I got discharged early from the hospital, and thanks to Heather and Sarah, I made it home safely, though not exactly in a comfortable position. We had come here in Sarah's car, which I didn't even know she had.
We picked up pizza on the way before heading straight home. The problem started a few minutes later, when we set the plates and sat at the dining table.
Instead of eating, I quickly realized something I hadn't accounted for: Sarah and Heather disliked each other way more than I thought. They were like oil and water—never mixing.
The tension was so thick, I couldn't even take a single bite. I didn't know how long I'd survive without eating for the next thirty minutes. I was starving.
"Guys, can we eat without you two glaring at each other? It's killing my appetite."
My comment had an effect. Heather blushed and looked away, while Sarah shot me a glare before sighing and taking a bite of her salad.
After grabbing pizza, we had also gotten salads and drinks. Sarah had told me she was watching her carbs, depriving herself of a delicious meal.
"Eva, you never told me what spooked you enough to make you faint."
Sarah suddenly brought up the very conversation I had been avoiding. I've never been good at lying, at least not face to face. But in this case, there wouldn't be a need to lie.
"I don't really remember. One moment my head was killing me, and the next, I started seeing things. Did you see a girl about our age before I fainted?"
Heather looked confused, and Sarah studied me for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I didn't. Are you sure you're okay? Should we have let the doctor run more tests?"
"No, it's fine—I'm fine. I guess I'm not ready to deal with the outside world as much as I thought."
Neither of them said anything, but I caught a flash of worry and guilt in Sarah's eyes. She knew why I had to stop going to college and why I ghosted her, even though it wasn't her fault.
I never wanted her to feel like what I went through was in any way her fault. But I couldn't reassure her in front of Heather; I wasn't ready to talk about my past with anyone else.
"Anyway, you guys never told me how Heather ended up at the hospital with me. I'm pretty sure I didn't have her number, and I left my phone at home."
"It's thanks to you for leaving your phone that I was able to make it," Heather replied. "After realizing you left your phone behind, instead of calling your parents, Sarah called your phone, thinking your roommate might pick up. And I did. The rest is history."
Heather threw Sarah a grateful glance but quickly caught herself and looked away, angry for even acknowledging her.
Sarah picked at her salad sullenly, and it reminded me how hungry I still was, having not eaten since breakfast. I grabbed a slice of pizza and devoured it like a starved wolf. I was hellbent on getting my nourished body back, and that meant eating more than usual.
Ever since I started being active again and stopped hiding in my room, my appetite had returned. I bet the Chinese place I used to order from daily missed me.
Before, I'd only eat once a day. No wonder I ended up bony, looking like a corpse. Thanks to my metabolism, even that barely made a dent in my hunger.
I grabbed another slice, noticing that Heather had started eating too. That was good. We ate in silence until Sarah finally broke it.
"Are you dating anyone?"
"No. You?"
"Yes, actually. Her name's Sheila—she's my photographer."
That caught me by surprise—not the fact that Sarah was dating someone, but the way she looked genuinely happy when she mentioned Sheila's name.
For some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way, and I didn't know why. "That's weird. I scrolled through your Instagram, and I never saw any mention of Sheila. Are you sure you're really dating someone?"
My words came out sharper than I intended, earning side-eyes from both Heather and Sarah.
Sarah narrowed her eyes at me. "Not that it's any of your business, but she doesn't like the spotlight, and I can't force her."
"I didn't know a harmless photo of you two together was considered the spotlight. And it's also weird that a photographer doesn't like taking pictures of herself. Color me surprised."
My venomous words shocked even me. I didn't need to look at Heather's expression to know I was treading into jealous friend territory.
What the hell is wrong with me? It's not like this is the first time someone's made Sarah happy. But this time felt different, like she was slipping away from me in that moment.
'Why would I blame her for moving on? It's been three years since I ghosted her. I've got no right to be jealous.'
I turned to Sarah, still shocked by my words. "I'm sorry about that. I was out of line."
She nodded nonchalantly, but I wasn't sure she even heard me. My words had clearly hit their mark, and instead of reassuring me, it made me sick to my stomach.
I needed to change the topic fast, before Sarah spiraled into overthinking. Then, I'd have truly fucked up what might be the happiest she's been in a long time.
"Hey Sarah, remember that favor I wanted to ask?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Promise me, no matter how unhappy it makes you, you'll still do it for me?"
Sarah shrugged. "No, I can't promise that, but I do promise to consider it."
I exhaled through my nose. "I guess that'll have to do. Me and Heather—"
"Let me stop you there. The answer is no."
"But—"
"No, Eva. I don't know what you want, but if it involves her, I'm out."
"As much as it pains me to do so, I agree with Sarah, Eva," Heather added. "I don't want to work with her, not even if my life depended on it."
Why the hell were they acting like this? If they're going to behave like this, then I won't hold back. I turned to Sarah first.
"Do you remember Jack? Do you remember what you promised? If you don't help me, I'll track down Lisa and tell her everything about that night."
"Are you blackmailing me?"
"Yes."
Sarah opened her mouth to respond but shut it for some reason. She probably remembered the promise because I didn't think my threat would have held up otherwise. It's been a long time, after all.
I turned to Heather next. "If you don't work with Sarah, then I'm sorry, but your dreams are nothing but a pipe dream. Can you really sacrifice your dreams for the sake of pettiness?"
Heather's face fell, realizing I was right. She was acting like a child.
I looked at both of them. "Now, do you guys agree to work together for the sake of world peace or whatever?"
They both took their time, glaring at me, then at each other, mulling it over. But ultimately, they weren't that stubborn.
"I'll work with her," Heather said, "but only if she promises not to be overbearing."
I looked at Sarah. She shrugged and nodded, not hiding her dissatisfaction with me. I'm definitely going to pay for this. Sure, I have dirt on her, but she has dirt on me too.
"Since you're in a cooperative mood, how about another favor?"
"What now?"
"Um, I need a lift next week to see my parents. Can you do that for little ol' me?"
Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed before a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
"Sure, why not? After all, that's what best friends for, right?"
Yep. I'm dead. So long, world.