Chapter 36
Sierra
Sierra sighed as she walked into her dorm.
It had been a week and a half since she talked to her sister and decided to make things right with Ellie, but she still had not found the courage to do it.
What if she told Ellie she wanted her back, and Ellie was already over her?
It had only been two and a half weeks, but it was two and a half weeks of not talking whatsoever.
It might as well have been two and a half years. That’s what it felt like, at least.
When she opened the door to her room, she had to hold in a groan when she saw Teresa sitting on her bed. The two of them hadn’t talked since the conversation that ruined everything for Sierra, and Sierra was hoping it stayed that way.
It turned out today was not her lucky day, because Teresa turned to look at her with a malicious smile before she even made it fully into the room. Sierra braced herself for whatever she was about to say.
“You’ve been in the room a lot more recently. Trouble in paradise?”
Sierra’s blood immediately started to boil. “That’s none of your business,” she said through gritted teeth.
Teresa laughed, and Sierra wanted nothing more than to smack the smug grin right off of her face. “So, I was right, huh?”
Sierra shook her head and walked to her bed, fully intent on ignoring Teresa.
When she heard Teresa’s feet hit their dorm room floor, she couldn’t stop her eyes from drifting over.
She watched as Teresa sauntered over to her and was highly confused when Teresa ran a finger up her arm in a flirtatious fashion.
“You know, I could make you feel better if you want,” she said seductively.
What the… Sierra pulled her arm away. Teresa’s touch was not the one she wanted. In fact, Teresa was the last person she ever wanted to touch her. “What the actual fuck?”
“We were good together. Weren’t we?”
Seriously, what was happening? Did Sierra enter some New Age lesbian version of The Twilight Zone or something? Sierra scooted further away from Teresa. “I thought we were at one point, but it turned out, I was wrong.”
“Aw, come on. How ’bout one last good fuck? For old time’s sake.”
“I thought this lifestyle was disgusting ,” Sierra said, hitting Teresa with her own words.
“It’s disgusting when it becomes your whole life. I just want tonight.”
“You know, there was probably a time when I would have gone for that, but I’ve learned that I deserve so much better.
You know who showed me that? Ellie did. She showed me what real love looks like, and it’s not this.
Anyone who could treat me the way you’ve treated me these past few months never really loved me.
That’s not a me problem. That’s a you problem.
And you’re right. Things aren’t the best between me and her right now, but I’m going to make them right, because when you find the right person, you fight for them. That’s what I plan to do.”
Teresa rolled her eyes and backed away from Sierra’s bed. “It’s all good. I was totally messing with you anyway. I have no interest in having sex with you.”
Sierra snorted. “Sure you don’t.” Sierra jumped from the bed and began walking toward the door. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
Teresa scoffed. “Fine, but don’t come crying to me when things don’t work out.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.” Sierra opened the door but turned around to face Teresa one more time. “By the way, Teresa, go fuck yourself.”
When she turned back around and started to walk out the door, she ran right into a body.
“That was fucking awesome.”
Sierra looked up into the eyes of the person standing in front of her. “Juniper? What are you doing here?”
“We have a problem.”
Sierra’s heart dropped, and panic ran through her veins. “What’s wrong? Is Ellie okay?”
“That depends on your definition of okay. She’s alive. She’s breathing. Still has all of her limbs. She’s completely devastated though.”
“Why is she devastated?” Sierra asked, in case it was anything other than the obvious.
“Seriously? I think we both know the reason.”
Sierra looked toward the ground in shame. “Yeah, you’re right.” Sierra moved her eyes back to Juniper’s again. “So, are you here to yell at me?”
Juniper shook her head and smiled. “I would, because no one hurts my best friend and gets away with it. But I have a feeling nothing I say could be worse than the things you’re telling yourself.”
She wasn’t wrong about that. “So, why are you here?” Sierra asked again.
Juniper waved her hand. “Walk with me.”
Sierra followed Juniper down the hallway and into the elevator. For all she knew, she was following Juniper to her death, but this was the closest she had felt to Ellie in weeks, and she didn’t want to lose that feeling.
Juniper was silent until they were outside of the dorm. She stopped and turned to look at Sierra. “Do you love her?”
“Excuse me?” Sierra wasn’t sure she heard her right.
“Do you love Ellie? I’m only doing this if you really care about her.”
“I care about her more than anything else in this world. And yes, of course I love her. I’m so in love with her I don’t know what to do with myself.” Sierra couldn’t believe the first person she admitted it to was the girl who was her mortal enemy until this moment. “What are you doing exactly?”
Juniper smiled and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m going to help you get her back.”
That sounded perfect. There was only one problem. “And how do we do that?”
Juniper shrugged. “That’s what we have to figure out. Honestly, you could go knock on our apartment door right now and say ‘Yo, babe, take me back,’ and she would, but I think we need to do more than that. Don’t you?”
Sierra nodded. “I need to show her that I’m in this for real. I’m not going to run away again.”
“Okay. Let’s brainstorm. I think it should involve track since you two probably have wet dreams about the sport.”
Sierra chuckled. “I was thinking that too. Well, minus the wet dreams part.”
“Perfect. That’s a start.”
Sierra was still confused about who this girl was standing in front of her. “Why are you helping me?”
“I want my best friend to be happy again.”
Something about her words, combined with what they were planning, made Sierra emotional. She had to fight to keep herself from crying. “You’re a really good friend. Ellie is lucky to have you. I mean, you’re working together with someone you don’t even like, all because you care about her.”
Juniper waved her hand nonchalantly. “She would do the exact same thing for me. Plus, I think it’s important we start getting along seeing as how we’re going to be on the same relay team.
” A wide grin spread across Juniper’s face.
“Coach told me tonight. I earned my spot back. It works out since Kate never really liked running it anyway.”
It was strange how a feeling of pride filled Sierra on Juniper’s behalf even though they weren’t really friends.
At least, not before tonight, but Sierra was getting ahead of herself if she thought this actually meant Juniper didn’t hate her anymore, especially given the latest circumstances.
“So, is that why you’re suddenly being nice to me?
You don’t hate me, because I’m no longer the girl who stole your spot on the relay? ”
“Nah. I was planning on coming here before Coach even talked to me. Here’s the thing. My best friend clearly— well, let’s just say, if you’re good enough for my best friend, you must be pretty great.”
“Wow. Thank you.” Now, Sierra had to try even harder not to cry. She blinked to keep the tears back.
Juniper put up her hand. “No time to get emotional. We have to figure out how to get your girl back.”
Sierra grinned from ear to ear. Better words had never been spoken. “Let’s do it.”