Reconciliation

"Sit down, I'll help you clean your bruises" Lesley said to Ethan.

He sat down on the sofa, knowing that a lecture was about to come from her. Lesley stretched up to the kitchen cabinet and took out a first aid kit. Sitting beside him, she took out a cotton bud and a methylated spirit. Dipping the cotton bud into the methylated spirit, she slightly used it to touch his forehead bruise making him flinch.

"Sorry, just bear it, I'll be done soon" She said noticing that he flinched.

Bandaging his wounds, she put back the first aid kit to it's place and sat back down.

"I know you're expecting me to give you a lecture now, but I won't. I really wished you had told me or mom what you were going through. We would've helped, I personally would've helped. But I guess you had your reasons".

"I'm sorry for not telling you or mom. I thought I could deal with it on my own or that they would stop soon".

"It's okay. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, okay"?.

"Okay".

She held his hands and hugged him.

"We're gonna tell mom okay"?.

"Yeah".

"Go change your clothes let me set up our lunch".

Immediately their mom came back from work later in the night, they told her everything and she promised to report to the school committee the next day.

*Ding*.

That was the sound of Lesley phone receiving a message or notification. Laying on her bed she reached out to her phone from the bed and checked who sent her a message. It was a message from an unknown number.

"So, how did it go" The message reads.

"Who's this"? She texted back.

"It's Rodney".

She sat down upright upon seeing that message.

"What? How did you get my number"?.

"Julia gave it to me".

"Without you asking"?.

"Of course I asked her first".

"I'm gonna kill Julia" She said to herself.

"So how did it go"?.

"What do you mean"?.

"Haven't you told your mom yet about the incident"?.

"Oh that, we've already told her".

"And"?.

"She's coming to the school tomorrow to report the case to the school committee".

"That's great".

"Yeah it is".

"If you need my help to testify or anything, just tell me. I'm willing to render my help to Ethan".

"Sure, I will".

"Ok take care".

"Ok".

"Are we suddenly friends now just cause he helped my brother?" She asked herself.

She logged in into her Instagram account and messaged Julia.

"I just received a text from Rodney"

"I know" Julia replied.

"I'm sure you do, since you gave him my number".

"He asked for it saying he wanted to check up on you".

"Why would he even wants to check up on me"?.

"Don't act like you don't know why".

"I don't".

"Because of what transpired today silly".

"Whatever".

"Are you still giving him the cold shoulders? I don't think he means any harm. He even helped your brother".

"I didn't give him the cold shoulders. It just feels weird suddenly talking to him normally and being nice".

"Saying normally, you mean without shouting or being rude or using sarcasm"?..

"Seriously, you literally had to pinpoint all those".

"Yes I had to, so you can know what you're saying".

"Yeah, something like that".

"Give it time, it won't feel weird again".

"I hope so".

"I gotta go".

"Ok, see you in school tomorrow".

The next day Sandra accompanied her kids to school. They got to the staff room asking for the principal office.

Mr Baker showed them the way and the bullying case was discussed. The school promised it won't happen again and promised to punished the perpetrators.

"Ok Ethan, you can go to class now. Everything's been solved. If something like this ever occurs again make sure you tell me ok"?

"I will mom, I'll go to class now".

Lesley stood in front of her locker and sighed. Yesterday and today literally weren't her best days. She opened her locker and saw a paper attached at the top. Taking a hold of the paper, she read what was written there.

"Hey pretty. I'm always here for you" she read aloud.

"What the f*ck? Who the hell put this here"?.

"I did".

She turned and saw Julia standing at her back and then chuckled.

"Seriously Julia, I thought someone was trying to hit on me or pull a prank".

Julia laughed.

"Don't worry, I wasn't trying to hit on you or prank you. Well maybe I was trying to prank you a little, buttttttttttt i was mainly trying to tell you I'm here for you".

"I know. Get in here". She opened her arms wide open beckoning on Julia to get in. Julia moved forward and they hugged each other.

"So how did it go"?.

"What do you mean"?.

"Didn't your mom come to school today to discuss about the bullying issue"?.

"Oh that, yes she did".

"And? What was the result"?.

"It's all been solved. The school promised to solve the matter".

"I'm glad. I don't want Ethan to go through that again".

"Me either".

"Hey Lesley".

"Oh hi Rodney".

"Wait, you guys are friends now"? Nathan asked confusingly.

"Yeah I guess" Rodney responded looking at Lesley for her response but she kept mute.

"How come"? He asked again.

"It's a long story".

"Can't you cut it short, at least for me since I'm asking"?.

"No I can't".

"Did you know about this"? He asked Julia.

"Yeah I did".

"Why am I always the one left behind in the juicy stuff"?.

"So what happened"? Rodney asked ignoring Nathan.

"Are you asking about the outcome of my mum coming to school today"?.

"Yeah I am".

"It went well. Everything's been resolved".

"And you're sure my help wasn't needed"?.

"Boy calm down. Your help wasn't needed at all Rodney".

"Ok. I called you yesterday, did you save my number"?.

She actually didn't save it but she said yes.

"Yes I did".

"Well since you've decided to let go of the past I hope we could become friends".

"Sure, why not? I've been quite hard on you".

"Thank God you know that. It hasn't been easy for me trying to apologize to you since you won't give me a chance".

"I did give you a chance".

"Well yeah, but I didn't like the outcome".

On their way home, Julia brought up the topic about Lesley finding a job.

"Oh my God, we totally forgot about you finding a job".

"Omg, that's true. I've been pretty preoccupied that I totally forgot".

"I doubt if we go back to that bakery shop they'll accept you. They might already have employed someone else" Julia said.

"Maybe they might".

"Am I the one that ruined your chance of getting that job?" Ethan asked.

"No you aren't". Lesley said

"I think I am. If I hadn't made you guys wait for me you probably would have gone for the interview and most likely got the job".

"Don't think that way Ethan. How could I go for a job interview when I'm not sure of where you were or if you were ok? You're my brother ok? That would be so heartless of me and I'm not heartless".

"Yeah, Lesley is right. We couldn't just leave like that when we were worried. And who cares if Lesley didn't get that job, we would find another one for her" Julia chimed in.

"That's right. Yeah who cares. There are lots of jobs available. I'm sure I'm gonna get at least one. Who wouldn't want to employ a hardworking girl like me? Like just take a look at me"? Lesley said making Ethan laugh....

"Ok fine, if you guys say so".

"Better. No negative comments is allowed here". Lesley said.

"Is it possible for me to get another job offer"? Lesley whispered to Julia not letting Ethan hear.

"I thought you were confident about you finding another job" Julia whispered back giggling.

"I'm not. I just said that to reassure Ethan".

"Don't worry, it's possible".

"How"?.

"We could search online".

"Ok, good idea".

"And I could also ask my mom. She could help you find one since she has quite a lot of connections".

"Another good idea. It seems you're the smart one amongst us".

"I know" She said flipping her hair backwards with her hands in a bragging way. "I've always said that but I'm glad you finally acknowledged it"..

"Don't get too cocky ma'am ok"?.

"But I'm allowed to". Julia said putting on a puppy face.

Patting her head she replied "Cute face but no you're not allowed to or else I'm gonna take back my compliment".

"You can't take it back, it's already been said".

"Well not in my case".

"You're a rare case" Julia said.

"We're both rare cases so we're meant for each other".

The rest of the journey home was quiet since Ethan complained that they were talking too much and disturbing his peace...