Chapter 96 - His Betrayal

Lilly

Summer has started off slow for me, once my brother and best friend returned from their trip, they kept trying to get me to go out with them but I have not felt up to it. I don’t know if I can handle it if I saw Jeremy out with someone else. I know I told Josie I would talk with him, but the ache I felt when I saw him with other girls killed me, I know I am being a baby about this but I don’t think I could handle him telling me he didn’t feel the same as me. I have been spending more time at home, usually in my room reading or listening to music and my parents have been starting to notice this change. My mother actually came into my room last night to check on me and was asking me questions about why I was all of a sudden wanting to stay home. I tried to laugh it off and tell my mother not to worry about me, that I was fine and just wasn’t in the mood to shop or go out right now. I got the impression she didn’t believe me, however she just nodded and told me she was there if I needed to talk and left me alone after that.

I was scrolling around online as I sat in my room when I heard a knock on my door, I yelled for the person to come without looking up. In walks my Joey and Josie like they are on a mission, Josie shut my computer while my brother pulled me up. “You’re leaving the house, Josie is going to help you get ready and I will meet you both by the door, we are going to go swimming and then go out to eat. You don’t have a choice in this matter because you need to leave the house and everyone will be meeting us there.” Joey walked out of my room and I scowled at my friend as she smiled at me and then went to my dresser to pull out my bikini and tossed it at me. “Go change, I already have towels and snacks in the car, it will do you some good to get out of here and get some fresh air and sun.”

I glared at her as I went into my bathroom to change, I really don’t want to go anywhere but I have a feeling I will not be given the chance to get out of this. I changed quickly and then put my shirt and shorts back on over the suit. I went back into the room and grabbed my book to bring with me, “Alright let’s get this over with.” I walked out of my room with my best friend following close behind.

We got to the pool and it was packed, we made our way over to our group of friends and I grabbed one of the lounge chairs they reserved. I laid out my towel and grabbed some water and sat back to relax. Joey and Josie headed right for the water and jumped in, I glanced around and I could see some of our friends already in the water goofing off. I decided to relax in the sun for a while before I get in the water to cool off. I put in my ear buds and turned on some music then closed my eyes to tune out everything around me. It seemed like no time at all when someone pulled my ear buds out, “I have not seen you in a while, is everything okay?” I opened my eyes to see Jeremy sitting on the edge of my chair looking at me. “I have not seen you at all yet this summer, did I do something to upset you?”

“No, I just haven’t felt like going out lately, what have you been up to?” I tried to appear calm and like everything was normal. I have tried to stop myself from messaging him to do something with me for so long now. I wanted to give myself time to get over him or at least make it easier for me since I knew he was not interested in me the same way I was with him. I looked up at him to see him looking at me weirdly, “Come on Lily I know you, what’s wrong? The Lily I know has to drag her friends out all the time not have us drag her out.” I had to look away at that comment because I knew he was right.

“Jeremy, I have a lot on my mind right now and I just needed space for myself. Apparently everyone wanted me out today so my friend and brother dragged me out. You don’t have to waste your time worrying about me, I’m fine.” He just smirked at that, “Yeah, that’s not true.” He picked me up and brought me over to the water and jumped in as he held me.

Josie

I watched my friend as she talked to Jeremy, she was doing a great job of keeping her distance instead of being real with him. I was just watching as I floated in the water, Joey was messing around with his friends while I wanted to relax. I thought back to my conversation with Drew a week ago, I explained what was going on and how Lily was dragging her feet talking to Jeremy because of what she was seeing. Drew said he was pretty sure his cousin felt the same way Lily did but he would get back to me after he saw his cousin next. Drew told me that all Jeremy ever did was talk about Lily and how great she was and how much fun he had being with her. I told him to get back to me as soon as he could but thanked him for offering to help out, then I filled Joey in on my conversation with Drew.

I suddenly felt someone come and wrap me in their arms and I smiled, spun around and kissed Joey. We were deep into the kiss when suddenly we felt someone jump into the water next to us. We turned our heads to see Jeremy pop up out of the water with Lily in his arms and started to laugh. Lily scowled at him and tried to push back from him, “Awww come on Lily we are just having fun.” He laughed as he pulled her in closer to him, “We always have fun together, relax and have fun.” Lily climbed out of the pool, grabbed her book and water and walked away from the pool area. Jeremy watched her with a look of concern before he turned to me. “Okay Josie, what’s going on with her? I have never seen her like this and why is she pushing away?”

I didn’t know Jeremy well enough to have this conversation with him and I have to wait for Drew to talk to him. “I don’t know Jeremy but I plan to find out as quickly as I can. When was the last time you both hung out together?” He looked miserable, “I can’t remember off the top of my head, maybe a month before graduation. She seemed a bit odd but nothing like this and we still had a lot of fun. I don’t get it, what did I do wrong? It’s like all of a sudden she can’t stand being around me.” I felt horrible for him because I could say something but I didn’t feel it was my place and it might be accepted better in a conversation with his cousin.

“Jeremy, give me some time to talk to her and maybe we can get some things clarified. Try to hang in there because I have a feeling that there is a huge misunderstanding going on.” He just nodded sadly and started to swim off to get out of the pool and I decided that I would get in touch with Drew later tonight to see when he can talk to his cousin. Joey was back by me, “So how is he? I can tell my sister's reaction seemed to shock him and he didn’t seem to take it well.” I nodded in agreement, “He is crushed and I think he is taking her reactions hard, I hope this can get sorted out soon. I will call Drew tonight to see when he plans on talking to Jeremy about all of this. He is a great guy but I think Drew would have better luck getting any of the answers we need.”