ONE
LILY
PAST
“Can you touch the sky?” my bestest friend in the entire world roars up at the sky, glancing at me quickly as the wind makes his brown hair blow crazy in his face.
Pushing my body forward, fighting the breeze that pushes me back, I yell, “Yes! And I can touch it before you can!”
My cheeks hurt, but I want him to think I’m super cool.
“That’s not possible. I have bigger muscles than you.”
Stupid boys, thinking the world would be nothing without their muscles. I’ll show him.
Pushing my legs forward, I feel like I’m flying in the sky, leaving everything but him behind. Extending one arm out like an airplane, I squeal, “I’m flying!”
“Me too!”
Sticking my tongue out at him, I try to focus on his face as my body jolts. “But I’m higher.”
“That’s okay. Just touch the sky for me too.” He laughs before launching himself off the swing and landing on his knees instead of his feet.
No one is cooler than my best friend. I wish I could just jump off my swing with no hesitation. He’s fearless—that’s what I hear both our moms whisper to each other. I’ve never told himthis, but I want to be just like him. Except he doesn’t know that because I want him to think I’m cool and not lame.
Just as I’m about to jump, I notice how something behind me catches his attention and his eyes widen.
“Are you a baby?”
My legs instantly lock up when I hear one of the screechy voices that I’ve grown to hate behind me. Mia and Luna thrive on bullying me.
“Only infants play on swings. I always wonder why you want to play with a baby, Elijah.”
I forget how fast I’m swinging as I dig my toes into the hot sand. Flying forward, I almost eat sand before Elijah jumps in front of my body and catches me. His thin fingers grip me tightly, making me gasp before looking into his concerned eyes.
His brown hair falls into his eyes as he whispers into my ear, “Don’t listen to them.”
Mia and Luna walk closer to where we’re huddled.
“Aw, look how cute. Only weak people need to be saved.” Luna laughs, glancing down just in time to see Elijah lace his fingers with mine.
I’m not sure what I’ve ever done to deserve how they treat me. I’ve only ever been nice. Mom tells me it’s because they’re jealous, and maybe she’s right because I see the way they look at my best friend. Everyone loves him; people try to replace me and become friends with him. But he never leaves my side; I think that’s what makes them mad.
Elijah raises an eyebrow as he pulls me to stand behind his back. He protects me all the time, but sometimes, I think that fuels them. “Don’t you have anything else to do but be mean?”
“We’re just telling the truth.” Mia shrugs.
I can’t help the tears that gather in my eyes, and when they see the despair on my face, they laugh.
Luna smirks. “You’re so weak?—”
“Enough!” Elijah yells, puffing out his chest as he takes a step closer to where they stand frozen. “You know what I love about Lily?” Before giving them a chance to respond, he tugs me to his side and throws his arm across my shoulders. “That she’s nothing like you and I know she’ll never be.”
With that, he turns us both away and starts putting distance between them and us. I can feel his frustration seeping out of him in deep waves. We’re both quiet as he leads me to the tall hill we love rolling down.
“I just wish they’d leave me alone.” I hate crying in front of people, but Elijah makes me feel safe to be myself, so as a sob travels through my body before it bursts through my mouth, I don’t run away like I usually do.
“I’m sorry, Lulu. I wish I could make them stop. But you need to breathe. They’re gone now.”
