"You crashed the car and blamed it on the road"

Vera's POV

"Oh heyyy! I-I-I'm so glad y-you called. Gosh have you made up your mind yet?" He asks hopefully

Not so fast.

"We need to talk" I say ignoring his previous question

"Oh let's talk now" he says confused

Exactly what I'm trying to do.

"No I meant, let's meet and catch up on lost times. Or you don't want that?" I say

Now I've got him trapped. If he really needs me, he'll do anything.

"I was gonna say that, but I wasn't sure it was really appropriate" he says out of relief.

"Well of course it is! I barely remember how you look like" I say with a laugh

Okay maybe I was a little bit harsh from the beginning.

I could hear him laugh from the other end too.

Damn it was deep.

"I was thinking you'd ignore my request" he says with a change of tone.

He's right though.

"Well it's your lucky day" I say

"So... Where should we meet?" I asked trying to keep the conversation going.

Hey don't blame me. It's been a while I've talked to him.

"Uhh I was kinda thinking Dad's place?" He said more like a question

That place was actually the last time I saw him.

"If that's okay though" he adds again, just like he read my mind. He obviously knows that's the last thing I ever want to do.

But either ways, running away from my past only brings it closer and closer to reality. The more I try to forget about it, the more it haunts me. I just have to accept that my past is already part of me. Its part of my story, my life and soul.

"No no no Johnny its fine, it's fine really, it is.. I'll meet you there" I say

There was a pause from the other end.
He's pretty much surprised as I am.

"Ohh" he says almost in a whisper

If I really want to accept my past, I must learn to live it.

"Are you sure?" He cuts in

He's probably worried about me. Well... He should be.

I was told to never come back. But look now! They need me more than anything.

"Yeah a hundred percent" I say.

My lips curved into a smile.

The old Vera is dead.

"When are you coming though?" He asks

"uhh Saturday I guess?" I say

After saying our goodbyes, I do a little victory dance.

I repeat, a little victory dance...

"who was that?" Mrs Jones pops in

I'm pretty sure she was there the whole time, I could see her wrinkled face beaming with excitement.

"Someone" I say trying not to act overjoyed

Keep. It. Cool.

"Was that your brother?" she asks curiously

I knew it! She was definitely hiding somewhere listening to our conversation.

Usually, Mrs Jones would guess it was 'my boyfriend'or Florence.

Speaking of boyfriends.

Are Tobi and I really a 'thing'?  I mean he's the only guy I talk to often in school, there's Collins but, I only talk to him because he hangs with Florence and I definitely have no choice but to answer his silly ass questions. Well before I really got to know Tobi, he did mention he liked me...

That counts right?
Right?? I mean I fucked up everything from the beginning by telling him he should leave me alone..

Can he still like me?
Can he?

No Vera, you turned him off the second you snapped at him! He's still taking and hanging out with you as a friend. Stop thinking above the sky!

My inner conscience snaps at me.

Well sometimes inner conciese could be jealous that I'm having all the fun.

Speaking of Friends, I kinda feel bad about how I treated Florence.

I think I'll call-

"Vera!!!!!!! Get your head out of the clouds my dear, you've been standing there smiling" Mrs Jones snaps me out of my bubbles.

Damnnnn! I was freaking smiling?

Smiling at what exactly?

You were thinking of Tobi, duhhh

Oh shut up you!

"Oh nothing i was just uhh happy I get to finally see my brother" I say trying to find my feet.

Mrs Jones give me the 'you-were-thinking-about-your-boyfriend' look

"hmmm okay" she comments and disappears upstairs

Gosh I need to call Florence!

****

"You have to understand where I'm coming from Flo, I snap at people often when it comes to my family issues" I say following her around trying to get her to forgive me..

Actually... I didn't call Florence yesterday because I had a feeling she wasn't going to listen to any of my apologies over the phone..

So I'm here, after school following her like a dog asking for her forgiveness.

Like it wasn't enough, I tried talking to Tobi during Geography class but, he shut me out..

And damn it stung me real hard.

Well I actually deserved it.. But I've never seen that side of him before..

"You literally ignored me yesterday you know that" she fi ally speaks up coldly

Yes! That's why the fuck I'm trying to apologise

Calm down Vera, calm down

"And I'm really sorry Florence" I say

"We all have family issues too, but you don't see me ghosting you, do you?"  she says

"I know we all do, but I overreacted, I'm really sorry" I say again

She pauses her walk and turns to look at me in the eye.

Jet black eyes...

"You know what's really bugging me? You should have told me you had a 'family thing' then maybe, maybe I would've understood and I'd let you be for a while, but instead, you decided to shut me out and you treated me like I was nothing! Gosh Vera I'm your fucking best friend! That's why they're called best friends. You don't just tell someone your problems, you tell the best out of them, like me or Tobi! He's really hurt you ignored him yesterday Vera" she says

Oh...

"Yes I know, I know I was stupid enough not to tell you-

"Pshhh you got that right" she mumbles, but I definitely heard her.

But I ignore her and continue

"But the last time I told someone about my life, I literally got stabbed in the back, I thought my mistake was letting people inside my life, so I tried to cover up any trail that leads to my life... I thought I was doing the right thing by not telling you.. I didn't know I was hurting you or anyone, Gosh Florence you've been a really good friend and I don't want to be the reason why we shouldn't continue this beautiful friendship. Its fine if you're angry at me, I understand that part completely.. But you've gotta believe me Flo, I didn't mean to hurt you in any way! I was protecting my well being.. I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention" I say finally

Damn that was longer than I pictured!

I swear I saw a tear trickle down her chubby cheeks.

She was crying?

Was what I said too much or just unwanted crap?

"Florence are you-

Before I could complete my sentence, I was pulled into a warm hug, too warm... Just like mother's

The hug was getting tight, I couldn't breathe.
Maybe this was her plan, she wanted to hug me to death.

Wellpp this is the end of you Vera...

"I never thought you could talk so much like that, that was beautiful!" she whispered in between sobs

She was definitely crying

I swear, I was loosing myself in that hug

I.
Couldn't.
Breathe.

"Uhh thanks, can you let go now?" I say

She answers and lets me go.

I almost lost you there Vera

Oh shut up! Where were you when I needed you!

I mentally hiss at my inner conscience

"Are we cool now?"  I asked after catching my breath

Damn I could've sworn, if she had changed her mind, she would've killed me.

"After that amazing speech, hell yeah we're cool!" she says

"Gosh I'm glad to hear that" I say

"I can't be mad at you for long, now can you tell me what's really going on?" she asks more seriously

Here goes nothing

Again.

"I actually have two brothers...

And done!

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