Someone's in a hurry," she pointed out in amusement.
"Y-Yeah," I faintly replied, however I couldn't take my eyes off of Elias' departing figure. "I'll be right back."
Before Chelsea could ask where I was going, I was already pushing through the throng of students, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. I knew Elias well enough to sense that something was terribly wrong. I burst through the double doors and stepped out into the open air, only to see that Elias was already halfway across the parking lot and heading straight for his car. Why was he leaving school midday?
"Elias!" I repeated, my voice stronger this time. My footsteps were slow as I hesitantly approached him.
He immediately stiffened at the sound of my voice. When he turned around, his eyes were clouded with pain. "Daisy, I can't... I can't deal with this right now," he said, his deep voice wavering.
"Deal with what? I'm not here to fight, Elias, I just... I saw you walk out just now, and you looked pretty upset," I said, brushing my windswept curls back. "What's wrong?"
Elias hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering towards mine as if he was struggling with whether to confide in me. And then, in a barely audible whisper, he said, "my mom collapsed. She's been rushed to the hospital."
My heart dropped. "What? Oh my God, Elias, I'm so sorry," I stammered. "Is she gonna be okay?"
He looked down at me, releasing a shaky breath. "I don't know yet. I'm just... I'm so scared, D."
Without hesitation, I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. I felt his body tremble against mine, his composure crumbling. "I'm here for you, Elias. Whatever you need, I'm here."
He clung to me, his grip tight as if he feared I might disappear. After a long moment, he finally nodded. "I don't want to be alone right now."
I pulled away slightly, my eyes searching his. "Then let me come to the hospital with you."
"No."
His response baffled me. Leaving no room for argument, Elias walked towards his car and quickly entered it. However, before he could drive off, I hurriedly walked around the car and entered through the passenger side.
"Daisy," Elias growled, "I don't have time for this."
"Then drive," I said, "because I'm not leaving. You said it yourself, Elias, you don't wanna be alone. And I wasn't lying when I said I'm here for you."
He turned away, frustration etched across his features. I could see the internal struggle playing out on his face, his need for support colliding with his instinct to protect me. Finally, he turned back to me, his gaze softening. "Okay. Fine. You can come."
Relief surged through me once he gave in and started the engine, promptly taking off. We didn't exchange a word, the tension in the car palpable. It was a reflection of the fear we both felt for his mother.
I stole a glance at Elias' side profile, his sharp jaw clenched and his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. Reaching out, I gently placed my hand on his forearm, offering a small, dimpled smile of reassurance. His muscles immediately relaxed, though just as his fingers slightly loosened on the wheel, the shrill ringtone of his phone cut through the air. His grip tightened again as he looked down at the illuminated screen, his brows furrowed.
"It's the hospital," Elias murmured, glancing at the caller ID. He'd only taken his eyes off the road for a split second.
Unfortunately, a split second was all that was needed for a massive pickup truck to suddenly veer into our lane without Elias noticing.
"Elias, watch out!" I screamed, my voice laced in terror.
It was too late. Glass shattered. Metal twisted. The sound of our own screams seemed distant and unreal. My body was thrown forward with a violent jolt. The world spun around me, and I felt weightless for a fleeting instant before the harsh reality of gravity reclaimed me. The chaos lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity. As suddenly as it had begun, it had stopped.
And then, silence.
For a moment, all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart. The acrid smell of burnt rubber and gasoline filled the air, and a metallic taste filled my mouth. Blood. I tried to move, but my body ached, and sharp pain shot through my limbs.
"Daisy."
Slowly, as if emerging from a thick fog, I became aware of Elias' voice, distant and desperate.
"Daisy, can you hear me?"
I realized that he'd been calling my name for a while, actually. His hands were on my shoulders, shaking me gently as he leaned over me. My vision was fuzzy, so it was difficult to make out the details on his face, but I could see it. The pure fear.
"Daisy, please, stay awake," he relentlessly begged, his voice raw with panic.
My eyelids felt heavy, as if held down by invisible weights. I blinked, struggling to focus on his face. When I managed to find my voice, it was weak and strained.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to myself. "Sorry for... everything."
His lips trembled as he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. Something wet had fallen onto my cheek. I realized it was a tear. His tear. It had trekked all the way down his bloody face and onto mine. This was the first time I'd ever seen him cry.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he roughly said, his hold on me tightening. "Just... just stay with me, okay?"
Darkness tugged at the edges of my vision, my consciousness slipping away like sand through my fingers. I fought to stay present, to keep my eyes open, to reassure Elias. But the pain and exhaustion were overwhelming, and my body felt like it was drifting, floating away from the chaos that surrounded me.
With a final, determined effort, I managed to mutter one last word. "Elias..."
And then, the world dissolved into nothingness, the sounds fading, the pain receding, as I succumbed to the void once and for all.
*****
THE END
LOL SIKE
It's literally 5am right now but I am so determined to post this chapter before I fall asleep. What do you guys think about Andre's apology? Did he seem genuine?
Thank you for over 400k reads. I love you guys so much! You're the only reason I haven't given up on this story.
Sorry that this update took a bit long. I've been busy like crazy this summer and literally never have time to write. I will try my best to have the next chapter out by next week!
Love, Emmanuela
08/28/2023