Lydia

"You don't have to go to school today." Spencer told her daughter when she emerged on Monday morning. It had been one week since the New Year's Eve party where Lydia's entire relationship fell to pieces and all she'd done in that time was sit in her room, text Johnny and stuff her face with her grandmother's home baking. She didn't even acknowledge her birthday, letting it pass by with just texts and a family meal. She had plans with her friends, but they were for the following weekend. She hoped that she'd feel more up to it by then.

"Why wouldn't I go to school?" Lydia mumbled, sitting at the dining table but declining when her mother offered her a bowl of cereal. "I'm the one that did the breaking up. Remember? I'm fine."

"You're not acting like someone who did the breaking up." Spencer arched a brow and slid an orange juice across to Liam who sat down with his third thick novel of the week.

"Yeah," he taunted. "You're acting like an emo."

"Shut up brat!"

"Both of you quit it." Nathan ordered as he joined them at the table with his smoothie. Spencer placed a tasteful kiss on his lips which didn't bother Lydia, but she did feel a jab of envy towards her mother who had always been happy. "Liam, quit bothering your sister."

"What are you doing for your birthday?" Spencer questioned her daughter as she leaned with one hand on a dining chair. "Are you still having the girls over?"

"I guess." Lydia shrugged, tugging on her school stockings under the table. "It was all planned. Plus, I'm fine. So yes!"

"Fine is code for suicidal isn't it?" Liam jeered once again. Lydia flung a spoon across the table and it hit him square in the forehead.

"Stop!" Spencer shouted at her children and Lydia rolled her eyes, no longer interested in family breakfast as she got up and snatched her back pack from the kitchen floor.

"Do you want a ride?" Nathan called after her but she didn't respond, she simply shook her head and slammed the front door behind her.

There was a little regret as she began on her way to school. It was cold. A thick layer of snow coated the footpaths and the bus heating was lacking to say the least. But she would have chosen that over the greeting she received at school. It felt as though the entire student body had heard about her relationships demise. That couldn't be the case, but it felt daunting to have eyes watching her walk through the halls and when she received a text message from Johnny, she welcomed the distraction.

Well, for the sake of feeding my ego, I'll pretend like your opinion is the only one that matters.

You're a bit sweet huh.

Just got to home room. I'm attempting to ignore my ex's presence. Such a dirt bag.

Not when he's staring at me. Not when I still feel so in sync with all of his tells and unspoken messages.

Argh that's so pathetic.

The attention of the class was gained by the teacher and Lydia slipped her phone back into her pocket, feeling the vibration of Johnny's quick response as soon as it was out of sight. She felt bad for not replying sooner but she didn't want to risk having her phone confiscated.

She managed to make it through home room without making direct eye contact with Riley who sat on the other side of the class, watching her despite the fact that she ignored him the entire time.

As soon as the bell sounded for first, her chair scraped the floor as she pushed it backwards and beelined for the door, not letting his calling voice pull her back into his presence. She knew that she'd need to be strong if she were to get through this in one piece.

On the way to math, she checked her phone and was careful not to bump into the students that she passed in the school corridor.

You seem to be educated on this matter. Been through it?

I have so many questions right now.

"Who are you texting?"

Lydia looked to her left at the seat beside her and found her best friend Sadie with her chin rested in her palm as she watched Lydia with intense interest.

"Oh uh, Johnny." She informed the dark skinned Barbadian girl who sighed with relief.

"Good. I thought it might have been that idiot Riley."

"Nope." Lydia shook her head, her thick brown curls bouncing around her face. "I'm done with that."

The same familiar pain and tightening in her chest came on with the conversation of her relationship. She'd accepted that it was over. But it still hurt. She was waiting for that to fade. But she'd heard of girls who would feel those stabs of despair years later and it made her nervous. She didn't want to feel that pain for much longer.

"The girls thought we should get together and key his car?" Sadie shrugged, referring to the girls soccer team that she was apart of. Lydia laughed and flipped open her grid math book, not at all interested in focusing her tired mind on numbers and revision.

"If that happens, I'll pretend not to know a thing." Lydia chuckled, a little disappointed when the teacher began class and she could no longer text Johnny.

—

After a long day which consisted of brief messages to Johnny, some attention being payed in class and avoiding her ex like the plague, Lydia wandered through the school parking lot to find Nathan's car. She decided that she'd rather engage in curious conversation with her step Dad than freeze to death on the way home. She leaned against the car and opened her conversation with Johnny.

Question. Dolphins or sharks? And why? I'm dolphins.

Did you just call yourself a little guy?

I was simply referring to your height. But if you wanna get personal then...

I'm glad I make you laugh.

Aww I like talking to you too.

Touché!

Suddenly a set of footsteps became audible and a strong scent of cologne and cigarettes invaded Lydia's personal space. She glanced up at a set of familiar dark - almost black - eyes and an effortless messy head of light brown hair. The chiselled jaw in front of her flinched as a cloud of cigarette smoke was exhaled from between full plump lips.

"Long time no see Lydia James."

—

It is going to be so hard not to rush these updates. Haha. But this is the last one today. A new chapter tomorrow :)