01. Everything Has Changed

It had been about two months since Hannah and Beth had gone missing. Though she didn't plan the prank, she still felt so incredibly guilty for how everything turned out. If she just had the courage to tell Hannah what was going on, none of this would've happened. Hannah and Beth would still be alive and everything would've been normal.

Lila stood in front of the mirror, observing her reflection. Dark bags hung under her eyes, a reminder of sleepless nights and the weight of everything she'd been carrying. Her face looked pale, her hair slightly messy, as if she hadn't bothered to care about how she looked in a long time.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair, her fingers shaking slightly. The person staring back at her felt like a stranger. So much had happened, and the weight of it was starting to seep into her every feature. If this was just the guilt getting to her, she couldn't imagine what Josh must've been feeling. He was blackout drunk when Beth and Hannah ran out into the storm. Now they were gone—dead.

The thought sent a shiver through her. They hadn't meant for it to go this far, but the prank, the cruel joke, had spiraled into something none of them could take back.

Lila had been wanting to text Josh, just to connect with him, to offer some kind of comfort, even if it felt meaningless. She knew he was going through more than any of them could imagine, but every time she picked up her phone, her fingers froze over the screen. She couldn't help but feel this weird sense of hesitation. What could she even say?

Guilt sat heavy in her chest, knowing she had been part of the night that tore his family apart. Would he even want to hear from her? A part of her feared he might blame her, and maybe he'd be right to.

"Michael, Lila! It's time for dinner!" her mother's voice echoed from downstairs, breaking through Lila's thoughts.

She stared at herself for a moment longer before making her way out of her room. The last thing she wanted to do was sit through dinner with Mike. She knew he'd probably act like nothing had happened, like everything was normal. But nothing felt normal anymore.

Though they disliked each other before, it was never just pure hatred. Lila Stuart hated Michael Munroe. He was partly responsible for the disappearances of Hannah and Beth. If he hadn't decided to be a major factor of the prank, none of this would've happened. Usually she'd venture around the house more, just walking around to clear her mind... but because Mike was back for spring break, she resorted to being locked up in her room. It was easier that way.

Lila made her way into the dining room, quietly slipping into her usual seat. The clinking of plates and silverware filled the space, her mother bustling about, setting the last few dishes on the table. Mike was already there, sitting across from her, looking as if nothing weighed on his mind at all.

Lila kept her gaze low, not wanting to meet his eyes. The tension in the air felt thick, but no one seemed to notice except her. She was used to this. The less attention people gave her, the better. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain calm as her mother cheerfully started dishing out food.

"So, how was everyone's day?" her mother asked, blissfully unaware of the storm swirling inside Lila's head.

"Good. I met up with Em," Mike said casually, spearing a piece of food with his fork. His tone was nonchalant, like nothing was actually wrong at all.

Lila's stomach twisted. How could he act so normal? She bit the inside of her cheek, keeping her eyes fixed on her plate as she pushed her food around, the taste of guilt more bitter than anything in front of her.

Lila's mother smiled, oblivious. "That's nice, dear. Lila, how about you?"

Lila forced herself to speak, though her voice came out quieter than she expected. "Fine, I guess. Nothing much." She didn't look up.

Her mother gently cupped Lila's chin, tilting her face up. "Oh, honey," she said softly, her eyes widening in concern as she took in the dark bags under Lila's eyes. "You look exhausted. Are you sleeping alright?"

"Kinda hard to sleep when two of your friends are dead," Lila muttered under her breath, unable to hold it in any longer.

Her mother's hand froze, her eyes widening in shock. Mike, for the first time that night, paused mid-bite, his gaze snapping up to meet hers. The casual atmosphere around the table shattered instantly.

"What? Nothing to say, Mike?" Lila's voice cut through the silence, sharper than she intended. She didn't look up, but the tension between them was strong.

Mike shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers drumming on the table. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, struggling to find words. "It's... not like that," he muttered.

Lila finally looked up, meeting his eyes. "Not like what? Two people are dead, Mike, and you're acting like it doesn't even matter." Her voice trembled with a mix of frustration and grief, her hands tightening around the edges of her chair.

"I'm dealing with it my own way. I'm not gonna sulk around forever," Mike snapped, his tone defensive as he leaned back in his chair. His words were sharp, dismissive, as if he were  brushing off the weight of everything.

Lila clenched her fists under the table, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "Sulk around? Is that what you think I'm doing?" Her voice was quieter now, hurt seeping through. "They were our friends, Mike. They're gone, and you're pretending like it doesn't matter."

