Chapter Text
— Lilys POV —
“How could you do this to me! I thought you were my bestfriend, or was that another lie you told me?” There were tears streaming down her face, tinted black from the mascara she had only put on an hour beforehand.
“Of course im your bestfriend, how could you think any differently?” My voice was hoarse from yelling, I felt like i couldnt breathe. What have i done to us?
“Hello, This is my first day here. Could you direct me to Room 104?” She smiled at my rigid nervousness and pointed me in the direction of my office. I found the door and prepared myself. I downed my coffee, walked in, and froze. No amount of preparation could have helped me when I saw who was in that office.
“Good morning lily, come have a seat.” I vaguely registered my bosses greeting but was so shocked I could barely hear. Suddenly my throat felt tight, there was a faint ringing in my ears.
“Mary?” Staring back at me was Mary macdonald. My best friend from pre-k till senior year. My best friend who I had not seen in a decade.
“Do you two know eachother?” She seemed shocked that we had met before.
“Um, Yes. We went to school together.” Mary responded before I had the chance. I couldn’t help but feel hurt at what she had said, but i had a job to do and needed to focus.
“Well then I guess that should make this a lot easier for you two,” She stood up and started to make her way to the door. “Mary will be the one training you so i’ll leave you to it.” With one final smile she walked out.
I went and sat down in the chair across from Mary. My brain felt as if it had blue-screened, i just sat there with a blank expression, not knowing what to say.
Suddenly Marys face went into something resembling a mask. Her smile seemed tense and forced.
“I’m the head of the events department which means i’m in charge of everything pertaining to our yearly charity fundraising event. And since you are now being trained by me, that means you are also apart of helping me plan that event. If you don’t think you can do it then the door is behind you.” She said tersely. Still holding those tense facial expressions. It felt so robotic and forced.
“I can do it, As long as it won’t be a problem for you.” I hoped it wouldn’t be. I hadn’t realized until now just how much I missed her, but now she’s back i’m willing to do anything to stay right by her side.
“I’m good at my job. Even you being here won’t change that,” She suddenly stood up from her chair. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work that needs to be done. I’ll send you what we’ve done so far so you can get caught up. Go over it, make some notes if need be, and submit it to me for review. We have our weekly meeting in 2 days. Whatever i’ve approved can be discussed with the rest of our team then.”
And with that she walked out the door, leaving me alone in my office.
For a while I just sat there in silence. My ears ringing, my head spinning. I kept thinking of every moment we had spent together although one particular memory kept floating to the front. The last one I have of us. Eventually i was able to shove them all the the deepest darkest corner of my mind and focus on the task at hand.
I started organizing my office. It was a mess from all the stuff I had shipped there a few days prior. Halfway through putting it all away I heard my computer signify i had gotten an email. I went over and clicked on the link I was sent.
It opened to a very chaotic looking Document containing budgets, potential services, different themes, etc. At the top in bold font it said:
2024 LGBTQ Charity Auction and Gala
I scrolled through what they had so far, quickly opening a blank document to try and organize it in a way that made sense to me. I eventually got it to seem legible and started adding my own notes and ideas on it. Once I finished I printed it, put it all into a folder, and left to go figure out where Marys office was.
-
Everybody was extremely busy. It took forever to get someone to stop long enough to give me and idea of where her office was. This place was like a maze. it took 3 dead ends and a supply closet before i finally found it. I knocked and waited for her okay before coming in. Her office was reminiscent of her old room. decorated in hues of red and pink. Her room always felt like it was valentine’s day.
“I think you’ve officially taken targets entire valentines stock, save some for the rest of us.” She just laughed and continued to hang up paper heart garlands.
“Help me hold this side up, and grab the hammer.” She stuck her hand out making a grabbing gesture.
“You are incredibly bossy. Here.” She blindly grabbed at the hammer.
“Pot meet kettle.”
I realized i was staring and quickly caught myself, walking briskly to her desk and handing her the folder.
“I made a document to organize some stuff. I put some notes and ideas on the side. There was one theme i thought would be perfe-“ I was abruptly cut off.
“Thanks, I’ll review it and get back to you at the meeting. I have a call to make so if you’ll excuse me.” She gestures towards the door, pulling her phone out.
I got the message loud and clear and left quietly.
I walked back to my office, beginning to add my own personal touches. As i started pulling out some books to put on the shelves, some papers fell out of my old geography book. I had bought it for school and decided to keep it. As i examined to papers it slowly dawned on me what they were.
I felt someone gently kicking the back of my chair. I waited till the teacher turned his back before seeing what she wanted. She has a a note in hand, trying and failing to discreetly pass it to me. In what looks like chicken scratch it said:
‘There’s a carnival after school, wanna go?’
I rolled my eyes. She is try to avoid it to study. I decided to give in to her constant attempts to get me out of the house. Whatever makes her happy.
I folded the note back up and picked up the photo that accompanied it. It was a photo booth picture, with the two of us cramped in the small space. She had the stuffed animal i had won and given to her, it was white with red hearts, and i was holding her jacket. She handed it to me when she went to the bathroom and I never ended up giving it back.
“That’s the problem! You think you don’t deserve something so you ruin it!”
I blinked away the incoming tears and put the note and picture in a drawer. I finished unpacking my books and got to work familiarizing myself with the computer programs.