Chapter 3

I liked Jolene's post.

Not even two minutes later, she called. She sounded uneasy.

"Lily, you saw the post? Don't get the wrong idea. We were just messing around and taking a few pictures."

I said nothing.

She hurried to explain, "Don't worry. I made sure Ms. Page couldn't see the post."

So she knew exactly how it might look to Mom. What she didn't know was that Mom would never see it anyway.

Jolene kept going. "Lily, don't stay mad at Isaac. I've already talked to him. We'll find somewhere even nicer and make sure Ms. Page gets her wish. She's one of the most important people in my life too."

Those words made my chest tighten until I could hardly breathe.

Jolene had been one of Mom's students too.

Her family always put the boys first, and there were times Jolene barely had enough to eat. Mom would quietly make sure she had money for lunch.

During Jolene's senior year of high school, her family tried to make her drop out and get a job. Mom went to their house three times and fought for her, arguing and pleading until they finally agreed to let Jolene stay in school.

That day, Jolene threw her arms around Mom and sobbed, "Ms. Page, you've been more of a mother to me than my own mom ever was."

And now, after everything Mom had done for her, Jolene had spent the entire day fooling around with my boyfriend. She was even wearing the bridesmaid dress I'd picked out for her.

Then she acted like hiding the post from Mom made everything okay.

Jolene went on. "Lily, don't be so sensitive. Everyone in the comments was only joking. If the posts bother you, I'll delete them. But please don't fight with Isaac over this. He's tired enough already."

My eyes stung, and I couldn't listen to her go on anymore. I hung up.

I sat on the couch, staring at the few things Mom had left behind. I cried until I couldn't make a sound anymore.

A long time later, my phone lit up again. It was Isaac.

"When you're done with your tantrum, apologize. Jolene's crying. She was only trying to make you feel better, so stop being so ungrateful. Ms. Page wouldn't want to see you behaving like this either."

I stared at the screen and suddenly felt like the past few years had been one big joke.

Jolene cried, and suddenly it was the end of the world.

Mom died, and somehow I was the problem.

It took me less than half an hour to pack. The irony was that even though this was the place Isaac and I shared, Jolene had more things here than I did.

Her stuff was everywhere, in the bathroom, the closet, even the fridge. I even found one of her hair ties in the nightstand beside our bed.

I stood there holding it for a long time, and the memories started coming back.

Jolene and Isaac had both been Mom's students, but they never got along. Put them in the same room, and they'd be arguing within minutes.

Mom would play peacemaker while serving dinner. "You two are both good kids. Why can't you just get along? Isaac, give her a break. Jolene, don't take everything so seriously."

Then she'd turn to me. "Lily, they're your friends. Make sure they're taken care of."

Back then, the house always felt so lively. Mom, my best friend, and the guy I loved were all gathered around the same table.

But somewhere along the way, Isaac and Jolene developed an understanding that seemed to leave me out.

When Jolene worked late, Isaac would pick her up. If she got caught in the rain without an umbrella, he'd check on her before I did. When she got drunk after a breakup, he'd stay up with her talking until the early hours.

Whenever I got uncomfortable with how close Isaac and Jolene were, he always said the same thing.

"She's your best friend. I only look out for her for your sake. Why are you getting jealous? Don't be so petty, Lily."

Then Jolene would get teary-eyed and ask, "Lily, are you saying you don't want me as a friend anymore?"

So once again, I was the one who apologized.

I was scared of losing Isaac, scared of losing Jolene, and most of all, scared of making Mom worry.

But in the end, I lost them all anyway.