Lilly
I'll still never forget the words he spoke to me that day. Even now, their echoes ring mercilessly in my head, their purpose to torment me until the end of time.
But I knew I had to get up. As much as I wanted to lay under my covers and dream more about what could've been, my alarm had been going off for about 30 minutes now, and I was going to be late for school. Shoving the thoughts into the back of my mind, I rolled out from my bed, exposing me to the ugly light of day, and forced myself to get ready to go to class.
"Morning Lilly!" Wendy cheerfully greeted me as I walked into class. What did she have to be so happy about at this time in the morning? Then again, I was her best friend, maybe she was just happy to see me. I offered a small smile in return and slid into the chair next to her.
"You excited for Clyde's party tonight?" Of course, it was the only thing really getting me out of bed today. All of a sudden, there was about a hundred parties a week being held - I guess that's just what Summer did to everyone.
Being too tired to give an actual response, I merely nodded my head and hid my head under my arms as I put my forehead on my desk. I slept through almost all my classes that day. Before I knew it, I heard the final bell go off, and I found myself being dragged hand-in-hand by Wendy as she led me to her car - being too excited to show me her new party dress once we got to her house.
While we were making our way, I happened to catch a glance at Kyle in the halls, and felt a small slap in the face. We hadn't been as close recently, but we had known each other since we were kids. It was like I could feel longing bubbling up in my stomach, but no, I had to bury all of that ages ago, and it was definitely not resurfacing today. I wish I could just say I hated him, but I guess that would also feel unwarranted for what he actually did to me all those years ago. I guess it was just a matter of time before we stopped talking as much. And now I could absolutely say I no longer had any feelings towards him.
The only thing Wendy talked about on our way home was about how pretty and beautiful and perfect her new dress was, and how she got it as this store for that price and at some point it all merged into the same basic points until we reached her bedroom. Still, it was nice hearing Wendy be so excited about something.
"Well, what do you think? Isn't it just the best thing ever?" I had to admit, she did look beautiful in it. Watching her spin slowly around in her mirror, checking herself out in every angle with awe, it brought me back to our childhood. How she would always take her mom's jewellery and shoes and make me watch her put them on and admire herself even back then. I guess some things never change.
Our childhood... Wendy and I had been through so much together. I was there for her when I was the first person she told that she liked girls, and I was there for every breakup, for every bad test result, for every study session, for every insecurity. We knew everything about each other. It seemed so crazy to me that I had someone I was that close to, I must have done something really good in some past life to deserve her, or at least, that's something she would tell me.
Getting ready to go to Clyde's party took way longer than it had to, but by the end of it Wendy ended up looking gorgeous. And of course she showered me with compliments before we got out as well. There's no one else in the world I'd rather hear it from... Except... No. Get him out your head.
"Wendy! Lilly! Whatsuppppp!!!" Clyde already sounded way too gone by the time we showed up. There were empty beer cans and alcohol bottles strewn haphazardly around his lawn, as well as suspicious articles of clothing and strands of toilet paper. How late were we? Inside, there were lights drowning out the noise of the stereo in different flashing colours. It was a whole other world inside the house. People were everywhere, pushed against the walls making out and grinding on each other, giving each other hickeys that would last for a week, and some going even further than that. I scanned the place for our friend group, and found them in a circle by the drinks - of course. Stan definitely led them there, it was no surprise to walk up to them and find him guzzling down what I could only assume was his fifth drink of the night.
The lights had been flashing so much I didn't get the chance to notice Kyle was standing with us before his arm was draped over my shoulder. What? We hadn't spoken in weeks. "Lilly..... It's so good..." The words were sliding out his drunken lips incoherently, "It's so good to see you..." The best I could offer him was a concerned smile while he made me stumble under the weight of his arm and the force he came down on me with. I was forced to hold on to his sleeve in order not to fall. When I turned my head to get a better look at him, I only then noticed how close we actually were. I could feel his warm breath on my cheeks, I knew a blush had started to form on my face, which made me appreciate the way the entire house was bathed in those flashing coloured lights.
"Don't mind that dumbass... Of course the Jew thinks he can get any girl he wants." Unmistakably, the voice was Cartman's.
"What does that even mean, fatass?" Stan raised his voice over his beer bottle. "Just let the guy do what he wants." His poor attempt at wing-manning could be excused by how drunk he was. It seemed like everyone was at least a bit gone apart from me and Wendy. I gave her the kind of look from across the circle that suggested help me pls, but she wasn't paying attention to me, despite the lights, I could still make out the fact she was scowling at Kyle. No shit, I'm supposed to be over him.
"Come on Lilly, Kyle obviously needs to get out of here. He's gonna pass out at any moment. Why don't you take him out on to the balcony? Just you two." I couldn't mistake the look on Stan's face for anything else, the kind of smirk that only shows itself when he knows he's giving Kyle exactly what he wants. Before I could even reply, Stan was already shoving both of us out. And before I could process the situation, it was just me and Kyle, sitting next to each other on Clyde's balcony.
"Fag?" Kyle asked nonchalantly. What, was he trying to be cool? After I nodded, he shoved a cigarette in my mouth, before pulling my face closer to his by my chin, and lighting my cigarette up with the one in his own mouth.