Chapter 41 [Aimee]

I was so caught by surprise.

            My best friend Thea showed up at my door.

            I still don’t know what the think. Should I be sad she’s dead, or happy she’s here? I don’t know.

            We hugged for the longest time. She was crying, but not me. I was too surprised to cry.

            We had been best friends since grade school. I thought she was straight…

            But she kissed me. We hugged and then she kissed me. I kissed her back. Next thing we were in the bedroom. I told her all about the escapades in Hell, and then we went back to the bedroom again.

            And then f*****g Kris ruined it all. Why did I have to sleep with him?

            Ugh, I feel like a dirty s**t.

            I don’t like him at all. I mean maybe I had a little crush, and sleeping with him was great, but I legit don’t like him. He’s too good of a friend to like, like that.

            Plus I don’t even really like guys that much.

            Thea is beautiful. Many nights I have stayed awake thinking about her; crushing on her. I never acted on my crush though, because I love Skye. Then again, Thea was always there for me when Skye wasn’t. Skye was out f*****g other people. Men.

            And I feel so selfish. I have known Thea longer. She was my best friend. And I chose Skye over her, to watch always.

            No, it was the right thing to do. I don’t think I could handle seeing Thea everyday. It would break my heart.

            Thea walks up behind me and hugs my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder. I put one of my hands on top of hers, and run the other one through her wavy black hair.

            “Hi.” She says in a cute voice.

            I did see her occasionally, when Skye went to the funeral, at parties Skye went to, and stuff like that. But rarely. Thea and Skye didn’t get along.

            “Hey babe.” I say. Some how saying that makes me get tears in my eyes. I always call Thea babe, but it’s been so long since I have.

            “Kris seems cool.” She says.

            I blink the tears out of my eyes, and turn around to see her. She’s a tad taller than me. Her arms are wrap around my waist.

            “Thea… how did you die?” I ask her. She gulps and releases me from her embrace.

            “I…” She starts, and then she stops. “I choked on a candy necklace.”

            She bursts out in tears. I watch her glazed over eyes as she does, and then wrap my arms around her neck, holding her.

            “It’s such a dumb way to die!” She sobs. “20 years of my life and a stupid f*****g candy necklace ended it all.”

            I stroke her hair.

            “I know, death is awful. It doesn’t make any sense.” I tell her.

            She pulls away from me and wipes her eyes.

            “I never found out how you died. Skye never told me.” She says.

            I tell her the whole story.

            She doesn’t talk for a long time.

            “You’re selfish.” She says in a low voice after a while.

            “What…. How?” I ask, offended. What the f**k?

            “You tried to end someone’s life.” She says.

            “I wasn’t thinking straight.” I say.

            “You left me.” Thea says.

            My heart explodes. I did leave her.

            She stares at me and her eyes burn right through me.

            I can’t think of what to say. How am I supposed to respond? It doesn’t seem right to say, “I’m sorry.”

            “You’re right. I did.” I say, quietly.

            “You didn’t even f*****g realize till now, did you?” She says, looking disgusting with me. She knows me too well.

            “Thea… I love you!”

            “You love Skye. That’s obviously who you love.” Thea says, looking me straight in the eye. My stomach flips.

            Thea gets up, and walks out of the room. I watch her long legs. They’re graceful and stern with muscle outline, and they’re stiff as she walks. I run up and grab her waist.

            “Just listen to me Thea.” I say.

            “Get the f**k off me!” She says, pushing me away. But I hold onto her tight.

            “I really do love you Thea.” I whisper into her ear. “It’s just all this time… I’ve been blinded with rage.”

            Thea tries to push off me again but I’m stronger than her.

            “I know you can’t forgive me, babe.”

            “Don’t f*****g call me that.” She says, starting to cry.

            “But you’re going to need a friend here. I’m the only one you have.” I tell her. She stops fighting. I let go of her, and she turns around to face me.

            “I told that Keith guy I would just stay here. I’ll have the bed. You can have the couch.” She says. Tears run down her face but her expression is stone.