"No. They were my friends. They barely knew you existed." Mike shot back, his voice cold. "If you weren't forced to come, I'm sure no one would've asked about you. You don't matter like you think you do." He spat, his words as sharp as a knife.

Lila felt her chest tighten as his words hit her, each one like a punch. She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in on her. Mike's words echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt like a ghost in her own life, invisible.

"Michael, don't talk to her that way!" Her mother scolded, her voice rising in alarm.

"Did you really think anyone at that cabin cares about you? News flash, they fucking pity you," Mike shot back, his expression hardening as he crossed his arms defiantly. "You're nothing but an afterthought. You always were and you always will be!"

Lila's bottom lip trembled, and she rushed upstairs, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She felt the sting of tears burning her eyes, but she fought them back, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

As she reached her room, the arguing between Mike and her mother faded into a dull roar behind her. She shut the door, leaning against it as if it could somehow shield her from the outside world. The silence in her room felt suffocating, amplifying her thoughts—the weight of Mike's words, the heaviness of losing two people at once, and the isolation that settled in her chest like a stone.

Lila rushed over to her bed, picking her phone up from the blanket. She scrolled through her contacts, her heart racing as she looked through each name. When she finally hovered over Josh's contact, a wave of uncertainty washed over her. This is risky, she thought, biting her lip. She swiped past his and looked at Sam's contact.

Maybe Sam would understand. Lila had felt a connection with her during their conversation at the party. She knew she was mourning too, but she needed someone to talk to. Someone who'd understand her.

Lila pressed the call button, her heart pounding in her chest as the phone rang. Each beep felt like a drumbeat, echoing her anxiety and anticipation. What if she doesn't pick up? What if this makes things worse? The thoughts raced through her mind, but before she could second-guess herself, the line connected.

"Lila?" Sam's voice was shaky, yet warm and familiar. It was obvious that she wasn't doing well either.

"Hi Sam," Lila replied, her voice softening as she tried to gauge Sam's mood. "How are you holding up?" She asked softly, starting to pull her sneakers on.

"I'm... okay, I guess. Just trying to wrap my head around everything that's happened. It's been a lot." Sam paused, and Lila could hear the strain in her voice. "And with the prank... I feel terrible about it."

Lila nodded, even though Sam couldn't see her. "I do too. I just wish things hadn't gotten so out of hand."

"So, uh, what's up? You okay?" Sam asked, her voice still warm but laced with concern.

Lila bit her lip, hesitating for a moment. "Do you think—can I come over?" she asked softly. "I don't think I can be here right now."

"Of course! You're always welcome here," Sam replied quickly. "We could use a little distraction, right?"

"Thanks, Sam. I really appreciate it," Lila said, feeling a mix of gratitude and hope.

"No need to thank me. Just get here safe, alright?" Sam replied, her voice filled with warmth.

Lila hung up the call, her heart a little lighter. She quickly slipped her blue oversized hoodie on and grabbed her phone, glancing around her room one last time before stepping out. As she made her way downstairs, the echoes of her mother and Mike's argument faded. She was just glad neither of them heard her leaving.

She needed this. The air in the house felt thick, suffocating her with the tension that radiated throughout it. Each step away from the front door felt like a release, a break from the chaos that had become her everyday life.

The evening air was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere she was leaving behind. Lila inhaled deeply, feeling the weight on her chest lighten as she made her way down the porch steps. The sky was painted with soft hues of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. This was a distraction, she very much needed. She needed something to numb the pain, just for a little while anyways.

There was no need to fix things that were already broken. She and Mike were never going to be the perfect siblings her mother envisioned. Lila had glimpsed hope beforehand, that maybe one day they'd find common ground and ease into a relationship that felt natural. But now, after the harsh words exchanged, the bitterness lingered like a bad taste in her mouth. Lila couldn't force herself to feel differently about Mike, nor could she ignore the way he made her feel small and unwanted.

There was one thing that was very clear to her now.

She and Mike could never be close.

authors note.
this act will have mostly short-ish
chapters! only because i decided to
add some backstory! i'm so freaking
excited to get into it!

also, sorry mike girlies

thank you and i hope you
enjoyed this chapter <333

also thank you to chels
for helping me with a
VERY difficult decision
😭💘 JETBLKVALNTYNE

DATE PUBLISHED: 10/17/24
TIME PUBLISHED: 5:11 pm
WORD COUNT: 1933