Filed to story: Lily Bennett and Mason Cooper Book
I run up the stairs calling out to her, even checking her room, which is empty and clean, as if she’d never even returned.
If it wasn’t for the faint smell of her perfume lingering in the air, I would’ve thought I’d dreamed her showing up.
I go back downstairs and call her.
“Hey, Mom, where are you?” I ask.
“I’ve had to go meet Dad,” she says, not even sounding sorry.
“Oh. It’s okay,” I reply, clearing my throat.
“When are you back?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I know,” she chirps before hanging up without even a goodbye.
The words echo in my head: I’ll let you know when I know. I realize I’m gripping the fridge door harder than I should.
I like my freedom when my parents are gone, but I realize how much I miss and need them too.
I walk into the living room and sink into the couch, curling my legs underneath me. I drum my fingers against the armrest.
I need to talk to someone, but Ava always makes things more dramatic and Harry’s at practice.
Should I text Mason? Why hasn’t he reached out? He knows how worried I was about going back to school.
He must be at practice right now too.
I flip through a few movies, paint my nails, and keep checking my phone for a message from Mason.
Long after practice would be over, still nothing. So I text him.
Lily
Hey, so my mom just bailed again. Like, showed up for five seconds and then dipped without even saying goodbye. Said she’s ‘meeting my dad’ like that makes it okay. Oh, yeah, and my dad, he didn’t even come or call-wtf? I don’t even know when they’re coming back. I’m so over this.
It’s basically a trauma-vomit, but I hit send before I can second-guess myself and stare at the screen, waiting.
A moment later, the three dots appear, and my heart jumps. But then… nothing. The dots disappear, and no message.
Maybe the rumors about him being a player are true? I don’t want to believe it.
Maybe he’s busy, I tell myself. Maybe he doesn’t know what to say.
I fall asleep that night with my phone propped on the bed beside me, staring at the screen, wanting a message to arrive, but he doesn’t send anything.
I fall asleep wondering if I let myself believe in something that was never real.
LILY
It’s been three weeks and five days since I last spoke to Mason. It’s been three weeks and three days since I last saw my mom.
I don’t even know how long it’s been since I saw my dad.
I miss all of them.
But I miss Mason the most.
Why hasn’t he texted? I want to hate him, but I can’t.
I’m back at our running spot, hoping I’ll see him. As I jog, my eyes keep scanning the trail ahead, looking for him.
I’ve picked up my phone to call or text him more times than I can count, but I never do it. If he wanted to talk, he’d reach out… right?
The trail is empty. No Mason.
I finish my run, drive home, and head to school.
As soon as I step inside the front hall, I can feel the energy. Tonight Ridgewood is playing Greendale for the first game of the season, and everyone is hyped.
There are posters hung everywhere. I see a janitor taking down one that says, “Fuck Greendale.”
“Are you okay?” Harry asks me as we walk to the cafeteria together.
“I’m fine,” I fake-smile. Over the past month, I’ve perfected it.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t believe you,” he says, stopping and leaning against a locker.
“Is it Olly?” he asks, and I roll my eyes.
“I met someone,” I sigh, leaning next to him.
“I fell for him, but it’s over,” I whisper, thinking about Mason’s smile, his laugh, his body.
“Babe,” Harry sighs, pulling me into his arms.
“Want me to talk some sense into him? I’ll even beat him if it helps.”
“It won’t help,” I mumble, hugging him back, wishing it would.
“I’m going to go home,” I sniffle, fighting my tears back.
“You’ll come to the game, right? Jonah said he’s coming.” He blushes slightly.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I half-smile.
After school, when I get home, I get straight in the shower, turning it on scalding-hot and sitting down on the floor, wrapping my arms around my legs.
After I don’t know how long, I hear Ava calling my name from somewhere in the house. I’d forgotten we had plans to meet up before the game.
She finds me in the shower, says, “Lily, are you okay?”
When I shrug, she turns off the water.
“Come on,” she says gently as she wraps a towel around my shoulders.
I let her help me up and lead me to my room.
I sit on the end of the bed as she dries my hair for me.
“Thank you,” I croak out.
“Lily, you can’t let Olly get to you,” she sighs, sitting next to me.
“It’s not Olly,” I sigh.
“Your mom?” she asks, getting up and going through my wardrobe.
“Yeah,” I lie.
“You can stay with me whenever you want,” she offers, pulling out a pair of black jeans, a white long-sleeve, and my red jumper.
“Can I tell you a secret?” she asks, shoving the clothes into my lap.
“Of course,” I nod, pulling the long-sleeve over my head, not bothering with a bra.
“You have your nipple pierced?” she gasps, looking at my now-covered chest.
“Yeah,” I mumble, thinking of Mason’s face when I got it done.
“What’s your secret?” I ask, changing the subject, wrapping the towel around my waist and grabbing a pair of panties.
“I think Leah is sleeping with him,” she whispers.
“Oh? What makes you say that?” I ask, pulling on my jeans.
“I’m almost certain I saw them making out after school,” she says as I sit next to her again.
“Oh well, I guess these things happen,” I shrug.
“You don’t care?” she asks.