Chapter 97 - His Betrayal

Lily

I know that I overreacted at the pool but I had been trying to keep away from Jeremy just in case I saw him with someone else again. I spent the next few weeks obsessively cleaning my room and reorganizing everything. I knew the big camping trip was coming up and Josie and my brother organized the trip inviting all of our friends and families. It was supposed to be one last big bash before most of their friends go off to college. I am starting to dread this trip because if I know them, they will even invite Jeremy to join. Speaking of him, he has been messaging me lately asking what happened at the pool and if we can get together. I have not responded to him yet because I don’t even know what to say.

Josie had called me already to tell me I need to take my own advice and have a conversation with him. I don’t know why I am so afraid, but every time I thought about calling him my stomach would plummet. I decided to empty my mind of all the overwhelming thoughts by just writing down everything that was taking over my mind. I was hoping that if I did this I might be able to think more clearly about what I needed to do. I walked over to my desk and pulled out a notebook and just started writing. I wrote down all of my fears talking to Jeremy and what is stopping me from having this conversation, then I started writing down all my hopes as well. I kept writing and lost track of time as I focused on writing everything down. When I finally looked up from my writing I realized it was dark outside, and I had spent more time than I thought on this list.

I sat and thought as I looked over what I wrote down, I knew as I looked over this list I would have to have this conversation with Jeremy. I picked up my phone and sent him a text asking if he planned on going on the group camping trip then set my phone down and folded up my notebook and put it back in my desk. I then picked up my phone and asked Josie for advice on how to have this talk. How should I bring up my feelings to someone that I see could be a more serious relationship? Josie sent a message reminding me that my brother was the one that started with his confession and I just need to be honest with him. Ugh! That is what is hard for me when it comes to my feelings.

I went into the kitchen to get something to eat and drink, everyone was gone at the moment and I was enjoying the quiet. As I ate some fruit I started to think about how to start this conversation with him, I grabbed the bowl and went back to my room and saw that he had replied to my message. He said he had planned on going unless I didn’t want him there, that made me feel horrible because I was not treating him that well. I sent him the message that I would like him to go and we could spend time alone to talk. I also told him I was sorry for how I was lately and I would explain everything on the trip.

After confirming we would talk there and him responding that he looked forward to our discussion I put my phone by my bedside then went to my closet. I have a week to think about everything I wanted to say and it wouldn’t hurt to make sure I have the proper clothing as well. With camping I obviously needed proper clothing especially if we are hiking, but it didn’t hurt if I could find things that are cute as well. If I am going to take this plunge I am going to go all out, I started sorting through all of my clothes in my closet to figure out if I needed to go shopping at all.

Josie

After I sent my reply to Lily I looked over at Drew and Joey who were sitting across from me. I know my answer was going to frustrate her because I am sure she wanted me to give her all the answers but it is not possible in this situation because all it amounts to is that she just needs to be honest. “That was Lily, she wanted me to tell her how to have this conversation with Jeremy and I am sure I frustrated her even more by just telling her to be honest with him. I know she is afraid to have this conversation because it could change the dynamic in their relationship.” Joey nodded in agreement because that was what he did to me, granted it was not the best time because I had been in a relationship with Drew at the time but in the end it worked out the way it was supposed to.

I looked over at Drew, he had asked to meet with us to discuss his conversation with Jeremy. Izzy had wanted to join us as well but she had to work but made sure to tell Drew to line up a date to get together soon. Joey and I at that point invited them both to join our group camping trip since we were having friends and family. He told me that he would see what he and Izzy could do since it was only a week away at this point. “So Drew, I appreciate you helping us out here with Lily and Jeremy. Can you tell me what you found out when you spoke to Jeremy?

Drew smiled at us and said it was an interesting conversation because he had to word it in a way that he noticed that he and Lily didn’t seem to be hanging out as much and he was inquiring why. “Jeremy went into this long story about how Lily seemed to just disappear and was not calling to get together like she used to. He said he would try to reach out and she seemed to have gone silent. I will say he looked crushed while he was talking about her and just wanted to know if he did anything to upset her in any way. He even brought up the pool incident and how he tried to joke around with her like before and it seemed to upset her more. I then asked him how he felt about Lily because I mentioned how upset he looked. Josie it was obvious that he has feelings just by what I was seeing but then he confirmed it, he even told me he had been wanting Lily to make their relationship more official. I asked him what he would do if she didn’t feel the same and he told me that it would crush him because he really liked her but he would accept it.” Everything he said filled me with hope, and I could use this information to provide Lily with encouragement to follow through this time.

We thanked Drew and told him to keep us posted on if they could go. Joey dropped me off at home before heading home himself. I am happy this seems to have more hope then it did in the beginning now that feelings were more confirmed. I am confident that this trip will be even better for us all in the end.