Not all bad

Maria was still in shock over what Laila had revealed. "I can't believe that there is actually a timeline in which you chose to stay with Jake. I am glad that my Laila never did that. That guy was an absolute tool of a guy and I never liked him. Not one bit. Are you happy with the call you made? Is Noah a better match? Then again, can anyone be a worse match than Jake was? All he had going for him were his looks and fortune."

Laila chuckled at hearing her friend's ramblings. Nonetheless she answered her questions patiently. "I can without a doubt say that I am happier now than I ever was with Jake. But it was not all bad. He and I just weren't right for each other and I see that now. But that doesn't mean I didn't have happy moments with Jake. I truly think he tried to make it work with me at the beginning. It just wasn't meant to be. Maybe it was the miscarriage, which really took its toll on both of us and the marriage as a whole, or maybe he wasn't ready to settle down at such a young age as we did."

As she saw the eye roll on Maria's face, Laila's face cracked into another smile as she tried to continue her story without breaking into laughter. "As you probably still remember, the relationship between me and Jake started in our early teens. It was really unstable from almost the very beginning and then suddenly we were on the road to becoming parents and we were forced to get married. Maybe if the pregnancy hadn't happened, we would have broken up long before we did now. All I want to say is, I don't like the way he went about it and that he hurt me the way he did, but I don't really hate Jake. I am just over him and I don't want to risk damaging what I have with Noah for some meaningless form of friendship with Jake. He lost his right to have that and I lost the desire for it."

Maria let out a sigh as she conceded. "Whatever you say my dear princess. I can't imagine a kind and loving Jake, only the snake I have come to know and hate. But, if you say he has a good side that I don't know, I'll take your word for it. As long as you are clear on who is the better choice and you indeed don't have the desire to invite him back in our lives." Laila raised her index finger and middle finger up in the air and said, "Scouts honour", which was another way of saying 'I promise'.

Now that this part of the story had been discussed as well, the two of them could focus on the plans that Maria had made for their girl's week. Though Laila was surprised that Maria was able to believe her story so easily, she was very happy for it. Laila was amused by the fact that the idea of her having ever picked Jake was the part of her story that Maria had trouble believing, instead of all the other crazy things she had told her today. Who would have thought that the existence of different timelines, her altering her past and her not being the Laila she knew, would not be the thing to surprise Maria?

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Since they had talked about everything they needed to talk about and they had been sitting inside for long enough now, Maria got up from the couch and said, "Alright. Enough talking. Let's go out and re-explore town! There is plenty for you to see after so long." The idea of going out to see how the town looked in this timeline got Laila equally excited. So, she happily followed after Maria and got ready to head out.

Once both of them had gotten changed and Maria got a good look at Laila's bare belly, showing the friend that her princess was really a mom to be, they stepped out of the door and walked down the hill that lead to Maria's house. Laila was happy that she didn't have to walk up the hill since it was a hot, summer day, which would have made the walk strenuous on its own. So, Laila didn't like imagining how tough it would have been now that she is pregnant. Before they had reached the end of Maria's street, Laila told her with a heavy breath, "I am telling you in advance, we are not walking back up. Either we take a cab or you can carry me on your back."

Maria chuckled. "I have barely called you princess three times and you are already behaving like one. But very well, I will make sure to arrange a carriage for milady for our travels back to the castle." Laila said, "Joke all you want girl. As long as you know that I will be jumping on your back if there isn't an alternative mode of transportation ready for us when we want to go back to your place." Maria put her arm around Laila's neck and laughed once more before she said, "Ah, I have truly missed this. Glad to have you back princess." Laila smiled back and said, "Glad to be back my.... knight in shining armour? My most trusted confidant?" Maria lifted her nose in the air and said, "I shall accept all those titles graciously."