Summer Love

12 || You Have Made my Life a Nightmare!

I walk up to the DX to see Sodapop in a car making-out with Holly. I turn to Jilly on the verge of tears, "how could he do this to me?"

She sighs as she looks away, "Lacey, I am so sorry."

I shake my head, "no! This isn't your fault! You shouldn't be saying your sorry. I'm sorry, but I can't! I gotta go."

I run over to the window and Sodapop gasps, "oh my god Lacey."

Holly smiles, "I told you, I'd get him one way or another."

"You win! Okay Holly? You fricking win! You have taken away from me the people I care most about minus Jilly and Spencer. The two guys I've ever fucking loved you've gotten. Are you happy Holly? Do you feel accomplished? You have made my life a nightmare! I give up on fighting with you! Take whatever you want from me! I give up! You win!" I scream tears evident in my eyes.

She pecks Soda's cheek, "bye lovelies."

He steps out of the car and looks up at me, "Lacey-"

I shake my head, "don't Sodapop. Just don't. I'm tired of hearing all your lies. I hope you're happy with yourself Sodapop. You helped the person you truly liked. Just, you know what? Just leave me alone. Goodbye Sodapop."

"Lacey wait!" He screams after me.

I run into Jilly's arms, "are you okay?"

I shake my head, "no, but I will be. I thought you said he was loyal."

"There must be another  reason for this," she sighs as she looks over at him. "This isn't like him. He's not like this."

"Maybe he is when he doesn't truly care," I sigh. "It's pretty clear he never really cared about me. I still have two months here and I have to deal with this! I don't want to deal with this! I just wanna go home."

She sighs, "please don't leave us."

I shrug, "I'm gonna go call my mom." 

I walk away from Jilly with my head hanging low until I reach the nearest payphone. I quickly slip my nickel into it and dial my mom's number. (L-Lacey M-mom)

L-Please answer...Please answer...Please answer...I need you right now....Please ans-"

M-Lacey?

L-*sobs uncontrollably*

M-Lacey, it's me. What's wrong?

L-Holly is down here and Sodapop cheated on me with her.

M-Oh my baby girl, I am so sorry.

L-Can I come home?

M-I'd love for you to come home, but your father and I had an agreement years ago when everything first went down.

L-What are you talking about?

M-Lacey, honey you were five and you didn't understand what was going on.

L-Mom! What are you saying?

M-It wasn't completely your dad's choice to leave you, but he did make other mistakes.

L-All these years you let me believe dad didn't want me, you painted him out to be a monster and it was all your fault! I thought he hated me!

M-Lacey, please calm down and let em explain.

L-You have five minutes.

M-When your father left we made an agreement. We didn't want to confuse you. We both decided until you were sixteen you'd be under my control, living in my house, with me and you wouldn't go down there until the summer you turned sixteen. Although, I never said he couldn't contact you, that was his doing and his choice. I told him our new address every time we moved and our new phone number. I used to beg him to contact you, but he never did. That was until this year. He contacted me asking for you and now I can't take you back.

L-How could you? I thought he didn't want me and the whole time it was over a stupid agreement! You could of told me what was going on.

M-I know and I am so sorry. I am so so sorry baby girl.

L-No mom.

M-Lacey?

L-I gotta go somewhere. I don't know where, but somewhere other than right here or the stupid DX or anywhere the hell else that I'm gonna get hurt.

M-I love you Lacey.

I hang up the phone tears streaming down my cheeks as I think about everybody who has ever lied to me or hurt me. I'm so tired of people. I just need to escape. I run away to the vacant lot pulling my knees up to my chest as I just live in this moment feeling everything that has just went down. It's not even noon and this day has already betrayed me in so many ways. I wanna start all over and wake up again. 

"Lacey," I hear Johnny's voice.

I look up at him wiping away my tears as I speak with a steady voice, "oh hey Johnny. I didn't see you there."

He shrugs, "I just got here. What are you doing here?"

"You know, just needed some time alone," I keep myself together despite the fact that I wanna fall apart. I am so broken.

"Have you seen Sodapop today?" He asks.

I nod my head, "he was working with somebody though, so we didn't really get to talk. I ran off after a few words."

He cocks his head to the side, "why?"

I shrug, "he was just busy."

"You sure?" He asks.

I shake my head as I break down into tears, "he cheated on me and now we're broken up. I don't know what to do and I wanna go home."

Johnny sighs, "Lacey, he's an idiot if he cheated on you."

"What do you mean?" I sniffle. "I'd cheat on me if I was him."

He chuckles, "Lacey, you're beautiful, nice, smart, funny, and so much more. I'd date you."

"Johnny?" I ask before I feel his lips crash against mine.

As we pull away he looks over at me, "I guess what I'm trying to say is Lacey, I like you."

I sigh, "Johnny."

"You don't like me back," he looks down. "Do you?"

I shake my head, "I'm sorry. You're real nice, but I'm in love with Sodapop."

"It's okay I get it," he looks away from me. "I don't know why I did that anyway. I was just being stupid."

I shake my head, "no you weren't being stupid."

He chuckles, "you don't really believe that...Now do you? I should go anyway."

I stand up, "you don't have to go."

"Lacey, it's okay," he hugs me. "I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?"

I nod my head, "okay...Johnny?"

He turns around a glimmer of tears in his eyes, "yeah Lacey?"

"I'm sorry," I look to the ground.

He shakes his head, "no, I am."

I walk over to him, "y-you don't have to be. I understand what it's like to like somebody and for them to break your heart."

"Sodapop?" He asks.

I nod my head sadly, "and many others Johnny. I just wish I didn't have to break yours because, I-I do love you-"

He cuts me off quickly, "just not like that, I get it. I'll catch ya tomorrow Lace."

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow," I sigh speaking barely above a whisper.

Oh my god this is such a sad chapter! I feel so bad for Johnny! What do ya'll think about the book so far? Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth