The slight buzzing of the fluorescent lights filled the stagnant silence. I told Ellie everything. I told her about Roy and how he'd been asking me to cover up for him for a while now so he could hang out with Allison. How I agreed to his every single call, and how I still very much loved him after all these years.

It took all my effort not to wince at my own story. My nails dug into the palm of my hands and tears stung my eyes. Along with that Ellie's scrutinizing stare burned through me. She stayed still waiting for me to continue. My shoulders sagged and before I could utter another word I laughed, "Did you know Roy once told me he liked me too? It was during middle school. I called him stupid and naive then, but now, I'm pretty sure I was the stupid one."

Ellie's chin dipped to her chest as she laughed with me. I slapped her shoulder, but at least it brought back a little bit of normalcy between us siblings. Ellie calmed and stared at me with a strange smile looking past my hooded eyes, "That's not everything, is it?"

I froze, my whole being consumed by slight dizziness.

"Well, we planned our whole future together." I smiled sheepishly, "We were going get apartments right next to each other. Go to Rutgers together. Find a job together. And..."

"Nomes..."

"Roy told me that he was moving in with Allison."

Silence.

Before breaking down again, Ellie had already taken me into her arms and buried my head into her chest, the scene at the park replayed painfully over again.

In moments like these, I was grateful for Ellie. These small moments reminded me that even if I hated Ellie at times, all we really had was each other. Elsie Cross. That's what was written on her birth certificate, but I ended up calling her Ellie since I had a strong lisp when she was born. I despised the letter S.

In return, Ellie made the nickname Nomes for me, because my real name annoyed her apparently. Naomi Cross. How? Only my sister will ever know.

Hours of more tears, and hours of more snot, hours of more Ellie's comforting pats on the back passed by.

The rest of my afternoon was spent lying on the couch, eating 2 tubs of ice cream, and rewatching our favorite animes. At least while watching, Ellie and I didn't have try to fill any random silences whenever our mindless banter died.

"So what are you going to do about this whole plan you have with Roy?" Ellie tossed our second tube of ice cream before sinking back into our couch, catching me completely off guard. "When's the next time you're going to see him? And are you sure you won't break down when you do?"

I mixed my cup of ice cream, that's melted into slush now. "I hate life."

"Nomes come on. Think realistically for a moment. I can't believe you actually took this whole future with Roy thing seriously. What did you expect? That you'd stay friends for the rest of your life. You won't marry. He won't marry. Whoopee, life is great."

I bit my lips trying not to nod, because yes I did expect that, "Ellie you gotta give me so leew here. I didn't even know I was in love with Roy until this year!"

Ellie shook hear head, "You're one of the smartest people I know. Did you know that? But yet you're so clueless on the subject of life."

I whimpered burying myself deeper into my couch, "Fine. Then I'm going to start by confessing that I plan on transferring to New York for NYU." Ellie gaped at me. The cat's out of the bag.

"New York?" Ellie gasped. "NYU?"

I swallowed a shaky breath. "Yeah."

For as long as I could remember, my family's always insisted for me to stay in New Jersey for college. It was an easier budget and less hassle for everyone overall.

What they didn't know was I got accepted by NYU too. The only reason I disregarded the option was because Roy himself.

"What about Princeton?" asked Ellie, "If you don't want to go to Rutgers, Princeton is an even better choice. Didn't you get accepted?"

"I have."

"Naomi Cross!"

"Ellie, please." I rubbed my palms together pleading. "I can't bear to see Roy for the rest of my life as he builds his family with Allison. I won't be able to move on if I stay."

"And how are you going to manage the out of state expenses?"

"Give me a year. I'm looking for a job right now. And after this year I'll tell mom and dad myself about my decision.

Ellie avoided my gaze, pursed her lips, and nodded in understanding. "Owen has a job opening at the cafe. You could work there." Ellie pointed out

"I thought they found one already."

"She quit yesterday." She laughed and smiled, "Things could all just be falling into place for you Nomes."

Nodding my head I took a quick intake of breath, "I do hope it is Ellie."

"Mom and Dad's going to kill you."