…."So, they recorded her confession and threatened her to do whatever they said, and they exploited her rights and used her to their amus.e.m.e.nt."
Anna trembled from listening to the story.
It was too much for her to handle as she went over to the bed and collapsed on it.
Her hands covered her mouth when she heard that Mike a.s.saulted Giselle in the music room.
"How did they get access?"
When Anna questioned, Lillian replied that Jamie was involved too. However, she doesn"t know the entire plan, and Giselle only knew that they used Jamie to lure her.
Anna"s heart raced from learning every single detail about Giselle and the gossip girls.
"That day, at the mall, I met Giselle. And she was behaving oddly, and that"s why I got p.i.s.sed."
"It was all their doing, Anna, Especially that Bridgette and Ivy."
"I never wanted to involve, but you saw how she went on with the broadcast and exposing the recording too."
"Thank G.o.d, it was only audio."
"But that too is gone, now that everyone at our cla.s.s knows that it"s me."
"I don"t even care about it."
"Imagine her; she"s facing all that stuff. I"m also included in it, Anna. Maybe, at least indirectly."
"I can"t let her take a bad name when it is those b.i.t.c.hes that are wrong at first."
Lillian enraged in fury as she kept speaking to Anna.
Anna only listened to her friend and didn"t interrupt.
…
The two now lying next to each other in bed with lights out after Edwin"s warning.
When Lillian finished, it was midnight. Edwin ordered girls to sleep soon and then went back to his room.
Lillian and Anna changed into their nightwear dresses and switched off the lights. However, both were not able to sleep.
"Lilly?"
"What, do think of Giselle?"
Anna asked as she turned to face Lillian, who"s lying on her back with hands supporting her head.
"Hmm…"
"She"s a good girl, Anna."
"You know her, right?"
"Always the calm one and-"
Lillian got meddled when Anna asked her the question again.
"What, do think of Giselle?"
"I meant about her confession and the whole lesbian thing."
"You can"t be avoiding it. The kids will mistake you too if you both hang out together. No offense, I do not judge her, but you-"
Anna paused while she gently lifted her head to check if Lillian"s still listening to her or not.
She was listening with her eyes almost appearing to be closed but not really.
"You-"
"You are not a lesbian, Lilly."
Anna said, and waited.
Lillian took a deep breath.
"Do I have to be a lesbian to hang out with her?"
It struck Anna with the guilt of shame. Although, the context she was trying to justify is that Lillian might face trouble for protecting or hanging out with Giselle as they have a shared past of Giselle admitting her love for Lillian Grey.
"Sorry."
Anna apologized.
"It"s alright. I know what you"re trying to say, Anna."
"I don"t care what others are going to say or think about me being with her."
"She"s innocent, and I"m involved. That is all."
Lillian shared her perspective.
Relieved Anna, stretched out her legs and arms. She scooped in next to Lillian and hugged her.
"Regardless, you did a good thing. And I"m proud of you for that."
Anna gently patted Lillian on her forehead.
Revealing a shy smile, Lillian closed her eyes off and pushed away Anna.
"Hey!"
Anna yelped from the sudden response.
Lillian turned away from Anna and slept facing the wall. She can"t let Anna see how cheekily her smiling face appeared. However, that doesn"t let Anna stay quiet as she voluntarily moved closer to Lillian where she raised her legs and arms, and planted them on Lillian, trying to squeeze her.
"Anna, you pig. Get away from me," Lillian shouted.
"PIG?"
Insulted from the comment, Anna withdrew her pillow quietly and smacked it on Lillian"s face.
"How dare you call me a pig?"
"Well, you did devour the entire pie. I only had a slice and dad had a half a slice. The rest were all gone. Where did you think it went?"
"Lilly!!!"
"It went inside this pig"s pit."
Lillian chuckled from receiving Anna"s soft punches. They both fought each other, gradually falling asleep.
…
Lillian continued walking impatiently. Her cold fingers wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her from freaking out.
"Anna, come out soon," she yelled in her low growling tone.
Both had woken up late, and Anna dashed into the bathroom first leaving Lillian to stroll.
Time kept ticking away as they were practically running late for school.
Apart from that, Edwin continually kept calling for the girls from downstairs.
After a few minutes of Lillian"s angry growling, Anna finally appeared out of the bathroom, dressed up well in her new clothes, hair smoothly braided and simple makeup to match her look.
"I hope you get slimed on our way to school," Lillian cursed and went flying to the bathroom.
Several minutes later, she came out with wet hair and towel wrapped around her body. She went straight to the closet and picked out a bland outfit.
"Wait, wait-"
Anna intervened in to help her and ordered Lillian to dry herself first.
Lillian went back to the bathroom and came out within a few seconds. She looked at the outfit Anna had picked for her.
Purple sweatshirt with white jean, Lillian had noticed that she had never worn this purple shirt ever since she bought it a discount sale combo.
"I don"t think you have the luxurious time to stare at it, darling. Come on."
Anna voiced as Lillian quickly changed into her outfit.
The girls came down running.
"Sorry, dad," Lillian said while hurrying up.
"Sorry, dad," Anna joined in pleading Edwin to forgive them.
Edwin glared them at first but failed as he handed both separate paper bags with food in it.
"I packed you girls, lunch."
Receiving the hot paper bag filled with delicious meals, the girls took a moment to inhale the divine smell circulating in the air.
They could tell that their lunch would be delectable.
"I waited for you both. You were late, and you are about to skip breakfast."
Edwin sighed from the young girls" lethargic time management.
"I told you, girls, to go to sleep early last night. I could hear your laughter all the distance from my room."
"Anna, I made Banana smoothie for you. Make sure to drink it."
Edwin ranted without noticing the girl in awe.
"I love you, Mr. Grey," Anna said in joy.
"Dad, that"s not fair. What do I get?"
"You know I don"t like Banana smoothie, right?"
Lillian crashed in jealousy.
"I know, and you"re getting a grilled cheese sandwich."
When Edwin said it, Anna shattered.
When Lillian caught her distressed face, she couldn"t help from commenting.
"Thanks, dad. I"ll enjoy it."
"Anna will drink her Banana Smoothie, and I"ll have this gooey grilled cheese sandwich."
Lillian looked at Anna and mouthed, "Don"t even think that I"ll share it with you."
"Well, then hurry up, you lazy girls," Edwin hushed them out to school.
"See you, dad."
"See you, Mr. Selfish Grey."
Anna cried while Lillian kissed her dad "goodbye."
Edwin promised Anna that he would make her the grilled cheese sandwich later.
Anna then smiled happily waving to Edwin.
The girls sprinted to the school.