Eighteenth Birthday - Chapter (42)

Ch. 18th Birthday 42 18th Birthday 42

Chapter 42

(Lily’s POV)

My face burned with embarrassment, and the silence left behind by Dev, Aria, and Tobe screamed louder than any whispers.

I spun around and hurried after them.

The crowd slowly dispersed, but my heartbeat didn’t slow. It thundered as I caught sight of them at the end of the hallway. They were just about to split up for class.

“Hey!” I called out, panting slightly as I ran up to them.

They stopped, reluctantly.

Dev’s jaw was clenched, Aria glared at me like a pest, and Tobe’s usual calm was gone.

“Hey guys,” I said softly, my voice shaking. “You just walked past me. Why? What did I do?”

Aria stepped forward, her eyes flashing with rage. She jabbed her finger into my shoulder, enough to sting. “After everything we’ve done for you?” she snapped. “We left our lives behind to protect you. To be here with you, and this is how you repay

us?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, completely thrown off. “I- I didn’t betray you. How could you even say that?”

Dev stepped in before Aria could say more.

“You think we wouldn’t find out?” he said, his voice dark and accusing. “That you went back to the palace because of Zion? That you threw away everything we warned you about… just so you could be with him?”

I took a step back.

“It wasn’t like that,” I whispered.

But he wasn’t done.

“You chose them, Lily. You walked right into their arms, even after all the things they did to you. After all our warnings. You came to school with them, and stood beside them. And we? We were nothing once the royals wanted you back, right?”

“Where were they when you were being bullied, Lily?” Aria cut in. “Where were they when you had no one? We stood by you, and now that you’re finally popular, you act like we don’t exist.”

I staggered. Their words were daggers to my heart.

I clutched my chest, trying to hold the pieces of myself together.

“You of all people know that I was adopted by the King and Queen,” I said through clenched teeth. “Aunt Lamia traveled. I had no choice, I didn’t go there because of Zion. I didn’t abandon you.”

Dev turned his face away, Tobe crossed his arms while Aria scoffed.

Their silence told me everything. They didn’t believe me.

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12:48 Wed, Jul 30

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Chapter 42

My heart broke a little more.

“Fine,” I said, biting back tears. “Be that way. If that’s what you want, I’m off.”

I turned around, quickly brushing a tear from my cheek, and walked away.

The hallway stretched in front of me, blurry with emotion. My legs kept moving, but inside, I was broken.

But then I heard soft footsteps rushing after me.

“Lily,” a voice called.

I paused. It was Tobe.

He caught up to me and gently grabbed my arm. “We need to talk,” he said gently.

I blinked at him, unsure if I was ready to hear anything more, but I nodded.

Tobe led me past the main buildings, out onto the walkway just outside school premises. We wandered silently across the grass until we reached the large oak tree; the one I used to cry under when I was bullied.

He sat down on the bench and patted the space beside him. I sat too.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. The breeze tugged gently at our uniforms.

“I’m also very pissed with you,” he said finally, not looking at me. “You have no idea what it felt like, not to know where you were. You could’ve called, sent someone or done just anything! We were worried because we care deeply about you, Lily. At least, you should’ve cared too.”

His voice wasn’t cruel, it was laced with hurt.

“I’m sorry, Tobe,” I said sincerely. “You’re right, I should have reached out. I didn’t mean to make you all feel abandoned. I was… overwhelmed.”

He sighed, his shoulders easing a little.

“But why is Aria and Dev so angry with me?” I asked quietly. “I mean… I get that they’re hurt but their words felt so personal.”

Tobe glanced at me, then stared up at the tree’s branches.

“Dev has always felt connected to you,” he said. “You know it was his father’s last wish that he serves you, and they did have a complicated relationship… but way beyond trying to do right, he’s come to love you as his sister. We all do, Lily.” he smiled faintly and ruffled my hair.

My throat tightened, I blinked away the sting in my eyes and whispered, “Thank you. I love you guys too. So much.”

Then I hesitated. “Aria… she looked like she hated me. Like this wasn’t just about friendship.”

Tobe scratched his head and glanced around like he was checking if anyone was watching. “I’m not sure I should be the one to say it… but she can’t help but be angry with you.”