Free Pieces of Paisley by Leigh Ann Lunsford Page A

supposed to be her best friend, and yet you don’t give a shit about her.”
    “Lighten up, Jake. We are back in one piece.” She basically ignores me as she walks into the kitchen. Paisley is just looking at me, with her chin trembling, with her voice cracking she says, “I am sorry. I couldn’t let her go on her own. I give up; I don’t know what to do with her anymore. It’s hard constantly being in the middle, and I know she is in pain, but won’t talk about it.”
    Seeing her defeat hurts me. “It’s okay, Pais. Please don’t do it again. I was going crazy thinking something could have happened to you. Sometimes you have to let people find their way back, and until they are ready to be found, they are lost to us all.” I am pissed as hell at her friend, but I can’t fault Paisley, her heart is in the right place, I just need her to have more regard for her safety. I decide now is the best time for her to have her cake, and then I can steal her for a few minutes.
    “Kara, can you get the cake ready?” She smiles and jumps off the couch, heading into the kitchen. After a few minutes I hear her screaming at someone, and before I can find out what is wrong, Krista comes running out of the kitchen, laughing and covered in cake, like she slammed her face into it.
    I push past her and see the cake ruined. “Jake, she just shoved her face in it. No warning, nothing. Sorry, I couldn’t stop it.” I have had it. Now I am absolutely livid and nothing is going to stop me from laying into her.
    “You selfish bitch! You can’t let anyone have anything good. You find some way to fuck it up and walk away leaving destruction in your path.”
    Paisley is blatantly crying. I know she didn’t like me calling Krista a bitch, but she was. Yet, at the same time, I know she sees what her best friend is becoming. Before anyone else can respond, Krista runs out of the house, and Paisley is on her heels. Just once, I want my girl to pick me.
    I walk in my room to get my keys; I am going outside to cool down for a minute. I step outside and freeze in place, Paisley is yelling at Krista. “You didn’t have to do that, Kris. You have choices, and you make the wrong ones repeatedly. I don’t know who you are anymore, and I don’t know why you can’t be happy for me. He isn’t who you would have chosen for me, I get it, but it is my decision. He is whom I chose for me, and I am so tired of the bullshit between you two. Just once, can you take my feelings into consideration?”
    “I am sorry, Paisley. It was wrong. Everything I have done is wrong. You are wrong, he is exactly who I would chose for you. He is exactly what you need, and I am so jealous I can’t see straight. That makes me a shitty friend, and I hate that. I miss having what you have with Jake. I miss it every second of every day, and it physically hurts to see it.”
    “What do you want me to say to that, Kris? You have been my best friend forever, and I care about what you feel, what you need, but I can’t sacrifice my happiness for you. It isn’t fair and I would never ask that of you.”
    “I know. I was going to tell you later, but I guess now is as good of time as any. I am going to live with my dad and Jeneane. I will switch schools to finish out my senior year. I leave next week. I need this, I need away from everything.” She turns and walks down to the beach leaving Paisley standing there shocked and heartbroken. I want to be mad, but for once I think Krista is doing what needs to be done. I walk back in my room and grab the jewelry box on my dresser. I hurry back outside, and she is standing in the same spot. She hasn’t moved, and I don’t know if she realizes I am approaching her. She hears me and turns around, once she is aware it is me, she runs into my arms and starts sobbing. This is not the way I wanted her birthday to go, but if I am the arms she runs to when she needs someone, I will take it.
    I lift her up and carry her into my truck.