I walk into the cafeteria.
People are staring, whispering.
I feel it when I walk in to the cafeteria, the way conversations drop to hushed murmurs, as I pass.
I am not even surprised, I knew things would be bad after yesterday.
I inhale sharply, like I just remembered how, and let the air out in one long exhale.
" That's it" he murmurs. " Your okay".
I turn to him for the first time since this whole thing started, I feel my guard slip. " I don't get it", I whisper. " Julianna was supposed to be my best friend. How could she do this to me?"
Lucas doesn't answer me right away, then-
" Sometimes people do stupid things when they're scared of losing something".
I frown. " What do you mean?"
He hesitates. " Maybe she thought if she didn't say something, she'd lose Roman to you. Maybe she convinced herself that you'd be fine, that it wasn't that bad." He shakes his head. " It doesn't excuse it. But it might explain it".
I let his words settle in.
I want to argue, to say none of it makes sense. But it does, and I hate that.
Lucas must've seen it on my face, because he nudges me lightly. " For the record" he says, " Julianna might've screwed up, but your not alone in this".
I glance at him, something in my chest feels lighter. Maybe I'm not alone, not with Lucas here.
A small smile manages to appear on my face, " thank you Lucas" I say.
" Anything for you Sarina" he smiles back, caressing my back gently.
I pull him into a hug, which he hugs me back. Hugging him just feels like all my problems are gone, it's just me and my friend, Lucas.
He is, in all honesty, my comfort buddy. He always knows how to make me feel better, and I can't appreciate him enough for that.